Saturday, 10 October 2026

Have Saint Will Travel - Declan Finn - Saint Tommy NYPD Omnibus, Vol. II

Have Saint Will Travel 
Saint Tommy NYPD Omnibus, Vol. II
Declan Finn
eISBN 9781865243467
ASIN B0HFDTK2WS
 
Have Saint Will Travel - Declan Finn - Saint Tommy NYPD Omnibus Vol. II

This is the second of the new Omnibus editions of this excellent series I have read. I must state that Declan Finn is one of my favourite contemporary authors. I have read all the published books and short stories, and many contributions to anthologies. I had been planning to reread this series for a while now, especially as I await the republication of the Pius series. These new omnibus editions look amazing! My son and I both absolutely love these new editions. Without the words on the covers we would both do them as prints and put them up on our wall with Icons we have. 

The description of this omnibus edition states:

“In the mean streets of New York—and beyond—evil has a scent. And one cop can smell it.

Detective Thomas “Tommy” Nolan is a good man: devoted husband and father, faithful Catholic, and an NYPD officer who shows mercy to the desperate while hunting the truly wicked. Then the gifts arrive—the charisms of the saints. He can smell evil. He can bilocate. He heals fast, levitates when needed, and stands as a living target for the legions of Hell.

From a demon-possessed serial killer tearing through Queens to death cults, warlocks in high office, Nazi vampires, sex-trafficking succubi, witches, zombies, Lovecraftian horrors, and worse, every force of darkness marks Tommy for destruction. They learn the hard way that “good” does not mean “harmless.” With prayer, fists, firearms, allies from the Vatican to the streets, and an unshakable faith, Tommy sends them all back to Hell—or dies trying.

This complete collection gathers every novel and short story in Declan Finn’s acclaimed Saint Tommy, NYPD series: the full arc of Tommy’s battles across New York, Europe, and the supernatural underworld, plus the connecting tales that fill the gaps between major cases. Experience the Catholic action-horror that readers call a streamlined, faith-fueled answer to urban fantasy classics—fast-paced, gun-and-grace-filled, and unapologetically on the side of the light.

One saint. One badge. An army of demons. The war against Evil starts here.

With a bounty on his head in New York, Nolan is sent abroad as part of the NYPD’s intelligence unit. Instead of being a glorified tourists, all the forces of Hell are still out to get him.

City of Shadows: When a robbery at the British Museum turns into a war zone, Nolan finds himself on the trail of a prehistoric weapon of mass destruction.

Crusader: Chasing human traffickers turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a succubus who is about to open a portal to Hell in the middle of Europe.

Deus Vult: A nearby monastery has been desecrated, the exorcist monks slaughtered. A legion of demons is gathering, and Tommy’s the only one to stand in their way.

They Burn Witches, Don't They?: Alex Packard may not be a saint, but when a coven of witches come to his city, he has a few tricks up his sleeve.”

About the author we are informed:

“As penance for his sins, Declan Finn spent over 40 years in New York City. He has since made his escape from New York to Texas. He is the author of books ranging from thrillers to urban fantasy to SciFi, including the Dragon Award Nominated Novel for Best horror in 2016, Honor at Stake, and the 2017 follow-up, Live and Let Bite. He was also nominated for "Best Apocalypse" novel at the Dragons in 2017. He also won the book of the year award with his novel Hell Spawn from CLFA.

Finn is known for being annoyingly Catholic, his action sequences, and writing faster than most readers can keep up with. In less than a decade, he has written over 30 novels, and is waiting for all of them to be published. He's been part of multiple anthologies, and will write for anyone.”

This is another incredible collection. I was even more impressed reading these stories the second time. Spiritual warfare and the war on crime collide. Officer Nolan thought he had his work cut out for him. 

This story is told from Alex Packerd’s point of view. He has been staying in Tommy’s house while he is overseas and he is prepared for what happens. Being Tommy’s partner had given him some skills, some tools, and he has been doing his research.

Soon Alex, the chief medical examiner Doctor Sinead Holland and Father Freeman realize what they are up against and they start to work to stop something that will be bad, very, very bad. But can they take on a coven, some of whom are super powered without Tommy?


This story starts a little slower than the last one. And Tommy is out of new York, first to the Vatican and then to London. But the action sequences in this story are just as intense if not more so than in the previous offerings. A mysterious artifact from Hussein’s personal collection, a super wealthy couple in England trying to influence the whole world, and not for the good. Political correctness around calling crimes crimes, and criminals criminals. A clear look at the acid and knife attacks so prevalent in England, including a look at certain recent histories.  

Some great one liners. A lot of action. And An important reminder of the power of prayers and value of memorizing a wide variety of prayers. Tommy prays to the three Arch Angels before heading into the penultimate battle sequence.

