Book
Hero’s Tribute
Author
Graham Garrison
The Review
The author absolutely hooked me with just the two-page prologue. In fact, I was hooked by the end of the very first paragraph. As a writer myself, I know how critical this is to the success of a book—and how difficult it can be to achieve. This particularly impressed me when I learned this was the author’s very first novel.
Hero’s Tribute is a unique novel written about the lives of two men who have never met. One is living and the other deceased. One is a reporter for a local newspaper, and the other a small town war hero, former football star, and upstanding citizen. One is criticized at every turn, while the other could seemingly do no wrong in the eyes of the small southern community of Talking Creek, Georgia, where they both lived. One is Michael Gavin, beloved husband, father, and son who is soon to be laid to rest amid the kind of fan fair he never thought he deserved. The other is Wes Watkins, the man charged with writing and delivering an impartial eulogy for Michael Gavin at his upcoming funeral—yet one that will not offend anyone and will help his family and friends say goodbye to him in a meaningful way. And should I mention again that the two have never met?
Wes is astounded to learn Michael’s last wish was that Wes would investigate his life and prepare and deliver his eulogy at his funeral. It makes no sense to him at first—a reporter renowned for delivering impartial stories that uncover the truth about situations—truths that are not always flattering to the person the stories are being written about. And especially as Wes begins to uncover bits and pieces of Michael’s untold story that seem to suggest he may not always have been the flawless hero the town seems to want to paint him out to be. Did Michael want Wes to reveal all of his mistakes and human frailties to the world? Did he want him to discredit his hero image? Certainly his editor and the townspeople are dead set against helping Wes discover anything that does not substantiate the heroic picture they have painted over the years and now want to turn into the stuff that legends are made of as they immortalize Michael Gavin and commit his body to the earth. But there are secrets and stories that have been hidden—and Wes wants to know why. One question seems to lead to another and one mystery to the next as Wes conducts the research for the newspaper story he will write and the eulogy he will deliver—and runs into one roadblock after another. What is everyone trying to hide about Michael? And why on earth did Michael involve Wes in this mission?
At the close of this story, however, Michael Gavin’s true final wishes are revealed. And they relate to what was a chance encounter for Michael but a possible opportunity to make a lasting difference in Wes’s life and his outlook on his life. Along the way, everyone learns a lot about themselves and the real Michael Gavin. And Wes learns a great deal about himself, as well. It is a rare gift he receives from Michael—a stranger—in a very unlikely way.
As Wes seeks to fulfill Michael’s final request, he learns more about what a real hero is and what legends are really made of. He explores what kind of legacy he might like to leave someday and what kind of a person he wants to become. He gifts Michael’s family and friends with a unique perspective on the man they all loved even though he never knew Michael personally. And he discovers a little something about an attribute Michael carried with him throughout his life that might make a welcome addition to Wes’s own
life—faith.
Hero’s Tribute is an excellent read, and I highly recommend it!
Order Hero’s Tribute
Today!Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.
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