Publishers Books

Cardinal Gibbon's defense of historic Catholic faith is as relevant today as it was a century ago. No similar book I have found of this kind that matches it save Karl Keating's Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on "Romanism" by "Bible Christians". The logic and supporting evidence for the case is difficult if not impossible to ignore. Cardinal Gibbon's ability to communicate effectively on the issues raised is unmatched.

It is good this book is back in print and a nicer volume could be imagined. But the price is right and the content will never be outdated.

A year ago, this became the first book I ever read about Catholicism written by a Catholic. Numerous books and articles later, I still must say that this is the best lay-oriented book for introducing the Catholic faith to non-Catholics. Given the great amount of material covered in a single volume, Cardinal Gibbons does an excellent job in addressing the main Protestant charges against the Catholic Church.

In comparison to the more recent apologetics (like David Currie, Steve Ray, and Scott Hahn), I think Gibbons is a better writer (in both style and analysis). In fact, I prefer the 19th century apologist-theologians (e.g., Johann Adam Möhler, Matthias Scheeben, and Cardinal Newman) over the more recent. They were more critically-engaged with Protestant and Enlightenment thought and able to articulate the positions in a superior prose; as well, they demonstrate that the issues are fundamentally the same as today.

As a companion piece to this book, I would recommend Fulton J. Sheen's autobiography, Treasure in Clay, as an insight into how a Catholic lives his faith.

This popular 19th century work is a charming and persuasive defense of Catholicism by the Archbishop of Baltimore. Written in the effusive style of the era for the average literate person with some education, Archbishop Gibbons, for the most part, does not resort to citations of the Church Fathers, but rests his case on the Bible, history, logic and common sense. In doing so, I believe that he wrote the best work of apologetics ever produced by the American Church. As expected from a 130 year old book, some of his concerns, as well as some of the Catholic practices he felt the need to defend, are out-of-date. For instance, the Episcopal Church and its theology obviously had a much greater importance in immediate post-bellum American Christianity than it does today. Also, Catholic practices that were the subject of universal Protestant criticism in those days, like fasting, laying on of hands and annointing of the sick, are now widely practiced in Pentecostal/charismatic churches (while being widely ignored in Catholic ones!) On the flip side, raging modern controversies such as contraception, abortion and homosexuality were non-issues in the days of Archbishop Gibbons, as all Christian denominations were then united in condemnation of what were universally considered immoral. Still, in purely theological areas, the arguments will always remain the same, so the Archbishop's book is even more valuable today, in a time of unprecedented confusion and impotent leadership in the Church.

It has been a while since I read this, but I remember enough, its content and challenges, to want to add it to my library and reread it more intensely than the first time (and the first time was intense). In a similar fashion to Schreck's "Catholic and Christian" publish 20 years ago, Cardinal Gibbons' book sifts out not only the misunderstandings caused by Protestants, but misunderstandings by "folk Catholics" sometimes just as much not in the know about their own Church.

There were many ideas presented that, to this day, have left me scratching my head, thinking that the Catholic Church may be far more in the right and in the know than is given credit. After finishing Schreck's book (today), I've come over to some Catholic ideas.

I would say at this point, considering all the material out there about Catholicism, including unauthorized/non-impramatured Catholic publications, Gibbons' and Schreck's books are must reads for one honest enough with himself/herself as not to think they have considered all the facts. There are many Catholic works out there that wrongly teach their own Catholic faith. These two works are faithful to Catholicism.

I've read many books on Catholic apologetics from today's authors (i.e. Keating, Hahn, Madrid, Johnson, etc.), and though those authors are excellent in their own regard, I think that this 130 year old classic is the finest for anyone just starting out in Catholic apologetics or just wanting to know what Catholics really believe. It's straight-forward, easy to read, uninsulting, and accurate. And after 130 years, the truths it teaches about Catholicism have not changed. Sure, there are a few brief mentions of historial issues (European governments) and the Mass in Latin which are dated, but the core Catholic beliefs he describes have not changed--not just from 1876 but from the time of the Apostles.

Cardinal Gibbons honestly and frankly describes what the Church believes and teaches. His language is very thoughtful, heartfelt, logical, and inclusive of scripture and references. Plus, since Cardinal Gibbons based the content on lectures and discourses with mixed Catholic/Protestant congregations in rural, protestant North Carolina and Virginia, his approach is very accommodating and non-offensive.