Tommy’s new assignment, and being on loan to the Vatican has sort of made him a Cop Spy is proving even more interesting and challenging than Tommy ever expected. And using the charisms is a huge help in his work. 

Declan definitely pushing the line with these works. He is not afraid to punt political correctness out the door. He uses fiction to write about issues, and concerns that most media completely ignores. He is willing to confront the expediential growth in rape gangs in Europe, human trafficking. And Several other issues. But Written into a story about a New York Cop just trying to do the right thing and live his faith. Tommy Nolan wants his actions to live up to his theology, which is something I can greatly respect. But he is also willing to trust that God can do almost anything. Some examples include using charisms typical of saintly men and women in the past; speaking in tongues, fluent in speaking German which he has never learned. Sensing and smelling evil. And even miraculous healings. 

In this one, not only is Tommy called back into duty early, and on American soil again, his police partner, his wife, children and even close friend a New York Medical Examiner, Doctor Sinead Holland are all in on the action. And in each novel the action gets more intense, and to some extent terrifying! In this one someone is trying to raise a demon and wipe out much of North America. But to get there they first start with an investigation of a massacre at a monetary. All the exorcist monks have been murdered. And the whole place has been desecrated. Tommy, his partner with NYPD Alex Packard, and Father Michael Pearson his partner at the Vatican a combat exorcist, are on the case and they soon realize not only is it serious but also very time sensitive. Soon it is a race against time to see if they can save the people of earth again!  

This is another amazing read. Excellent stories in a series that are now available in 4 Omnibus editions and a collection of all the short stories. I highly recommend this series for mature readers. I have recommended these books to dozens of people and all have loved them. Therefore I recommend them to you. Pick this up and read this awesome series!    

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Declan Finn:
Love At First Bite Series:

The Last Survivors Series:
…

Convention Killings Series:
…

Pius Series:
A Pius Legacy
A Pius Stand
Pius History
Pius Tales (Anthology)
…
Pius Trilogy Short Stories:
...

St. Tommy Series:

Land&Sea Season 2:
...

Other books:
...

Anthologies contributed to:
Luna: Planetary Anhtology Series Book 2
Supernatural Streets
Starflight: Tales From The Starport Lounge
Mercury: Planetary Anthology Series Book 4
Venus: Planetary Anthology Series Book 5
Mars: Planetary Anthology Series Book 7
Places Beyond the Wild: A Z-Day Anthology
Shoot the Devil: Ten Tales of Humans Defeating the Demonic
Fantastic Schools, Volume 6
This Saint For Hire - Declan Finn - Saint Tommy NYPD Omnibus Vol. I

Have Saint Will Travel - Declan Finn - Saint Tommy NYPD Omnibus Vol. II

A Fistful of Relics - Declan Finn - Saint Tommy NYPD Omnibus Vol. III

Dead Saint Walking - Declan Finn - Saint Tommy NYPD Omnibus Vol. IV

Pathway to Heaven - Declan Finn - Saint Tommy NYPD The Complete Short Stories
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Friday, 9 October 2026

Wildfire - Rodman Philbrick - The Wild Series Book 1

Wildfire
The Wild Series Book 1  
ISBN 9781338713640
eISBN 9781338266917
ASIN B07M86DLNP

Wildfire - Rodman Philbrick - The Wild Series Book 1

I was recently having a discussion with a young man in his early 20’s and asked about his favourite book, because that is what bibliophiles do. He immediately said Freak the Mighty by Philbrick. This is the eighth volume I have read by the author over the last few months. And it was something completely different!

The description of this volume state:

“Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick sends readers straight into the nightmare of a raging wildfire as 12-year-old Sam is trapped by explosive flames and deadly smoke that threaten to take his life. Can he survive?

Flames race toward Sam Castine's summer camp as evacuation buses are loading, but Sam runs back to get his phone. Suddenly, a flash of heat blasts him as pine trees explode. Now a wall of fire separates Sam from his bus, and there's only one thing to do: Run for his life. Run or die. Lungs burning, Sam's only goal is to keep moving. Drought has made the forest a tinderbox, and Sam struggles to remember survival tricks he learned from his late father. Then, when he least expects it, he encounters Delphy, an older girl who is also lost. Their unlikely friendship grows as they join forces to find civilization. The pace never slows, and eventually flames surround Sam and Delphy on all sides. A powerful bond is forged that can only grow out of true hardship -- as two true friends beat all odds and outwit one of the deadliest fires ever. At the end of the novel, information about wildfires and useful safety tips add to the reader's understanding of one of the US's most dangerous natural disasters.”

