Can love survive heaven’s wrath? Artist Ted Armstrong lives a solitary and eccentric life. The survivor of child abuse disguised as religion, Ted has cut himself off from the world. Then Ted meets Anderson Taylor, and it’s like being struck by lightning. Anderson is a cardiac surgeon whose passion for his work has consumed him. He fears he’ll never find a partner—until he sets eyes on Ted. It’s … he sets eyes on Ted. It’s happening fast, but both men know what they feel is right.
Confronted with an angry preacher, a scandal, and an act of God that threatens to destroy everything, their relationship will face its first true test.
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F.E. Feeley’s novel When Heaven Strikes covers all the bases for a satisfying emotional read. In fact, I found it so moving I had to pause the audiobook after the first chapter, download my digital copy, and read it! I didn’t want to miss a word. I have a tendency to get lost in Vance Bastain’s gorgeous voice, and I wanted to do this marvelous story justice.
I’m just going to stop here and say, after I finished reading When Heaven Strikes I queued up the audiobook. Vance Bastian’s performance surpasses everything I could have hoped for. Mr. Bastain finds something unique and special in every character, adding emotion and imparting meaning where I’m sure Mr. Feeley would want to have it. More than just entertaining, listening to the audio version of When Heaven Strikes is an experience in itself and I highly recommend it.
When Heaven Strikes follows Anderson and Ted whose initial attraction turns into a scorching hot hook-up. These two quickly find they have a powerful emotional connection as well and decide to pursue a relationship. We get to know these complex and interesting characters as they open up to each other, sharing experiences from their pasts and working through some intense moments together as the plot evolves.
I really enjoy the way F.E. Feeley crafts this story. Characters are woven throughout the novel, reappearing at crucial times and changing the course of the plot. The tension mounts steadily, and I finally just gave up guessing what might happen next. It’s exciting and moving and intense, and I’m not going to spoil it by saying another word!
I’m a new fan of F.E. Feeley’s writing and I’m completely captivated by the way he puts words together. Intriguing details and powerful reflections convey more than just the words themselves. I know I’ve found a gem when I enjoy a book even more the second time through, and I haven’t been able to resist re-reading one of Feeley’s books yet. In the case of When Heaven Strikes, it’s an added bonus to enjoy Vance Bastian’s outstanding performance as well.
an audio copy of When Heaven Strikes was provided by the author for the purpose of my review
When an author who regularly delivers intense, unique stories teams up with a favorite narrator who never disappoints, readers can get the best of both worlds with immersed reading/Whispersync. I took full advantage when reading and listening to When Heaven Strikes, getting lost in the palpable emotion and descriptive scenes and loving how the narrator brought the characters to life.
When Heaven Strikes is a compelling story detailing the ways fates/ coincidences interweave to create different paths and open new doors. Though there is a romance that unfolds in the book, like many of this author’s works, Anderson and Ted’s love is just one part of the story. That said, I did enjoy their easy connection. Beyond that, I loved how all the characters played a role in developing the story and one another. I also really appreciated the theme of forgiveness that came through, especially as the book resolved.
This author never fails to wow me with his commanding use of imagery- capturing the emotion or visuals of a scene in a way that transports me. This was especially evident in the way he described the tornado the characters had to contend with and the storm’s aftermath. If you like powerful books that feature dynamic characters as well as a good romance, I definitely recommend this title; and if you are a fan of audiobooks, don’t hesitate to give this a listen.
Hearing about this novel from a friend of mine and after reading the blurb I knew I wanted to read When Heaven Strikes. It did not disappoint. What we got was a romance novel that didn’t have perfect characters. These men felt like people I know and have seen around. F.E. Feeley Jr. does an amazing job creating the perfect setting for these characters to inhabit.
The main character Ted, an artist, has some real life issues that affects how he sees the world without making him whinny or unlikable. Anderson, a surgeon, despite appearing to have it all is alone and lives in an isolated world he’s created. So when they meet and come together you can see how they actually complement each other.
Given this is a romance the author could have taken the easy road and had them characters have some epic fight or misunderstand and then come back together by the end of the story, but Feeley decided to go in a different direction and to his credit it works amazing.
This is an amazing book with some heavy underlying tones which Feeley doesn’t mince words on. Definitely worth the read.