The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty

The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty
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Buy this book

The Street Stops at St. Anthony's

Above and Beyond

Awesome book

Inspiration for whatever you do
The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty
Adrian Wojnarowski
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000BOB310

Book Description

On the mean streets of Jersey City, St. Anthony High School is more than a tiny brick schoolhouse—it is a beacon of hope. Though the school constantly teeters on the brink of bankruptcy, it is held together by Felician nuns devoted to helping students overcome the scourges of poverty by preparing them for college educations and a brighter future. And each year from the student body of just over 200, Coach Bob Hurley forges an elite nationally ranked basketball team through hard work, his coaching genius, and the sheer force of his personality. In thirty-one years as a coach, Hurley has won twenty-two state championships, two USA Today national titles, and has sent all of his players to college except for one (including his son Bobby, one of the greatest players in college basketball history). Award-winning sportswriter Adrian Wojnarowski brings the stories of the St. Anthony 2003-2004 season to vivid life, as Hurley struggles to turn a troubled group of players into state champions and national title contenders again—while keeping the school he loves alive to continue its educational mission at any cost.

Customer Reviews:

Buy this book.......2007-08-09

If you're a coach this is for you. If you're a sports fan this is for you. I loved it so much I bought a book for my entire coaching staff. And we are a hockey team! There are a lot lessons and values that Coach Hurley teaches. More importantly it's about life. He never let up on these kids and pushed them to success. Challenged them to succeed. At that age level they need guidance, they need someone to sponsor them. Then its up to them to follow the path Coach Hurley gives them. It's amazing how a time tested path still can't lead some kids. It's a struggle between the kids backgrounds and the future they can have
Wow what a great book. What I liked is that these kids are now in college so we can follow their careers.
The one player that sticks out to me is Sean McCready. Great talent, bad guidance (family). Now he is sitting out the 2008 season because he transferred. Coach Hurley was right!

I also loved the fact that he sweeps the floor. That's his time, and we all need our own time. But coach is dedicated to a school that is struggling. There is no way a school like this should be on the verge of bankruptcy. Coach could leave and make millions, but he doesn't. Because if he does the school will close.
BUY THE BOOK

The Street Stops at St. Anthony's .......2007-06-05

Adrian Wojnarowski's "The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty" is one of the best sports and leadership books I have read this past year.

St. Anthony's is a private Catholic High School in Jersey City, NJ, with 230 students (120 boys). Students come from an area where 16% pass the HS proficiency test and where the local drug-infested, back-sliding culture has a hold on the kids. Despite its size and location, St. Anthony's basketball teams have gone undefeated four times, have won two USA Today national titles, and 24 New Jersey Parochial state championships. The basketball program has developed 200 college players, including 5 who went on to the National Basketball Association.

St. Anthony's is a special and safe place under Srs. Felicia and Alan and legendary Coach, Bob Hurley - the streets stop here. Their focus in athletics and academics has been to help kids get to the finish line. They share a collective value that there is no shortcut to success.

While Sister Felicia and Sister Alan play prominent roles in the success of St. Anthony's, "The Miracle of St. Anthony" is mostly about Bob Hurley and the class of 2004 - the most athletically and socially underachieving team in St. Anthony's history. Yet, under Hurley's coaching leadership, the team went undefeated, winning the NJ State Championship and was named by USA Today as the top high school team of the year.

Hurley struggles with the problems of the inner city and sees the potential in these kids that they do not see in themselves. He has always been a disciple of John Wooden... fundamentals, well-conditioned, team play, and defense...and he has always been a no-nonsense driver.

He creates an expectation of performance and accountability that the kids will not find anywhere else in their lives, and helps them out the door to life with values and a voice to become the best they can. And despite his daunting ways, the kids respect Hurley and when returning after graduation, they always come home to the warm embrace of family. The relationship changes from tough task master to a friend.

"St. Anthony's" covers the entire basketball year from pre-season preparations to the championship game. Wojnarowski provides the ups and downs of the season - injuries, players leaving the team, tough wins, and all the key relationships that makes St. Anthony's the special place it is.

This is a great read for anyone interested in coaching, leadership, and basketball.

Above and Beyond.......2007-04-12

Even those who aren't fans of basketball will enjoy this story of a coach who works hard to help kids make the most of themselves and their skills.

Awesome book.......2007-01-12

My husband is a basketball coach and an avid reader. He described this book as one of the best books he has ever read. Purchased it on Amazon.com for a great price and it arrived quickly in new excellent condition. I would recomment it.

