Customer Reviews

Contract with an Angel

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

My library consists of all of Father Greeley's fiction. I have loved every story and have found that generally all have happy endings. As I read CONTRACT WITH AN ANGEL I was saddened with the thought that the main character was going to die. I was in tears beginning in Chapter 29 when Raymond Anthony Neenan was dying. But, what a beautiful ending! The book has many lessons concerning personal relationships with God, family, and fellow workers, as well as getting in touched with one's self. This is one of his BEST! As usual there is a good mixture of human emotions. Thank you, Father Greeley, so many hours of pleasure reading. Keep the books coming!

Contract with an Angel was such a great book. In reality this is not typically the kind of book I read. However, I found this book to be just magnificent. Here's a small summary of what this book is about. This novels main Character is Mr. Raymond Neeman who's a successful businessman. Without much choice, he is forced to sing a contract with the Arch Angel Michael, who just happens to have the same phycisal features as Michael Jordan. Mr. Neeman is given a chance to redeem his soul by trying to undo all the pain he has caused his loved ones, friends and business associates. Threrefore, Mr. Neeman signs a contract where he promises to follow all of Michael's instructions to the best of his abilities. As Mr. Neeman starts to make amends for his past mistakes, one's so touched that one feels the urge to do the same. By the end of the book one is cheering for Mr. Neeman, then disaster strikes. Mr. Neeman is fatally shot. However, when he enters heaven, God tells him that it's not his time. Consequently, he is sent back home to be with his loved ones. After one is done reading this book, one's belief that its never to late to make amends for one's mistakes is reinforced. In addition, one's belief that God is a forgiving person, and is always looking after us with the help of his angels is also extremely comforting to one's soul.

Andrew Greely never fails to disappoint his fans and this book is no exception! I found this tale to be exceptional. I kept asking myself, "What if? What if I knew my time on earth was limited, what would I change?" R.A. Neenan is confronted by Michael an angel resembling Michael Jordan, who contracts with Neenan in changing his life before his impending death. Neenan must completely change each close familial relationship in his life, which has become damaged due to his quest for more power, conquests and more money.

Greely intertwines his descriptive and lively characters around two equally lively and descriptive angels, doing all they can to insure Neean turns his life around. Greely combines adventure, suspense, mystery and romance for one memorable tale of hope and the message of God's love ever present in our lives. His message of forgiveness, love, and renewal bring one back to the realization that we are never alone, we are never forgotten and that we are loved.

I thoroughly recommend this book and you will have to read the book for the suspenseful ending! Another treat for Greeley fans!

Our hero is Mr. Raymond Anthony Neenan, CEO and President of a large media corporation and multi gazillionaire, who finds himself sitting on an airplane next to a big black man with an earring in his ear who claims to be what we earthlings call "an angel", though prefers to be called a "seraph". At first Mr. Neenan thinks the guy is a nut, and then he thinks perhaps he had too much vodka. When the plane is sent hurtling towards earth, luggage flying everywhere, nose diving into a certain crash, and then righted again, with everyone else on board unaware of what has just happened, Mr. Neenan believes. He is told he does not have long to live, and should sign this contract to save his immortal soul. He signs. What follows is humor, good fun, some sadness, and a lot of emotional turmoil for our hero. He now must right all of the wrongs he has done in his life, and he has only a short time in which to do so. As the story progresses, it becomes somewhat of a reach, but hanging in there is worth it. I did not like the ending at all, but of course cannot give that away. Instead, I recommend you read it for yourself and decide. All in all, I was happy with this book, found it very well written and an extremely easy read, and enjoyed almost every page.

I just loved this book! I'm sure that if I knew that the novel was written by a priest, I never would have bought it... I'm so glad I did. Watching Ray discover what true happiness is all about as he trys to make ammends for his ruthless behavior, was a great trip.

I have to admit, I found myself identifying with Ray and wondering if I could find such happiness with my own family if I focused more on them then on building my business.

I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and would highly recommend it.

