The Priest and the Peaches

Mar 06, 2012 Ruth Hill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books

I absolutely loved this book! I am not generally a fan of YA books (unless we are speaking of the Hunger Games), but this one is unbelievable, and the theme of the story is quite uplifting.

When I began this book, I was honestly hooked before too long. The whole idea behind a story of an orphaned family of five children seems simple and possibly not that exciting. However, the story is so well-written, engaging, and humorous that I found myself not wanting to put the book down.

Some people might...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Lissette rated it 5 of 5 stars

Often times, faith is something almost all of us have a hard time in having. Believing in something you can't see is testing, most especially for those of us who have strayed from the Lord's path. Believing in his goodness, in the fact that he'll lead us along the righteous path, well, it can honestly be trying. The reason for this is because for some, the trials and tribulations they face along the way hard from them to place their trust in a being they're really not sure exists.

For the Peaches...more Often times, faith is something almost all of us have a hard time in having. Believing in something you can't see is testing, most especially for those of us who have strayed from the Lord's path. Believing in his goodness, in the fact that he'll lead us along the righteous path, well, it can honestly be trying. The reason for this is because for some, the trials and tribulations they face along the way hard from them to place their trust in a being they're really not sure exists.

For the Peaches, both young and old, their lives haven't been that easy. The children lost their mother and grandmother at a very young age and have dealt with the consequences of their deaths ever since then. When their father falls ill, the children realize it's another blow of disappointment they've been dealt with - a disappointment none of them wish to deal with just yet. Despite this, they're determined to band together in hopes of helping their father through his ordeal.

The task of keeping the family afloat falls upon Joanie and Teddy's hands, the oldest of the Peach children. Beeker, Dancer, and Joey don't quite understand what's going on, but for their father's sake, they're willing to pretend that everything is fine and dandy. Unbeknownst to the Peach children, their problems are just beginning.

When their father takes a turn for the worse and dies unexpectedly, Joanie, Teddy, and the children must find the strength within themselves to face the adversity that has now been lain at their feet. Their faith has been shattered and each one of them begin to wonder as to whether they'll be able to bounce back from the brink of a darkness that seems intent on engulfing each and every one of them. Determined to pick up the pieces of a life they'd once known, Joanie and Teddy do their best to keep their family together.

The children's unexpected saving grace arrives in the form of Father Sullivan, a man who believes completely in the blessings and virtues extoled by God himself. His faith is firmly cemented in the fact that God will provide for his flock no matter what happens along the way. Father Sullivan has tried to make this fact known to all those he meets wherever his feet have taken him. While there are a good many that shun the message he tries to deliver, he knows that there are a good many who will take the Lord's words into their hearts and do the best they can with what they've been given - a certainty that becomes apparent when the safety and well-being of the Peach children inadvertently lands in his hands.

This was such a beautiful story. I enjoyed it immensely and recommend it to anyone for reading. It's meaning, and the lessons found throughout the story, will touch a soul to its very core. While this is a Catholic fiction story, I think it's one that will leave the person reading with a better understanding of God, of faith, of death, and even of life, be it whether they're a religious person or not.

We're able to feel the Peach family's pain, their laughter, their fears, and their triumphs as they seek to make the most of a situation that is way out of their control. We're able to watch a family grow within a period of seven days while faced with an adversity that, at times, seems to want to topple the family altogether. The fact that they're able to bounce back and find strength and meaning within the very world they live in goes to show us that anything is possible only if you believe.

It's like a Christian song that was taught to me when I was little, if your faith is like that of a small mustard seed, you can move mountains. The book made me realize that it's very much true. Anything is possible, but only if you believe. More so, if you believe that God will be there with you no matter what comes your way.(less)

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Jan 24, 2012 Lenore Webb rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book for my new e-reader. Yes, I picked a young adult book to start off with. Why? Well the learning curve of how it all works. Wondering if I would like using the screen and all. It all worked fine and I did not even bop myself in the head once. I know, but, it seems that when I read in bed I get sleepy. Imagine that. And then the books falls on my face....BOP! You know what I mean.

