The Priest and The Peaches, Larry Peterson (4 stars)

The Book Summary

Historical fiction novel set in the Bronx in the mid-1960s

Take a seven day journey with the five, newly orphaned Peach kids, as they begin their struggle to remain a family while planning their dad's funeral.

They find an ally in the local parish priest, Father Tim Sullivan, who tries his best to guide them through the strange, unchartered and turbulent waters of "grown-up world." A story that is sad, funny, and inspiring as it shows how the power of family love and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Review
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 out for them. In some sweet scenes, their father even visits the youngest son and makes sure the family knows he's still with them.

The story weaves together faith, family, community into a sweet tapestry. Every time the family fears the worst, someone steps up to help them.

I really appreciated that the priest related to Teddy and the family on a real level, sharing his human qualities while always reminding them that God was on their side.

Sweet and heartwarming, this book is for readers who want to invest in characters and a story full of heart. You will laugh, cry, and take a leap of faith.

Rating: 4 stars

About Larry Peterson

Larry Peterson was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. A former Metal Lather/Reinforcing Iron-worker, he left that business after coming down with MS. He, his wife and three kids moved to Florida 30 years ago. Larry began doing freelance newspaper commentary after graduating from Tampa College in 1984.

His first children's picture book, Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes was published in 2011. In 2012, his full length novel, The Priest and the Peaches was released and he is presently working on the sequel.

He also has a blog where he posts weekly commentary. He lives in Pinellas Park, Florida and his kids and six grandchildren all live within three miles of each other.

For more information about the author, please visit his blog, Facebook page, and on Twitter.

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Note: I received a complimentary copy from Tribute Books for review purposes. No other compensation was received. A positive review was not guaranteed or asked for; the views expressed are my own.

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