Fr. Greeley has outdone himself with "Contract With An Angel." This book is a remarkable blend of topical issues and the all-encompassing joyful love God has for Her creations. Greeleys previous books, of which "The God Game" was my favorite, need to be read as well, to completely experience the utter joy Greeley offers his readers. The story in 'Contract' is an age-old one, finding joy in a life filled with everyday tragedies, yet it also is a story of boundless hope and enthusiasm, both from God toward us, and from us to God. This book is a must-have for Greeley fans, and a must-check-out for those who haven't experienced his genius. He is undoubtedly, one of the most gifted, endearing writers of our time, and quite possibly, of all time. Bravo Fr. Greeley, it is my dearest wish that you grace us with many more books.

In his charming and witty Irish style, he brought a different type of story with a surprising ending! It touches the heart and the conscience, and makes one question their own life and experiences; and let's us know that is never too late! Glorious!

Take the title literally--this is about a real angel and a real contract. Hard-driving businessman R. A. Neenan is on a plane flight when he is confronted by the seraph Michael in the form of a huge, athletic black man. Neenan is informed that he does not have much longer to live, and he must try to make up for the wrongs that he has done to others. When the plane goes into a dive and almost crashes, he is convinced and signs the contract.

Neenan has a big job ahead of him. He has alienated a lot of people, including his bitter parents, his frigid and shrewish first wife (just like his mother), his actress daughter (who has been brought up on her mother's vicious tirades), a homosexual son, and, to a lesser extent, the other son, who is now working as an overshadowed junior executive in Neenan's company. Then there are a number of women whom he has conquered and discarded.

First, however, is his supersexy but neglected second wife, Anna Maria Allegro. This is the fun part--if you are unfamiliar with Greeley's novels, you'll be amazed at how much sex a celibate Catholic priest can inject into his writings. (Even angel Michael has a gorgeous "companion," Gaby. (Did you know that Gabriel is a female angel? And that angelic sexual encounters last for days?)

To the bewilderment of his associates, Neenan lives up to the terms of his contract. He doesn't always succeed, but he controls his wayward impulses and tries his best. He discovers that it is much more fun to be a good guy, especially in his relations (both in and out of bed) with his wife. But that fatal deadline is still hanging over him. The ending may be predictable, but who cares? No one would want the story to end differently.

It is difficult to tell just how much of Greeley's depiction of the divine is to be taken as his honest belief and how much is just pure twinkle-in-the-eye whimsy. Some of it is almost irreverent. (How about the Virgin Mary as a saucy Palestinian teenager who makes the best chocolate chip cookies ever created?) But if I had my druthers, I'd take Greeley's theology over anyone else's.

The book is great fun to read. Greeley is certainly an entertaining story teller, with the best kind of Irish-Catholic wit. Ah, I love this genial priest who packs so much love of life into his novels!

Greeley is very much like a bag of potato chips. You can't stop with one. Greeley's stories are addictive, even if the quality varies sometimes. "Contract with an Angel" is the most recent in his "Angel" series. This story is a take on Faust, while the last story in this series was a take on the Book of Tobit from Scriptures. The angel series is fantasy with angels and saints popping in and out of the story. There is even a cameo by Herself. It is lighter that his Bishop Ryan or Maggie Ward series. However, his inspired understanding of human nature and relations between the sexes comes through well. I like his angel series and recommend this installment as the best of the series to date.

Well deserved praise given, I must add that I found the main character going through a change of heart with amazing speed. He turned from a ruthless, selfseeking tyrant into a very human and likeable guy in the first chapter of the book. The rest of the! book deals with other people trying to catch up with his instant change of heart. A little more struggle on his part to change life long attitudes may have made for a more realistic story. However, it is a work of fantasy and fun none-the-less.

I read somewhere recently that Fr. Greeley has written 43 novels. I believe it is closer to 53 if the truth be told. I myself have read 39 of them so far and this is one of my all time favorites. It is a wonderfully accessible story about the grace of forgiveness and of trying to do better every day, whether other people respond favorably to you or not. I could not recommend this book highly enough.