A Piece of Heaven on Earth...
919518
Paraplegic and former movie actress Monica Vincent is dead. Her sister, Anna Vincenzi, is arrested for murder. The residents of Carson Springs are shocked--not because of Monica's death; she was a cruel, vindictive woman who played the pity card to manipulate others. Anna's friends are shocked because they don't believe she is capable of such a heinous crime. WISH COME TRUE, the third book in the Carson Springs trilogy, begins with Anna's arrest, then takes the reader back six months to view the events that led up to the murder.
Anna cares for her Alzheimer's-afflicted mother, Betty, as well as assists Monica many hours each day. Monica is an alcoholic and makes Anna's life a living hell. Things finally reach a breaking point, and Anna and her other sister Liz convince Monica to enter rehab. During family week, Anna gets to know Marc, a counselor with troubles of his own. The two grow closer, and over the next few months forge a relationship. Marc joins Anna in the search for Monica's killer. Will they fall in love or just remain close friends? Will they find Monica's true murderer, or will Anna go to jail?
WISH COME TRUE also revisits some favorite characters from Eileen Goudge's previous novels. Finch is on a mission to find out more about her birth family. Laura and Hector proceed with the adoption of a baby. Sam, Claire, Gerry, and many others are also featured. Who is the mysterious woman with the same name as Finch, are they related?
Eileen Goudge has a talent for creating believable characters who overcome obstacles for love. I enjoyed getting to know Anna in the previous two novels in which she was a peripheral character. In WISH COME TRUE, she has a voice and comes to find herself in the midst of the needs of others. Marc is an ideal match for Anna, although he is not without faults. The cracks in his armor are what make him a believable and interesting person. Ms. Goudge writes in such a way that the transitions between past and present flow smoothly. In the end, she paints a seamless picture with a conclusion that even most mystery lovers will not figure out in advance.
 One issue that really bothers me about this book is the treatment of the characters from past books. The previous novel, TASTE OF HONEY, featured Gerry finding the daughter, Claire, she had given up for adoption thirty years before. Most of that book is a struggle of choices for Claire--between Gerry and her adoptive parents, between her new love in Carson Springs and her hometown boyfriend. In WISH COME TRUE, it is mentioned almost as an aside that Claire is now married, and that Claire's mother had passed away. I felt cheated that this was only worthy of one sentence when I had grown to know and care for these people.
 I hate to see this trilogy end. There are so many more stories to tell in Carson Springs, hopefully Ms. Goudge will revisit it again someday. Although WISH COME TRUE is the third in a series, Ms. Goudge gives the reader enough background that it can stand alone. I recommend reading all three books: STRANGER IN PARADISE, TASTE OF HONEY, and now WISH COME TRUE, to get to know the special people of Carson Springs. The idyllic scenery and warm residents will make you wish to live in this corner of heaven on earth, or at least visit for a little while.
1162919
This recording is breathtaking.  Honestly the compositions on this cd are well arranged, composed and offer a undeniable real spiritual journey.  These are more than mere jazz tunes.  These are praise and worship classics.  When I listen to "I'm Crying Out" I find myself giving thanks to Jesus.  The title masterpiece "Winds" is so well performed I find myself in deep meditation envisioning what the New Land will be like.  "From That Moment On" is an extremely touching piece with a beautiful melody.  I only wished it was a little longer.  Fortunately where that ends "Happy Days" picks up.  This cd has to be blessed by God cause it blessed me.  I've seen Mr Guerin perform at Snug Harbor-New Orleans and with Marcus Roberts in Chicago.  This guy has phenomenal chops and his writing is superb.  Kudos Mr. Guerin
3473980
I'll keep this short as there are other reviews that are much more in depth.  I was searching for something a little different and I came upon this.  It's truly one of the most magnificent cd's that I've come across.  Independently, each song is wonderful, but when compiled together, they tell a story that is haunting, deep, and touching.....incredibly personal.  From the day that I unwrapped it, it has yet to leave my cd player.  It's fantastic and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for something other than the same old drab pop that floods the radio.
2250190
This blanket is like sinking into a cloud!!!!!!!!!!!  I've never had one so soft and luxurious!  I was afraid it might be too hot, but whenever I feel that way, I just get on top of it and put part of it over me.  I may not be describing myself very well, but it truly is a piece of heaven and I love it!!!!!!!!!
2815543
First and formost DO NOT miss the King Tut tour.....the artifatcs are absoutely astounding and incredibly beautiful beyond words..It it truly extremely hard to wrap your mind around that every peice is wll over 3000 yers old. As for the book itself it is nithing short of amazing...caputring the exibit almost in its entirety....but NOTHING compares to seeing the absoultly stunnig tour live...a truly once in a life time experience...after the US tour concludes it it will never leave Cairo again...The book is worth its weight in gold...the awsome photography and articles by renowned archiloghits and her HRH the Queen of Egypt her self...THis tour the book by National Geographic and the Official DVD are some of the greatest gifts ever bestowed opon the world. A gift from the heart of Egypt to the world that will never be go on tour again...A humbling experience live and most interesting reading a msater work indeed...Bravo!!!
2918939
Just a brilliant piece of art!!! This book will take you on a path of your own discovery. The author is not teaching us anything new but he gently reminds us what is our true nature. Beyond words...thank you for that.
