The Ledger by Steven Manchester

A lot of people write fictional based novels based on choices and most of those are good and kind. Very few novels take a reader down the walk of a different set of choices, one of a darker side of your menu of life's many options. Not everyone chooses well and when they don't their life spirals into a chaos of consequences void of mercy, forgiveness and redemption. I love that Steven Manchester, has decided once again to use his gift of literary brilliance to take readers into that very life behind the walls of a prison in his latest novel The Ledger, book two in the Menu Series. 

In the Ledger, the novel opens where we can some insight into the ways our lives are created by God as a nameless spirit is given a book in where they can choose from a list of Menu options and every choice that is made features an equally opposite conscience, a price to be paid for each of them. The reader is never told who that character is and we will be introduced to several in the novel. I didn't realize that until I got to the end. The characters are required to account for each line in their "Ledger" the choice they make during the life they will lead and when their life is over, they will meet once more with God to discuss their eternal life choices. Now is where the novel accelerates! 

I never really thought much about the lives behind the walls of a prison before, I just knew I never wanted to wind up there, so I make sure my life choices keep me from that. I never considered however the life of the corrections officers that work there. I always thought about things from the life of an inmate. I never considered things on the level that Steven writes about through the lives of fictional characters, both inmates and prisoners and it really horrifies you when you consider that this is a work of fiction, but that it is also based on truth. I was struggling to identify with any one of his characters because they were all so flawed in how they lived out their daily lives. I found myself questioning their decisions and wondered if I faced those same situations how I would handle it, would I have compromised anything I feel now. That's what makes an exceptional writer is when the lines between truth and fiction become blurred. It's easy to pick the character I despised the most, but it is the others that make it hard to choose. So many great lines to capture from the novel but I find I loved this one the most, "Some of the badges are definitely tarnished. Most officers are good but not all. There are those few who could have just as easily been assigned a con number instead of a page."

I love it when they can get you so immersed in their world that you can't put the book down, each page is turned with faster anticipation on what is going to happen next. Then again sometimes you don't want to turn the page to prevent yourself from dealing with another unimaginable raw and unfiltered horror between played out on the pages of a novel. At the conclusion of the novel, I had a new found appreciation for those that work there and that not all lives are spared both the good and the evil. I don't think I will look at a prison the same way again, which conveys just how powerful this novel is and articulates once more a great gift at writing. 

I had the pleasure of reviewing The Ledger by Steven Manchester at the request of the author for my honest review. If you have never read any of his novels, please just pick up any of them, because you will be introduced by his unique writing style that will transport you to whatever venue he has selected for his novel and you will arrive. This novel is another of his award winning books to grace my forever bookshelf. See I keep the ones I love to read again and again, because they have impacted me in ways I never thought possible. My only hope is that there will be a third book in this series and that once again I will find my life forever changed by simple letters on a page, another 5 stars Mr. Manchester, well done! 

If you would love to learn more about the novels of Steven Manchester, please visit his website here or you can find him on Facebook by clicking here. 

If you would like to read his first book in the series, The Menu, please click here.

You Will Be Called Peter by Jerry Lathan and Steven H. Manchester

Have you ever considered for one moment, the lives of each of the apostles of Jesus Christ? What they were doing before Jesus called any of them to follow Him? 

In the latest book from Steven H. Manchester and Jerry Lathan, the reader is taken directly into the life of one of the most popular apostles, Simon, who would also be called Peter by Jesus. We know only what the Bible tells us in each of the 4 major gospels, but we also can glean that there was far more that happened in their lives during the three years that they followed Jesus. 

I think for most of us, we can identify with the life of Simon. A fisherman by trade, he understood the hard work required in order to not only provide for him and his wife, but in working with his brother Andrew, their day to day income wasn't a guarantee. Sometimes they didn't catch enough to pay what they needed and many times they needed to go back in the evenings as well. As most Jewish men during that time, he was familiar with the promise of the coming Messiah, who they believed would rescue them from the Roman restraint that felt like a yoke upon all of their necks, not only to live under their self imposed rules, but also to pay the taxes Roman required to expand their ever growing empire. 

So when Simon heard from his friends John and James, fellow fishermen, that they met Jesus who they believed to be the Messiah, the One that they had been waiting for, he couldn't wait to see how Roman occupation would fall under his hands and restore the Jewish people to the place of prominence in the eyes of the world, as God's chosen people. Even his wife was supportive of the task of following Jesus.

"You haven't only been called, Simon, you have been chosen. Your true path is before you." Simon considered his new place in the world. After all that's happened, of course, I need to follow him. He grinned. No matter where it takes me."

But the reality of Simon's journey is an honest and human one as the reader is taken along the journey with the other apostles as Jesus begins his ministry from turning water into wine at a wedding they were invited to, to being an eye witness to everything Jesus did from miracles, healing and the wisdom of His sermons. 

What I love most about this book, is that we get a sense of what Simon Peter had to struggle with, wanting Jesus to be the answer to taking down the Romans, and then coming to terms when he missed out on what the Bible had promised first, that Jesus would not only die, but that Simon would be the one to deny he knew Jesus after He had told him he would. Simon Peter had to deal with his own faith challenges. So many questions, and often times, the answers would come through his own walk of faith on the water of a storm. "Maybe I just need to believer without having to understand how or why?"

As the reader continues into the journey, you find yourself asking many of the same questions Simon did, "As they continued on, Simon was left to wonder about his own place in history. What is all of this for...the blisters, the haters and the zealots, their threats? The uncertainty. Missing my family. No longer fishing and being out on the water I love. He looked around at his ragtag band of fellow travelers, before his eyes reached Jesus at the head of the park. Will any of this make a difference? Will we be remembered? Simon feared what all mean fear-being forgotten. Only time will tell I guess." 

