A Heart on the River

By John Bauer

Book Overview

Prepare yourself for a three-day satirical journey. Enter the mind of an over-the-hill anti-hero, as Fred Woody, Jr. deplanes in Washington, DC, hungering for fame and fortune by winning a $5,000,000 Winner Take All, Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament to be held on Christmas Day.

No obstacle will get in Fred's way, including his own brush with death. But why does God allow him to live while others, like his son, perish for no good reason? What pushes him? God's Will or his own free will? But, gambling on Christ's Birthday?

In a first person, stream-of-consciousness storytelling style, Fred struggles with personal demons, family issues, metaphysical beings, and of course the root of all evil, money.

Whether he is in a hospital bed in the nation's capital, an IED blast in Iraq, or at a casino in Atlantic City, Fred deals with the world on his own cynical, biased terms.

Love him or hate him, you will be entertained by a unique trip that pushes the boundaries of traditional narratives.

You won't find jingle bells or singing reindeer in this original Christmas story. But you will discover a heart or two on the river.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0H3R3XVRG
• ISBN13: 9798903541744
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: John Bauer
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.9" x 6.0"