About the author we are informed:

“Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick has written more than a dozen novels for young readers. In 1993, he published his first children's book, Freak the Mighty, which became an instant classic, and was made into a feature film. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg was a 2010 Newbery Honor Book. Philbrick's other acclaimed novels include Max the Mighty, The Young Man and the Sea, The Last Book in the Universe, Zane and the Hurricane, and Wildfire. Philbrick divides his time between Maine and the Florida Keys. You can learn more about him on his website.”

At the time of writing this review according to Goodreads there are 10 editions of this volume available. It was published in 2019, reprinted in 2021 and 2025. It is first in the wild series. It is an excellent read!

I did not know anything about this book other than it is the first in a trilogy. It was an great Middle Grade novel. It is not a school story, but the main protagonists are school aged. It again reminds me a lot of the works of Andrew Clements, Arthur Slade or Gordon Korman. The more of Philbrick I read I am being reminded more and more of Madeleine L’Engle who wrote adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s fiction, teen fiction, and even theology.    

This story starts with a kids summer camp being evacuated. Sam Castine goes back to retrieve his cell phone and ends up separated from the evacuation. But he is not willing to give up. After the first day and night escaping Sam encounters Delphy. They have an old battered jeep and are following a logging trail. As the days pass they encounter more and more obstacles. The whole story takes placed over a few days. It is intense and thrilling. 

Philbrick writes midgrade literature, young adult books and adult fiction. And some are even published under other pen names. I just randomly picked this as the next volume to read. It was a tossup between this and Cherry Street book 1. I have friends who call me a ‘completionist’ in that I find an author I really like and try to read everything they have in print, or have published. 

I was hooked almost as soon as I started this volume. I had not read the description or any reviews I just dove in. It is a book that will hook even reluctant readers. 

This was an excellent story. It is a quick intense read. And one I can easily recommend. 

Note: while reading this I found out that there is a fourth volume releasing in about 6 weeks. Wild Blizzard.

Books by Rodman Philbrick:
Max the Mighty Series:
…
 
House on Cherry Street Series: (with Lynn Harnett)
1. The Haunting (1995)
2. The Horror (1995)
3. The Final Nightmare (1995)
…
 
Werewolf Chronicles Series: (with Lynn Harnett)
1. Night Creature (1996)
2. Children of the Wolf (1996)
3. The Wereing (1996)
…
 
Visitors Series: (with Lynn Harnett)
2. Things (1997)
3. Brain Stealers (1997)
…
 
Wild Series:
1. Wildfire (2019)
2. Wild River (2021)
3. Wild Wave (2024)
4. Wild Blizzard (2026)
…
 
Other Books:
Shooting Star (1982)
The Black Moon (1989) 
Brothers and Sinners (1993)
The Fire Pony (1996)
Abduction (1998) (with Lynn Harnett)
The Mighty (1998)
Dark Matter (2000)
Rem World (2000)
The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds (2001)
Coffins (2002)
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (2009)
Listening To Kids In America (2011)
Zane and the Hurricane (2014)
The Big Dark (2016)
We Own the Sky (2022)
…

Written as William R Dantz:
Pulse (1989) (as by William R Dantz)
The Seventh Sleeper (1991) (as by William R Dantz)
Hunger (1993) (as by William R Dantz)
Nine Levels Down (1995) (as by William R Dantz)

Written as by W R Philbrick:
The Big Chip (1990) (as by W R Philbrick)
…

J.D. Hawkins Series:
1. Shadow Kills (1985)
2. Ice for the Eskimo (1986)
3. Paint It Black (1989)
4. Walk on the Water (1991)
…
 
T.D. Stash Series:
1. The Neon Flamingo (1987)
2. The Crystal Blue Persuasion (1988)
3. Tough Enough (1989)
…

Written as by Chris Jordan:
Randall Shane Series:
1. Taken (2006)
2. Trapped (2007)
  aka Lost
3. Torn (2009)
4. Measure of Darkness (2011)
…

Wild Series - Rodman Philbrick

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Thursday, 8 October 2026

Stay with Me, Lord: 30 Days with Padre Pio - Susan de Bartoli - Great Spiritual Teachers Series

Stay with Me, Lord 30 Days with Padre Pio
Great Spiritual Teachers 
Susan de Bartoli
John J. Kirvan (Series Editor)
ISBN 9781646804726
eISBN 9781646804733
ASIN B0H5RFTXDF

Stay with Me, Lord: 30 Days with Padre Pio - Susan de Bartoli - Great Spiritual Teachers Series

This is the twenty-second volume in the Great Spiritual Teachers series I have read, it released in 2026, it is the latest to be released. I was partway through another volume when this released and finished it first, then immediately began this one. Two Years ago I read my first book in the series, it was Born to Do This: 30 Days with Joan of Arc by Jaymie Stuart Wolfe, and loved it and the concept of the series. I have read one almost every month since that first one, and if I can track down all the out of print, will do so until I finish all 25 released to date in the series. After I finished all of them that had eBook editions I have been randomly jumping around. I prefer the digital editions or eBooks with my dyslexia is easier to read. 

