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By Darrell Bain
Hotline to Heaven rolls with laughter, ripples with righteous indignation, rings with charm, ropes the 
imagination, and begs forgiveness.
Violet is so pleased to see the handsome man she met that afternoon appear in the line to the shelter. She watches beneath her lashes as he moves closer to the door. When the shelter is filled and she sees him being turned away she jumps up and pleads with Captain Wilshire to make room for the man. After all, he donated the last of his money to the cause.
Ed is so charming and helpful. When he feels called to do God’s work, Violet is more than willing to contribute her savings and leave the smothering protection of Captain Wilshire and her duties for the Salvation Army to work with him to spread God’s word.
Ed “Boilerroom”Tanner is having a bit of trouble getting into the Christmas spirit. His luck stayed with him on a quick trip to Vegas after his last scam, until he fell for scheme of the bimbo Scrappie introduced him to and was left with nothing but his plane ticket to Houston and some pocket change. So what was he doing tossing some of the last of that pocket change into the Salvation Army Santa’s pot?
An angel. The woman enthusiastically shaking the tambourine next to Santa had to be an angel. Even in the worn clothing of the Salvation Army uniform she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Those shining blue eyes radiate innocence and purity and piety. “Boilerroom” is getting ideas.
She is the answer to filling his pockets again, the answer to his prayers. Who wouldn’t want to be in “God’s Fan Club,” especially with the angelic Miss Violet Smith praying for answers to their prayers? The responses are immediate and plentiful. This is the big one for Tanner. But will it be worth it when he falls from his angel’s grace?
Bain’s characters march across the pages to his fast paced drumbeat to conquer and charm, despite their very human faults and foibles. Hotline to Heaven is a story peppered with the special wit and humor author Darrell Bain fans have come to expect, and spiced with the unexpected that is sure to have new readers joining the fan club.
-Charlene Austin(chars@writersandreadersnetwork.com)
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