The Miracle Chase: Three Women, Three Miracles, and a Ten Year Journey of Discovery and Friendship

by Joan Luise Hill, Katie Mahon, Mary Beth Phillips

What exactly is a miracle? That's the question three women try to answer when one of them faces a sudden tragedy. In the process, they transform a simple friendship into a powerful spiritual odyssey.
Recent polls reveal that while most Americans believe in miracles, few feel that a miracle could happen for them. Joan, Katie, and Meb were no exception, yet each had experienced something Joan's son had survived a catastrophic illness. Katie had, perhaps with the aid of Divine intervention, escaped serial killer Ted Bundy. And Meb's 6-month-old daughter had suffered abuse and was now blind; she coped through the power of prayer and faith. Katie was a skeptic, Meb a believer, and Joan struggled to mediate faith and doubt. The Miracle Chase is a story of how these three friends tried to discover what religions around the world have to tell us about miracles, why some people are blessed with miracles when others aren't, and how anyone could believe in miracles in an age of science.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 2, 2010

About the author

Joan Luise Hill has spent over twenty-five years in the health care industry as an executive in health care services and insurance plans. Joan’s introduction to miracles evolved as a series of coincidences that ultimately could not be ignored. As co-author of the book, The Miracle Chase and upcoming 2021 release, The Miracle Collectors, Joan has made numerous radio and television appearances and currently travels extensively speaking to groups providing inspirational messages on writing, life changes and miracles. She is on the Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, MA an inner city Catholic school, and a member of the Council of Women at Boston College. Joan holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Connecticut, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Boston College.

Reviews

[Marilynn Dillon]

A wonderful journey between three friends that attempt to explain “coincidences” that happen in each of their lives that took them to extensive research that included travels and encounters with amazing people while deepening their faith and their relationship with each other.

[A]

This is a truly beautiful book about the power of miracles and unwavering friendships. It’s the perfect book to read during the holiday season. I highly recommend it. It’s heartwarming. I may read it again next Christmas.

[DeeAnn Jeremiah]

Loved the stories about the ladies and their friendship! The miracle aspect was good, but not as good as hearing how friends do life together - and stay connected!

[Stacey]

I was hoping for much more from this book. As a natural skeptic of miracles in the first place, I was excited to read (or really, misled) that these women actually did in-depth research for what actually constitutes as a "miracle," but not much of their research was ever really fully communicated in the book. Most of the book was personal back story which was written in a tripe and uninteresting manner, the chapters were also organized in a piece meal fashion that got confusing and was irritable. To be fair, it was so disengaging that I couldn't finish it. Maybe it picked up in the end and they actually became logical with their definition of a "miracle," but it failed my 100 page test.

[Katie]

Interesting book about three women who chose to explore miracles and as a result form a ten year long friendship. The book not only explores miracles but also the life experiences these women go through. For the most part I was absorbed by this topic but it did get a little wordy (boring) near the end...I imagine a very interesting book for those with a Catholic background. Insightful...

[Ballan Campeau]

Interesting review of a series of events in three women's lives (the authors') that stretch limits of chance. Also reviews of related topics from various religions concerning definitions of and instances of miracles.

Had trouble with the topic and my own religious status. Still interesting though.

[Therese Rose]

I had the pleasure of meeting two of the three authors of this book. I felt compelled to read it. I applaud these three women and friends for their dedication and perseverance in the ten years it took to write this book together.

[Kay]

Interesting research on the history of miracles. The personal stories are the best part. I like that the three authors had such different ways of approaching the subject of miracles.