What Readers Are Saying
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Fantastic, Inspired and Blessed
This book really makes the Catholic faith come alive. It makes it easier to see the action of God in everyday situations. Thanks to Bertilia for passing it on. It's a must-read on my list
- Lisa Blanchard from St. Lucia
All married couples should read CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN
When my husband and I read CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, we were having problems with our marriage. This book was so awesome, it really made a difference in our lives. It shows how to be a good Catholic and how to work at having a holy marriage in this day and age. God bless you, Mr. Macfarlane--you've written another excellent book!
- Amy from Niagara Falls, NY
CWS makes you think!
CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN was an incredible book! It's totally Catholic without being preachy. It really made me think deeply about my faith. This should be required reading for all adults, Catholic or not.
- Alexandra from Milton, FL
Everyone should read this book!
I am an avid reader, and have read many, many books (including all three of Bud's books). I was so touched by all of them, especially by CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN. It is the best book I have ever read. I have already read it twice and plan to read it again and again.
- Cheryl from Arnold, MO
Spirit-invoking, Educational, Prayerful, Addictive.
The characters grow on you, as they share their faith (or lack thereof), develop, and pray. All this is intermingled with Catholic teachings and insight into the real world. I have been inspired to say the Rosary. The characters are genuine. Mark's struggle and the way he was presented with human and divine examples for returning to his family, was great. Buzz and his fall all adds up to a teriffic novel. I couldn't put it down and dove right into HOUSE OF GOLD!
- Aino from North Pole, Alaska
It's great to be Catholic!
I thought that PIERCED BY A SWORD was good, but CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN was superb! It made me glad to be Catholic and not afraid to practice my faith openly. HOUSE OF GOLD was completely different, but I liked it. There were more twist and turns of the plot. Something different awaits you around every corner. It really kept me interested. I couldn't put CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN or HOUSE OF GOLD down. Thank you, Bud, for GOOD Catholic reading! God bless you. I'm looking forward to number 4!
- a reader from Wisconsin
Calls God forth out of us!
I am only about 1/5 of the way into 'Pierced by a Sword' and I am hooked! Not only is the writing style easy to read, one can easily slip into each and every character as they are all so real. God bless you in your great work. I read on the bus each day as I know most people will be like me and can't resist looking over one's shoulder to see just what is being read - I have promised myself that the first person who asks me about the book will be given it as a free gift. Once again thank you, Bud, and God bless you and your family.
- Teresa Martin from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Realistic, Gripping, Awesome!
I just finished reading CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, and now I HAVE to read HOUSE OF GOLD! I felt like I know the characters in the book personally. I read it in two days flat. I found myself laughing frequently and then crying uncontrollably! Very true to life, and very well-written! It's made me think more about my faith and appreciate it more! I won't be forgotting it any time soon! An awesome book!
- Ashley from Arkansas
A prayer answered by PIERCED BY A SWORD
There is much I could say about my experience reading Pierced by a Sword. However, I'll limit myself to one thing. In the year before receiving the book, I had noticed that God seemed to have withdrawn from me, in the sense that I didn't 'hear' Him as much as I did a year ago. I knew He was there, continued with daily mass and the rosary...but still I missed His consolations in my life. I began to pray to know again 'the joy of my salvation,' which seemed to have dried up. I got the three books on a Monday, during an intensely busy week. I really didn't have time to read, and so carried the book around with me to read as much as I could when I was waiting for water to boil or the bus to come - the only really free moments I had that week. At the end of a particularly exhausting Thursday, I was reading while standing in the supermarket check-out around 8PM. Tired, footsore, eager for the day's duties finally to be over...and - I suddenly realised - full of joy. That's what the book gave me. It's about tribulations and suffering - but I suddenly realised that while I was reading it, I was happy, knowing the love of Christ. The joy of my salvation came back. I make my living as a literature teacher, analysing the classics and lecturing about why the best books are good literature. I thought that I'd be mentally analysing Pierced by a Sword for its literary qualities while I read. Instead, I just READ - something I haven't been able to do with a work of fiction in about 10 years. I just read, and felt joy. It's my job to be able to analyse a text and say how the author does what he does when he writes a good text. But I have no idea how Bud McFarlane's text gave me joy. Only that while I read it, I felt again the joy of my salvation. Read it - for the joy.
- a visitor from
Truly transforming!!
This is the first novel I have picked up in a LONG time, and I'm glad I did. The reality of each character is enlightening, and has allowed me to see friendship and faith in a new light. It was also very informative and a good cathechetical tool for the real world. I caught myself thinking about people and events in a Macfarlane narrative fashion the other day, thanks to his great gift of story-telling.
- Michelle from Augusta, GA
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