“A Better Heart” is one of the unique books I have read lately because of its charming characters and entertaining yet thought-provoking plot.

Let me start by saying that I loved the subject matter. It is not every day that you read a book focusing on a father and son as they go on a road trip with a monkey. The author brings forward a unique plot that captured my attention when Edward and Henry came into the picture. From there, I was glued to the story as Edward and Kevin go on a bizarre road trip, and you don’t know what will happen to them.

I enjoyed how the author wrote the dynamics between Edward and Kevin. It was interesting to see how Kevin’s life goes for a toss as he adapts to the changes in his life. Some moments that stood out for me were when Kevin walks in on Edward and Gloria or jumps into a minivan with Rita. Edward is also full of life, and I loved his stories about Hollywood and various movie scenes where he played a part.

Moreover, I also enjoyed the details the author provided, like directing a movie or the harmful effects of animal testing. Although some scenes are pretty graphic to read, the author makes the story light-hearted and enjoyable. Even Henry is adorable with the antics, and the author also adds a touch of suspense where we wonder if the Feds would catch them or not. On a side note, I also liked Veronica and thought she was entertaining, particularly in the scenes with Father Blank.

Overall, “A Better Heart” is a lovely fiction piece with drama, humor, suspense, and great chemistry between the characters.

The monkey, Henry, has been liberated from a research lab by animal rights activists. Inspired by his friend Veronica to reevaluate his relationship with other species, Kevin learns about the pain and suffering inflicted on lab animals as he forges a bond with the capuchin. When father and son embark on a road trip with Henry, Kevin is caught between the egocentric father who abandoned him and the temperamental monkey whose fate is in his hands. With both the FBI and his mother’s ghost watching, will Kevin risk his career and his father’s freedom to bring the stolen monkey to safety? Meanwhile, Veronica’s encounter with an eccentric Catholic priest triggers her own journey toward change.

This was one of those books that sucked me in from the beginning and didn’t let go until I finished! I thought it was well written, with absolutely flawlessly done characters, and absolutely unputdownable.

A heartwarming tale with an important message.
Kevin is an independent film maker working on his new film when his mostly absent father appears with a monkey in tow. The problem is that Henry, the monkey was rescued from a research/animal testing facility and the FBI is looking for him. So, father, son and monkey go on a road trip they agreed to do with the FBI to stay out of jail but find a higher purpose in their travels.
This is one finely crafted story that got me thinking long and hard on the issue of using animals for research and testing. It's told with some brutally honest passages on the topic but it never loses its focus on the storytelling. The richly drawn characters feel real, almost as if it were a memoir of sorts. The father/son relationship is handled with humor and affection and who doesn't love Henry?
I really enjoyed this one and recommend it to animal lovers and those who enjoy a well told story.

A BETTER HEART
by
Chuck Augello.
@blackrosewriting

📌Tell me what you see in the cover.
Could you guess, that child in the centre is not a human baby?
Guess what, the backdrop of this pic, is Leo's 🐕 hair/ fur😅!!

📌The read is divided into 5 parts from 1999 to 2003. An emotional 💕 overwhelming read..it will sure leave you teary-eyed 😢 but a better person..I am sure.

It explores the bond between a father & a son.. between humans & animals.. treatment of animals.. & change.

📌About the Author

Chuck Augello is the author of the novel The Revolving Heart, a Best Books of 2020 selection by @kirkus_reviews and the story collection The Inexplicable Grey Space We Call Love.

His work has appeared in One Story, Literary Hub, Juked, Fiction Writers Review, Smokelong Quarterly, The Coachella Review, and other fine journals.

He publishes The Daily Vonnegut, a website exploring the life and art of Kurt Vonnegut.

❤He lives in New Jersey with his wife Sheri, his dog Bella, his cats Gracie and Smokey, and a menagerie of unnamed birds and squirrels that inhabit the backyard.

📌For aspiring indie filmmaker Kevin Stacey, it's another day on the set of his first film, but when his estranged father, a failed Hollywood actor, arrives unexpectedly with a bundle of cash, a gun, and a stolen capuchin monkey, he's propelled toward the journey that will change his life.
The monkey, Henry, has been liberated from a research lab by animal rights activists. Inspired by his friend Veronica to reevaluate his relationship with other species, Kevin learns about the pain and suffering inflicted on lab animals as he forges a bond with the capuchin. When father and son embark on a road trip with Henry, Kevin is caught between the egocentric father who abandoned him and the temperamental monkey whose fate is in his hands. With both the FBI and his mother's ghost watching, will Kevin risk his career and his father's freedom to bring the stolen monkey to safety? Meanwhile, Veronica's encounter with an eccentric Catholic priest triggers her own journey toward change.

A Better Heart by Chuck Augello is devastating, funny and heartbreaking all in one! The things people are willing to do to an animal is just appalling. The one thing that I really enjoyed was how realistic the characters and events felt! I really enjoyed all of the characters! I think most people will the author had made the characters easy to realate to in many different ways. And yes I'm talking about Henry the monkey as well! I enjoyed the book! It touches on a subject that should have more light shined on it but it also has heartwarming and laugh out loud moments! And Chuck Augello does a wonderful job balancing them!

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours, Chuck Augello and Black Rose Writing for my gifted copy and for having me on this tour!

I didn’t think I was going to like this book but it captured me in a short time. Funny, tragic (with cover-my-mouth moments when reading about animal abuse) and heart-warming, the storyline unfolded into a gem of a book.
I found the characterisation really believable (loved Kevin’s father – whatever his name was – even the capuchin monkey, Henry) and loved the humour that accompanied the plot. It was fun watching out for what was going to happen next. I cared about all of the characters and what drove them. The time shifts weren’t clunky; they helped, in fact, to drive the story forward.
Thank you, Chuck, for reinvigorating my sense of outrage re the mistreatment of animals for the sake of scientific research. I think I may become vegan again. Almost. Fish don’t bother me quite as much, weird though that sounds.