If you want to know what the Catholic Church REALLY teaches...AND what Catholics REALLY believe, this is the first book you should pick up. I would feel comfortable lending this book to ANYONE who wants to know more about Catholicism or wants to strengthen or defend their Catholic faith.

I agree with jt from New Jersey. I picked up "Far Cry" based on its review in the NY Time Book Review in 1986 (front page coverage). If you simply accept Mrs. Hawkins at face value you will fall in love with the setting, the time and Mrs. Hawkins approach to life.

Perhaps the book has a special place in my heart because I read it in a hotel bar overlooking the Arno in Florence while my pregnant wife was resting upstairs. I still reread the book and remember the bar. Funny.

I enjoyed "A Far Cry from Kensington" and recommend it. It's an entertaining story about an overweight young editor who matures in many ways (weight loss, new romance) over the course of the novel and exhibits strength of character in overcoming various tribulations. When she puts down a toadying literary hanger-on, this unpleasant person becomes something like a stalker. A good yarn; the last chapterlet is bang-up. It's one of those novels, which I think are pretty rare, where the last two pages are the best part.

I am a big Muriel Spark fan -- I mourned her passing earlier this year -- and was very interested in a book that is generally accepted as a companion novel to the brilliant "Loitering with Intent", one of my favorites. I was particularly intrigued given the reviews on amazon. So I want to caution prospective readers that there's no way that this is up to Spark's best work. It simply doesn't have the resonance or mysterious allusiveness that some of Spark's other books have. It's kind of a throwaway, in fact. So I think some of the reviewers below are getting carried away and overpraising the novel. Open it with reasonable expectations and you have an entertaining, intriguing tale ahead of you.

This is one of those books that cannot described in a nutshell. If you had to hazard a guess at a description, you'd have to place it firmly in the comedy/ tragedy/ drama/ mystery/ romance section, or simply file it under Spark: Muriel in the Classics section.

Narrated by the once round and central character, Agnes Hawkins (a.k.a. Mrs. Hawkins or Nancy), the story revolves around her experiences as a young widow living in furnished rooms in a semi-detached building in South Kensington. She colorfully describes her neighbors and acquaintances, and gives us tantalizing glimpses into their little secret worlds, in which she is a trustee and confidante.

Despite the mysterious black boxes and the lurking threat of enemies, known and unknown, our heroine manages to keep her head above water, remains a pillar of strength and finds true love among the rubble. Thanks to her diet plan (freely given to the reader as a bonus for purchasing the book), she gains new self-respect, and reinvents herself in a new country, a far cry from her humble beginnings.

A simple classic by an inspired writer.

Amanda Richards

I picked up a copy of Muriel Sparks, "A Far Cry from Kensington" on a friend's recommendation, and I loved it. Mrs. Nancy. Hawkins, the main character is a woman that everyone depends upon and needs to talk with. She has that certain way about her that summons trust and understanding. The fact that her figure is zaftig and that she is a widow lends credence she believes to her trust factor.

Mrs. Hawkins tells her story from a 30 year distance. It is 1954, post World War II, and she is living in a furnished room near Kensington. She has several neighbors of interest and Milly the landlady, was one of the more interesting. She was also a widow and was
Known as an organizer, She was able to organize everyone and everything. Basil and Eva Carlin were a quiet couple and lived on the first floor. Wanda Podolak lived next to them. She was a Polish dressmaker. Kate Parker lived at the end of the hall. She was a district nurse and suffered no germs at all- she was constantly cleaning. On the attic floor, lived a medical student William Todd.

Mrs. Hawkins was an editor at a publishing house and in due time she lost her job and went on to several others. She was excellent at her job, and, of course, everyone confided in her. She knew everything that was going on with everyone. Like the rooming house she lived in, Mrs. Hawkins spent her days and evenings giving advice. The rooming house becomes involved with Wanda and her anonymous letters that turn into blackmail and eventually into big trouble. Along the way, we meet Hector Bartlett, a charlatan who turns many lives upside down.

Mrs. Hawkins gives advice to many and one day she looks in the mirror and discovers that she is too obese. She resolves to lose weight, and by eating only half portions and then quarter portions, she does just that. Her fine bone structure is revealed, and her new body structure also attracts many men. She finds herself in a relationship with William Todd the medical student, which eventually turns into a marriage. Thirty years later,
Mrs. Hawkins, so wonderfully happy with her life in Italy, "a far cry from Kensington",
looks back at her life and continues to offer us advice.