The description of this volume states:

“Discover the timeless spiritual counsel of Padre Pio--one of the most beloved and powerful spiritual guides of the twentieth century--whose life was profoundly marked by intense suffering and extraordinary union with Christ. Stay with Me, Lord, the newest book in the Great Spiritual Teachers series, offers a month of daily readings that draw you into Padre Pio's prayer of intimacy, dependence, and surrender.

At the heart of Padre Pio's devotion was a single, piercing longing: that Christ would never leave him. This longing gave rise to his powerful post-Communion prayer, "Stay with Me, Lord"--the heartfelt plea of a soul that could not imagine separation from its Savior. It is a prayer of dependence, intimacy, and trust, and a window into Padre Pio's very heart.

Stay with Me, Lord invites you to make this prayer your own and to discover how uniting your suffering with Christ can become a path to deeper love, healing, and holiness. Padre Pio reminds us that "when we suffer, Jesus is closer to us"--a truth that offers hope in every season of life.

Each day features a brief morning meditation drawn from Padre Pio's own writings, a simple mantra for use throughout the day, and an evening prayer to focus your thoughts as the day ends. This easy-to-use format is designed to help busy people pray in the footsteps of a great spiritual teacher.

Padre Pio's enduring witness stirs our desire for closeness to Christ and shows that no suffering is ever wasted when it is entrusted to him.”

About the series we are informed:

“Each book in the Great Spiritual Teachers series provides a month of daily readings from one of Christianity's most beloved spiritual guides. For each day there is a brief and accessible morning meditation drawn from the mystic's writings, a simple mantra for use throughout the day, and a night prayer to focus one's thoughts as the day ends. These easy-to-use books are the perfect prayer companion for busy people who want to root their spiritual practice in the solid ground of these great spiritual teachers.”

About the authors we are informed:

“Padre Pio (1887-1968) was a Capuchin priest known for bearing the stigmata--the five wounds of Christ crucified--making him the only priest in Catholic history officially recognized with this phenomenon. He was also associated with extraordinary spiritual gifts, including bilocation, prophecy, and both physical and spiritual healings. Renowned for his holiness and insight, he often spent up to sixteen hours a day hearing the confessions of pilgrims who traveled from around the world to see him.

On June 16, 2002, Padre Pio was canonized a saint by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square, at what was reported to be one of the largest gatherings in the city's history.”

and

“Susan De Bartoli is the author of the award-winning Welcoming the Christ Child with Padre Pio and Welcoming the Holy Spirit with Padre Pio, as well as Carry the Cross with Padre Pio. She serves as the secretary of the Board of Directors of the Padre Pio Foundation of America and owns Little Flower Pilgrimages.

De Bartoli has been a guest on various radio and television shows and podcasts, including Let Me Be Frank with Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, Seize the Day with Gus Lloyd, EWTN's Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo, and Catholic Faith Network's CFN Live.

She is a lady commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

De Bartoli lives in the New York area.”

and

“John Kirvan (1932-2012) wrote primarily about classical spirituality. He conceived the 30 Days with a Great Spiritual Teacher series and edited most of its seventeen titles. Kirvan's other books include God Hunger, Silent Hope, Raw Faith, and There Is a God, There Is No God.”

I believe there are 19 volumes in this series currently in print, but only 16 of those have digital editions. This was the latest volume released in July of 2026. There are also a number that are currently out of print, The oldest I have seen are from the late 1990’s and it looks like they went through a rebranding and format change in the mid 00’s, and they have undergone yet another rebranding beginning in the 2020’s including some new titles available in the series. 

I must admit I do not recall running across this series prior to that first volume on Joan. I have however added all of them to my ‘to be read list’. And as of the reading of this I am down to 3 left to go. I love the recent rebranding, and hope Ave Maria completes the rebranding across all volumes. I hope also that Ave Maria brings back into print some of the volumes currently not available; specifically the volumes on John of the Cross, Evelyn Underhill, Mother Theresa and others. 

The sections in this volume are:

Timeline
Who Is Padre Pio?
Stay with Me, Lord
How to Use This Book
     My Day Begins
     All Through the Day
     My Day Is Ending
     Some Other Ways to Use This Book
Thirty Days with Padre Pio
Spend 30 Days With A Great Spiritual Teacher

While reading this I highlighted numerous passages, some of them are:

“His message to the world was disarmingly simple: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” These were not comforting platitudes; they were words forged in fire, born from a life lived face-to-face with evil and anchored in unshakeable trust in God.”