Well here I read of the plight of the Peaches. A family of 5 children (not all under the age of...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Kari rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, kindle

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. The synopsis looked interesting and I am always looking for new books to experience. Sadly, I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would. The general story was emotional and heartbreaking. The Peach family has lost their father and they now have to learn how to make it on their own. I liked the how the oldest siblings automatically jumped into trying to make things better for the younger ones and vowed to keep the family together. I also liked how the...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Nicola rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Priest and the Peaches is a different kind of book than I usually read and I very much enjoyed it! It's centered around the Peach kids who are orphaned and have to try to find their way in the world even though everything has changed dramatically for them. I was drawn to this one because the description sounds sweet and inspiring and I LOVE the cover! The colour is very striking.

I was hooked on this one from the beginning. The writing is very unique and really stands out. The voices are just...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Read2review rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-for-read-2-review

I must admit, The Priest and the Peaches is not usually the sort of book I like to read – given that my first taste is usually for Science-Fiction and Fantasy. However, that’s not to say that every so often I don’t venture out into other genres now and then, because you’re never sure what little gems you may find.

The Priest and the Peaches is one of those gems that I found by entering out of my comfort zone. The tale is a slice of life/coming of age drama that follows the life of the Peach famil...more I must admit, The Priest and the Peaches is not usually the sort of book I like to read – given that my first taste is usually for Science-Fiction and Fantasy. However, that’s not to say that every so often I don’t venture out into other genres now and then, because you’re never sure what little gems you may find.

The Priest and the Peaches is one of those gems that I found by entering out of my comfort zone. The tale is a slice of life/coming of age drama that follows the life of the Peach family. Set in America in the sixties, the tale starts with the father of the story passing away. With no other parent to take care of them, teenagers Teddy and Joanie are somewhat forced into early adulthood, taking charge of their 3 younger brothers. The story follows them from the death of their father to them learning to live without him.

If there is one positive I can use to describe this book straight away it’s that it has heart. The crux of that comes from the religious motives that run through the novel. The key theme to the novel is L-Y-N (love your neighbour) and that runs throughout the lives of the children and the people that new the Peaches family. It’s refreshing to see religion displayed in a positive and caring outlook, rather than the harsh and brutal nature that seems to be prevalent in most fiction these days.

The characters are all brilliantly crafted so that you really do gain an emotional connection to them. You really do want this family to get through life and it is incredible the way these kids cope. It’s a true testament to the strength of family and it genuinely did move me a couple of times reading the turmoil that the kids had to go through sometimes.

I actually can’t find myself to find any fault with this novel – and if I did it would just be nitpicking. The story is heartfelt, emotionally moving, but also humorous when the kids get into all kinds of scrapes. And kudos to Mr Peterson for showing the positive side to religion as well. Whilst I myself am not religious, I do get sick of the way that religion is often viewed so negatively in fiction and the media – there are positives to religion and this is a good example. It’s an enjoyable story that both adults and younger readers will enjoy. It’s a tale about overcoming adversity and the unity of family. I am pleased that I decided to take a look outside of my usual reading tastes.

For me, The Priest and the Peaches gets a well deserved 5/5. Although, if I could, I would easily give it more than that!(less)

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Dec 06, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to say that this book was quite enjoyable on many levels. Seeing how God’s Hand was present throughout the trials experienced by the Peach family was fantastic. I believe we often miss those little miracles in our lives, possibly just writing them off to ‘chance.’ But, through the conversations and strings of consciousness for the characters, you can fully appreciate just how well God will take care of us so long as we are willing to accept it.

And, as I mentioned at the beginning, this ti...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

What immediately drew me to this story was the fact that it's about kids who are having to grow up quickly and basically navigate through adulthood on a fast track. The Peach children immediately feel like real characters and within the first ten pages you are rooting for them and want them to do well.

Though some parts of the story I feel probably could have been taken out, I really enjoyed this book and sailed through it fairly quickly. The Peach family kind of reminds me of my mom and her brot...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Lee-Ann Graff-Vinson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Yimey knew the secret to life. He made sure his family and friends did, too. Even when the love of his life died, he kept the faith. But then, Yimey died and his five children were left to fend for themselves – orphans in a grown up world.
Teddy and his sister, Joanie were now the adults of the house, taking care of the everyday happenings of a family. Their three younger siblings were more than handful. With work to attend, and high school exams to complete, Teddy and Joanie tried hard to fill...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

L-Y-N. Love your neighbor is how Pops Peach lived his life and what he instilled in friends and family by his example. Now Pops is gone and the Peach kids are fending for themselves. 18-year-old Teddy becomes the man of the house and is trying to figure out how to make everything work (bills, etc.) while trying to keep the family together. It's so hard and it seems as if nothing is going right for the Peach kids when things come full circle.

