Spence Tailer is a lawyer who takes cases that help people but don't bring in much money. His older brother is a self-absorbed yuppy banker with the typical soccer-mom wife. And their mother, Rose, has a failing heart and a fairly rare blood-type and has been waiting for a transplant. When one shows up they get ready for the surgery...until government agents try to abscond with the heart because the President needs the transplant following a heart attack. Spence "kidnaps" the heart and, in the process, involves his brother, kidnaps a LAPD officer (who comes out), doesn't quite kidnap one of the heart transplant doctors, and begins a road trip with their Mom to find someone to transplant the heart that was hers by rights of the transplant list. Also involved is a second team of government agents working for a U.S. Senator who is running against the President in the election, attempting to keep the President from getting the heart...or just keep anyone from getting it. I needed this book right now. It's amazingly funny, with a pace that keeps you reading for the finish line. I rooted for the "terrorists" the whole time. Great play on the disingenuousness of government and media talking heads. Looked it so much I bought the other three in the series.

It took me a long time to get through this book. It was funny at times but then it was weird and unnecessarily detailed about strange subjects. I enjoyed it enough to eventually come back and I considered looking into more by this author, but since it wasn’t my favorite I’m not sure I’ll follow through.

I cannot believe that despite this book being published originally in 2003, it is still so relatable to today. This is a witty, wild satire about two brothers trying to save the transplant organ procured for their mother that the president of the USA feels as though they deserve. It's a wild goose chase and so much fun.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc! I will be reading Bill Fitzhugh's other books because of the wonderful experience I had with this book.

This book was almost 500 pages. The plot was very intriguing. Stealing a transplant heart and cutting lines. It’s very much far fetched kidnapping and stealing but the political humor was good!

This book is an absolute joy to read, and it manages to bring an important social issue to the forefront in a humorous manner. The characters are wonderfully unique and you can’t help but root for them. The writing is light and easy to read, making it the perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire or take to the beach. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a feel-good story with an important message.

Heart Seizure is a funny, madcap adventure involving an ailing mother, her two sons and the president and all that goes with him. Do not expect this to be a serious novel involving a heart transplant. This is a very funny book about a serious subject, and I say that with a big smile on my face. You will cheer and laugh out loud while reading this very entertaining book.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Farrago Publishing for this ARC.

I did not know that I was waiting for this book this year, but I was. This is the first book I have read from this author and I immediately want more. I already picked up another book from the author's tetralogy to enjoy. This book was definitely satire on our American medical hellscape complete with a tinge of political satire thrown in for the fun of it,. This was an adventure of sorts that keeps you tied into your seat to see what is going to happen next. The play on words, conversations, and interactions between characters were well written and most of the time pretty fun. There is definitely a high level of fantasy to this book, however there is also a part that is making an important statement. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. This was highly enjoyable.

I know that this book was supposed to be a satire but I just could not get into the plot. I work in a medical related field and I just didn't like the idea of such a serious subject being taken so lightly. Or maybe it just didn't have the right "spin" on it. Maybe if it was on the much more humorous side, I would have enjoyed it. I did think the characters were fairly well developed.

A wacky adventure that stretches incredulity, Heart Seizure by Bill Fitzhugh would be wonderful for fans of Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiaasen. The campy tone is foreshadowed by a table of contents that all contains references to songs with “heart” in the title. Fitzhugh plies the “racing against time” device to crank up the tension and give the reader the feeling of escalating chaos. The cast of characters bloom into an almost unmanageable number, but the main protagonist in the novel is Spence Tailor. His mother, Rose has been on a long list for a heart transplant and has finally reached the top. Her sons go with her to prepare for the procedure when an unexpected event occurs—placing her claim to the donated heart in jeopardy. Spencer decides he must prevent his mother’s heart from being hijacked. He impulsively steals and flees with the organ. Then, he drags his mother and brother on a desperate search for a surgeon who will agree to do the transplant. Along the way, they pick up a motley crew of kidnap victims that include a doctor, several representatives of US Intelligence, and innocent bystanders. Heart Seizure is definite a classic caper, slapstick and ludicrous from beginning to end. As the reader is carried along by the quest, they must discard skepticism, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Unlike most health-related books I've read, this one is a comedy. The main character's mother is set to get a heart. When the decision is made to give it to the president instead he and his brother decide to right that wrong themselves. This book does a great job painting a picture of the scene so you can easily imagine what is happening and you can't help but laugh. It is also an interesting commentary on how things work in the United States that will make you think a little. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

