"This is by far the best piece of literature, under full novel length, I have EVER read..." ~ T.M Souders A middle-aged man with the crushing weight of his American past seeks peace and a simpler life in rural Kenya. Armed with only his smokes and coffee he discovers a friendship with the most unlikely of friends-- a lioness he rightfully names Malaika, "Angel" in Swahili. But she is no ordinary lioness nor is he an ordinary man. Between them they share a gift. But not all embrace their bond and some seek to sever it. Discover this new world rich in human truth and sensibility. ~ PRAISE FOR MALAIKA ~ "An excellent piece of writing that I enjoyed immensely..." ~ S. Warfield (Vine Voice, Top 100 Reviewer) "Heering has [an] exceptional ability for finding the soul of realism ." ~ Schuyler T Wallace (Vine Voice) "Intriguing story, talented writer , as good as it gets." "Soulful yet primal, mystical and hauntingly moving ..." "It is a book that should become a highly acclaimed classic and be required reading in every school. I have read it twice already." ". . . it is a gift to relish and savor... a keeper to the nth degree. " ". . . it will stay with me forever. I promise you will feel the same. Very profound." ~ OTHER BOOKS by VAN HEERLING ~ DREAMS OF ELI DESERT PIGEONS Visit his website: www.vanheerlingbooks.com "The deeper meaning of this book, the African setting and the hauntingly way the story mingles with the characters makes you want to be there . If I could give more stars I would." Sybil J " ...it will stay with me forever. I promise you will feel the same. Very profound." Kindle Customer "...it is a gift to relish and savor... a keeper to the nth degree. " Heidi Johnson I would rather live seeking my own dream and fail everyday, than to live one day pursuing someone else's dream, for which I carry no faith. ~VH~ In the end we are either loved or we are not. No matter what one has done it is never too late to press the soles of ones feet back toward a path of rightness, of goodness and of forgiveness. ~VH THE STORY: A middle-aged man with the crushing weight of his American past seeks peace and a simpler life in rural Kenya. Armed with only his smokes and coffee, he discovers a friendship with the most unlikely of friends--a lioness he rightfully names Malaika, "Angel" in Swahili. But she is no ordinary lioness, nor is he an ordinary man. Between them they share a gift. But not all embrace their bond and some seek to sever it. Discover this new world rich in human Truth and Sensibility. For Van Heerling, writing is a therapy of sorts--a way to let go. Few things in life bring him such relief. A native to California, Heerling now resides in the Pacific Northwest with his family, preferring the dreary sky to the sun scorching days of Southern California. He enjoys hearing from readers. If you wish to send your comments, visit his website at vanheerlingbooks.com