In the Heart of the Dark Wood

Written by Billy Coffey

Narrated by Gabe Wicks

A motherless girl hungry for hope . . . and the dream that could be leading her astray.

Almost two years have passed since twelve-year-old Allie Granderson’s beloved mother, Mary, disappeared into the wild tornado winds. Her body has never been found.

Allie clings to memories of her mother, just as she clings to the broken compass she left behind, the makeshift Nativity scene in the front yard, and her best friend Zach. But even with Zach at her side, the compass on her wrist, and the Nativity right outside the window, Allie cannot help but feel lost in all the growing up that must get done.

When the Holy Mother disappears from the yard, Allie’s bewilderment is compounded by the sudden movement of her mother’s compass.

Following the needle, Allie and Zach leave the city behind and push into the inky forest on the outskirts of Mattingly. For Allie, the journey is more than a ghost hunt: she is rejoining the mother she lost—and finding herself with each step deeper into the heart of the dark wood.

Brimming with lyrical prose and unexpected discoveries, In the Heart of the Dark Wood illustrates the steep transition we all must undergo—the moment we shed our childlike selves and step into the strange territory of adulthood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Nov 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9780718034467

Billy Coffey

Billy Coffey's critically acclaimed books combine rural Southern charm with a vision far beyond the ordinary. He is a regular contributor to several publications, where he writes about faith and life. Billy lives with his wife and two children in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Visit him at www.billycoffey.com. Facebook: billycoffeywriter Twitter: @billycoffey

Reviews for In the Heart of the Dark Wood

[theeccentriclady · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am only giving this a 3 because after just finishing this book I am not overwhelmed with any great feelings of anything. It kept my interest but all along the way I kept wondering where the story was really going, I kept waiting for a deeper hidden meaning that would provide an "aha moment" I kept expecting to feel more moved than I was. I do not feel it was a waste of time but I was hoping for more. I would recommend it if magic, faith, questioning life and small towns are your kind of thing.

[lamb521 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Title: When Mockingbirds SingAuthor: Billy CoffeyPages: 336Year: 2013Publisher: Thomas NelsonMy rating is 4 stars out of 5.Billy Coffey’s two novels titled, The Devil Walks in Mattingly, published in 2014 along with In The Heart of the Dark Wood. When Mockingbirds Sing is not as exciting to me personally as the other two books. The other two tales have tons of action, adventure and suspense that tend to keep me glued to the book more than the slower building storyline.This story is about a little girl who has a speech impediment and tends to shy away from crowds plus her parents don’t seem to be getting along well. Only little Leah can see a figure she calls the Rainbow Man who sings to her. No one else can see what she describes or refers to when she tells others about Rainbow Man. Another obstacle for Leah and her family in the small town is that they came from outside the town of Mattingly, which can make fitting into the nuances of a small town challenging.Perhaps because I read Billy Coffey’s latest work, this one didn’t really hold my interest as well or the way the beginning to the story starts. Whatever the reason, it still made for an interesting tale to read and think about what the author might be trying to convey in the book’s themes. I felt like I was dropped into a story without much leading in the way of how Leah and her family got to this town.I will keep this novel on my shelf in my personal library to read again in years to come. A lot of my time while in the story was trying to figure out who the Rainbow Man is supposed to represent and why is Leah the only one who sees and hears him? For me, I prefer action, suspense, thrillers with some mystery, but this tale just didn’t seem to flow or make sense to me.Like all reviews on books it depends on a lot of variables and the person reviewing the book. I can see why reviews are from one spectrum to the other. Readers seemed to either love it or thought it was okay at best. All I can say is the latest books written by Billy Coffey are much better and very captivating! Coming this August from this author is a novel titled, The Curse of Crow Hollow. Will you be reading this latest from the author’s pen?Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”