“Padre Pio showed that sanctity is not reserved for the extraordinary but cultivated through ordinary daily faithfulness, moment by moment, in prayer, obedience, and self-offering. It is shaped in silence and proven in suffering.”

“Padre Pio is not merely a saint of the past. He is a spiritual guide for the present and a signpost for the future. In a world starving for truth, beauty, and meaning, his life calls out with clarity and compassion. He teaches us that holiness is possible even now. And he reminds us that no suffering, however great, is wasted when united to Christ.”

“The books in the Great Spiritual Teachers series provide an introduction to the spiritual insights and wisdom of some of history’s most extraordinary saints. Through these pages, you’re invited to a place beyond mere reading, into an experience of daily prayer and meditation. You’ll be accompanied by a spiritual teacher whose wisdom will awaken, enrich, and empower your walk with the Lord.”

“Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”

“Strengthen me for the final journey so that I may walk faithfully with you unto the end.”

“Jesus, I offer my love, my suffering, and my life to you.”

“Stay with me, Lord, and let me love you not only in joy and consolation but in silence, in suffering, and in the dryness of spirit. Let my heart grow in maturity, like that of your servant Padre Pio, who longed to love you not for reward but simply because you are worthy of all love.”

“I beseech you, oh my good God, to be my life, my ship, and my port. You have placed me on the Cross of your Son, and I am trying to accustom myself to it as best I can. I am convinced that I shall never come down from that Cross and that I shall never again see a clear sky.”

“I want to feel your troubles as if they were my own.”

“If you desire my life to be a hidden sacrifice, then take it, Lord, and use it as you will. Let every wound, sorrow, and burden become a quiet gift of love in your hands.”

“Stay with me, Lord, to teach me that peace is not just a passing feeling, but a holy state of the soul, rooted in your presence. Grant me the simplicity of heart, serenity of mind, and tranquility of soul that come only when you reign within me. Keep my conscience pure before you.”

“Stay with me, Lord, and teach me the humility of Padre Pio, who sought not to explain himself but simply to ask for prayer, that your most holy will might be done in him.”

“Even when you give only small glimpses, a star’s ray, a flower’s fragrance, a melody’s beauty, or the caress of the wind, teach me to recognize these as signs of your presence; gentle reminders that you are near and attentive to my heart.”

“Stay with me, Lord, and teach me not to be anxious when trials stretch long and feel heavy upon my shoulders.”

“In your hands, even purgatory-like suffering, when endured in love and obedience to the Father’s will, becomes more precious than all the comforts the world can offer.”

“Stay with me, Lord, and remain fixed in my mind, imprinted upon my heart. Your beauty, your mercy, even the weight of your justice, all surround me in unceasing contemplation. I cannot escape you, nor do I wish to, for even in the struggle, you are my joy, the song that never fades, the light that never dims.”

“We must try to keep our thoughts pure, our ideas upright and honest, and our intentions holy.”

“Stay with me, Lord. You speak to us with words of truth and consolation. You are faithful, and you never abandon a soul. No one falls away from you by accident, for your mercy always seeks and embraces us.”

“All this comes about not as a result of any consideration but by an interior flame and by such excessive love that if God did not come to my assistance, I should in a short time be burnt up.”

“Lord, work in the secret places of my soul, where only your love reaches.”

“Stay with me, Lord, and draw me ever deeper into this hidden place, where all words grow silent, all fear and darkness vanish, and only your light remains. Let my soul rest in this secret union with you, secure in the mystery of your love, a love stronger than death, a love eternal and unchanging.”

“For some time past I have been plunged day and night into the dark night of the soul. My spiritual darkness lasts for long hours, long days, and frequently for entire weeks.

“While I am immersed in this night of the soul, I cannot tell you whether I am in hell or in purgatory. The intervals in which a little light enters my soul are very brief, and while I am taking stock of my life, in a flash I fall into the dark prison. Immediately, then, all the favors the Lord has lavished on my soul are blotted out of my memory.”

“Lord, in the darkness, I trust you.”

“Though God seems far away, he draws close.”

“Stay with me, Lord. With you, the Cross becomes a treasure where souls are clothed in light and inflamed with love. Left to myself, suffering feels meaningless, but with you it becomes the place where love is proven and redeemed.”

“Stay with me, Lord, and teach me to love the Cross, for in it I meet you.”

“Burn away my old self; clothe me in Christ.”

“Teach me, O Mary, to understand your ways, your silence, your humility, your courage, your constant yes to God. Draw me into your life so that I too may be clothed in your virtues and burn with your fire of holy love.”