I have had the honor of reviewing every book that Steven H. Manchester has even written and the one thing that is constant in all of his novels, is the ability to transport the reader right into the heart of the story. In this novel, we are Simon's friend, part of his family. The reader is taken along with his personal struggles of what he believes and what he is witnessing. His own faith struggles as he follows Jesus on his ministry and what will happen afterwards. I couldn't wait to read this one and was captivated by how heart wrenching Simon's life must have been from his humble beginnings to his triumphant restoration of faith in Jesus' ministry. He is a life that is forever changed as is every reader who picks up this novel. I can easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. 

You can find more information about his books and more on his website by clicking below: 

Steven H. Manchester

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Dad by Steven Manchester

 

There is no greater need in anyone's life like that of a Father. Whether it's in the role of a grandfather, dad or simply a future dad in the making, there is a sense of leadership and authority that comes when you think of a man in that role. A nurturing. A legacy in the making. A protector. The head of the household. 

I've been so blessed to have had the unique opportunity to be asked once again to review the latest book from best selling author, Steven Manchester. The one thing I always know even before I know what the book is about, is that it will be life changing. It will cause me to reflect on things in my own life and make comparisons from what I am reading to what I know to be true in my own life. I also know that it will never disappoint and undoubtedly be a great book. One that I will probably recommend to someone looking for a great book too! 

I also have learned whenever anyone reads a book review before deciding if this is one they should review, I won't give it all away but simply convey my own personal thoughts on this book. So if you have read the review, thus far, I can save you the time of reading any further. Read the book. Buy the Book. Yes, it is that great! 

I've been a book reader for as long as I can remember back to my childhood and love the way a book can transform your life and give you a reprieve from where you are at in your life. A virtual vacation if you will. A way to get lost between the pages and delve into a storyline that will make you lose track of time. One you won't want to put down, unless you have to, but also one that will call you back to the pages to pick back up where you left off and finish the book. This IS that book. 

Just by the title alone, you will know it will involve a dad, but in this book it takes us into the lives of three generations of men from the same family, who are at different chapters in their own personal lives. Struggling in ways we can't begin to understand unless we have been there ourselves or in this case, read about Robert, the patriarch of the family, who is dealing with the fact he is getting old and time is running thin. We walk through the life of Oliver, who has the relationship I believe most adult children might have with their dads. As long as things are going well, they don't talk about what is going on in their lives. Oliver is struggling with his marriage, and he understands that things go through phases, he doesn't want to lose his wife. However as the book opens we find him working with a therapist to help him work through things. His own son Jonah at 19 is on the brink of leaving behind his childhood and about to face the pressures of what being adult is about to bring. 

For me, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, as a woman, we don't often glean what men think and this book gives me the insight to see what all three men are thinking and going through. How that plays out in the roles they are walking through and also how their lives intersect. It's not seamless, and there is a struggle each one faces as they move through those phases. It must be a heavy weight men bear on their shoulders as the world far too often doesn't understand the burden they must carry. It has made me look at the life of my own father, husband and brother in my life, with new clarity. I understand what they face and also what they may need but never ask for. It's something I hope I can change while I might still have time. This novel has given me new perspective and once again, I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this novel and can highly give it a 5 out of 5 stars, in my opinion. I was not paid for my review and this is solely based on my own insight on what I take away from the book, without giving it all away to the reader. Trust me, it's worth the read. 

If you would like to pick up a copy of this novel, you can click on this link below to purchase it from Amazon. 

If you would like to read about all the novels written by Steven Manchester, and trust me, you will want more, click on this link to visit his website. 

The Menu - Book Review

If you had a chance at doing your life over again, just one part you wanted to go back and change, would you?

What if you simply wanted to find that soul mate? True Love? Deeper Faith? Wisdom to make different choices? Most of us, don't understand those questions, because in our minds, we still have time left to make those choices. It's not til we get to our death bed, that those questions would be answered with deep conviction and certainty. Yet what would you give up to have those do overs?

In his latest book, The Menu, author Steven Manchester invokes a sense of searching our hearts and questions how we have lived our lives to this point. Through the character Phinn Reed, who sits in heaven with the possibility of choosing from a list of life desires, to get a second chance at something he never had. A menu of possibilities but also the cost you will need to endure to gain that life. Once a choice is made, all memories of heaven and your past is completely erased.

"This is your life. Order whatever you wish, but keep in mind - whatever you choose to taste, you have to finish," He told Phinn before sending him into the world. God reminds Phinn that he will encounter others that have also chosen changes, and he is likely to encounter them during his time on earth. God also reminds Phinn that with each choice, a price must be paid to obtain it. If you choose compassion, you can have it but not before experiencing pain and suffering. You can have commitment and wisdom, but not before conquering trials and tribulations. Courage after overcoming fear, honor after facing shame, success after much failure."

I absolutely LOVED this direction that this author took with a concept of second chances, because its not a simple Happily Ever After novel. There is a payment to acquire that which we all seek and while most of us just want the menu item, we don't want the price necessary to achieve that even in our lives today. We all want the results, but not what it took to get there. This makes us re-evaluate our lives a bit and take into account what we not only achieved but what we had to pay to get it.

I would highly recommend The Menu by Steven Manchester, and I received a complimentary copy from the author for my honest review of this novel. I have to say this is a really great read and I think there is some wisdom to be gleaned through this fictional novel. As a believer, you can appreciate the ideas behind this fictional book, with understanding it is fiction novel with a point. I would easily give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

If you would like to get a copy of this book, please click on the link to Amazon. 

To find more novels from Steven Manchester, please visit his website.

Three Shoeboxes

I've been a huge fan of Steven Manchester's novel since I read my first one. I guess what draws me to continue to read anything he writes is his ability to cut to the core of what we all feel deep down inside ourselves. Those are often places we hope we never have to visit in our lifetime and being exposed to them from a safe place allows us to see things from different perspectives and wonder if we were in the same situation, how might we deal with what the characters face.

