A Season of Miracles [Kindle Edition]

I am not a baseball fan. I have not spent hours at the baseball field watching baseball. I didn't play Little League. I don't have a favorite baseball team. I can't name more than a handful of "the legends." And so, when I was given the opportunity to review A Season of Miracles by Rusty Whitener [Kregel Publications; Reprint edition (August 3, 2010)], I wasn't sure whether this was a book I wanted to read. I mean, this was a book about Little League... about baseball... and yet something drew me to the book, and so I agreed. I started the book one warm fall afternoon and quickly was lost in the nostalgia, in the memories of a simpler time, in hot summer days, and in the innocence of childhood days and friends.

Twelve-year-old Zack is looking forward to the start of his final season in Little League. He begins the summer dreaming of something more than the third place finish his team seems to be destined to attain, yet again... and then he sees Rafer, leaning up against a tree, watching, but not joining the game. Zach knows right away that Rafer is different, but sets out to befriend him anyway. When he finds out that Rafer has a champion swing that just might be the Robins' ticket to the Little League championship, he sets out to include Rafer on the team, leading the other boys to do the same!

A Season of Miracles is funny and sweet. It is a story of patience, of creativity, of second - and third- chances, of faith, and of searching: searching for friendship, for acceptance, for success, and for the Truth. A Season of Miracles will make you laugh out loud. A Season of Miracles will make you cry. A Season of Miracles will leave you wondering, thinking, and searching. This is a story truly worth reading - even if you don't know how many periods... um... quarters... um... innings there are in a baseball game! What began as a nostalgic look back at the Little League days turned into a touching story of friendship and faith that I just can't recommend enough!

Special thanks to Cat Hoort, Trade Marketing Manager, Kregel Publications for sending me a review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are my own!

Okay, so let me just say this. I am NOT a big baseball fan. But, that being said, I just HAD to give this book a try? Why? Because Rusty Whitener is a debut author and I LOVE reading debut novels just to see what they are like and,if they are good enough, sing their praises and recommend the books to everyone. So, what did I think of A Season of Miracles? Just one word. INCREDIBLE. Yep, that's right. INCREDIBLE. I overlooked the fact that I don't like baseball, opened up this novel, and read it one night. I was THAT hooked on this absolutely amazing novel.

Rusty Whitener tells the story of a Little League baseball play who thinks the world revolves around baseball and nothing else. Until he meets one incredible kid who helps him realize that there is more to this world and life than hitting and throwing a little white ball around. Through Zack and Rafer comes the story of an amazing bond of friendship and a love from God like no other love around. WOW!

This book is so worthy of more than 5 stars. I'm going to sing it's praises for a long time to come and recommend this book to all my friends and family. I fell in love with this story instantly and can't get over the feeling I have now. It really makes me realize that God's love, family and friendship are the most important things in life....not some material thing or some athletic ability. It's all about His Will. Thank you, Rusty Whitener for an INCREDIBLE story!

*This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided for an honest review*

This book was for my book club and I really enjoyed it. The book was well written and I was lost in the story.