The Priest and the Peaches is a poignant novel of livin...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Susanna Mahoney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Is an amazing heart wrenching story about a family and their bond with each other, the unseen forces and the people in their lives. The family consists of a father and five children living together under one roof. They lost their mother to illness and their dad became lose in the world of alcohol and grief. He loves his family and does the best he can consider the circumstances.

When a tragedy hits the Peaches Family they have to fend for themselves and became a close knit family. More calamitie...more Is an amazing heart wrenching story about a family and their bond with each other, the unseen forces and the people in their lives. The family consists of a father and five children living together under one roof. They lost their mother to illness and their dad became lose in the world of alcohol and grief. He loves his family and does the best he can consider the circumstances.

When a tragedy hits the Peaches Family they have to fend for themselves and became a close knit family. More calamities occur and they are lost in a personal tumult storm and experience events that were detrimental yet they are courageous, miraculous and the trails transform them all. Their father was as I was seeing my own father when alive; a man who would give his own shirt off his back to help his neighbor and kept his deeds quiet. His mantra of L.Y.N. is such a powerful tonic of unconditional love and teaches others to share. The theme of paying forward had this reader reaching for the tissue box.

The hidden poetry of the story was so familiar to this reader's life I felt as I was reliving some of my childhood experiences and was being pulled into a whirling pool of emotions, from love, anger, hatred and finally forgiveness. The writer has the gift of a master in explaining the secret of how pride, anger and hatred blocks the wondrous gifts that were meant to be cherish, and are lost in the rush of daily life of all business and some strangers and loved ones unleashing their selfish ego attitudes it is not to be spiteful but to hide behind the defenses so they do not have to unveil their broken hearts and shame secrets. I think this author is trying to tell the readers to keep their priorities in order and live life as it was meant to be and let the petty things go.

Everyone in this story is like a family member and it is easy to connect with each one. It was like my uncle and aunt was whispering to me and sharing wisdom with this reader. It is filled with knowledge, love, hope and faith and mysteries we all ponder about.

This author broke down all those barriers by writing a touching soul wrenching story about trials in life and shows with faith anything is possible. The twists and life rituals of this wonderful family and their personal journey through heart ache to victory is very inspiration and has this reader thinking about returning back to her former faith and strive harder to release the human qualities of pride and ego; to connect more with a higher force which may be the answer to live on this planet and we should live as in Let It Be as in the Beatles song.

This book is a winner and has a message for all ages. I was joyfully taken hostage by the story and sad to be release. This reader definitely looks forward to read more enlightening stories from this writer. This choice will probably stay as my number one choice for 2012.
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Mar 23, 2012 aobibliophile™ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind. - Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

the five Peach siblings have just lost their father. orphaned, grieving and confused, the Peaches must hold on to each other if they wish to survive in a grown-up world.
author Larry Peterson's novel invites the reader to a nostalgic trip to the Bronx during the 1960s and to witness the events that transpired after the death of the Peach patriarch.
it was not difficult to feel for the children. i am an orp...more Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind. - Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