Inspiration for whatever you do.......2006-11-06

I'm not a big basketball fan. I didn't know Bob Hurley. I wasn't familiar with St Anthony. And I've spent little time in and around Jersey City. But after receiving a recommendation from a friend that this book was worth the read, I could not put it down.

This is a compelling tale of someone who cares enough to go way above and beyond what most of us are willing to do to give back to an important cause. Many Dads coach basketball just long enough to get their kids lots of playing time. Bob Hurley has done the same long past his "own" kids worked through his system. He has dedicated his life to helping kids get the most from themselves despite all the odds. He happens to use the basketball court as his classroom and the game as an analogy for life.

Most of us even casual fans have heard of Bobby Hurley, one of two sons of the books hero, and a Duke basketball legend. What wasn't known was that Bobby received his training at the court of his Dad. He, together with a host of high school players, have all learned life lessons as well as the skills required to be great players from the master.

I couldn't help feeling guilty that Bob, who could have gone virtually anywhere to coach, gave it all up to dedicate his life to giving back to those less privileged than most of us. Adrian Wojnarowski, the books talented author, has given us the opportunity to learn more about this dedicated individual and perhaps get us all thinking about how we all might give a little more back to life. And I almost forgot, it also provides a gripping story of an undefeated high school basketball season.

All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football and The Miracle Season

Average customer rating:

Persistance Pays Off
Great book about a great guy. Buy it, read it, give it or recommend it to someone!
MVB (Most Valuable Book)
The Rise of a Star
Slightly Above Average Athlete's Autobiography

All Things Possible: My Story of Faith, Football and The Miracle Season
Kurt Warner
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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Comeback

ASIN: 006251718X

Amazon.com

After being cut by the Green Bay Packers during training camp in 1994, Kurt Warner found himself working the graveyard shift at the Hy-Vee grocery store in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and living with his girlfriend Brenda and her two children in the basement of her parents' house. Just over five years later, Kurt completed his journey from supermarket to Super Bowl when he led the St. Louis Rams to victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.

In All Things Possible, Warner tells the story of his life both on and off the field, and the faith that keeps him going through bad times (scraping up $1.95 in change to buy gas to make it home in freezing weather) and good times (being named Super Bowl MVP). As an outspoken Christian, Warner peppers his gridiron reminiscences with expressions of his beliefs. Indeed, he sees this book--and his success--as "a forum from which to share the values, lessons, and faith that made it all possible." Add this to his list of achievements. --M. Stein

Book Description

NFL sensation Kurt Warner tells the incredible story of faith and perseverance that captured the hearts of millions and rocketed him from obscurity to become MVP and Super Bowl champion.

Customer Reviews:

Persistance Pays Off .......2007-02-24

I had read this book after INSIGHT FOR LIVING promoted it. And I did enjoy it since after the Atlanta Olympics the games had whetted my need for seeing exciting competition on TV and I started watching por football again for a few years. It also gave me and my therapist Lisa something to talk about besides movies.
I am reminded of a Vince Lombardi training film we had to watch in Army Basic Training at Ft. Dix, NJ on the subject on Second Effort, and how persistance pays off. That and how my Drill Sergeant had once told me "Stick to Your Guns when you know you are right".
I liked how the rich sucessful Kurt had shared with us that his wife and he got food stamps at one time. And like he said, people give you hate even over using them-not to mention little harassment by food Stamp cashiers like trying to deny your stamps because they thought your signature did not perfectly match the one of your ID card!
I know after I had read his book I used to joke to myself that if ol' Kurt has a bad season or two, he will find himself on food stamps again! And after that thought, he did injure a finger on his throwing hand, ended up a second stringer and then was traded to the Arizona Cardinals-a bad break!
I did feel bad for Kurt when Gordon Robertson had grilled him on THE 700 CLUB about him "living in sin" with his fiance Brenda. And how he met her in a bar. You can see that this man does not put on an air of pretend spirutality. I thought of a chapter from an INSIGHT FOR LIVING study guide "Portrait of a saint, warts and all!
When I wrote a Christian Witness for my first attempt at writing as was recommended in a John Irving novel, Word publisher was honest with me and said that Christian Witnesses do not sell very well unless the author is a celebrity or media minister. I am sure it is his pro football career that got his book in the door.
I was sort of propehetically thinking about the words of Solomon from Ecclesiastes "The race is not to the swift, the battle is not to the strong, but time and chance overtake them all!"
This is a good illustration of that as well because Kurt went to a small college, did not make it into the NFL right away,and had to gain experience in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe. If I remeber right he even said he sat the bench in college as well!
I thought maybe God was showing me from my hard times that anyone can find themselves on welfare, no matter how smart or educated they were. You might even just be somone suffering from some sort of discrimination-like you don't fit inb with the crowd! I had seen on a news magazine how a man from Europe with a PhD in Psychology had found himself on welfare for five years after a patient falsely accused him of sexually mollesting him! During the Clinton Administration even the News Radio station WCBS had a public service commerical FOOD STAMPS; CHECK IT OUT. And this was an all news radio station in New York City which professionals listen to.