In his latest novel, Three Shoeboxes, Mac Anderson, is living the dream. He has a successful career as an ad executive, a wonderful home, loving wife, three wonderful children and the support of those in his community. Yet he would never have expected that the one night as he was driving home from an anniversary dinner with his wife, that this would be the catalyst that would change everything and strip it away piece by piece.

As he begins to experience what can only be described as panic attacks, Mac refuses to let anyone into what he is dealing with. Perhaps that is that manly pride that as the head of the house, one needs to hold it all together at all times. Even though his wife Jen can clearly see he is dealing with issues, he continues to keep her at bay. As each of these attacks grows more frequent and out of control, Mac finally relents to getting some personal help. Yet even the therapist can seem to grasp the sudden turn around in his life and be able to help him deal with things.

So Mac gives up and tries to resolve the issues on his own, becoming more and more hostile, argumentative and even resorting to alcohol to put this attacks to rest. Only it just drives a deeper and widening gap between his family until he loses control one night and from then out out, even is family no longer wants anything to do with him and now he faces the loss of his job, the support of family and friends and now living on the street he faces his demons alone. Is it all lost? Can he find his way back home? Or is he just one bullet shy from ending it all? You'll have to find out by picking up this novel.

I received Three Shoeboxes by Steven Manchester compliments of The Story Plant. This is an emotional story that could face anyone at anytime, and makes us all understand how precious moments are in life and how quickly it can all change. It makes the reader reassess what it the most valuable things in your life and how you might face the challenges Mac faces. Does he have the faith in himself to fight his way back to the man he used to be? I'll let you decide when you pick this one up. For me, again a stellar 5 star novel in my opinion.

For more information about Steven Manchester, Three Shoeboxes or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Three Shoeboxes by Steven Manchester

You can find Steven Manchester on Facebook to stay up to date his latest novels.

Ashes

How can you possibly resolve years of bitterness and resentment between two estranged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast? Require them to complete a task together that neither has the option to say No to. Growing up together under the cruel hand of their father, both boys longed to find the quickest way out of the home growing up and the way their father raised them created some of the competitiveness and animosity between the two. When they both are informed that their father has finally died, they are each requested at the reading of their father's will. Neither is too happy to see the other.

Yet when the lawyer informs them that their father has one final request of them both before they will know what he has left them, they are quite sure whether it is something they can do without killing the other. They must travel together to retrieve their father's ashes and then drive across country with one another to spread his ashes in Seattle. Only then will the contents of the letter reveal what they will each receive. The stipulation requires that they have to travel together, and they must document their journey of completing the tasks with photos for the attorney to know they have completed their father's final request.

Like most siblings, their are those hard feelings that are difficult to put behind one another, but for these two, it is more of a hate/hate relationship. Both have harbored strong feelings against the other for the way they were raised and what was allowed to happen to them. It has driven a wedge against them that will be almost impossible to find a way to work together. Many miles separate the time it will take to get from one side of the country to the other, but how is this even going to work when they can't even agree on who will drive, where they will stay and even the quickest route to take so they can get this over and done with. Is this the final straw of bitterness that their father had in mind when he drafted his will? Or does he have something better in mind?

I received Ashes by Steven Manchester compliments of The Story Plant and Partners in Crime Book Tours. I have read everything he has written and he truly takes you into the heart of places you don't want to go, but find yourself compelled to go anyway just to see how it all turns out in the end. This reminded me of a movie called Faith of our Fathers in which two very similar brothers had to travel together to get to the war memorial for their father. It shows that underneath it all, no matter how you feel about one another, blood is thicker than one might think and sometimes it is the misunderstandings and how we interpret them that create the walls that don't really exist except in our own mind. I would give this one a 4 out of 5 stars in my opinion based on my own rating system and that this one does contain some profanity that might offend some readers.

For more information about Ashes, Steven Manchester or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Ashes by Steven Manchester

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Ashes by Steven Manchester on Tour February 19 - April 21, 2017

 

Book Details Genre: Fiction
Published by: The Story Plant
Publication Date: February 21st 2017
Number of Pages: 260
Purchase Links:

Synopsis:

Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life – and death – has a robust sense of irony, and when they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other's company. It's either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he's left with his lawyer. The trip will be as gut-wrenching as each expects it to be . . . and revealing in ways neither of them is prepared for.
At turns humorous, biting, poignant, and surprisingly tender, Ashes puts a new spin on family and dysfunction with a story that is at once fresh and timelessly universal.

Read an excerpt:

Tom wheeled his late-model, platinum-colored BMW into Attorney Russell Norman’s freshly paved lot and parked between a brand new Lexus—sporting the license plate JUSTIS4U—and a custom pickup truck. Looks like I’m going after the hillbilly, he thought when he spotted the faded Massachusetts Department of Correction sticker in the rear window. His blood turned cold. “It must be Jason,” he thought aloud. I didn’t think he’d come.
Tom took a few deep breaths, not because he was nervous about his father’s death or talking to any lawyer but because he hadn’t seen his Neanderthal brother—for fifteen years, I think. He paused for a moment to give it more thought. Although their relationship had essentially vaporized in their late teens—the result of a fall out that still haunted his dreams—they’d occasionally wound up in each other’s orbits; weddings, funerals, and the like, enough to remain familiar with each other’s career choices, wives, and children. But even that came to an end fifteen years ago, he confirmed in his aching head before opening the door. While his toothache-induced migraine threatened to blind him, he took one step into the oak-paneled waiting room. His and Jason’s eyes met for the briefest moment. As though they were complete strangers, they both looked away. And here he is, Tom thought, disappointed. This is just great.
Through peripheral vision, Tom noticed that his older brother now wore a scar over his right eye, just above a bushy eyebrow that could have easily belonged to a homeless Scotsman. A jagged ear lobe, a piece clearly torn away, pointed to a crooked nose that sat sideways on his face—all of it rearranged since birth. What a big tub of shit he’s turned into, Tom thought, struggling to ignore his throbbing face and head. He’s as fat as a wood tick now, he thought, grinning, and he looks like he’s ready to pop. Jason looked straight at him, as if reading his mind. Tom immediately looked away, his rapid heartbeat starting to pound in his ears, intensifying his physical pain. Unbelievable, he thought. After all the years and all the distance, his elder brother—by only two years—still scared the hell out of him. He’s just a big asshole, that’s all, he told himself, but he still couldn’t bring himself to rejoin his brother’s penetrating gaze.
The secretary answered her phone before calling out, “Mr. Prendergast . . .”
Both brothers stood.
“Attorney Norman will see you now.”
Tom walked in first, letting the door close behind him—right in Jason’s face.
“Still a weasel,” Jason muttered, loud enough for all to hear.
“What was that?” Tom asked just inside the door.
“Don’t even think about playing with me,” Jason warned as he reopened the door and entered the room, “’cause I have no problem throwing you over my knee and spanking you right in front of this guy.”
I’m fifty years old, for God’s sake, Tom thought, and he thinks he’s going to spank me? I’m surprised the prison even let him out.
The attorney—his hand extended for anyone willing to give it a shake—looked mortified by the childish exchange.
Tom shook the man’s hand before settling into a soft leather wing chair. Jason followed suit.
The room was framed in rich mahogany paneling. The desk could have belonged in the oval office. Beneath a green-glassed banker’s lamp, stacks of file folders took up most of the vast desktop. An American flag stood in one corner, while framed diplomas and certificates, bearing witness to the man’s intelligence and vast education, covered the brown walls.
Attorney Norman wore a pinstriped shirt and pleated, charcoal-colored slacks held up by a pair of black suspenders. He had a bow tie, a receding hairline that begged to be shaved bald, and a pair of eyeglasses that John Lennon would have been proud to call his own. There’s no denying it, Tom thought, trying to ignore his brother’s wheezing beside him, he’s either a lawyer or a banker. He couldn’t be anything else.
While Jason squirmed in his seat, visibly uncomfortable to be sitting in a lawyer’s office, his hands squeezed the arms of the chair. What a chicken shit, Tom thought, trying to make himself feel better. Peering sideways, he noticed that his brother’s knuckles were so swollen with scar tissue they could have belonged to a man who made his living as a bare-knuckle brawler. He’s still an animal too, he decided.
Attorney Norman took a seat, grabbed a manila file from atop the deep stack and cleared his throat. “The reason you’re both here . . .”
“. . . is to make sure the old man’s really dead,” Jason interrupted.
In spite of himself and his harsh feelings for his brother, Tom chuckled—drawing looks from both men.
“The reason we’re all here,” Attorney Norman repeated, “is to read Stuart Prendergast’s last will and testament.” He flipped open the folder.
This ought to be good, Tom thought, while Jason took a deep breath and sighed heavily. Both brothers sat erect in their plush chairs, waiting to hear more.
As if he were Stuart Prendergast sitting there in the flesh, the mouthpiece read, “My final wish is that my two sons, Jason and Thomas, bring my final remains to 1165 Milford Road in Seattle, Washington, where they will spread my ashes.” “Seattle?” Tom blurted, his wagging tongue catching his tooth, making him wince in pain. Quickly concealing his weakness, he slid to the edge of his seat. “Oh, I don’t think so,” he mumbled, careful not to touch the tooth again.
Jason was shaking his head. “Hell no,” he said.
The attorney read on. “I’ve always been afraid to fly, so I’m asking that I not be transported by airplane but driven by car.”
“No way,” Tom instinctively sputtered.
Jason laughed aloud. “This is just great. The old bastard’s dead and he’s still screwing with us.”
The less-than-amused attorney revealed a sealed envelope and continued on. “As my final gift to my sons . . .”
“Only gift,” Tom muttered, feeling a cauldron of bad feelings bubbling in his gut.
“I’m leaving this sealed envelope for them to share, once and only once they’ve taken me to my final resting place.”
“What the fuck!” Jason blurted.
Every cell in Tom’s overloaded brain flashed red. Don’t do it, he thought. You don’t owe that old man a damned thing. But every cell in his body was flooded with curiosity. He looked at Jason, who was no longer shaking his fat head.
“Maybe the bastard finally hit it big at the dog track?” Jason suggested.
Tom nodded in agreement but secretly wondered, Could it be the deed to the land Pop bragged about owning in Maine? He stared at the envelope. For as long as I can remember, he claimed to own forty-plus acres with a brook running straight through it. He stared harder. Could it be? he wondered, wishing he had X-ray vision. A parcel of land in Maine sure would make a nice retirement . . .
“How ’bout we travel separately and meet in Seattle to spread the ashes?” Jason said, interrupting his thoughts.
“Great idea,” Tom said, hoping against all hope that the idea would fly with their father’s lawyer.
Attorney Norman shook his head. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but your father specifically requested that you travel together with his remains to Seattle. Any deviation from this can and will prohibit you from attaining the sealed envelope.”
There was a long pause, the room blanketed in a heavy silence. Son of a bitch, Tom thought, this couldn’t have come at a worse time. He turned to Jason, who was already looking at him. “What do you say?” he asked, already cursing his inability to curb his curiosity.
Jason shook his head in disgust. “The last thing I want to do is to go on some stupid road trip with you.”
“Trust me, that’s a mutual feeling,” Tom shot back.
“But I don’t think we have a choice,” Jason added. “Our fucked-up father wants to play one last game with us, so to hell with it—let’s play.”
This is insane, but he’s right, Tom thought. With a single nod, Tom stood. “Okay, let’s have the ashes then,” he told the lawyer.
The attorney shook his head. “I don’t have them. They’re currently at a funeral home in Salem.”
“Salem?” Tom squeaked, unhappy that his tone betrayed his distress.
“That’s right. You have to take custody of your father’s remains from the Buffington Funeral Home in Salem, Massachusetts.”
“You must be shitting me.” Jason said.
The attorney smirked. “I shit you not,” he said, throwing the letter onto his desk.
Salem? Tom repeated in his head. Just when I thought Pop couldn’t be a bigger prick . . . The migraine knocked even harder from the inside of his skull, making him feel nauseous. Amid the pain, his synapses fired wildly, considering all this would mean: I’ll have to take bereavement leave from school and find someone to cover my classes. I should probably double my treatment with Dr. Baxter tomorrow. And what about Caleb and Caroline? he asked himself, quickly deciding, They’ll be fine without me for a few days. Then he pictured his wife’s face. And Carmen, she’ll be fine without me for a lot longer than that. The nausea increased. Screw her.
“Are we done here?” Jason asked, obviously itching to leave.
The lawyer nodded. “I’ll need proof in the form of a video or a series of photos that you’ve deposited your father’s remains where he wished. Once I have that, the letter’s all yours.”
“How wonderful,” Jason said sarcastically. He stood, turned on his heels, and headed for the door.
Tom also got to his feet. He looked at the lawyer and, trying to ignore his physical discomfort, he smiled. “Don’t mind him,” he said, shrugging. “That imbecile is exactly what our father trained him to be.”