Muriel Sparks has been called "Britain's greatest living novelist", and she was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1993 and Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 1996. She lives in Tuscany, Italy. An outstanding story, told by a wonderful novelist. prisrob

Muriel Spark's A Far Cry From Kensington (1988) is the bookend companion to her 1981 classic, Loitering With Intent. Both novels share a common theme, and like the earlier novel, A Far Cry From Kensington is largely autobiographical and takes place in virtually the same setting and time period: the literary world of early Fifties London. Both are explorations, via reminiscence, of the banality of everyday evil, taking place among the workaday, routine lives of the lower middle class. Less scathing if no less hilarious than many of its predecessors, the relatively unsung A Far Cry From Kensington is the most realistic and humane novel among the twenty-odd Spark has written. It is also exceptional in that it is the single Spark fiction in which a love affair blossoms into a successful relationship of duration.

The story of the universally respected though immensely overweight Mrs. Hawkins, A Far Cry From Kensington follows two divergent threads in her daily life: the mounting sufferings of a rooming house neighbor who is being anonymously threatened, and the problems that stem from her own continuous encounters with Hector Bartlett, a manipulative sycophant who hopes to use her footholds in the publishing world to advance his nonexistent literary career.

While Loitering With Intent can be read as something of a tactical combat manual, A Far Cry From Kensington is instructive in the art of deduction: caught up in a spiraling series of mysterious and increasingly serious coincidences, Mrs. Hawkins, short of both hard facts and physical evidence, actively unravels the odd events that are taking a toll on both the lives of her friends and her editorial career. Fully realizing she is as prone to misjudgment as anyone, Mrs. Hawkins, utilizing her intelligence, intuition, and instinct, nonetheless proceeds confidently and assertively to pierce the veil of secrecy and quiet conspiracy engulfing her. Spark is at a creative peak as she reveals the subtle turns, nuances, and moment to moment impressions in Mrs. Hawkins' mind as she forms her cautious conclusions.

Unlike Spark's finest novel, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), in which a significant portion of the mystery of human existence is shown to exist on a partially transcendent level, A Far Cry From Kensington eventually grounds that mystery in the knowable everyday. Though the author was to return to something of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie's vision in Symposium (1990), here she seems to be expressing that at least the mundane truths of human life can be ascertained by diligence of method, applied intelligence, and a fundamental willingness to be believe that some people are unabashedly predatory, unscrupulous, and ethically coarse at best. Another message of the novel is that the weak, the foolish, and the vacuous are among the most potentially dangerous individuals one can become involved with.

Upon its release, a number of critics publicly objected with pointed distaste to some of Mrs. Hawkin's behavior, she who enjoys "a puritanical and moralistic nature; it is my happy element to judge between right and wrong, regardless of what I might actually do." For exhausted with Hector Bartlett's elaborate attempts at manipulation, unhypocritical Mrs. Hawkins calls him a "Pissseur de copie" to his face when she encounters him in a public park, and continues to do so, to the detriment of her publishing career, throughout the novel. "It seemed to me," she says, that he "vomited literary matter, he urinated and sweated, he excreted it." Far from keeping this observation to herself, Mrs. Hawkins loudly shares it with authors, editors, and publishers, and since Hector is protected by best-selling author Emma Loy, finds herself fired from one job after another. But Mrs. Hawkins is without regret: "I can't help it. Sometimes the words just come out and I can't stop it. It feels like preaching the gospel." Thus in this and other passages, A Far Cry From Kensington supports speaking one's perception of truth under certain circumstances, regardless of consequence, even if that truth represents an enormous breach of upper class WASP manners and social decorum.

In Spark's vision as expressed here, building relationships of any kind solely for personal gain, manipulating others through callous, self-interested `networking,' and general toadyism are high crimes, all of which Hector Bartlett is guilty of in the extreme. In fact, Hector is one of Camille Paglia's "court hermaphrodites": "red hair en brosse, brown corduroy trousers, tweed coat with leather patches on the sleeves, a yellow tie and a green shirt: this was gaudy in those days, and Hector Bartlett was always dressed in bright colors. He was tall, with a pronounced stoop of the shoulders, which made him seem older than he was - I imagine at the time, he would be in his mid-thirties. His face was round with a second fat chin. He had a small but full baby-mouth as if forever asking to suck a dummy teat." Though many critics have felt otherwise, no amount condescending liberal piety can excuse Hector's routine aggressive subterfuge, moral mediocrity, and parasitic nature. It's unlikely that Spark chose this character's name randomly: "hectoring" is exactly what this he often does to those he encounters, and `Bartlett' suggests his "pudgy," pear-shaped physique.