Great book about a great guy. Buy it, read it, give it or recommend it to someone!.......2006-06-29

Kurtis Eugene Warner first came to my attention
when I saw him play in two ArenaBowls. I knew
right then that some brave NFL Coach (turned
out to be Dick Vermeil) would pick him up and
Warner would lead that team to the Super Bowl!

Rank this book up there with Roger Staubach's
First Down and Lifetime to go! Great shots of
Kurt during his Arena Football days, as well.

Brenda and Kurt are a fine couple which show
how good MOST ALL AMER-I-CAN couples used to
be before the Femininst-Facsist cabal & Playboy
mentality in Men took over the minds of a goodly
portion of the Americans of the last few genera-
tions.

MVB (Most Valuable Book).......2004-09-27

In general,I don't review biographies of athletes, because they are what you'd expect them to be, self-serving. So, other than Deion Sander's book, this is the only one I've reviewed.
The reason for this review is simple...I highly respect Kurt Warner, and his book is actually pretty darn good. Is the fact that I respect and admire him the reason I rate this book so highly? Perhaps, but I'd like to think it's more to do with the actual story than the man.
This book isn't self-serving to the degree that one would anticipate, largely because I think Kurt was a little overwhelmed with what he accomplished in the miracle season (this book was written just after the Ram's Super Bowl victory, so I believe Kurt was still under the afterglow). Having said that, however, I do believe if the book was written now that it would be quite similar, due to the fact that Kurt's faith has kept him humble.
The background on his life and his days in the Arena League were surprisngly interesting, but the highlight of the book is his time with the Rams during the 1999 season. If you are a Rams fan, it's a great way to re-live a monumental moment in St. Louis history that, at the time of this writting, looks more and more like it will not be duplicated.
I would, in light of the last few seasons which have seen Kurt hurt, benched, waived, and in a new uniform in New York, like to see Kurt write ANOTHER book, detailing how his faith has helped him through those ordeals that took him from the King of the Hill in St. Louis to baby-sitter for Eli Manning in New York. THAT would be a hard read, because as I mentioned before my fondness for the man, but it would be MUCH more interesting, and I think would have a larger impact in terms of people looking for faith inspiration in the midst of turmoil.

The Rise of a Star.......2004-01-27

All Things Possible is the autobiography of football star Kurt Warner. Though in the media his story is often related as a meteoric rise to stardom, we learn that it was only through time, perseverance and God's grace that Warner ever got a chance to live out his dream.

I was drawn to Kurt Warner's story for several reasons. First, I am a fan of the St Louis Rams, the team with which Warner has had his success. Second, I love stories about underdogs, and Warner's story is just that. Third, I love to read about other Christians and the experiences that shaped them.

Kurt Warner was an underdog and no stranger to rejection. For years he faced rejection as he tried to live out his dream of playing professional football. He was turned down by the major colleges, eventually ending up at the University of Northern Iowa where he spent three years being a backup and only one year leading the team. When he graduated he went undrafted in the NFL entry draft and was passed up by every professional league. This went on for several years until finally he accepted a position as quarterback in the lowly Arena League. After two seasons of leading the Iowa Barnstormers, he was given a chance to play in NFL Europe and finally, at the age of twenty seven, was picked up by the St Louis Rams. He spent his first season in the big leagues as a third string quarterback and saw action in only one game. By the 1999 season he had moved up to the position of backup quarterback, and after an injury to the primary quarterback, found himself right where he wanted to be. He was untested, unproven and no one believed he would make an impact.

Who could have foreseen the season Warner would have? Warner's 1999 season was one of the most successful seasons ever for a quarterback and the most successful for the Rams as Warner led the team to a Superbowl victory while picking up the league's Most Valuable Player award.