Each day follows the same format with three main sections:

AS OUR DAY BEGINS: “As the day begins set aside a quiet moment in a quiet place to do the reading provided for the day

The passages are short; they never run more than a couple of hundred words. They have been carefully selected, though, to give a spiritual focus, a spiritual center to your whole day. They are designed to remind you, as another day begins, of your own existence at a spiritual level. They are meant to put you in the presence of the spiritual master who is your companion and teacher on this journey. This is especially true of this journey with Catherine of Siena. The readings are her report of God’s words to her, God’s side of the dialogue. And since the purpose of the passage is to remind you that at every moment during you are in the presence of a God who invites you continually, but quietly, to live in and through him, what better source than the words of God himself?”

ALL THROUGH YOUR DAY: “Immediately following the day’s reading you will find a single sentence, a meditation in the form of a mantra, a phrase meant as a companion for your spirit as it moves through a busy day. Write it down on a 3" x 5" card or on the appropriate page of your daybook. Look at it as often as you can. Repeat it quietly to yourself, and go on your way.
It is not meant to stop you in your tracks or to distract you from responsibilities but simply, gently, to remind you of the presence of God and your desire to respond to this presence.”

AS YOUR DAY IS ENDING: “This is a time for letting go of the day, for entering a world of imaginative prayer … This exercise is not meant to last more than a few minutes. End it when you are comfortable doing so. It has two parts. The first, in keeping with Catherine’s model, is a personal response to the words spoken by God in the day’s reading. Just as God has spoken to you, so you speak to God. Second, you are invited to turn to the familiarity of a prayer based on Catherine’s own words. It is an act of trust and confidence, an entryway into peaceful sleep, a simple evening prayer that gathers together the spiritual character of the day that is now ending as it began—in the presence of God.

It is a time for summary and closure.”

A sample day is:

“DAY 13
 My Day Begins
Letters, October 10, 1916

Don’t be worried by the thought that the time of trial will continue for a long time. Purgatory suffered according to God’s will is better than enjoyment of the cloister, a pale image of the heavenly Jerusalem. We don’t reach salvation without crossing the stormy sea continually threatened with disaster.

Calvary is the hill of the saints, but from there we pass on to another mountain, which is called Tabor.

All Through the Day

Take heart and have no fear.

My Day Is Ending

Stay with me, Lord,
and teach me not to be anxious
when trials stretch long
and feel heavy upon my shoulders.

In your hands, even purgatory-like suffering,
when endured in love and obedience
to the Father’s will,
becomes more precious than all the comforts
the world can offer.

Stay with me, Lord, and teach me to see my pain not as wasted
but as a hidden seed of redemption,
united to your Cross for the salvation of souls.

This life, with all its fleeting joys,
is only a pale shadow of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Even the peace of holy places,
the beauty of sacred silence,
cannot compare with the glory that awaits in your presence.

Keep my heart fixed on that promise
so that I do not cling to passing things
but long always for what is eternal.

You remind me, Lord, that life is like a stormy sea:
uncertain, dangerous, and often frightening.
Yet you are the one who calms the waves
and steadies the ship.

Help me to persevere with courage,
remembering that no saint has reached heaven
without crossing through storms.
The road of sacrifice is the path of all who love you.
Beyond Calvary shines Tabor,
the mountain of light and transfiguration.

Teach me to embrace the Cross
with patience and hope,
knowing that every trial borne with you leads to glory.

Strengthen me, O Lord, to walk this path without fear,
from Calvary to Tabor,
from the storm to the eternal calm of your love.

Amen.”

I hope those quotes and sample day give you a feel for this volume. I have now read 22 books in this series from the 25 I believe have ever been in print. And this is one is another excellent volume in the series. I highlighted more sections in this volume than most, but they were also shorter quotes. I was really blessed by this volume I have recommended it to a number of friends, and being the most recent it is easy to pick up a physical or digital copy of it. 

I have benefited from every volume I have read in the series and I have now completed most of them. I have now read 22 volumes in this series, and currently working on a twenty-third I can state this is another great offering in the series. I find that some speak to me more than others. I can state I benefited from the month with each person being profiled. If I went back and did a volume again at a different point or season in life I might interact with it differently. I already plan to circle back to the volume on Joan and some of the others and reread them once I have completed the series, and this would be towards the top of that list.