Written in the plainest language possible but poetically conceived and executed, A Far Cry From Kensington belongs, with The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Girls of Slender Means (1963), The Driver's Seat (1970), The Takeover (1976), and Loitering With Intent, among others, with the very best of Spark's work.

I've been working as a flower designer for a while and decided to get this book mostly because it looked pretty and comprehensive. I was not disappointed. The book is fabulous and it has a little bit of everything, including tools. I like it a lot and highly recommend it for anyone interested in Flower Design.

This book is simply a must have in your library. Malcolm Hillier is one of the most talented in the industry. beautiful book!

The plant directory was extensive, but I would have liked a little more information on the growth cycle of the plants or the zones in which they grow. The basics are all there and I would suggest to anyone buying the book that they do read the introductory chapters. The floral arrangements are absolutely beautiful and the author also gives alternatives to the arrangements to suit your taste. Very nice.

This is a very wonderful book, which the Floral Design Institute uses as a supplement "textbook" to their syllabus. It is rather heavy but well worth every page as the book is packed with beautiful arrangements and spilling with creative ideas. There aren't a lot of step-by-step instructions on mechanics, but the book gets the point of selecting different material colors and textures across - which, in my opinion, is a significant factor to consider when it comes to floral arranging.

This is a gorgeous book, with gorgeous flowers. However, it's less of a learning tool, then a recipe book. While it does grace upon a few floral design basics, it doesn't spend a great deal of time on it. The raw information it conveys is pretty light, having more to do with warm, neutral, and stark colors, as well as a few techniques on drying flowers and taping them (etc). The bulk of the book is taken up by pictures of arrangements, and little "recipes" on how to make them. A good book for someone who doesn't want to learn the mechanics of floral design, a good book for the coffee table -- but ultimately, not a good book for someone who wants to study design on a more advanced or technical level.

This is an awesome and outstanding book from someone who understands chronic pain, fatigue and the loneliness it can bring. Judy points you to God. It is just what you need each day to remember to look at our Savior rather than our circumstances. Judy writes in a beautiful style that is easy to read, and profound in its conclusions. Judy gives help just when you think you can't go on another day in this painful earthly body. I hope to see many more books by Judy.

When you have a family member or friend in chronic pain, it's hard to know what to do or what to give them. Flowers are temporary and a little plant doesn't seem to be the right gift. Here's the perfect choice with this book from the personal stories of Judy Gann and the seventeen others where she gathered moving stories.

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT gives short bursts of hope in each devotion. The stories are pointed yet easy to read in a brief amount of time. The prayer is right to the target and a verse from the Bible or a relevant quotation wraps each reading in a tight, crafted package.

For example in the devotion called "The View From The Top" concludes with this quote from Warren Wiersbe, "You can't understand why the road doesn't get easier, why God doesn't remove the stones and straighten the path. If God did that, you might never get to the top, because the bumps are what you climb on."

When you cross paths with someone who is challenged to live with pain and chronic illness, this title gives the right dose of encouragement. I highly recommend it.

Two weeks ago, my precious mother-in-law passed away after a long battle with cancer. As I was cleaning out her things, I discovered her journal in which she had written down each day's pulse, BP, heart rate, nausea, hair loss, etc. Right next to the journal, listing all the terrible things happening to her body, was Judy Gann's book with page after page marked with all the wonderful things God was doing in her soul. Everyday of her suffering was met with a day of God's comfort through one of these touching devotionals. Now I get to read through these devotionals, sharing the same hope - the same comfort - my mother-in-law did in her last days. Our God is indeed the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles so we can comfort others when we ourselves have been comforted.

Judy's book is tender and empathetic. I've long felt that friends and family are great in a short-term crisis. But those who struggle with chronic illness (and she includes a wide variety of kinds in the book) often see their support fade away over time. It's a lonely road. Judy understands the experience, and offers bite-size wisdom for weary hearts, minds, and bodies battling trials that have no immediate end in sight.

