Pierced By A Sword [Mass Market Paperback]

Bud MacFarlane Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2011

Characters so real you'll swear you know them. A plot that twists and turns so fast you'll lose sleep to find out what happens next. A riveting story that whisks you from Salt Lake City to Chicago to Rome to Notre Dame. A supernatural thriller that will rock your world.

A savvy drug dealer from the meanest streets of Cleveland...

A no-nonsense Irish Pope who drives his own car and travels in disguise...

A beautiful, unmarried pregnant woman with a quick wit and quicker temper...

A relentless, aging tycoon from Utah...

A mysterious Dark Man who sees the future before it happens...

A handsome, hard-drinking, hard-living securities broker...

A soft-spoken, shy, gigantic former NFL football star from Louisiana...

A fast-talking young priest from New Jersey with a penchant for causing trouble...

...And the Mother of God.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Real People Love This Book...

"It moved me so much that I wept. I was so excited I took it downstairs to read certain passages to my mom and dad! Then I urged my best friend to read it. The themes come right out of my own life. I love it!" Molly Winters, Lake Bluff, IL, College Student

"I really got into Nathan Payne--he's such a great character that I couldn't wait to find out what happened to him next. I feel like I know the guy personally--Nathan and the others remind me of real people I know." Martin Maher, Tully, NY, Financial Professional

"I don't read many novels and I had low expectations. All I can say now is that I couldn't put it down. It had me turning the pages. It really moves fast. It's great!" Tom Baugh, Akron, OH, Businessman & Father

"The passage where Father Chet and Becky Macadam talk about celibacy is one of the most insightful that I've ever read on the subject--all this interwoven into a story with a great plot. I'm very excited about this book!" Eileen Biehl, Westlake, OH, Mother & Writer

"The climax of the book was creative and mystical, and really gave me food for thought regarding my own life. Bud Macfarlane has a real gift for dialogue and characterization." John Madigan, Chicago, IL, Father & Lawyer

From the Back Cover

A novel that will take you to a future that is as current as today's headlines.

Nathan Payne. A troubled young securities broker from Chicago. Will Nathan find the faith to win the love of Joanie Wheat -- a woman of deep Catholic convictions?

Becky Macadam. A stunningly beautiful young woman, away from the faith since childhood, alone and pregnant in the heartless city of Chicago.

Father Chet Sullivan. A fast-talking young priest from New Jersey with a penchant for getting into trouble.

Tom Wheat. The foremost U.S. expert on Marian Apparitions, desperately trying to warn the world about The Coming Tribulations. Can Wheat reach the country in time?

Lee Washington. A drug dealer from Cleveland, living in the fast lane in L.A. Will he keep his appointment with Our Lady?

This sweeping new novel is set against the backdrop of historical and present-day Marian Apparitions. Join these unforgettable characters as their lives intertwine in a Divine Plan during the Great Tribulations! Pierced By A Sword will take you over the border between heaven & earth!

Discover a new world. Change your life forever.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 568 pages
• Publisher: Saint Jude Media (October 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964631601
• ISBN-13: 978-0964631601
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, informative, and well researched novel, September 2, 2004

By 

W. Merland (Knoxville TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pierced By A Sword (Mass Market Paperback)

This book given to me by a friend. She told me it was a Catholic fiction novel and she was given a dozen of them for free. I remember looking at the thickness of the book (about 550 pages) and thinking that if they were giving it out for free and it was the author's first book, it was probably not worth my time. I was working on four or five other books at the time, so Pierced By a Sword would take an indefinate back seat to even my junk mail.
I just left it in my car. One afternoon an appointment was running over, so I brought it inside and began to read it. I finished this book in four days. Once I got started, evrything else had taken a back seat to this book! It was the most inspiring book I have ever read, and that says so much. While some conversations between the characters seemed a bit far fetched, and I was rather irritated with the detailed smoking and drinking of the characters (the aurthor must be a smoker to care to elaborate so much on the dirty habit) this was well compensated for by the tying together of the stories into one very powerful plot. I can't promote this book enough. The tidbits of information scattered heavily throughout the book will make anyone a more informed Catholic. Even protestants could learn a great deal about our shared Christianity. It provides fire for the lukewarm soul.
Every thing the author states through a character about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is absolutely true. All of the Marian Apprations are actual reportings. It is fun to look up additional informaton on presented subjects as you read along in the book. The way the story takes the current day facts then unfolds them to point toward one ending is wonderful.
This book is avaliable for free through St Jude Media. It ships in under a week.
Every single one of my friends have read this, including my best friend, my husband. This is a feat in itself since he limits himself to engineering manuals and text books. It was the first fiction he had read in entiretity since college. I have at present 5 copies. I keep extra to give out to people. This is a pretty popular read, so you could ask around and I am sure get more information from other people.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my all-time, number one favorite book in the world!, April 22, 1999

By 

Jeff Mathews ([e-mail]) (St. Louis, Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pierced By A Sword (Mass Market Paperback)

I have little if any time to read. Someone left this book in a chapel where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed. I started to read it, and suddenly I was finding time to read. I couldn't stop. I was up most nights unable to put it down. The story is wonderfully told, rock solid, unpredictable, human, with characters very easy to relate to. This book changed my life. It's as simple as that. I'm giving copies to everyone I know (I don't share mine because I keep rereading it and it is getting quite worn). I believe Bud McFarlane, jr did such a phenomenal job with his first novel because he allowed the Holy Spirit to work through him. I also have read "Conceived Without Sin" and loved it. Now I can't wait for Bud McFarlane, jr to write a third book!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating!, July 20, 2000

By 

W. Langan "take403" (the end of the world to your town!) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pierced By A Sword (Mass Market Paperback)

This book really encouraged me when it was 1st published in 1995! I wish there were more writers like Bud McFarlane, jr and Frank Perretti (author of This Present Darkness)! This book teaches you a lot about the importance of faith and has a lot of action (particularlly near the end) in it as well!

Bud McFarlane captures the imagination of the reader by telling a little information on each of his characters. Nathan Payne is the strong-silent hero of this story deeply in love with the shy, charming Joanie Wheat. He's had some not-so-great relationships and Joanie helps him forget them and start anew. Becky Macadam is portrayed as beautiful and successful (with a tough exterior) but carries a baby of a guy who cared nothing for her. With the help of Joe Jackson, she is able to move on from her personal trauma. Then there's the friendly, laid back (but deeply devoted) priest Fr. Chet Sullivan. Set in the Midwest in Indiana, this book takes you through the lives of all of these characters and how they overcame their obstacles in life.