 

Author Bio:

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin’ Chair, Pressed Pennies, and Gooseberry Island as well as the novels Goodnight, Brian and The Changing Season. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning, and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Find Steven on his Website, on Twitter, & on Facebook! 

Tour Host Participants:

Don't miss your chance to learn more about Steven Manchester & his book, Ashes! Visit the tour stops for interviews, guest posts, and lots of reviews!

Don't Miss Your Chance to WIN Ashes!

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Steven Manchester and The Story Plant. There will be 5 US winners of one (1) PRINT copy of Ashes by Steven Manchester. The giveaway begins on February 18th and runs through April 23rd, 2017.

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The Changing Season

For any dog lovers looking for an exceptional novel about the love and loyalty of a dog and his owner, you will definitely want to pick up The Changing Season, from Steven Manchester. This is his latest novel that details the coming of age of a young man named Billy who is finishing up his final days in high school. He is your typical run of the mill high school young man. His friends are all planning on heading off to college with big plans of what they have always dreamed about doing in life, and Billy can't make up his mind what he should do or even what he should take in school. All he knows is his best friend and confidant is a lab mix who goes by the name of Jimmy, named after his Uncle Jimmy.

As Billy struggles to figure out what to do, he spends the first weeks of that transition period with his friends Charlie and Mark whose all night video game sessions will soon become a thing of the past. They all have to grow up sometime. Charlie who has been dating Bianca for as long as any of them can remember will undoubtedly marry her at some point, at least that is what Mark and Billy believe. However during one of those final graduation parties when things get out of hand and the drinks begin to flow, Charlie has suspicions that Bianca is cheating on him. No matter how he confronts her, she claims they are simply friends, but Charlie won't let it go. He believes what he wants and storms off from the party drunker than ever.

In one split decision, life will change forever for all of them. An unthinkable tragedy will rock them all to their core and all those college plans will go up in smoke as secrets are held back because they have all agreed to keep the loyalty they always have had. When Billy meets a young girl named Vicki, it truly seems like a match made in heaven. Billy begins to spend more time with Vicki when he is not working as his dog Jimmy faces growing older and the effects that come with that. He can no longer do quite a few of the things he used to but the one thing that remains is his undying loyalty to Billy, no matter how little time he seems to have for him lately. Life is about to change for them all and there will be no going back.

I received The Changing Season by Steven Manchester compliments of The Story Plant for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my fair and honest evaluation. I've read all of Steven Manchester's novel and each one simply gets better and better. Like all the rest, this will has found a permanent home in my library. His characters are believable because they contain flaws that we all have. In this situation for each person involved, you keep asking yourself, what would you do? It's a hard line to make the right decision if there is a right decision to be made. As a huge animal lover, this one really hit home for me, showcasing the unconditional love our pets always have for us and we can learn a lot from them no matter what we are going through. For me, this one hits it out of the part and earns a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about The Changing Season, Steven Manchester or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on any of the links below:

The Changing Season by Steven Manchester

You can find Steven Manchester on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

For more reviews on The Changing Season, please visit The Story Plant's website.

Gooseberry Island

If you have never read any of Steven Manchester's novels, you really need to pick them up. For fans of romance or simply wanting something that honestly puts you in the driver's seat when it comes to your novels, Steven's novels do just that and more. I am honored to review his latest novel Gooseberry Island and literally read it in one sitting. Not too fast to finish it before I wanted, because once I finish, it will be quite some time before another one comes out. Great novels are like that. You get excited when you see your favorite author has come out with a new book. You don't even have to read the premise because everything you have read by them has been amazing, so you will instantly pick it up and buy it. But it is also bittersweet because you know the writing will so intense and exceptional, you are flipping your final page without realizing it and then it's over. No more until the next novel is written. Kinda like exceptional movie trilogy's. Once the final one hits the big screen, it is bittersweet.

In Gooseberry Island, we meet David McClain, an Army Ranger back for his second tour in Afghanistan and is hoping at some point in his life to find someone just like him, who is ready to settle down and start a family. But lately all he keeps finding is shallow women who are interested in the one thing most men are and don't want any strings attached. He had hoped he might find a special someone he could write to while he was serving overseas but perhaps it is for the best. Who knows if he will make it home this time, and would hate to have started something only to leave their heart broken if the inevitable should happen.