This book is THE ideal gift for a friend or family member with ongoing health issues, or for someone newly diagnosed with a chronic illness.

The God of All Comfort by Judy Gann is the most helpful book that I have read in the course of my struggle with rheumatoid arthritis. This daily devotional has short readings that pack a lot of punch. Gann addresses all of the daily battles of those who suffer from chronic pain: guilt, anger, frustration, depression with stories of real people along with helpful Scripture. There were time when I opened it up and found exactly what I was feeling that very day. It felt as if the story of my life was written by a perfect stranger, and it was wonderful to know that I am not alone in my pain. It also gave my husband insight into how I feel on occasion. Gann's book is full of hope and understanding for those who suffer. Even if I don't have relief from the pain, I have a friend in Gann and a promise from God for a new, healthy body some day. A must read for those who suffer from chronic pain and for those who love them.

Molly takes you on a journey of memories long ago obscured by the hype and break neck pace of the digital age. A time when the country was in turmoil and everyone was trying to find a deeper meaning and context to the chaos. Molly, as our tour guide, is intelligent, sincere and on a personal quest to live a "useful" life. While it takes her 20 years to figure it out, it seems all too brief for this reader who couldn't put the book down and longs for the next installment. Molly's tale is at once tender, intelligent, at times infuriating, and completely human. I loved every word! Leigh Curran is an exceptional writer... poetic and profound.

I did not know what to expect when I picked up this book for reading on a business trip. I got so involved in the richly real characters that I could hardly tear myself away to go to meetings. I finished it on a plane, and I sat reading til the plane cleared out because I still had a couple of pages to go. The book is beautifully constructed, with an unpredictable, almost musical flow, and the characters will stay with me for life.

This is one of those "best friend" books you tell your best friends about, as I have done. There are moments and images that have stayed with me for the months since I read it.

If you came to consciousness in the '60s, or know someone who did, revisit the times and how they grew into a gentle wisdom in the '90s. I thank Leigh Curran for this beautiful work.

I was invited to a book signing by the author having known her casually many years ago. Aware of a play she had written I went, bought the book had it signed, gave Leigh Curran a hug and left. Having reading material at home that had to be attended to I left it in my car to be picked up when I had a few spare moments. Now almost three quarters of the way through I find her narrative so moving that I am portioning off the remainder so that I won't come to the end too quickly.

This book is involving, clear, passionate - so personal, fascinating, heart-breaking, heart-warming, illuminating and ultimately so inspiring. And fun. I was in tears and stitches and relished every word!

This book is involving, clear, passionate - so personal, fascinating, heart-breaking, heart-warming, illuminating and ultimately so inspiring. And fun. I was in tears and stitches and relished every word!

Do you remember Golden Books as a child. Do you still read them to your children? Then you won't want to miss this fascinating history.

If the names Poky Little Puppy, Tawny Scrawny Lion and Tootle bring a smile to your face, than this book might just be for you. Golden Legacy is extensively illustrated with a detailed history of the writers, artists and publishers of the Golden Book series. As a Disney fan, I especially appreciated the piece on Mary Blair's Golden Book work. I would have given this book 3-4 stars if I were just interested in the illustrations, but it is definitely a 5 star book because of the extensive history of the books.

I ordered this book because I worked for the company for 5 years and so I had a special interest in the subject. Honestly, I can't imagine why anyone else would have a burning interest in the subject. Too bad I wasn't able to read the book before I went to work for the company...I would have known who was most important there and why. In any case, I liked the book but am not sure I would recommend it.

If you grew up reading Little Golden Books, you will likely find this book very worthwhile. Along with it being an enjoyable trip down memory lane, it's full of interesting "behind the scenes" information. 2 things prevent me from giving it 5 stars: narrative is not the author's strong suit, so it's often difficult to keep track of the various people and logistics of the company, and the book ends rather abruptly. The other minor aggravation is that the captions for all the pictures on any 2 facing pages all appear under one picture. Nevertheless, I'm glad to have this volume in my library.

For the last 65 years, children have grown up on The Poky Little Puppy, The Color Kittens, The Saggy Baggy Elephant, Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever, dozens of other Golden Books titles. To celebrate the legacy of this innovative publishing venture, Leonard S. Marcus has released the art book "Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way." The collection is not only an exquisitely beautiful celebration of our collective childhood, but the rich history of the publishing company that changed the face of literacy in America.