In Heart Seizure author Bill Fitzhugh treats the reader to a zany romp involving a pair of brothers, a pair of CIA operatives, a doctor, a police officer, and even an entire Mormon basketball team. Oh yeah, the chief of staff of the President of the United States plays a key role, as does a senator seeking higher office. The storyline is simple enough: Spence and Boyd abscond with a heart originally promised their mother, while government agents try to commandeer the same heart for an ailing President. What results is a frenzy involving very colorful (and at times stereotypical) characters who add to the chaos. And yes, there were some laugh out loud moments.

Fitzhugh has been rightly compared to Carl Hiaasen, who happens to be one of my favorite authors. While I was provided a free ebook for review by NetGalley (in exchange for my honest review), I enjoyed it so much I purchased a physical copy for my library.

Spence's mother is dying... desperately in need of a new heart. She is number two on the donor list so they wait...

When he finally gets the call that his mother has a heart coming, Spence checks her in at the hospital. They have been here before and were sent home. He hopes this isn't a repeat. So they wait...

Awakened by a doctor, he's told to go see his mother as she will be in surgery soon to undergo the transplant. However, the situation changes and he finds out someone has essentially stolen his mother's heart and she needs to go home. So what does Spencer do? Steals it back and in the process kidnaps a heart surgeon along the way.

What Spence doesn't know is that the someone who "stole" his mother's heart is the President. What follows is pure chaos.

I haven't read a political satire before and I'm not sure I will again. I actually didn't know this was of that genre when I read the synopsis but it sounded like a fun read so here we are.

Overall, this wasn't bad. Some parts were definitely funny. Some parts were bland and some just (insert shoulder shrug). For me, this felt over the top and innundated with political facts and history. I'm not a political buff so I don't believe this was meant for me or readers like me. However, for those who love a good political satire I would recommend this one.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

Spence Taylor's mother, Rose, is scheduled for a heart transplant. She has been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and because of a rare blood type, hearts are not so easy to come by. So when one does become available, Spense is absolutely delirious with joy.

A few months before the national elections, the president has a heart attack and needs a heart transplant. Amazingly enough, he is of the same blood type as Rose.

White House chief of staff orders the FBI to seize the heart that was going to Rose .. all in the name of democracy.

There is no way, Spence will allow his mother's heart to be taken away from her. So begins one of the funniest pursuits ever.

Spence, along with his brother, decide to kidnap the heart. They also inadvertently kidnap a cardiac surgery resident. Jumping into a '65 Mustang they are barely ahead of the all the president's men. Spence will stop at nothing to keep the heart for his mother. The FBI will continue the chase until they have the heart back ... or they stop the kidnappers by any means possible.

The story-telling is sheer funny! One of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. I loved the characters .. the conversations are priceless. I can hardly wait to see what's next.

Many thanks to the author / Farrago Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this funny, funny novel. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Tried and tried but just couldn’t fall in love with this.... I realize I’m probably in the majority here but couldn’t find enough redeeming qualities to this tale to complete it. May try again soon but for now, I’ll say, “No thank you - I’ll not have one now”.
Thanks for the ARC opportunity!

