Book ~ "Gooseberry Island" (2015) Steven Manchester

From Goodreads ~ They met at the worst possible moment ... or maybe it was just in time. 

David McClain was about to go to war and Lindsey Wood was there at his going-away party, capturing his heart when falling for a woman was the last thing on his mind. While David was serving his country, he stayed in close contact with Lindsey. 

But war changes a person, and when he came home very little had the same meaning that it had before – including the romance that had sustained him. Was love truly unconquerable or would it prove to be just another battlefield casualty?

David is a soldier and just about to head to Afghanistan for a year when he meets Lindsey.  They spend his last night sitting on a bench talking and getting to know each other.  They become pen pals while he is gone and fall in love, planning for their future together when he returns home.

But David has horrible experiences in Afghanistan and comes back a changed man suffering from  PSTD.  Nothing matters to David anymore as he tries to get on with his life.  Lindsey's father also suffers from PSTD because of his experience in the Gulf War and she doesn't think she can handle having someone else with it in her life.

This is the fifth book I've read by this author.  It is written in third person perspective with a focus on David and Lindsey.  It's dealing with a serious topic that I imagine many who have been in wars have to deal with.  David was lucky he had people in his life who cared about him and never gave up on him.

I found David and Lindsey's interactions a bit over the top ... too sweet and unrealistic.  I can't imagine a man saying the sugary stuff David did.  For example, in the first chapter, David is on a date who tells him he is "worse than a girl" because rather than going dancing, he would rather sit on the beach and spend the night talking about their past, their dreams and their future.  I can't imagine a guy ever saying stuff like that to someone, especially someone he isn't serious about.  With that kind of writing, the book was like a Harlequin Romance ... but then it got serious when David got to Afghanistan, which I found to be a conflict in tones.

FYI, until January 31, 2015, the author and the publisher, The Story Plant, will donate $1 to the Wounded Warrior Project for every copy of Gooseberry Island that is pre-ordered and sold. All you have to do is email them a copy of your receipt and they will make the donation. In addition, they will also donate a copy of the ebook to returning soldiers (one donation for each copy sold).   The book is available for sale at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo and IndieBound.

I received a copy of this ebook from the author at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book ~ "Pressed Pennies"(2014) Steven Mancester

From Goodreads ~ Rick and Abby grew up together, became best friends, and ultimately fell in love. Circumstance tore them apart in their early teens, though, and they went on to lives less idyllic than they dreamed about in those early days. Rick has had a very successful career but his marriage flat-lined. Abby has a magical daughter, Paige, but Paige's father nearly destroyed Abby's spirit.

Now fate has thrown Rick and Abby together again. In their early thirties, they are more world-weary than they were as kids. But their relationship still shimmers and they're hungry to make up for lost time. However, Paige, now nine, is not nearly as enthusiastic. She's very protective of the life she's made with her mother and not open to the duo becoming a trio. Meanwhile, Rick has very little experience dealing with kids and doesn't know how to handle Paige. This leaves Abby caught between the two people who matter the most to her. What happens when the life you've dreamed of remains just inches from your grasp?

"Pressed Pennies" is a nuanced, intensely romantic, deeply heartfelt story of love it its many incarnations, relationships in their many guises, and family in its many meanings. It is the most accomplished and moving novel yet from a truly great storyteller of the heart.

Rick and Abby are both recently divorced.  Rick's ex-wife, Rose, was cold and power-driven and he finally has had enough.  Abby's ex-husband, Patrick, is an alcoholic and verbally abusive.  She leaves with their nine-year-old daughter, Paige, to start a new life together.

Rick and Abby were school sweethearts and eventually lost touch when Rick's family moved away.  They meet up again about 20 years later and the spark is still there ... the obstacle, though, is Paige who makes it clear that she doesn't want them together.  Abby is torn between wanting to be with Rick and not wanting to hurt Paige.

This is the fourth book I've read by this author and I liked it.  I liked the writing style and thought it was well-paced.  It is written in third person perspective with a focus on Rick, Abby and Paige.  The significance of the title is that as kids, Abby, Richard (as he was known as then) and their friends put pennies on a railroad track so trains could flatten them.  As a head's up, there isn't any swearing but there are hints of adult activity.

I liked Abby and Rick and thought they were good for each other after the crappy marriages they'd had.  I found that once they realized they were in love, they were REALLY in love and talked about it a lot.  I'm not sure how realistic those conversations were ... romance lovers will surely love it, though.