Kurt Warner is a Christian and credits his faith for his success. He never misses an opportunity to tell others about his faith and is probably the most vocal Christian professional athlete.

Though I enjoyed the story, I found the book poorly written. It used many colloquialisms and it is not unusual to read sentences such as, "They were like, `Yeah right.'" He also speaks about being "totally bummed out." Warner also comes across as a tad pretentious and proud. I believe he is a humble man who is well aware of Who is responsible for his success, but does not always convey that as accurately as he might like.

All-in-all this is an enjoyable book and represents what is hopefully only the first chapter of Warner's career. He is a man who has faced countless hardships and has persevered in faith. If sports figures are to be role models in our society, I am glad that there are men like Warner who proudly proclaim their faith.

Note. The book ends at the end of the 1999 season. The next season Warner was very good, but missed several games due to injuries. In 2001 he again led his team to the Superbowl but lost the big game when New England scored a last-second field goal. In 2002 he missed more than half the season to injuries and looked very bad when he was playing. In 2003 he won the starter's job, but played terribly and was benched after the first game. It is expected that 2004 will find him on a new team where he will have the change to be a starter once again.

Slightly Above Average Athlete's Autobiography.......2004-01-14

I generally dislike autobiographies in general, and athletic autobiographies in particular. I just believe it takes a really unique individual to convey their story as objectively as possible. But, my wife's best friend, Sarah, gave this book to me about a year ago (she loves Warner and the Rams) and I've finally gotten around to reviewing it.

To his credit, Warner is very upfront about a lot of things, notably his religion. He is a very devote Christian and it is nice to see someone stand up for their beliefs in an age where a lot of people literally hide their beliefs. And his story is rather compelling; a quarterback who came from nowhere to lead his team to an NFL championship.

But, there's a recurring problem with these books. They always seem very rushed and it seems that either the winning coach or the winning quarterback from the Super Bowl each year is expected to hurry their life story onto the market. The problem is, these guys generally still have a lot of life left to live, so why not wait until they are retired (as in retirement age, not just retired from their sport) to tell us their life story? I know, I know, in fifty years no one may even rember Kurt Warner, so I guess you strick while the iron is hot. But I would almost much rather read about how he is dealing with his current struggles in the NFL, rather than culminating with his crowning moment.

Book Description

New York Times Bestselling Author.

Centuries ago, in another lifetime, the man Jillian Llewellyn loved tried but failed to save her. Now, in this season of miracles, two lost souls are being given a second chance.

Since her husband's death, jewelry designer Jillian Llewellyn has withdrawn, focusing only on her work. But something unimaginable is going to shatter her safe world, drawing her into a web of danger and desire. At the center of the storm is a handsome stranger, Robert Marston. The new silent partner at Llewellyn Enterprises, Marston is as formidable as he is intimidating . . . as mysterious as he is familiar. The connection she feels is bone deep -- as if they've known each other before.

When several bizzare accidents strike Jillian, a chilling fear that someone wants to harm her bigins to grow. But who would want her dead? A co-worker? A member of her own close-knit family? Against her will she is drawn to Robert, unsure whether he is her salvation . . . or her damnation. Now, as the ghosts of the past are resurrected, Jillian and Robert must forge a new destiny as they unlock the timeless secrets of passion and betrayal . . .

Customer Reviews:

An OK Story !.......2006-02-08

I was really wanting to read a Christmas story. Aside from the fact that there is some snow on the ground and a wonderful house in Connecticut,it wasn't much of a holiday read. An OK story however, especially if you believe in reincarnation. Not one of my favorites, but I would venture into another Graham novel if it came highly recommended.
Guy De Rosa
Los Angeles, California

Cheesy at times, but succulent nonetheless........2003-04-06

I have to say that I loved this book. I found it at a library book sale, and started it with unease. Within the first few pages, I was hooked.

I'm not really sure what it is about this book that's so great, but it is. It's a great romance, one of those meant-to-be stories that are so appealing. Especially since the characters seem to be fighting their feelings for the majority of the book! In addition, it's a delightful mystery. I have to say that this is THE FIRST mystery book I've ever read where I've suspected the culprit before he/she was revealed. That may not say much about the author's craft, but I loved it. For...us more gullible readers out there.

All in all, I would definetely say that this is a wonderful book. I read it twice in one day-once you pick it up, there's no puting it back!

A Good Holiday Story!.......2002-12-07

This was a good holiday story and really should not be missed by fans of Heather Graham. This story really has it all. Past lives, Ghost, Intrigue, and Romance.