the five Peach siblings have just lost their father. orphaned, grieving and confused, the Peaches must hold on to each other if they wish to survive in a grown-up world.
author Larry Peterson's novel invites the reader to a nostalgic trip to the Bronx during the 1960s and to witness the events that transpired after the death of the Peach patriarch.
it was not difficult to feel for the children. i am an orphan myself and the eldest child too. i can relate well with Teddy, the eldest brother, as he gathers his wits about him now that he takes over his late father's role as head of the family. the circumstances and intensity may be different but the emotions he felt were real and familiar because i went through them at one point in my life.
the author vividly captured the actions and sentiments of the family and friends of the Peaches. he was able to populate his story with flesh and blood characters. as you read about them, you might recognize someone among your acquaintances, friends, relatives and family members. aside from Father Tim Sullivan, my two favorite ones are Dancer Peach and Beatrice Amon. Dancer's rebellious attitude and Beatrice's meddling ways provide the conflict which made the story more interesting to read.
i liked the way Mr. Peterson wove different scenarios and brought them all together especially the last six chapters.
there are religious themes evident throughout but they do not come across as preachy or overbearing. i think the underlying messages/reasons are more important than the Catholic rituals and beliefs that are mentioned.
i also love the fact that even if there were some drama involved, it was not too heavy. initially i found it a bit odd though that there was so much fun and laughter involved in some of the situations. as i continued reading, i understood later why it was so.
this book is simply written and beautifully told in a language that is accessible to all - even for middle grade readers. the message it brings is one filled with hope, faith, forgiveness and love.
everything and everyone happen for a reason and this book, in its own little way, explains to us how and why.

Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy of The Priest and the Peaches from the publisher. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.(less)

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Mar 19, 2012 Allizabeth Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Description:

After the unexpected death of their father, the Peach children - Teddy, Joanie, Dancer, Beeker and Joey, (now orphans), must find a way to stay together, bury their father, and pay off his debts before they lose everything. [Christian Historical Fiction set in 1960's Bronx]

Review:

The Priest and the Peaches is a genuinely heartwarming story about growing up, dealing with grief, keeping family together, loving your neighbors, and having faith in God! When I started reading, I knew th...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Sapphyria rated it 4 of 5 stars

"The Priest and The Peaches" is a book about a family of 5 children who lost their mother a few years prior and who lose their father only a few pages into the book. It's a heartwarming story of the strength of the children in the face of adversity. The book spans a short period of time, only about 7 days, and is jam packed with the day-to-day life of the children while they try to cope with the loss and deal with the future, including the funeral.

The book is told from the view of Catholisism,...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Dawn Vanniman rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Peach kids have had it rough. Their mom dies. So then they live with Grandma and Dad. Grandma dies. Dad spends all his time either working or drinking. Dad dies. Then the oldest Peach child (Teddy at 18yo) takes on the responsibilities of raising the younger ones - Joanie, Dancer, Beeker and Joey.

The characters seemed a bit awkward to me, but perhaps it's because the setting is over 50 years ago. Religion plays a huge part in this story a...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Romancing the Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, ya

Reviewed By~Valerie
Review Copy Provided By~Publisher

L-Y-N. It’s the last thing the dying father wants his children to know.

This story had me hooked from the beginning. The writing style drew me in and I felt like I was there with the characters as they suffered tremendous loss and adversity. After losing their mother, then their grandmother, the five Peach children then lose their father, seemingly overnight. Never overcoming the grief of losing his wife, their father wasn’t around much and cou...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Marie Borthwick rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

This book is more than a story to be read... it holds lessons on life, love and happiness that we could all stand to revisit. What I found amazing as I read the story, only covers one week in the life of the Peach children. That one week, seven measly days, just so happened to be kicked off with the untimely death of a father they came to realize they barely knew.

I like to consider myself a good Christian, but books like The Priest and the Peaches that have significant religious themes often mak...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Cheryl C. rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Priest and the Peaches is the debut young adult historical e-book released by Tribute Books and authored by Larry Peterson. This is a moving story of one family’s life turned upside down by the sudden and unexpected death of their father. In addition to Peterson’s keen eye for detail, he provides readers a good glimpse into life in the Bronx in the mid-60’s. What I feel the author excelled in is how the characters evolved throughout the story. I was glad to see that not everyone had a change...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Literary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cover

I like the cover and how the peach color reflects the name of the Peach family. It's part of what drew me to the book to begin with.

Plot

There are five Peach children, the eldest being 18 or 19. Their mother died a few years and they have just lost their father. His death marks the beginning of the week the book covers. During that first week of being alone, they are forced to grow up fast learning how to survive in an adult world ... from getting the mail to paying bills to getting grocerie...more Cover

I like the cover and how the peach color reflects the name of the Peach family. It's part of what drew me to the book to begin with.

Plot

There are five Peach children, the eldest being 18 or 19. Their mother died a few years and they have just lost their father. His death marks the beginning of the week the book covers. During that first week of being alone, they are forced to grow up fast learning how to survive in an adult world ... from getting the mail to paying bills to getting groceries to washing laundry. It's a tough road, but if they can pull together and work as a unit, everything will work out fine.