The first Golden Books, published in 1942, were distributed through supermarket chains at a retail price of 25 cents. At the time, paper shortages had increased the average cost of children's picture books to $2, putting them financially out of reach for many consumers. Librarians initially resisted the mass-produced books with a place to draw your name inside, but parents could purchase a title a week, children could devour the books on the go like any other toy, and television and cartoon marketers quickly seized cross-promotional opportunities. Golden Books succeeded at their goal of democratizing reading and personal book ownership for families across America.

Given that this title was published by Golden Books, the overall tone is rather celebratory, but author Marcus does not censor all detractors. He covers the controversial flat fee payments to the creative talents behind early titles. Those authors and illustrators have received no residuals from books which are still bestsellers today, 65 years later.

A 2007 copy of The Poky Little Puppy is nearly identical to the original 1942 edition that launched a publishing empire. After reading Golden Legacy, the reader may well be inspired to seek out copies of both for his or her personal library.

This book, along with its sister, "Grace Walk" taught me how to trust in the Lord -- completely. I not only learned that the way to heaven is NOT through WORKING ONESELF TO DEATH but through prayer and love and faith. One particlar chapter still sticks vividly in my mind -- Chapter 7. In this chapter I learned that the Lord will not only ask me to do something, but then he'll help me do it, and he'll even see to its completion! That has been such a relief to my worry-wart mind. Grab this book and it's sister to TRULY learn how to serve the Lord, and to enjoy every minute of it!

product as described - shipped promptly - good transaction with seller. the book is fabulous - thanks

Inspirational and very informative. I have read both Grace Walk and Grace Rules and have developed a whole new approach to my church life and my life with Jesus. Highly recommend both books.

The person I got this for keeps raving about how good it is to read something that frees them from their past of living by such strict rules. They have enjoyed the freedom this book gives them and also lets them know more about the love of God.

Once again Steve McVey has broadened our understanding of Grace. In Grace Rules McVey shows us how to not only to live in Grace but how our lives will be different when Grace Rules in all areas of our lives. Like Grace Walk and Grace Amazing, McVey just gives us more indepth understanding of God's Awesome Grace. I highly recommend this book along with Grace Amazing and Grace Walk. McVey has hit the target again in helping us understand God's Grace. Grace Rules is a must read.

This is a story that is more frightening than anything Stephen King has ever writter. It's a realistic 'The Bad News Bears' that will make any reader with an ounce of empathy feel like crying. The harrowing life that the children of the Cabrini projects must endure in their day-to-day existence is a bleak background of violence, drugs, and society gone wrong. The fact that Little League baseball can serve as a beacon for these kids is almost as amazing that a society like ours can let projects like the one depicted in this book exist.

A powerful, important novel, and one that should be read by anyone interested in learning about the differences that exist in our society.

Coyle gave a great story. He was very descriptive. His writing had the affect to make me able to visualize every character and setting. I've spent time in the projects on many occasions' with friends who stay there and I see these things all the time, except children are growing more love for basketball and football. Yet they still show the heart on the court and gridiron as they did in this story in the diamond.

This book is such a great find. Unlike the movie, this is the non-fiction account of a group of volunteer's attempts to organize a little league team in Chigago's Cabrini Green project, possibly the most infamous in the country. Don't expect any Keanu Reeves ex-gambler coaches to show up. Do expect great candor from the kids and an unmistakable affection from the author (who never appears in the book) for the players. Despite all the news stories you'll ever hear about urban decay, public housing and gang violence, it will never have the impact that some of these stories do (3 players lose their fathers during the season, one's is incarcerated, others can identify a gun's calibre by sound.) This story isn't unremittingly grim though and never is it preachy. Coyle's gift is to just let the children and the coaches speak as the story of the Kikuyus journey to the championships unfolds. There are so many sweet funny moments in this book: Louis' Star Search audition, the trip to the Iowa baseball camp (where hillbillies are more terrifying that gang bangers), Jalen's "Rude Dude" bat. Despite the fact that there are no sudden changes of heart, the players never quite permanently comes together as a team, and the league's two founders end up as mortal enemies, this is nonetheless an uplifting story. Some of the kids have potential, some don't, the odds are against most. Maybe a summer of baseball can't save them but as one of the League's founders poignantly notes, "If we save one, then this League is a success."