The characters are likeable and the book was well plotted. Although this book is not as great as some of Ms. Graham's past books it is still worth picking up and reading. It is really good at putting you in the holiday spirit, although it would make for a great read regardless of the time of year.

Stay away from this book........2002-10-23

This is one of the worst "romance" novels I have read in a long, long time. The characters are not likable or realistic and the story is plodding and boring.

Not up to usual standards.......2002-01-06

Sorry, but I didn't think this was one of Graham's best. The heroine is too passive, too cowardly, too stupid. 3 Heroine Survival Tips: (1) Got a family history book that details how an ancestress (whom you suspect you may be the reincarnation of) died? Then don't read the tale in 3 separate parts (and chapters), especially if someone keeps trying to kill you. (2) If your boyfriend points out that your family members are the most likely/only suspects, believe him. And, finally, (3) If you're trapped in a burning building and there's a window you can break and jump out of, do so. Don't stand around looking out of the window, confused, waiting for your boyfriend to show up outside and shout up to you "Break the window and jump!" Pretty much every woman on the North American continent knows and lives by these rules, and doesn't feel kindly towards fictional characters who don't. And read some of Ms. Graham's other books, they're much better.

Silhouette Christmas Stories, 1987: Bluebird Winter/ Henry the Ninth/ Season of Miracles/ The Humbug Man

Average customer rating:

Save your money

Silhouette Christmas Stories, 1987: Bluebird Winter/ Henry the Ninth/ Season of Miracles/ The Humbug Man
Linda Howard , Dixie Browning , Ginna Gray , and Diana Palmer
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

Night of Love (Silhouette Desire, No. 799)
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Love by Proxy (Men Made in America, No. 13)
All That Glitters
Maggie's Dad (Silhouette Special Edition, #991)

ASIN: 0373482124

Customer Reviews:

Save your money.......2006-11-26

From the back cover:

BLUEBIRD WINTER by Linda Howard
Kathleen Fields had to reach the clinic, but a Christmas blizzard left her stranded without hope for her life--or her unborn baby's. Then Derek Taliferro arrived with his doctor's skill, his caring heart. Together, they brought Kathleen's child into the world and discovered love, the greatest gift of all.

HENRY THE NINTH by Dixie Browning
Being fixed up with her landlady's brother was not Mary Pepper's idea of a good time. But when a horrible cold and a horrendous work schedule obliterated Christmas, Henry whisked her off for a late celebration on Hatteras Island, where they found themselves creating some rather unusual new traditions of their own...

SEASON OF MIRACLES by Ginna Gray
The town spinster, tenderhearted Kathryn Talmidge had long adored Daniel Westwood in silence. The gruff widower finally proposed--but soley to give his kids a new mom for Christmas! Though motherhood and sharing Dan's life were all Kath had ever dreamed of, now she prayed for the miracle of his love...

THE HUMBUG MAN by Diana Palmer
Montana rancher Tate Hollister had to be the grouchiest, grumpiest humbug man widow Maggie Jeffries had ever met. But, as the holiday season progresssed, Maggie discovered that Tate wasn't completely immune to the Christmas spirit--his loving embrace on a cold winter's night could prove to be the gift of a lifetime...

And my review:

BLUEBIRD WINTER is a story that has been reissued in Silhouette's "Delivered by Christmas" collection. I've already reviewed it on that products page, but I'll repeat it here: I didn't like this story. I know not everyone feels the same way I do, but I don't like graphic descriptions of childbirth. I'm quite squeamish, and that's just not the kind of thing I look for in a romance novel. Children being born - fine. Talking about blood, etc - no. I tried to get past that, but the story didn't capture me. One star.

HENRY THE NINTH was another story that I didn't bother to finish. There was nothing glaring wrong or awful about it, it just wasn't very engrossing. The author liked to head-hop a lot, which was rather annoying. Also, this was a story that was almost all prose and very little dialogue. It felt a little rambling at times. Two stars.

SEASON OF MIRACLES was the only story worth reading in this collection. It was an okay way to spend an hour, but nothing knew is covered here. The marriage of convenience that becomes love, the wife secretly in love with her husband (a man she's pined after since she was sixteen), an unexpected pregnancy, an adorable little boy who longs for a mother, a sullen teenager who wants nothing to do with a new mother, etc, etc. Nothing all that memorable or outstanding. Fine for a one-time read, but not a story you would bother to re-read. Three stars.