To help them along the way is their priest. He is around when they need him and helps them out of a fix or two.

Main Characters

Teddy - He's the eldest of the Peach children and bears the brunt of the financial responsibilities. He learns quickly on how to deal with creditors and budgeting his money to make sure everyone has what they need.

Joanie - She's the next oldest Peach child and bears the brunt of the household responsibilities. Although, she seems to lose her temper more than she can get the younger children to do anything. I read about her complaining about the laundry (among other things), but it was actually Teddy who got the younger children cleaning the house on the Sunday before the funeral. So, maybe Joanie doesn't bear as much responsibility as I thought.

Father Sullivan - A priest who is street-wise, smart, spiritual, patient, kind, loving, caring ... pretty much everything you could ask for in a priest. He helps people see where their faults lie without actually accusing them of anything. He is a kind soul and it made me wish I knew a person like him.

Beatrice - This woman isn't happy at all. She always has something to complain about. She's always butting her nose into other people's business. Oh, and she lives below the Peach's apartment, so she hears every little noise they make. She exaggerates any little ailment she has to acquire sympathy from anybody who'll listen to her ... which isn't very many people. She just isn't a nice person at all.

Overall

I enjoyed the plot of this book. I especially enjoyed the spiritual aspects and the priest's role in this story. What I didn't like, unfortunately, was the dialogue that was used in the majority of the conversations that took place. It seemed a little jilted, not realistic and, occasionally, stop-and-go. There were times in the book where everybody's laughing hysterically and I'm flipping back trying to figure out what was so funny. But, if you look beyond that, into the heart of the story, it is a beautiful story about survival, determination, faith and family.(less)

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Mar 16, 2012 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Priest And The Peaches is a heartwarming inspirational book that will pull at your heartstrings. It is a story about the Peach family, five kids ranging from age six to eighteen who unexpectedly become orphans with the death of their father. Their mother passed away a few years ago, and now it is up to eighteen year old Teddy and seventeen year old Joanie to take their parent's place and keep the family together for their three younger brothers: James (aka Dancer) age fourteen, Robert (aka B...more The Priest And The Peaches is a heartwarming inspirational book that will pull at your heartstrings. It is a story about the Peach family, five kids ranging from age six to eighteen who unexpectedly become orphans with the death of their father. Their mother passed away a few years ago, and now it is up to eighteen year old Teddy and seventeen year old Joanie to take their parent's place and keep the family together for their three younger brothers: James (aka Dancer) age fourteen, Robert (aka Beeker) age ten and Joey age six. The storyline takes place over seven days, from the time their father Velemer (aka Yimey to his friends and Pops to the kids), is taken to the hospital with a fatal diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, to the day after their father's funeral. Through the grace of God, friends and local community, Pops' acts of miracles and one saintly Catholic parish priest named Fr. Tim Sullivan, the Peach children are guided through their grief and journey through many obstacles to learn that faith, love and most of all Pops' mantra of L-Y-N will always keep their family together.

The Priest And The Peaches is a wonderful story that is so heartwarming and full of inspiration. The storyline is well written and captivated me from the beginning. The story is told from the time period of the mid-1960s in Bronx, NY. The author does a wonderful job of describing that time period, in addition to providing a wonderful description of the Catholic faith of that period. The characters were realistic, their complex personalities and engaging interactions with each other made the story that much more powerful and compelling. The author weaves a story that provides lessons of faith, hope, belief, love, family and community that is inspiring and will leave its mark on your heart. Pops' mantra of living the Golden Rule of L-Y-N (Love Your Neighbor) was a beautiful living memory and lesson that he left for his kids. It is something that all us could and should live by. I loved the author's humorous names that he gave to various characters and their stories made me chuckle. I also loved how Teddy learned about his father's wonderful caring side that he gave to others in the community, a side of him that Teddy didn't know existed, what a wonderful legacy and memories he left for his children to hold dear to their hearts. As a person raised in the 1960s of the Catholic faith, this story was a wonderful reminder of what I grew up on and still to this day believe in, its inspirational message is one to live by .... L-Y-N! Amen!