Lindsey Wood knows first hand the horrors of PTSD. Caring for her father who is dealing with the implications of war and PTSD, if he isn't checked in at the veteran's hospital for her own well being, he is struggling to make sense of the nightmares he has when he is home. It isn't the first time that Lindsey has been on the receiving end of her fathers fists unable to awaken from the horrors he faced during the war. She knows it's not her father's fault but hopes that there is something that can be done, without having him committed to the hospital for both their benefits.

Lindsey and David fall for one another quite literally on the beach one afternoon, when Lindsey's dog trips David while running. The two of them immediately hit it off in more ways than one, but it is bittersweet because it is on the very same day that David has left before he ships out. It is hard to put their finger on it, but Lindsey and David know there is something more to their connection that they realize and vow to get to know each other more while David is away for the next year. But we all know war changes a person, but will David be the same person he was when he left Gooseberry Island or will the war take yet another casualty when he arrives home?

I received Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester compliments of the author himself and Story Plant Publishers for my honest review. Besides the complimentary copy of the book, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. I absolutely LOVED this novel. The storyline was compelling enough to keep me engaged in both the characters and I didn't realize that more returning soldiers and veteran's die of suicide than the war claims! It is heart breaking, believable and pulls at your emotional heart strings because you are rooting for David and Lindsey the whole time. You are biting your nails wondering if David will make it home during his tour, and makes you realize how strong the ties are between soldiers who return from the war with their teammates. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Gooseberry Island, Steven Manchester or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester

You can find Steven Manchester on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

You can learn more about Gooseberry Island by visiting The Story Plants website.

Thursday Night Club

Looking for an exceptional Christmas novel that surpasses your expectations of being more than just a story you read but one that might just change your life? You might want to snuggle up to Steven Manchester's latest novella, Thursday Night Club: A Tale of Christmas Spirit. At just around 152 pages, this one can only be found at this time as an eBook, but is one you certainly don't want to miss.

The Thursday Night Club is a group of five college students who get together every Thursday Night for dinner, games and just being with one another. It has evolved over time to a betting challenge between the guys, Randy, Kevin and Jesse to see who could out prank the others for a simple wager of .25 each. The winner would take all! Something you could see a group of college guys doing.

Only when the challenge takes an unexpected turn with the sudden loss of Jesse, the group can't seem to find a way to deal with the grief that they are experiencing and that fact that Thursday nights will never be the same without him. Jesse it turns out found better uses for his time than arranging pranks on his friends, he found that simple acts of random kindness went a whole lot further than people believe, even outlasting their own life.

The group of four friends decide to honor Jesse's memory and each of them antes up for the standard bet of .25 each in an effort to see who could do the most charitable act without being recognized for their efforts. The winner would be selected by one of their college teacher's who would be the only one privy to what they were up to. Randy, Kevin, Izzy and Ava all spend the next few weeks coming up with charitable ways to honor Jesse's memory. What they don't realize in all of their efforts is that there will be no real loser, even though someone would eventually win the $1 pot they all contributed to. In fact, they're changed so much that each of them decides to keep the efforts going, not just for the bet, but for the sake of leaving a real legacy behind that will outlast their own lives.

I received Thusday Night Club by Steven Manchester compliments of the author and The Story Plant Publishers for my honest review. Besides receiving a downloaded copy of the book, I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is one you really want to pick up to add to your digital library and one that I could see being incorporated into your own version of a Thursday Night Club much like the characters in Steven's novella did. This one is heart-warming, charming and gives you so much more than a short and sweet story, it is the real meaning behind the Christmas spirit, to love one another in ways that people could never repay, but in hopes that they will pay it forward in their own way. For me, this one easily garners a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Thursday Night Club, Steven Manchester or where you can pick up a copy of this eBook today, please click on the links below:

Thursday Night Club by Steven Manchester

You can find Steven Manchester on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

You can download a copy of this book on Amazon by clicking here. 

Pressed Pennies

For as long as I live and breathe, I will never grow old of sappy, happily ever after endings. I've been so blessed the last few years to have discovered a true diamond in the rough and his books will leave a lasting impression long after you finish the final page of each of his novels. That is Steven Manchester and in his latest novel, Pressed Pennies, if you're a romantic at heart or even if you're not, you will leave this one with a heart full of warmth and love inside.

Abby Soares and Richard Giles fell in love many years ago. As young children who would spend their idle hours with their group of friends, riding bikes, and playing games to pass the summer time away. Until the day when Richard announced to the group that his father was getting a promotion and he would be moving away. It wasn't until that realization that they would no longer wake up and spend time together that Abby knew she had fallen in love with Richard, but fate being as mean and cold as it was, meant that time would separate them forever. They spent that last day together at Lincoln Park, home to an amusement park that would capture their childhood memories forever and one where they all agreed to take pennies and place them on the railroad tracks to hold their last wishes instead forever as the train pressed them flat.

Years later as divorce found their way into each of their lives, both Richard and Abby would be given one more opportunity to find love again. At a neighborhood party given by their friends Danny and Carol, they were reintroduced without realizing that either of them would be there. The heart is a fine thing indeed in which it remembers the embers of a fire of love burning long ago within and as Abby and Rick get reacquainted, they realize it won't be as simple as they would like. Abby now has a nine year old daughter, Paige, who is struggling in her own way to deal with the recent loss of her father due to divorce and coupled with his need to drink, he forgets that he has scheduled time to spend with her. The last thing Abby needs is for Paige to grow connected with someone only to have them leave again. It's a promise that they have made to one another to always be there for each other. Only now, Richard comes along and Paige sees him more of a threat than someone who can make her mother truly happy. Will she make her mother choose between the two of them?