This is a great read, it is one I really enjoyed reading. I can easily recommend this volume, and the series as a whole.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Great Spiritual Teachers Series from Ave Maria Press

Books in the Great Spiritual Teachers Series:
Fear Not the Night - John of the Cross and John Kirvan 
Love Without Measure - Mother Teresa and John Kirvan 
Where Only Love Can Go - The Cloud of Unknowing and John Kirvan  

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Wednesday, 7 October 2026

Dreams of the Storyteller, Volume I - Richard Paolinelli

Dreams of the Storyteller, Volume I 
ISBN 9798906107244
eISBN 9798906107244
ASIN B0HFDV2GJF

Dreams of the Storyteller, Volume I - Richard Paolinelli

I first encountered the works of Richard Paolinelli in the Anthology Cracked An Anthology of Eggsellent Chicken Stories edited by Bokerah Brumley, in 2020. Since that first story, I have read work by Richard 39 times. The stories in this collection span years of writing, and encompasses numerous genres and styles. That being said they are great stores. And between this and the companion Volume II we have all of Richard’s publishes stories (outside his Sherlock pastiches) and a few new works see print for the first time.

The description of this volume states:

“Award-winning, best-selling author Richard Paolinelli has written nearly three dozen short stories in his career. In addition to the six Sherlock Holmes pastiches found in his Holmes By Tuscany Bay collection, his other short stories can be found in this two-volume set, Dreams of the Storyteller, Volumes I & II.

These are the stories that can be found, along with introductions written by the author, in this volume:

Polar Shift
At Homeworld’s End
Icarus Falls
Extinction Point
The Fall of Denver
The Last Human
The 13th Medallion
The Invited
Cag
The Timeless
Secret of The Sphinx
The Enemy of My Enemy.”

Each of these stories is available as an individual eBook. They are collected here and available as an eBook or in print direct from the publisher. I have yet to work through the complete canon of Paolinelli’s back catalogue but have been working my way through it. It was wonderful to resist these stories. I enjoyed them the first time I read them so much I wrote an overview of the series. This new collection of the 12 stories in a single collection is excellent. 


This story has a different plot. With how much I read that is saying something. The world has changed suddenly, and with global impact. Sam and one other survive the initial event at a station on the moon. After the other takes drastic measures, Sam must decide how much effort he wants to put in to survive. First he has to get back to earth and second he has to see if there is a way to survive on the surface. To find out the decisions he makes and the results he finds you will have to read this excellent story.

This is another fantastic short story. This was a story that as soon as I finished it; it went back into the ‘to be read’ pile. This is a great story in a wonderful collection. I can easily recommend it for fans of science fiction, classic scifi, or anyone who loves a great short story!


Again this story reminds me of some of Heinlien’s Lazarus Long stories or a Harry Harrison’s Stainless Steel Rat sequence, the fact that we are allowed into the mind of a man who will be the last man on Earth. The story was deeply moving. Thinking about our own impending death and living with purpose. A real Memento Mori feel to this story. The only thing missing would have been the rock on the cover looking sort of skullish. 

This is a well written short story. It draws you in quickly, it keeps your attention. The main character is excellently written. 


There is a sense of foreboding from the very beginning of this story. When an order from the top comes down Kim Watson takes lead on a mission he had planned for a subordinate. A subordinate who Jim believes is due the recognition. But orders are orders and with short notice Jim preps for a final mission to space and the colony on Mars. The tip out and certification of the facility happen without incident. But a meteor that the tracking missed causes devastation. Not only for the largest human space station, for Jim’s flight crew, and for the colonist awaiting the final ok to head out. Everyone is trying to come up with daring and dangerous ways to save Jim, or not have him spend year alone. Who can come up with the best plan with the least risk. And will it succeed? To find out read this excellent Science Fiction Short story.


This story is written in a classic science fiction story. It takes me back to a lot of the stories I first read when I overcame my dyslexia. A powerful story. An excellent read. This is a great short story, and it leaves you wanting more. I would love to see other stories set in this world. Both before and after these events. This is an excellent story in a wonderful collection. I can easily recommend it for fans of science fiction or anyone who loves a great short story!


This is an absolutely excellent short story. Part western, Part Science Fiction, and a whole lot of fun. It is the story of friendship, service, family, and love. This story quickly draws readers in. Major Wayne is an instantly likeable character. And the events transpiring out while after communication is lost with Europe is incredibly well written. I can honestly state I would love to read more stories about Wayne both before and after these events.

This was a great read. It is a story that leaves you desperate for more. It is a wonderful story in a classic Science Fiction style. I can easily recommend this volume to fans of classic science fiction and for fans of westerns.  


This story has a unique premise. And with how much I read that is saying something. The world has changed over a weekend. A scientist is one of very few people not impacted. She holds the power of reversing the change or embracing it. But will humanity still be humans if she embraces it? To find out what she decides and why you will need to read this excellent story.

This is another great short story, one that leaves you wanting more. This was a story that as soon as I finished it; it went back into the ‘to be read’ pile.