The Priest And The Peaches will make you laugh, smile, cry and sigh ... it will provide you with an inspirational message of faith, hope, love, family and community... most of all it is a wonderful story that should be shared with your family.

Disclaimer: At the request of the author and Tribute Books, a Kindle edition of this book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.

Virtual Book Tour Event: On Friday, March 16, 2012, in association with Tribute Books, author Larry Peterson participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
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Mar 09, 2012 Andrea Guy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, christian, quick-reads, young-adult, ebook

This was a really moving and enlightening read. It falls into the YA Christian catagory. I was surprised that the characters were Catholic and they were portrayed as good Catholics. That doesn't happen often in fiction.

The story involves the Peach family who have just lost their father. Father Sullivan is the parish priest at St Anne's who is trying to help them through their grief. I wish there were priests like Father Sullivan for everyone.

Larry Peterson writes the Catholic priest the way we a...more

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Mar 06, 2012 Tia Bach rated it 4 of 5 stars

Children steal your heart, and the Peaches are no exception. Your heart is even more invested because these children have been through so much loss. Early in the book, their father passes away and 18-year-old Teddy and 16-year-old Joanie have to deal with their grief and face the adult world and trying to keep their family together. The odds, and bills, are stacked against them.

Thankfully several members of the community, most of which the family was not expecting, and their priest are looking o...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Burgandy Ice rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story has depth. For starters, an only parent dies.

There are five kids of a wide range of ages. The oldest is nearly 18 and finds himself thrust into leadership and responsibility all of sudden along with his sister, the next oldest. At the beginning of the story, their father dies suddenly, right around Christmas. There is the stark reality of sorrow to deal with as well as Christmas and funeral services, not to mention bills and simple survival.

Each of the Peach kids have their own person...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson captures the life of the newly orphaned Peach kids as they struggle in the aftermath of their father’s death and plan his funeral. This touching tale of faith and hope offers a glimpse into the lives of this working class Catholic family set in 1960’s Bronx, NY. Steeped in faith and laced with humor Peterson’s tale delivers a powerful message "to love thy neighbor."

This was an emotional and heartbreaking tale. This dysfunctional family has seen a lot...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Heather from NightlyReading rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you are a very faith based person, then this is the book for you. The book is about 5 kids whom had lost their parents and their struggles to overcome it. I am not much of a fan of faith in reading, but I was surprised that I did enjoy this book. Even though the book is based on a very sad nature, it leaves the reader with a little pick me up.

My favorite character was Father Tim Sullivan. I enjoyed the fact that he was helping all of the children while trying to veer them in the right directi...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Sandra Stiles rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, inspirational, young-adult

I could not imagine being an eighteen year old with my life ahead of me and suddenly my life is changed drastically. Teddy must find a way to take care of his siblings after their father dies. He does the best he can. The neighbor downstairs is causing problems for Teddy. He needs help so he turns to Father Tim Sullivan. Help comes in many forms including guidance in matters of everyday life. There are moral lessons to be learned seasoned with a touch of Christianity. There were pats where I jus...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Cecilia Robert rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour

The 5 children from the Peach family lost their mother a while back, and just a few pages into the book lose their father. Without the guidance of their parents, they struggle to survive as a family. Teddy the oldest assumes responsibility Luckily Father Tim Sullivan steps in and acts as a guidance, playing a big role by helping them in difficulties they encounter.
The week after Pops (their father dies) the kids go through a lot, things one wouldn’t want their children to go through. The book is...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Beverly McClure rated it 4 of 5 stars

A priest and peaches? Now that’s a title that begs to be read. All sorts of images ran through my head. A priest that enjoys eating peaches? A priest that has some sort of incident with peaches? Hum. I had to find out, and I’m so glad I did.

The Priest and the Peaches, by Author Larry Peterson, is not quite like any other book I’ve read, and I’ve read many books. The Priest is a priest, Father Sullivan, but the Peaches are a family, made up of Pops, Joanie, Teddy, Dancer (James), Beeker (Robert)...more A priest and peaches? Now that’s a title that begs to be read. All sorts of images ran through my head. A priest that enjoys eating peaches? A priest that has some sort of incident with peaches? Hum. I had to find out, and I’m so glad I did.