The best news is that while Cabrini itself is being razed, the Near North League continues. It's a shame this book is out of print. It is definitely worth seeking out.

In my top 3 books, sometimes my favorite. I would like to know where the author was and want to find out what happened to each and every member the team. I know i can't write, but the author and I, think alike and you will enjoy seeing life through these kids eyes.

... should make this book available again now that the movie HARDBALL has hit the screens. I read this book about three years ago or so when it first came out and thought it was a great read. I gave it to a fellow baseball fan, who is a supervising probation officer in our county. For those who feel that youth baseball (and youth sports) can often be more than just a game, this book is for you. Watching the movie last week brought back thoughts of this book. The movie does some Hollywood license on the story line (they win the title in the film) but essentially is well done and gives the essential message the author sought to convey.

This book and the film should be required viewing for suburban Little League teams which have as "must have" items the latest version $250 bats, batting gloves and all the new fangled gear that passes for "essential" baseball equipment these days.

In the film one of the kids is asked by the coach character as the kid returns to his housing project home full of problems and malingerers "What do you do for fun?" The kid responds: "I plaky baseball for you....." Ain't baseball great. This book plus the a little too sappy film shows us all why.

I really enjoyed this Bible. I bought it for my brother, who is obsessed with the Marines. I love its compact size and leather bound cover. The details are really there, and it looks like someone really cared about the marine it was going to. I also love at the back there are prayers, songs, hymns, and devotions for a marine on the go, with an index to point to scripture references. Very good, it is like a devo and Bible on the go.

I couldn't believe that I got this Bible the day after I ordered it!! One suggestion to other Marine Recruit Moms, I had several people write encouraging notes to my son and then I put them in various places in the Bible. That way when he got the Bible he also got lots of reminders that there were people back home that loved him and are very proud of him.

my son was going in the marines right after graduation, so I got him this as a grduation gift. It has prayers from president Washington to Bush. I saw my son reading it a lot the week before he went in.

I purchased this bible for my son before he left for bootcamp the first of March. He also recieved one at his farewell party. He was so glad to have them and has one with him. I looked all over for the right size of bible to get him and found this on Amazon. This is the perfect gift for anyone to purchase a Marine.

My husband and I presented this Bible to our son as a gift prior to entering boot camp. The Marine Corps is very particular about what a recruit can bring with him/her when they enter boot camp. One of the very few things they are allowed to bring is a personal Bible, and then, only if it is small enough to fit in the recruit's pocket. We were very happy to know that this Bible met the requirements and he was allowed to bring it with him. On top of that, it was a very handsome book with the USMC seal embossed in gold on the front. We were very, very pleased with it.

Healing Promises, the second book in Amy Wallace's Defender's of Hope series reunites all of our favorite characters from book one, Ransomed Dreams. Though all the characters are present, Healing Promises focuses on FBI Agent Clint Rollins and his oncologist wife, Sara, who struggles when Clint is diagnosed with cancer.

The book charges out of the gate with scenes featuring Clint, Michael, and Steven hard at work in the Crimes Against Children Unit at the FBI. As in Ransomed Dreams, the suspense plot in Healing Promise revolves around finding missing children, but this time we have a serial killer on the loose. One who loves to share his thinking and deeds with the readers in a very realistic way.

Healing Promises is a solid read that delves deeply into the characters personal lives and their struggle with trusting God to care for them. Wallace brings us a powerful message that we all can relate to as we battle on a daily basis with the many challenging blows we face.

In Healing Promises, Wallace has followed many of the writing techniques employed by good writers. The most notable, is to make your characters suffer and when you think they've had enough, make them suffer more. Wallace takes the characters in this book to their breaking point and then ups the ante, much as God seems to do in our lives. Wallace has done a thorough job of researching cancer treatments and provides the readers with just the right amount of information to make them understand the tremendous struggle involved in surviving this disease, but not too much to overpower the story.

Though this is a suspense novel, as it has the missing children theme woven through out and has very realistic scenes that delve into the killer's motivations, I found it to be equally or more so a contemporary novel featuring faith, love, loss, and relationship struggles. The suspense plot moves the story forward, but it's the characters that make this book well worth the read. So if you're looking for a rush to the finish action packed suspense book this isn't the story for you, but if you want to combine suspense and savor a little romance and a lot of personal life struggles along the way, pick up Healing Promises. You won't be disappointed.