Wow.....I can't say that I've ever read anything like this! It's like slapstick hilarious humor.....with a serious point/message. And I might guess that much of this nonsense that he presents, actually has base in degrees of reality......which might lead this tale to be about as scary as it is funny! It touches on politics, medicine, pharmacy, wacky characters, chase scenes, crazy encounters, life/death, relationships........ I think I laughed out loud at about every other page! I might even say a 4.5 star rating is more accurate....definitely memorable! I look forward to reading more of Bill Fitzhugh's work!
I received this e-book from publisher Farrago Books via NetGalley, after offering to read it & post my own fair & honest review.

What a road trip! Originally published in 2003, Heart Seizure is a political and healthcare comedy with a hilarious cast of characters and a whole lot of action.

At the heart of the story, two brothers Spence and Boyd are trying to save their mother's life. Rose Tailor needs a new heart and is getting ready for the operation at Mulholland Memorial Hospital.

Meanwhile, in DC, President Webster is ushered for a jog along the Reflecting Pool by his campaign manager to create confidence that the president has the stamina to run the great nation. While jogging, the president keels over, the WH doctor deems he needs a heart transplant. WH Chief of Staff cited this as a matter of national security and cut the line for the heart. With a rare blood type, they found a suitable one in Los Angeles. FBI agents were sent to steal the heart from the hospital, but Spence and Boyd are able to prevent that from happening. They have two hostages, a gay cop, and a surgeon then took off with their mother and the heart in a cooler.

While the president's condition is kept from the public, the brothers are labeled as terrorists with an attempt on the president's life. The media is having a field day covering the news. Senator Peggy Check of Virginia couldn't let this opportunity slide. As a political opponent, she sent two ex-special ops goons to prevent the heart from being delivered to DC.

I had such fun reading this book that pokes fun at politicians on both sides. Bill Fitzhugh is a talented writer to pull this off and I would love to read the other three books in Transplant Tetralogy.

Thank you Farrago and Netgalley for this digital copy.

Overall, I am left scratching my head at this read. The author clearly has a great idea of a story, but this reader feels the outcome was underwhelming. The author begins to build characters and a thick plot that quickly grabbed me and left me wanting more. The beginning story is feasible, and the author sprinkles bits of humor and satire in that at first seem to add to the adventure. However, as the story progresses, it becomes more and more farfetched. There are various extraneous characters towards the last third that to me retract from the underlying storyline. After significant, long buildup, I felt the book ended abruptly and left many questions still unanswered. Perhaps I am the wrong audience for this book?

I gave this one a shot in hopes it would be a nice change of pace for me.

This just wasn't for me.

A unique plot that has so many twists and turns you cannot guess what’s next. You can’t help but pull for the sons and their mom to “win” the heart! Just when it seems like all hope is lost, twist and twist again! Keeps you turning the pages.

Heart Seizure by Bill Fitzhugh is a part, of what the author refers to as his Transplant Tetralogy; four books whose stories and characters are not otherwise connected save for the plot being a madcap romp around a different transplant scenarios.
By this book’s title the reader rightly assumes that a heart is involved. In short, an elderly woman and mother of adults, Rose, is next in line for such a surgery. Alas, she is unofficially bumped when through the secrecy of his office The President of the United States needs one.
Thus is the frame upon which hangs the rest of the story where FBI, CIA agents, working for either the President’s Chief of Staff, or a US Senator who aspires to be the first female President. This leads to a chase/game of keepaway as at first Rose’s sons, and later a doctor, a police officer and many more try their best to make sure the heart goes to the originally intended recipient.
This is the second book in the series and, as already mentioned, it stands independent from the one that came before. Fitzhugh presents a novel that is both funny and a commentary on our world today.
Heart Seizure informs the reader, makes them think, holds a mirror up to who we are, and with a dash of “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World,” helps us to take in these realities with a large dose of humor.
This reprint was written in 2003 and I am soon going to pick up the new, fourth in the series, merely on the merit over how much I enjoyed this installment in Bill Fitzhugh s transplant series.