I received Pressed Pennies from Steven Manchester compliments of The Story Plant for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. As I finished this novel and began to write this review, I found a smile on my face and a powerful feeling of love within my heart. This is one of those great stories that you find yourself emotionally investing in, because you want true love to conquer all, even to break down the walls Paige has put up in her life. The struggle isn't an easy one and I think that is what makes it so believable. How difficult it is for all three of them to come to terms with what is happening. It gives us hope that no matter how old we get, love still finds a way as long as we are willing to remain open enough to receive it. Steven's written poetic words are guaranteed to hook the romantic at heart and keep hold of you until the beautiful finalè and well deserving of a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Steven Manchester, Pressed Pennies or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Pressed Pennies by Steven Manchester

You can also find Steven Manchester on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

You can also learn more about Pressed Pennies, by visiting The Story Plants website. 

Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-61188-135-6
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61188-137-0
Trade Paperback Price: $13.95

E-book Price: $9.99

Publication Date: May 13, 2014

355 pages

The Rockin' Chair

Once again Steven Manchester has done it. He has caused me to cry quite unexpectedly without any prior warning before reading his latest novel, The Rockin' Chair. I will warn those of you that prior to jumping right into this one, grab a box of tissues as well as a notebook or highlighter. There is so much amazing quotes that you will want to remember long after you finish the final page, or if you're like me, you bookmark them by turning down the corners of your favorite pages. It makes them much easier to find!

This is a novel that you won't want to rush through, but one you will want to find a nice quiet place and savor the story as it begins to unfold. The first couple pages are a bit confusing as the details of the story jump around a bit, like fragments of someone's memories that they are catching glimpses of, and that is just what is happening. Alice McCarthy has once again wandered away from home suffering from the long time effects of Alzheimer's and simply can't remember where she is or for that matter what age she is. Her hands convince her she is much older than her memories at the present and that is what is causing most of her confusion. Not only that but the people she meets now, she has no memory of them. Even as her daughter in law Elle, tries to convince her to come on home.

Remaining faithfully committed to her, her husband John is overwhelmed with knowing how to properly care for a wife, that seems more comfortable with her childhood memories that all the love they have shared over the years. Fearing that she may in fact be living in her last moments before the illness completely consumes her, he reaches out to the estranged family members and tells them it's time to come home and say goodbye to Alice.

This is a wonderful heartwarming novel that takes you by the hand into each of the family member's lives now that they have since moved away from the family farm in Montana. John and Alice were only blessed with one child, Hank. He married Elle and they had three children, George who is now serving in the armed forces, Evan is searching for a way to make a big break in the world of publishing, and Tara is searching for the stars in the Big Apple hoping to become one of them. As time draws short, we get a sense that the family wishes to be closer than it is, and the relationships between father and son, and even father and his children are at best strained. The only close relationships are between Elle and John, who has spent as much of her time helping John care for Alice so he can still get work done around the farm.

I received The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester compliments of Partners in Crime Tours and The STory Plant Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is such a beautifully written story because I believe we all have had times in our lives where our own family relationships were at odds, where past issues kept us apart instead of allowing us to work through them even though both sides wanted them worked out. There is literally something for everyone to be found within the pages of this novel. Perhaps some of my favorite parts were the ones written from both sides of the Alzheimer's illness. We get a peek at what Alice is dealing with as well as what it is like from John's eyes. Yet the one thing that remains through all the relationships is a deep seeded love for one another even if they can't always see it. This is my third book by Steven Manchester and he is already on my must read list as everything I've read from him has been life-changing. He makes me simply forget I'm reading a novel and am instead living it. In my opinion that makes it a 5 out of 5 stars in my book.

For more information about The Rockin' Chair, Steven Manchester, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester

You can also follow Steven Manchester on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

You can read more reviews on The Rockin' Chair from the Partners in Crime Tours by clicking here.

The Rockin' Chair

by Steven Manchester

on Tour July 1 - August 31

Book Details

Genre: Fiction

Published by: The Story Plant

Publication Date: June 18, 2013

Number of Pages: 242

Purchase Links:  

Synopsis:

Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone.Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, The Rockin’ Chair is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging novel to date. If family matters to you, it is a story you must read.

Read an excerpt:

Elle picked up Evan, Tara and Lila at the airport. As she approached the threesome, she gasped at the sight of her emaciated daughter. For a few moments, Tara’s eyes scanned every inch of her mother’s face before she spread her twig-like arms. Elle hugged her, then pulled away and peered into her sunken eyes. “Are you sick?” she asked.

While Tara shrugged, Elle grabbed Evan for a hug. “I’ll explain it on the way,” he whispered in her ear.

Lila stood there, looking up at her grandmother—curiously.

Elle bent down and smiled at the baby. “Hello, my love,” she whispered, “Grandma’s waited much too long to meet you.” The little girl was a living doll. She had Tara’s strawberry blond curls and the same dark eyes as Alice.

Lila grinned. “Hi, Gramma,” she said, and never flinched when Elle scooped her up and kissed her cheek.

Elle looked back at Tara and could feel her eyes swell with tears.

“Grandma?” Evan asked, grabbing her attention.

Elle shook her head, the tears beginning to cascade down her tired face.

“When?” he asked.

Elle reached for his hand. “Last night…right in Grampa’s lap.”

“In the rockin’ chair?” he asked, his voice cracking.

Elle nodded again.

Evan’s eyes filled. “Where else?” he said.

Elle noticed the confusion in her daughter’s eyes and thought, She’s so out of it.

Before Elle could explain, Evan leaned into Tara’s ear and filled it with the bad news. “We’re one day too late. Grandma passed away last night.”

Though delayed, Tara burst into tears.

As they left the airport terminal, Elle walked alongside Evan. “How did you find her in New York?” she asked in a whisper. “Her cell phone’s been turned off for weeks.” She looked back at her daughter, who was already lagging behind.

“It wasn’t easy,” he said, and shook his head. “Let’s just say…thank God I did.”