THE HUMBUG MAN was, unforunately, another letdown. I've yet to be able to finish a single story by this author. The hero was very annoying, and I could not see what the heroine ever saw in him. I also felt that there was no real attraction between the characters apart from sex. That just isn't enough for a satisfying romance. And the heroine had the weirdest habit of saying comments that made no sense, or just came out of nowhere. Instead of coming across as delightfully eccentric (which is probably what the author was aiming for), the heroine just came across as strange. If I met her in real life, I'd probably start backing away slowly. Plus, the whole thing about her being a widow with a son, yet knowing almost nothing about sex is a tired, and over-done theme. Why is it that a heroine can never enjoy sex, even with her late husband, until the hero gets his hands on her? Sigh. Two stars.

There are far better Christmas romance anthologies out there. In fact, other collections released by Silhouette have had at least one story that was worth keeping. See my list "Christmas romance books worth buying" for a list of my favorites. As for this installment from Silhouette, I would recommend that you save your money.

Average customer rating:

Yes, I cried too
I liked the movie better!
WARNING - DO NOT READ IN PUBLIC.....
Fantastic
A Christmas Tradition...

Season for Miracles
Marilyn Pappano
Manufacturer: Warner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0446603562

Customer Reviews:

Yes, I cried too.......2006-03-17

What a wonderful book. I have not seen the movie - not sure I would be able to really, but I tell you, the book is a great read. You will not want to put it down. I think I read this in one sitting or at least tried to. The opening chapter just broke my heart and even after reading it several months ago, I still think about it and how the story unfolded. I am so happy how Ms. Pappano took us on a journey, had us crying at times, laughing at times and in the end...we were smiling.

That's what books are all about, huh?

After reading this book, I purchased every book I could get my hands on from Ms. Pappano's.

Please, read this book...order it from either from Amazon or your local library if they have it. You will not regret it.

I liked the movie better!.......2005-10-13

Well, I hate to be the one who "breaks up the party", but I was dissapointed when I finished reading this book, the first one I have read by this author. Part of reason I didn't really like it may be due to the fact that I already own the movie (from Hallmark Hall of Fame - I first saw it on TV), and have watched it every year since 1999. I am aware that the book came first, but I discovered it second. (This may be one of those things that you will like whichever you experienced first, I don't know.) That being said, I may have expected more from the book than the average reader has not seen the movie.

The main difference between the book and the movie was it's family friendliness. The movie was very sweet and the romance was completely clean (no sex, just kissing) and could have been rated "G". Just a very nice, heartwarming movie that you could watch with your kids. But the book had several sex scenes in it (some of which were fairly explicit.) I know that it won't bother everyone, but it did bother me.

However, whether or not you liked the book, I can almost guarantee that you will like the movie. You can find it right here on the Amazon website, on DVD or VHS.

WARNING - DO NOT READ IN PUBLIC............2003-06-29

if you are afraid to be seen crying. I read this book during my commute on the train but was so engrossed I did not care if I was being watched. I was so touched by this book I have given to all my dearest friends with the warning that they will be touched. I have worked with social services and court systems in two states. Yes - this may be the work of Ms. Pappano's creativity - but there are parts that ring very true. I fell in love with each child, Allana, Josie and Brendan. All very different believable little personalities striving for one common goal - to keep their little family together with a little help from devine intervention. This is not just a holidy season book. This is the first book in a wonderful series that reminds the reader even in the worst of times we must hang on to our hope.

Fantastic.......2002-11-23

The first time I read this book, I cried at the end! I dont normally cry reading a book, but this was a really great story. I recommend it and all the other ones in the Bethlehem series!

A Christmas Tradition..........2002-03-31

It's not Christmas for me until I've read the story "A Season for Miracles." It's uplifting and Christmas-y without being syrupy or overwrought. While I always enjoy Ms. Pappano's books, the Bethlehem stories are my favorites. If you haven't read this, don't spend time watching "A Wonderful Life" for the umpteenth time--reach for this book!

Amazing!: Celebrating the Mets' Miracle 2006 Season

Average customer rating:

Picture perfect!

Amazing!: Celebrating the Mets' Miracle 2006 Season
Kevin Kernan
Manufacturer: Triumph Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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The New York Mets (Team Spirit)
Tales from the Mets Dugout
Mets Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan! (Essential (Triumph))

ASIN: 1572439661

Book Description

Not since a certain team of destiny came into its own during the mid-1980s has there been so much excitement at Shea Stadium in New York. Some bold maneuvering by general manager Omar Minaya and some inspired play by veterans and youngsters alike have the New York Mets off to their most successful season since the 2000 Subway Series. Amazing! Celebrating the Mets' Miracle 2006 Season goes on the field, in the clubhouse and behind the scenes to chronicle this historic summer of baseball in New York. Longtime New York Post columnist Kevin Kernan talks with the stars who have made this season possible as well as with manager Willie Randolph and GM Minaya to understand their roles in the success that has been this year.