I found Paige annoying at times.  I don't have kids so don't know if nine-year-old girls are really that disrespectful, bratty and mean ... and Abby let her get away it most of the time to avoid conflict with her.  I know that Paige was going through a lot (her parents divorce, having a deadbeat dad and her mom start dating) but it's what most kids deal with in today's world.  Even Paige's friends were appalled at her behaviour.  Instead of glaring at her or giving her a talking to, Abby needed to discipline Paige more authoritatively.  If I'd acted like that when I was a kid, I'd get a smack on the butt ... once was enough to scare me not to do it again.  Plus it was a given that we respected adults when we were in their presence.

I found it amazing that Abby never called the police to report Patrick, Abby's ex-husband, when he was driving around drunk.  He'd arrive at the house slurring and weaving and she'd send him off.  What if he hit and killed someone?  Maybe having the police nab him would serve as a lesson to him.  Maybe we are less tolerant of drunk drivers here in Canada than in the U.S.

I thought it was funny that at one point Rick had to go to "Canada" on business.  Canada is a big place and I'm sure the author could have narrowed it down a bit and the readers would know where he was talking about ... like have Rick go to Toronto, Montreal or Calgary on business rather than just "Canada".

Book ~ "The Rockin' Chair" (2013) Steven Manchester

From Goodreads ~ 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 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.

John and Alice have been married for many years, were deeply in love and live on a farm in Montana.  When Alice develops Alzheimer's, sadly she doesn't remember who John is.  John and Alice have a son named Hank who lives nearby ... John and Hank have been estranged for many years because of misunderstandings.  Hank's wife, Elle, takes care of Alice during the day.  Knowing that Alice doesn't have much time left, John summons his grandchildren to come home to the farm.

George is a soldier fighting in Afghanistan who is haunted by what he had to do there.  Evan is a writer living in Massachusetts who is heartbroken because he discovered his fiancee has cheated on him.  Tara dreamed of being a star in New York but instead became homeless after becoming pregnant and addicted to booze and drugs. With his family gathered together, John tries to right all the wrongs.

This is the third book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  His books are family-oriented and the family members rely a lot on their faith (I'm not religious and didn't find it overwhelming).

I liked the writing style ... the story flowed well.  It is written in third person and the focus changes throughout the book depending on what was going on.  I liked the characters ... they are well-developed.  John is clearly the patriarch and loved by his family.  As the story progresses, each character tries to confront their demons. John has lots of wisdom to share with his family.

I would recommend this book.

Book ~ "Goodnight, Brian" (2013) Steven Manchester

 From Goodreads ~ Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino, who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love, and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive, Goodnight, Brian is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not an option.

Frank and Joan are the proud parents of Brian.  When Brian can't keep any food down, his doctor puts him on a soy-based food.  It turns out that the soy-based food is cutting corners and poisoning Brian and other babies.  As a result, his doctor determines that Brian will never walk, talk or develop mentally and emotionally.  But his grandmother, Mama, won't accept this.  Drawing her strength from her religion, she pulls her family together with the goal that one day Brian will indeed walk and talk.  This is the story of Brian's journey.

This is the second book by Steven Manchester that I've read and I enjoyed it.  The writing is well-paced and refreshingly clean (no violence or mature language).  It almost read like an autobiography to me ... Brian's story.

I liked the characters ... I could feel the bond between them all even as the situations became more serious.  Mama is a very strong character ... she means well and no one says "no" to Mama.  There's no doubt that she adores her kids and grandkids and would do anything for them.

Book ~ "Twelve Months" (2012) Steven Manchester

From StevenManchester.com ~ Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full. 

A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, Twelve Months is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.

What would you do if you were told that you only had twelve months left?

Don DiMarco is in his 50s and assumed he was going to live to be an old man.  But then he gets the news that this isn't so.  His doctor tells him he has twelve months ... that's it.

How does he want to spend his last year? He makes a list of things he wants to do which includes deep sea fishing, hang out on a ranch, buying and RV and traveling and being a racecar driver.  What he realizes along the way is that spending time with his friends and family and giving of himself is the most precious thing.


I enjoyed the writing style.  Though fiction, it reads like a memoir written by Don.

I liked Don and his wife, Bella.  I could feel the connection between them.  Bella obviously doesn't want to lose Don but she respects that there are things he has to do before his time runs out.

The lesson ... don't wait until the end of your life to start enjoying all the magical moments that are waiting for you.