Author Bio:

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestseller Twelve Months, Goodnight, Brian, and several other books. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early

Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Catch Up with Steven:

Tour Host Participants:

Goodnight, Brian ~ Review and Giveaway

Sometimes the very best advice anyone ever gives us comes from our mothers. It may be because they brought us into the world, they have insight no others have, or it quite possibly come from the unconditional love mothers have for their children and truly want nothing less than the best for them. In this case, a life lesson is materializing right before everyone's eyes in the life of a little boy name Brian Mauretti. When he was born his mother did every thing right for Brian and yet, God had another purpose in mind for Brian's life. His life would become something extraordinary and one that will inspire hope in all of us.

In the latest novel from best selling national author, Steven Manchester, Goodnight, Brian is an inspirational story of the determination and perseverance of Brian's grandmother, Angela DiMartino whom everyone lovingly refers to as Mama! When Brian is diagnosed with a brain disorder caused by a formula his doctor prescribed that prevented his brain from forming during his critical infant years, the doctors tell his parents that he will be forever disabled and will never walk or talk. While his parents absorb the devastating news, Mama, nonetheless refuses to accept that Brian will be any different from any other child. All he needs is love, and she has more than enough to give and incorporates the entire family in the plan to give Brian all the love he needs to prove every doctor wrong, including his own parents.

It truly is an inspirational book that teaches us all the lessons in perseverance, hope, faith and love and will forever change how you may look at your next darkest valley in your own life. I found myself highlighting so many of the seemingly simple lessons that Mama dispenses through her conversations and outings with her grandchildren. In one case Mama encourages Brian to learn to crawl and places him on a blanket with his favorite stuffed puppy far enough away to work for. After several failed attempts to move anywhere, one of the cousins tells Mama that its too hard for him and offers to move the toy closer. She tells Heidi, "Nonsense, it looks like he isn't getting anywhere, but he is actually learning about perseverance." There is more to that particular situation but I don't want to spoil it all for you by giving away Mama's best kept advice, but trust me, you'll want to know how it all turns out in the end.

Like most parents dealing with traumatic illnesses it creates a strain on the family and marriage which adds to the believability of making this story one you question whether it's based on fiction or a true story. It will move you to tears alongside the characters and have you truly cheering for Brian from the beginning. I think the best part about the book is it shows just how powerful love and faith can be when applied in the right doses in any situation. It provides hope in the darkest of places and one I can see passing along to people going through uncertain times in their own lives. This is one you will want to read again and again and keep on your own personal library shelf.

I received Goodnight, Brian by Steven Manchester compliments of Providence Book Promotions, Partners in Crime Tours, and The Story Plant for my honest review and have it now proudly added, even though it has been highlighted throughout on my personal library shelf. It is a story that each person will find their own treasure within its pages and one you'll find Mama's advice long remembered. I highly recommend this one if you're looking for something more than just a feel good story and instead want something that could in fact change your life forever for the better. A compelling 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and the second exceptional book I've had the opportunity to read and review by Steven Manchester. For more information about Goodnight, Brian, Steven Manchester, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Goodnight, Brian by Steven Manchester

You can also find Steven Manchester on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest novels.

Thanks to the generous folks at Partners in Crime Book Tours and Providence Book Promotions, they are generously giving away a copy of Twelve Months, Steven Manchester's first book to one lucky follower of my blog. Here's what you need to do to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart.

2. "Like" Steven Manchester's Facebook page.

3. Leave a comment below along with your email address and tell me why you'd love to win a copy. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The winner will be notified by email from Partners in Crime when the giveaway ends on February 9th. So don't forget, keep on leaving comments and tell your friends.

Twelve Months

Imagine your life being really no different as all your other days, until one day you begin to notice some changes in your health. At first, like most of us, you wouldn't think too about it, probably something that will get better over time, maybe something you ate, or something you did. But then over the weeks it wasn't getting better and in fact it was getting worse. Like most busy people who have too much on their plate, it might take you awhile to get around seeing your doctor depending on the severity of your symptoms.

So you schedule an appointment and the news you weren't expecting, was the news you got. That little thing you thought was nothing, that perhaps taking a pill might remedy, turns out to be your death sentence and now the only thing you can do is find a way to "live" for the next 12 months of your life. What would you do?

Now you have the premise of the latest novel by Steven Manchester, Twelve Months. In this novel that is exactly what happens and we, as the readers, get an inside look at how just Don DiMarco deals with his devastating medical diagnosis and how he chooses to spend his final twelve months of life.

I received this novel, Twelve Months, compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and The Story Plant publishers for my honest review and I think it does a great job at defining for most of us, what we would potentially do in the same predicament. I know for one, it would seriously make me take a hard look at the choice we've made up to this point in our lives and look at what we can do in just a years time to potentially change some of them, restoring broken relationships, taking those vacations we already dreamed of but never found the time, reliving favorite moments from our pasts, and truly doing something that others will remember us by.

"I've learned that anyone can change the world; you just have to start with one person at a time. I've also learned that not caring what other people think of me has allowed me the energy to focus on what I think of myself. For me, life is like looking through a kaleidoscope. With every turn, a different view will be brought to life.

"I've taught my grandkids that good things come to those who wait, but great things come to those who go after it; that a gift within is meant to be shared or else it wouldn't be a gift; and no matter how large or small, everybody's problems are enormous to themselves. Though the list goes on, the most important thing I've passed on is that life can be a beautiful dream, or a living nightmare. It's all about your attitude - your perspective.

But I didn't always see things this way..." (pg. 22)

I think everyone needs a great book like this sometimes to challenge us in our lives because we've grown too complacent, and take the little things for granted. This book shakes you up and makes you realize it's time to wake up and see things with new eyes. God didn't create our lives for us to waste them waiting on His return but to have a life and an abundant one. I think this novel does just what the author intended to show us what we are missing before it's too late! I think this one rates a perfect 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information on Twelve Months, Steven Manchester and where to pick up a copy of this book, click on the links below:

Twelve Months by Steven Manchester

You can also read more reviews from the Twelve Month tour here.