This story is written in a classic science fiction story. It takes me back to a lot of the stories I first read when I overcame my dyslexia. A powerful story. It is an excellent read. And to be honest I wish there were more stories available with these characters.

This is a excellent short story, and leaves you wanting more. I would love to see other stories set in this world. Both before and after these events. What led this race to wipe up us Humans, and what power did we wield in the universe when they returned from their time travel mission to destroy us. This was one of those stories that as soon as I finished it I reread it again!


There are a number of editions of this story dating from between 2011 and 2023. The 2023 edition is a rebranded edition with a new cover. The new cover really attracts, and gives a great feel for the story. This is another story is written in a classic science fiction style by Paolinelli. It takes me back to a lot of the stories I first read when I overcame my dyslexia. It is a very powerful and deeply moving story. You really feel for Sinclair, and the plight of all humanity. It is a great read. And to be honest I wish there were more stories available with these characters, I would love to see what Paolinelli would write about the this conflict at the beginning, and what happens next. I would love to see other stories set in this world.


This story is written in a classic science fiction style. It takes me back to a lot of the stories I first read when I overcame my dyslexia. It is a very powerful and deeply moving story. You really feel for the two pilots and the situation they find themselves in. It is an excellent read. And to be honest I wish there were more stories available with these characters, I would love to see what Paolinelli would write about the CAG at the beginning of his career, or even his son’s turn to be CAG. I would love to see other stories set in this world.


It is a story with plots within plots and plans within plans. Pirate turned against pirate and a trip into the past with an attempt to change history in a very dramatic way. The characters are well written and the play is gripping and addictive. It grabs reader’s attraction and keeps then till the end, and then leads them wanting more.


This story continues a story with plots within plots and plans within plans. Pirate turned against pirate and a trips through the past with an attempt to change history in a very dramatic way. The characters are well written and the play is gripping and addictive. It grabs reader’s attraction and keeps then till the end, and then leads them wanting more. It will leave you desperate for the other four mentioned at the end of the volume.

The story is one again a recounting from First Mate Little John Singapore, about his time on the Timeless under Captain Rock Congo. As they chase after Duchess Moran through space and time. The need to stave off disaster by protecting the past and saving the future. But there is more to the interactions between Moran and Congo than meets the eye. 


I have the anthology that this story originally came from. And there are works from a few authors I really enjoy. I have just not got back to it yet. I look forward to rereading this story when I get to it. This story is set in a post zombie apocalypse world. It is the story of a husband and a father trying to do his best to look after and protect his family in this new world. But while out on a trip on his own for supplies thighs go very badly. Zombies and bears oh my!

I read this collection thus rereading these stories over a long weekend. Reading some of the stories was like a visit with long lost friends. Some were more like nightmares revisited. All were great reads! Writing short fiction is a very different skill that writing novels. Paolinelli is a master of both; trust me. So I encourage you to pick up this collection and the companion volume and you will be in for some very entertaining reads! I guarantee it. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!

For reviews of all books from Tuscany Bay click here.

Books by Richard Paolinelli:
Maelstrom
When the Gods Fell
The Calling
The Last Lonely Trail
A Zombie Christmas Carol

Infinity Series:
Exploring Infinity
Expanding Infinity
…

Starguest 4th Age Series:
Ranger
Cassandra's Line
…
Starquest 4th Age The Complete Saga
...

Timeless Series:
Odin’s Runes
Empire Of The Golden Dragon
Blackbeard’s Treasure
The Last Quest
…

Jack Del Rio Series:
Betrayals
Endgames
…
Del Rio Omnibus Edition
Del Rio The Complete Trilogy 
…

Divine Trolls Comedies:
The Fall Of The House Of 770 Vile Aromas 
The Corvo
…

SeaDragon:
SeaDragon 1 May 1986
SeaDragon 2 June 1996
Sherlock Holmes Pastiches:

Non Fiction:
Perfection’s Arbiter
From The Fields
The Space Shuttle: 1981–2011 
…

Contributed to:
To Be Men 
Places Beyond The Wild
Space Force Building The Legacy
Secret Stairs 
A Tribute To H.G. Wells (2019 Edition)
Beyond Watson 
Holmes Away From Home, Vol. 2 
Sherlock Holmes Adventures In The Realms Of H.G. Wells 
Sherlock Holmes Aventures In The Realms Of Edgar Allan Poe
The Art Of Sherlock Holmes 
The Mx Book Of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part Xxii
…

Planetary Anthology Series:
Sol
Earth
Luna
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
…
Best Of Planetary Anthology Series
…

Dreams of the Storyteller Series - Richard Paolinelli

Dreams of the Storyteller, Volume I - Richard Paolinelli

Dreams of the Storyteller, Volume II - Richard Paolinelli


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