Mark J. Heppner Book Review

Darryl Brock

Two in the Field

Published by the Penguin Group, 2002

$14.00 softbound

Ladies & Gentlemen:-

Recently, I was given the honest "treat" of reading the sequel to Darryl Brock's novel If I Never Get Back. Mr. Brock's second book, Two in the Field, came to me by way of the author as he knew my genuine love of his first book and wished to get my thoughts about his newest publication.

Although I am not a professional book reviewer or critic, I have been asked in the past to review, edit and critic many manuscripts and articles. I considered the reading of Two in the Field a true pleasure as it incorporated two of my true passions, history and baseball. However, before I shed some like on Two in the Field, I need give you a short synopsis of If I Never Get Back. The premises of that historic fictional novel centers around the main character, Samuel Clemens Fowler, and his adventures of finding himself back in the past...to the year 1869! These adventures include meeting the true love of his life, the beautiful Irish Cait, Samuel Clemmens (aka Mark Twain) and the famous Cincinnati Red Stockings Base Ball Club. All members of the club, as well as the city of Cincinnati, are creatively brought to life by the author whereas the reader can actually feel the "red hose" upon his legs and grasping for a fly ball without a mitt! Murder, intrigue, mystery, love - this book has it all. For the lover of history, it is a must read! For the lover of base ball, it is must read - now!

Two in the Field continues the saga of Sam Fowler as he finds himself again a time-traveler - but this time unexpectedly in the year 1875. A passionate search for his lost love, Cait, leads Fowler across the young United States and his adventures are only larger and more intriguing than before. Yes, base ball still plays a major role in this thrilling sequel, but so does murder, gambling, love stories, the wild west and pure American history. Any lover of the American Pastime will find this novel gripping and engaging. The research is impeccable but I was drawn more to the imagination of Mr. Brock and his unique talent for bringing events and people of the past up right before my eyes.

I can not encourage you (friends, family, base ball enthusiasts, lovers of history, etc.) enough to run out and grab a copy of both novels and jump right in. You certainly will not be let down and I have a feeling you will be joining me in trying to encourage Mr. Brock to get a third novel of the series out ASAP!!!!

Mark

P.S. Darryl has also published a third novel which is separate from this series entitled, Havana Heat. Although I have not read it yet, I understand it to be another baseball fiction novel that is charming and unique as well as vivid and convincing!

October 9, 2002

Praise for If I Never Get Back:

"Grabs you from line one on page one and never lets go."

- San Francisco Chronicle

"Engrossing...Intriguing...Exciting and fast-paced."

-The Washington Post Book World

"A rollicking ride back in time to an era when life was both simpler and wilder."

-The Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Takes the reader out to the old ball game with great charm."

-The New York Times