The bullet that put FBI agent Clint Rollins in the hospital, just might have saved his life. The resulting tests show that he has cancer. Sara, his wife, an oncologist, knows exactly what they're facing. She's a Christian, but now her faith is faltering. Clint was involved in trying to catch a serial killer who preyed on young boys. He and Sara struggle to cope with his illness, as the case of the disappearing boys pulls him into a murky world of unimaginable evil. A strong faith message blended with great story telling.

Clint Rollins is a strong man. A well-respected and courageous FBI agent, he loves his job, loves bringing down the bad guys. But then a gunshot wound brings him down...and coincidentally saves his life when routine hospital tests reveal cancer. Maybe...just maybe...they've caught it in time to prevent the worst from happening.

As an oncologist, Dr. Sara Rollins works with cancer patients on a daily basis, constantly striving to bring them hope in often hopeless situations. But when the deadly disease strikes the man she loves, her entire life spins out of control. In the midst of the chaos of chemo treatments, mood swings, and depression--her own as well as Clint's--Sara struggles with diminishing faith and swiftly ebbing strength.

Clint insists on returning to work well before his doctors grant approval. Despite the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy, he's determined to stop a serial kidnapper who likes to play God with the lives of little brown-haired, blue-eyed boys. He too struggles with discouragement and wavering faith in a God he's always trusted implicitly.

For the kidnapper, Clint's interference is a thirteen-year-old poison. He fully intends to see the detective--and his family--pay for everything he has lost.

Healing Promises is an emotional journey through the lives of very real characters with heart-breakingly genuine problems. It's a lesson in trust, a vivid portrait of humanity in crisis and faith put to the ultimate test. It's a picture of tenacity and triumph, of joy and sorrow. And it's a beautiful example of learning to lean on a God who "giveth and taketh away," who loves unconditionally and without ceasing--a God who is good...all the time.

Amy Wallace delivers in Healing Promises. Absolutely unforgettable!

Amy Wallace once again tackles tough subject matter with skill and grace.

I'd heard mixed feedback before opening the cover of Healing Promises and I was concerned that I might not love it. One friend mentioned feeling a little like an emotional punching bag during her time with Clint and Sara.

I see where she was coming from -- the themes of cancer and child predators are grueling at best. Wallace fills her novel with clinical details and law enforcement procedure and the effects of the truth in those details applied to the lives of her characters. At times I needed to take a break from the emotion. Anyone dealing with close instances of child abuse or critical health issues might want to read the first chapter to get a feel for where Wallace takes the reader.

But the reader's emotional involvement in the lives of the characters and the angst over the drama shows Wallace's skill with storytelling. Her characters feel like real people and compassion comes into play. With several points of view the reader is able to get a sense of the major players as the story progresses -- a front row seat to the struggles and triumphs and the failings and sorrows.

Healing Promises continues the tale of Steven and Gracie so readers of Ransomed Dreams should feel at home, but Healing Promises can stand alone. Fans of Karen Kingsbury might want to check into Amy Wallace. I need to add a sensitivity warning. Some scenes are brutal. The novel is full of suffering and details that might make a reader squirm.

Amy Wallace can write a gripping tale of romantic suspense like none other. And Healing Promises was so riveting I finished it quickly despite my busy schedule. The characters were all very well developed and felt so real. I loved how romantic many of the scenes were, especially with Clint and Sara. Yet, they had their marital challenges, too. There were never pat answers to the trials they went through but true emotion and spiritual struggles abounded. I loved the honesty and the detail regarding Clint's struggle with his health. The research was very well done. I also loved how the author got me hooked in advance on the characters of Michael and Hanna. It's a no brainer that I am going to want to read the next installment in this series. I loved these secondary characters and the issues they struggled with. Very well done. This story had so many touching scenes and emotionally gripping conflicts that I can't pick one to discuss without spoiling the story. So I'll refrain. I have to say, however, that the POV of the killer was pretty creepy but very realistic. The psychology of the man was right on target and the hunt for the man who killed children was well paced enough to keep you on your seat and holding your breath. Sometimes when I read a book I find myself wanting to skip over some points of view to get to others but this story was well balanced in that respect. I'm just so impressed with this story. I loved it even more than the first book. It can only keep getting better. Highly recommended. This book is a winner!