3116121
I finally purchased this CD after hearing and falling in love with every song. It is worshipful and moving and I feel a deep personal connection with many of the songs. One reviewer mentioned that the lyrics were more secular, but I respectfully disagree. When you are a believer, you will find Christ in many secular songs, books, people, and situations. It is life-changing when you find all the places that God works His way into...secular or not! (*Read "The Purpose Driven Life" and you will truly understand what I mean!!) I have found that Third Day's music allows me to be an incredible witness to people who would unlikely listen to Christian music. As a believer I know the message within the music and can easily share that message with others. This CD is an absolute blessing to me and an INCREDIBLE comfort to me during a very difficult time in my life.
4737138
I first found out about this wonderful artist one night while listening to a pandora station. The song was "Jesus Loves Me." I was so moved by that arrangement that I went and told my friends and family. Then I just had to find more music by that artist, which is when I found this CD on Amazon. This man is truly gifted from God. The songs are so beautiful, that if you close your eyes, you can almost imagine the sounds of Heaven. His arrangements are breathtaking and inspirational. More people should know of this artist. You. Would. Not. Regret. Getting. This. CD!
148149
Such a beautiful vibration put to paper!!!  What an experience!  It's like being at a healing concert :)  Very grateful for this and YOU!!!  So many blessings and highly recommended!
3189268
This is going to be an inadequate review because there are no words to express how utterly breathtakenly beautiful this song is.  Clay is a true artist who continually surprises us with his heavenly voice.  I think the world is just waking up to how incredible wonderful his voice is.  I was trembling for hours after listening to this.  Listen.  The world has been given something new, something magical, and something we thought we had lost.  Just listen.
722216
Anyone who was my age when the awareness of beautiful singing existed on any radio station at practically any time, till they shut down for the night.
That dates me, right?
What also dates me is that people like the Hi-Lo's and the Four Freshmen and Frank Sinatra....SANG.  They sang their hearts out and it was exquisite.  Not shouting.  It was about phrasing and beauty of sound and blending...and - well - it was just gorgeous.  Whether as a team or as a soloist, this music you could listen to forever.
So, to find a source today, after having given away the equipment to play LP records on as well as a huge, huge, HUGE PILE OF RECORDS....what a thrill to select CDs which are collections of more than what might have been on a single LP.  No need to go over to a machine and flip the record...nor to store them..  We live in an amazing time and may it last!
Our daughter has remarked that these people knew how to sing, the same as the people of the 1930s and 1940s.  They sustain. - Well...they are trained...and have trained themselves to have control, discipline.  They do not "gimmick things up" with special effects like "reverb" or synthetic instrumentation.
These are valuable examples of a cultured civilization and the appreciation of enough people to sell the music and to get it played to the public.
Other countries have caught on fast to the Western kind of popular music from the time when these artists were productive.  Thank goodness that our Western - as opposed to Eastern - cultures of music....have survived. Eastern culture is lovely also, of course.  But we must preserve these things.
Where, other than through Amazon - from a tremendous number of suppliers - would I have found this sort of beauty?
Thanks to all of you...all of you companies....and the Internet itself.  May it continue to be free and accessible to us all!
nancy morse
4565436
Just this past weekend, I heard a 15 minute excerpt at zero dark thirty in the morning on my local FM classical music station.  I'd never heard anything so haunting and wondrous. It truly is the ocean. The next day, I had to get it and downloaded the MP3 version from Amazon so I could hear it in it's entirety. It is truly the most beautiful music I have ever purchased. Not only is it a symphonic and auditory wonder, it is also a restful and hypnotic treat for the mind.
1551234
Her music is amazing.... It haunting, its healing, its blessing, its transcendental, its mesmerizing... I have people in my home subliminally hearing the CD, saying its gentle and makes them feel better...  Blessed Be is my favorite. If I need to recharge...the words go round and round... healing, .sweeping me away and restoring peace....It has worked for all the people in my group... I have men wanting to buy the CD.
Excellent piece of work.
447551
Wow, this music is amazing- Sarah has a way of opening the door to Heaven.  As soon as I turn it on, I feel that I am in the presence of God.
153544
Are you kidding me?  This album is absolutely fabulous and stands totally gleaming on its own merits.  Why even bother comparing blue to purple, ice cream to cake, skydiving to bungee jumping, surfing to skiing...it is ALL so completely wonderful.  Sure, you have to shift gears slightly and adjust your headphones a bit and maybe ease a bit further down into your seat but this is without questions, one of the most enjoyable trips you can take without leaving your chair. Try falling asleep while listening to this...I can't do it...hard to sleep while your toes are tapping and your body is floating through space...rock, latin beats, hypnotic harmonies, awesome ivories and more.  What has happened to music these days?  It is so sad.... well...gotta go....time to fly!  Enjoy!
4070774
Wonderful heartwarming story that should give every person the joy of knowing there is a heaven!!  I highly recommend it!!
3257360
I did not know it was possible to improve on this masterpiece but it has been done! Everything about this edition is even more beautiful than the first. The extra CD with the different takes are as mind blowing as the original. I wasn't as crazy over the live version as I was over the alternate takes of the other parts of the suite.

What is there for me to explain about the music that hasn't been explained? Other than that this is the best spiritual experience I get from listening to music.

The packaging is one of the most beautiful design jobs I have seen in a CD set. The booklet artwork is amazing, the mostly black and high contrast colors for everythig else like the CDs and inside covers are perfectly designed . The design is in perfect balance visually. Top it off with the beautiful plastic jacket sleeve, this was an awesome edition of the masterpiece.