I was enraptured by the past as recollected by an aging Owen, as he watched the pieces of a life fall into places he never believed possible. There was so much heart, so much faith, so much truth finding amidst all the lies, and yet as beautiful as it all was, the end of both the book and a particular character left me...confused.

I admit it...I was split on this one upon turning the final page. The time I spent with Owen and Micky in the past was like watching an old family movie...WITH all the bumps and bruises along the way because let's face it, their childhood wasn't exactly idyllic. They were two peas in a mismatched pod, but they worked...the only problem was all the working was done outside of friends, family, and the community, and secrecy is not the best foundation for a relationship of any sort to start upon. One night, one choice, one moment that would change them all. Some would say the impact on the lives of those involved was for the better. It certainly seemed that way from the outside looking in. Faith was found in not only a higher power but mankind. Sounds wonderful...until it wasn't...but that turn south, so to speak, is where things get fuzzy, for me at least. I'm pretty sure I understood what Micky was getting at and the message she was trying to convey to Owen, but the how was outside of my belief system, leaving me to ponder and puzzle just what it was I had "witnessed".

All in all, the story has a lot of heart, and aims to reach those of its audience with a message of hope for a better tomorrow, the will to act to make it a reality, and the commitment of our true selves to follow a moral path befitting the gift our lives truly are. While I wasn't completely sold, the story still had its moments and they add up to a formidable story well worth the read.



**copy received for review ( )

I was recently talking with another writer about Billy Coffey's work.

She said, "He writes pretty sentences."

I totally agree.

Not only that, he writes in a way that seems effortless, those pretty sentences drawing you in and holding you spellbound until you look at the clock and realize hours have gone by. You realize you have to get things done - but you want just another few minutes to keep reading, because he's a doggone good story teller too.

I loved STEAL AWAY HOME the way his main character, Owen Cross, loved baseball, and the way Owen loved Michaela Dullahan. The story in some ways was like a modern day Romeo and Juliet. You have the son from a respected middle class family whose talents in baseball just might see him to the big leagues. You have a beautiful young girl - Coffey snuck in another nod to baseball by giving her the nickname "Micky" - who is from the wrong side of the tracks. Strangely, it's the railroad tracks where something miraculous happens to these two - and while one acknowledges it, the other does not. This is when their forbidden love story begins to unravel, like a baseball that's been hit one time too many.

This mesmerizing story is about the strength of family, faith, and love. It's about believing in what you can't see, about having your eyes opened to the impossible. With it's touch of magical realism, and an ending that is perfect, in my opinion, here you have a story to warm your heart.

Highly recommend! ( )

Sometimes I have a problem following the author's stories like this one. I couldn't figure out at first what the book was about. I continued to read and suddenly it clicked. The author has a way of getting your attention in subtle ways. He is definitely a storyteller that weaves emotional characters into your heart.

Shantytown is a place no one wants to be from or even visit. It's where the poor reside or people from the wrong side of the tracks as we use to say. There is a girl named Micky that lives there. She is a pretty special girl to Owen. I found it interesting that their relationship had to be a secret. Looks like some people just don't accept everyone no matter where they come from. Their relationship was a bit complex and at times I wanted to just give up on them.

I liked the baseball references and knew that Owen was destined for big things.I didn't care for his parents much. They remind me of people who go to church to be seen and love to criticize everyone. They had an attitude of being so religious I wanted to scream. The author confuses me at times when he jumps from one time period to another. Owen wants to be in the big league with the pros and the book centers around how to achieve his dream. The story does have some redeeming qualities that make the book worth reading. One thing I could relate to was trying to get approval from a parent. It is never easy when the parent has their eyes set on what they want you to become. I've learned over the years that I don't need approval from anyone to be happy. I encourage readers to give this book a try. It will remind you that we all come from different backgrounds, but we are all equal

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion. ( )

This was just OK to me. I struggled with how the book was laid out. It just did not flow from past to present and back to past again very well.

My thanks to netgalley and Thomas Nelson for this advanced readers copy. ( )

This is a book about a baseball and young love, and which is more important. Owen Cross has the burden of succeeding in baseball when his father failed, and loving a girl from the wrong side of town. It's a coming of age story, and you hope the main characters have a happy ending. ( )