The Priest and the Peaches, by Author Larry Peterson, is not quite like any other book I’ve read, and I’ve read many books. The Priest is a priest, Father Sullivan, but the Peaches are a family, made up of Pops, Joanie, Teddy, Dancer (James), Beeker (Robert) and Joey. Their mother is deceased, and their father, Pops, soon will be. Interesting titles with each chapter give the reader a hint at what might happen in that chapter. When Pops dies, and the Peach children are left orphans, their lives become one catastrophe after another. Teddy, 18, and Joanie, 16, do their best to provide for their younger siblings. But Murphy’s law seems to take control. What can go wrong will go wrong. The young people learn fast that being an adult carries with it responsibilities and is not an easy task. Humor spread throughout the story keeps a light touch to the story, even though the children are suffering from the loss of their father.

The author, however, does a lot of telling, rather than letting the characters show their emotions through action and dialogue. At times, it pulled me out of the scene. I often wanted to stay with the children to see how they would deal with each situation that arose, rather than being given information about another character. One point of view character, preferably Teddy since this is a young adult novel, would have worked better, I think. That said, I enjoyed the novel. The children were believable, not perfect, getting into trouble like normal kids do. I could feel their pain even when they were laughing and trying to cope with what life dealt them. The novel The Priest and the Peaches will stay with you a long time after reading the last page. And the story of the Peach children may make you appreciate your family a little more.

EBook courtesy of Tribute Books
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Jan 26, 2012 Abria Mattina rated it 1 of 5 stars

Recommended to Abria by: Tribute Books

Shelves: abandoned

I received an ebook of The Priest and the Peaches in exchange for an honest review. Before I’d even finished the first chapter I had to Google it to check if the book was self-published. It wasn’t, and I balked. I’ve read self-published books of far superior quality–how could a professionally published and edited book be so bad? The grammatically incorrect title should have tipped me off. The family’s last name is Peach, not Peache. When pluralized it should be written as ‘Peachs,’ not ‘Peaches,...more I received an ebook of The Priest and the Peaches in exchange for an honest review. Before I’d even finished the first chapter I had to Google it to check if the book was self-published. It wasn’t, and I balked. I’ve read self-published books of far superior quality–how could a professionally published and edited book be so bad? The grammatically incorrect title should have tipped me off. The family’s last name is Peach, not Peache. When pluralized it should be written as ‘Peachs,’ not ‘Peaches,’ which is how the fruit would be pluralized.

I got about one-quarter of the way through this book before I couldn’t force myself to read any more. The concept of The Priest and the Peaches isn’t a bad one, but it’s written so poorly that it was difficult to pay attention or care about what happened in the novel. Peterson crams too much exposition into the dialogue, which makes speech sound unnatural. He frequently uses the amateurish “By the way…” in dialogue to create unnatural segues between topics. Conversation lacks realistic flow and the characters are quickly reduced to talking heads, the puppets of the ill-concealed author.

Clumsy, often incorrect use of punctuation makes reading difficult. The biggest difficulty I had in reading it was inconsistent use of commas, which made the flow of sentences nearly indecipherable at times. I had to go back and reread a couple of paragraphs because I was convinced I’d missed the meaning entirely.

What finally made me give up, though, was a scene between the priest and the Peach children that centres mostly around theological discussion. The youngest children are too young to really follow the conversation, and so it is carried on mostly by the priest and the teenage Peachs. Most of The Priest and the Peaches is set up to facilitate sympathy for the teen Peachs, and the same is expected in this scene. The problem is, these near-adult characters receive Sunday school-level lessons from their priest. He encourages them to consider ways of thinking and perceiving that most people encounter between first and fourth grades. It’s an insult to the reader’s intelligence to think that characters in their late teens and, by extension, the audience, need to hear such simple philosophy to feel comfort.

Don’t waste your time with this one. It should have undergone much more rigorous editing before publication.(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Kathleen Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Priest and the Peaches covers 7 days in the life of the now parentless Peach children following the death of their father. The Peach children have to cope with not only the death of their father but the funeral, all three days, the chaos that was left to their apartment, worries on how the bills will get paid and where the money was going to come from. Teddy , the oldest at 18 bears the responsibility for the care of the younger children all minors. Even though the odds are great that these...more

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