Customer Reviews:

Picture perfect!.......2007-01-04

You don't have to be a fan of the Mets, (like me), to enjoy this review of the New York Mets 2006 season that took them to the verge of the World Series. Just enjoy the wonderful baseball photography, the action pictures are excellent. This soft back book just goes to show you, you don't need to buy an expensive hardback to enjoy reading about your team and perusing the wonderful pictures throughout. A great purchase and I'm not even a Mets fan!!!!

Curse to Verse: The Boston Red Sox Miracle Season From A to Z

Average customer rating:

Curse to Verse: The Boston Red Sox Miracle Season From A to Z
Geoffrey Hanson
Manufacturer: Red Leaf Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0974737488

Product Description

Curse to Verse: The Boston Red Sox Miracle Season from A to Z is an 8 x 8 hardcover book featuring a poem that incorporates events from the 2004 season. As the poem moves through the alphabet from A to Z, the narrative highlights and celebrates all 25 players on that momentous and historic Boston Red Sox roster . The book also touches upon the history of heartbreak that plagued the Sox since 1918. The poem is accompanied by beautiful illustrations by Miles Lewis. It is 80 pages long and features close to 50 illustrations.

Miracle Season! the Inside Story of the 1991 Atlanta Braves' Race for Baseball Glory

Average customer rating:

Great Color And Great Memories

Miracle Season! the Inside Story of the 1991 Atlanta Braves' Race for Baseball Glory
I. J. Rosenberg
Manufacturer: Turner Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Encore!: The Inside Story of the Atlanta Braves' Second Consecutive National League Championship
Tomahawked: Inside Story of the Atlanta Braves Tumultuous Season
Bravo!: The Inside Story of the Atlanta Braves' 1995 World Series Championship

ASIN: 1878685201

Customer Reviews:

Great Color And Great Memories.......2005-02-19

I've been a Braves fan since 1977, and the 1991 season still stands as the greatest rush I've ever experienced. From nine back at the All-Star break, the Braves put on a pennant race for the ages. When it was over, they had outlasted the Dodgers by one game.

So they went up against the now two-time NL East champs, the Pirates. Trailing three games to two, they went back to Pittsburgh and not only beat them - they didn't even allow them to score!!! 21-year old Steve Avery and 24-year old John Smoltz - the only Brave still with the team in 2005 - made believers of all of baseball.

And then came the greatest World Series in history.

Still.

I only hate how it ended - and I can't blame that one on Rosenberg. Enjoy the book.

$A Season Of Miracles: Shepherd Moon\Wishing On A Starr\Blind Faith\A Christmas Serenade$
Average customer rating:

A Season Of Miracles: Shepherd Moon\Wishing On A Starr\Blind Faith\A Christmas Serenade
Rochelle Alers , Adrianne Byrd , Kayla Perrin , and Janice Sims
Manufacturer: Kimani Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

Multicultural | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Pleasure Seekers
Seduction, Westmoreland Style (Silhouette Desire)
Beyond Temptation (Kimani Romance)
Stranger In My Arms (Arabesque)
Dreaming of You (Grayson Novels)

ASIN: 1583148132

Book Description

Shepherd Moon by Rochelle Alers

Tragedy forced Rhianna Campbell to leave the small town of Shepherd, New York, for Los Angeles. Years later she returns to find an angry Emery Sutherland, her former fiancé's brother, who resents her for having left after his twin brother and parents were killed in an auto accident on Christmas Eve. Can Emery find a way to forgive Rhianna? And will these two ever find love in this holiest of seasons?

Wishing on a Starr by Adrianne Byrd

For Gia Hunter, Christmas usually brings unhappy memories. Seventeen years ago her husband was killed in combat. As a teenage mother and widow, she was forced to give up their infant daughter, Starr. In a twist of fate, Starr's adoptive father, Daniel Davis, and Gia have a chance encounter while Christmas shopping, and are smitten with each other. But complications arise when Starr, who has been searching for her biological mother, tries to set Gia up with her widowed adoptive father.

Blind Faith by Kayla Perrin

Trapped for days in her car when it careens off an isolated stretch of road outside of Buffalo, New York, Andrea Dawson has already said her prayers and fallen asleep. Suddenly, she is awakened by a blinding light--not from the great beyond, but rather a flashlight held by her sexy savior, Mark Potter. With both of them looking for something to believe in, has fate brought them together for a reason?

A Christmas Serenade by Janice Sims

Callie Hart can't think of many reasons to feel grateful this Thanksgiving. She's just lost her job as an editor at an Atlanta magazine, and now, traveling home to her family in Charleston, South Carolina, she's got a flat tire. Out of nowhere, a tall, handsome stranger appears to help her. After thanking him, Callie doesn't expect to see him again. But Callie's mother has a plan to bring her closer to home--one that may give a surprising boost to Callie's romantic luck.

Customer Reviews:

CAN'T PUT DOWN.......2006-01-01

This book is to die for...after all the disasters that occurred in 2005 that devistated so many lives makes you wonder...But this book will inspire you to have faith and to believe that miracles do happen. I would recommend this book to anyone!!

(RAW Rating: 4.5) - Feeling like Christmas.......2005-12-31

There are four enchanting stories which will enhance the real meaning of the season and the blessing of miracles.

"Shepherd Moon" by Rochelle Alers tells of Rhianna, a young woman who fled her hometown when her fiancé was killed in an automobile accident. The face of his twin brother was too painful a reminder of what she had lost. Ten years later Rhianna returns home because of a family illness and runs into her fiancé's twin brother and also her past. Now Rhianna can bring closure to her loss and accept the real reason she fled Shepherd, New York.

"Wishing on a Starr" by Adrianne Byrd shares the turmoil seventeen-year-old Gia suffered when she became a widow and a single mother in a matter of months. But Gia never saw her daughter, her aunt saw to that. The loss of her child forced Gia to leave Talboton, GA for New York City. Almost fourteen years later Gia still longs for her child and wants to do something about it. In a crowded department store, Gia bumps into Daniel Davis and his thirteen- year-old daughter, Starr. There is an immediate attraction between the two, and an answer to a wish even Gia could not have imagined.

"Blind Faith" by Kayla Perrin revisits Andrea and Mark, a couple who ended their relationship because Mark was snubbed by Andrea's parents. Years later Andrea's family has fallen on hard times, but Mark has excelled and is an entrepreneur. Their chance meeting is cordial but strained, still Mark is intrigued. An impromptu visit, a near fatal accident, and some blind faith are what Mark needed to propel him past his hesitancy about capturing his holiday miracle.

My favorite, "A Christmas Serenade" by Janice Simms, brings a world traveled concert pianist back to his roots in Charleston, South Carolina in search of himself. The best friend of his deceased mother welcomes him with open arms and southern hospitality. But this motherly matchmaker offers Jack so much more. She shares information about his parents and tapes of performances by her daughter, Callie. Callie is also a pianist, a blues singer and a magazine editor. When Callie and Jack meet the holiday suddenly feels and sounds majestic. But Callie is afraid that the difference between their respective backgrounds may be a problem.

THE SEASON OF MIRACLES is a Christmas Anthology filled with promise and hope. Grab a cup of eggnog, get comfortable on the couch and experience the joy of holiday love. This one will delight the heart.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Great book in the tradition of heartwarming Christmas tales.......2005-12-30

This book helped me to remember the true meaning behind Christmas and the value of embracing the spirit of giving.

A book of hope.......2005-12-30

There are times when you read a book at just the right time in your life and this is one of those books and times. Hurricane Katrina took so much away from Biloxi MS, but more than anything material, it took away the hope and spirit of so many, myself included. The holiday season started out so bleakly and I admit that I just wanted it to be over, but when you have children you know you have to find the strength to make it as wonderful as possible. It was a struggle until I read A Season of Miracles. I started the book and before I knew it I could feel myself smiling and just feeling good about everything. This book made me believe in miracles again but most of all the miracle of a better tomorrow. It makes you feel so good inside and you cannot help but feel a little sad when you come to the last page, as you feel as if you are leaving behind friends you have come to know and care about. This book is a miracle in itself and one which I will read over and over again.

You Will Believe in Miracles!.......2005-12-28

This book was awesome! All of these authors are phenomenal and their stories in this book were great and very touching. I am a big fan of all four so I knew even before I purchased this book that I would love it and I did! Each story made me believe that Miracles can happen if you open your heart and believe.

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