Showing posts with label Providence Book Tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Providence Book Tours. Show all posts

Sunday, 7 July 2013

Book Review: The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester

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Today is my stop of the fantastic tour for The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester. This is the second novel I have read by Mr Manchester and he continues to astound me with his talent. Check it out!

Title: The Rockin' Chair
Series: N/A
Author: Steven Manchester
Publisher: The Story Plant
Release Date: 18th June 2013
Genre: Fiction
Format: eBook
Source: via Providence Book Promotions for an honest review for the tour

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.


My Review

This is the second book I’ve read by Mr Manchester and I have to say, he is one amazingly talented author. I thoroughly enjoy his writing style and how it can contain so much emotion is beyond me. The Rockin’ Chair is another heart-wrenching emotional rollercoaster that will leave you sobbing with both happy and sad tears. The beginning had me crying for Grampy John’s strength and his own character flaws, but urging him to carry on and forgive himself as well as his son.

Alice has Alzheimer’s and is lost in her own mind. John doesn’t know what to believe when she speaks, is she just dreaming or are the things she says really what happened all that time ago? John’s daughter-in-law, Elle has been coming across the creek bridge daily to help attend to Alice. John is ever so grateful for the help and doesn’t know how much longer Alice will be around.

John knows that there isn’t much time left and has written to his Grandchildren telling them to come home and say their good-byes. George is in the military and serving in Afghanistan; Evan is away at college and engaged to be married and his twin, Tara is in New York City trying to become a star.

Each child has their own demons and has lost their way. Evan receives his letter at a crucial moment in his life and heads to New York in search of his twin sister. Tara got mixed up with the wrong crowd and fell pregnant, had the baby and became an addict. George is wracked with guilt over a shooting incident in Afghanistan and is on leave from duty.

But the biggest puzzle in John’s life is his relationship with his son, Hank. As an only child, Hank thought the world of his Dad and had the deepest love for him. It all changed over the years of growing up with a Father that didn’t show appreciation, praise or his love for his son. They became bitter and argued; one particular day while mending fences on the farm, Hank had enough and left. Hank and Elle moved into the bunkhouse across the creek and had their family; never to again set foot on the farm, Hank refused to talk to John at all.

Now after all these years and all the pain they are suffering from the loss of their wife/mother/grandmother, this family will have to deal with all of their life challenges and build the bridges back to the loving family they know they can be.

John is determined that before he passes to be with Alice, he will help each grandchild overcome their own problems and put all the pieces back in the puzzle. Using his old-fashioned way of teaching lessons and getting them to help around the farm, the grandchildren use their love of Grampy John to listen and learn.

John sits in his old handmade rocking chair, the one he has carved his son and grandchildren’s names into and relives his happiest memories with his wife as he watches over the farm. Will they all be able to come together once again? Can John and Hank overcome their bitter stubbornness and show their love once and for all?

The Rockin’ Chair shows that every family can overcome any challenge. Love prevails and you all have to stick together through thick and thin. I really do enjoy reading such emotional novels from Mr Manchester and cannot wait to see what he delivers next.

4 EMOTIONALLY GREAT BOOKS


About the Author

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.



Check out the other blogs participating in the tour for reviews and giveaways:




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Monday, 4 February 2013

Book Review: Goodnight, Brian by Steven Manchester - BLOG TOUR


On the blog today, I have a review of Goodnight, Brian by Steven Manchester. Goodnight, Brian is a contemporary about family and determination to achieve what you know in your heart is right.


Title: Goodnight, Brian
Series: n/a
Author: Steven Manchester
Publisher: The Story Plant
Release Date: 8th January 2013
Format: eBook
Source: Providence Book Tours
Challenge: Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

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 endeavoured 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.


My Review

Oh, this is such a heart-warming and emotional book. The summary really grabbed me being a mother myself and we are forever worried about our children. I hadn't read anything from this author before, but I will be from now on. Steven Manchester has a lovely way of writing that draws the reader into the story. I can’t remember the last time I cried so much while reading a book.

This book follows the life of Brian Mauretti. He was born into the world like any other baby and started out the same way. After nursing Brian for a while, Joan decided to put Brian onto infant formula. Joan noticed that Brian wasn't settling very well, he wouldn't sleep and cried all the time. It was putting a strain on her marriage as well as on herself. She visited a Doctor who told Joan to change to soy based formula. After trialling the formula, Joan found that Brian was still unsettled and now had the added problem of diarrhoea. Upon calling the same Doctor, they were told to persevere and he would be ok.

Joan kept feeding Brian this formula and she just knew that something wasn’t right. One day Brian was lethargic and unwell, rushing him to the hospital it was found he was dehydrated. Joan decided to seek another opinion and needed to find out what in the world was going on. After finding a Doctor that swore he would help her and find out what was wrong, they waited and waited on tests galore. Eventually, after much research by the Doctor it was found that Brian had a brain damage from insufficient sodium in the formula. Everybody was in shock, this couldn't be right, how can a company make a formula that would cause brain damage? What was going to happen to Brian now?

The Doctor told Brian’s family that he would never walk, talk or learn anything like normal children. Joan’s Mother, Mama to everybody, vowed that she knew in her heart that Brian would walk, talk and write, just like any other child.

SO, this family, including Joan’s extended family, all vowed they would help Brian in any way they could. He would walk and talk, no matter how long it took. Mama took it upon herself to start teaching Brian lessons in life and getting his brother, Ross and his cousins to help.

This is a story that shows a family’s willingness to help no matter how hard the challenge is or how long it will take. The determination and love that this family shows is unconditional and in teaching Brian, they all learn valuable life lessons from Mama along the way. Mama is the Italian grandmother that every family wants. Cooking, adventure, fun, loving, summer sleep overs, are just some of the wonders that this Mama provides for her grandchildren, all the while her top priority is making sure Brian learns and knows how to stick up for himself and his family.

Make sure that while you are reading this book, you have a box of tissues with you. I am sure I cried from the beginning to the end. This book has it all, foremost is LOVE, family togetherness, loyalty, faith in each other and is so inspiring. It made me think of how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family and how precious my children are. It is hard to put into words all the life lessons that were mentioned in this book and the way Mama told them that children would understand. Such a great read!

4 BOOKS - A GREAT READ



About the Author


Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestseller TWELVE MONTHS and PRESSED PENNIES, THE UNEXPECTED STORM: The Gulf War Legacy, and JACOB EVANS, as well as several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. 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 Steven’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or his four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.



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Friday, 18 January 2013

Review: Leaves by Michael Baron - BLOG TOUR


Summary: Welcome to Oldham, CT, a small town rich in Colonial heritage while being utterly contemporary. Situated along the Connecticut River Valley, Oldham bursts with colour every fall, as the leaves on its trees evolve into an unmatched palette of scarlet, orange, purple, yellow, and bronze. For more than three decades, the Gold family has been a central part of Oldham in the fall, its Sugar Maple Inn a destination for “leaf-peepers” from all over the country, and its annual Halloween party a stirring way to punctuate the town’s most active month.

But this year, more than just the leaves are changing. With the death of their parents, the Gold siblings, Maria, Maxwell, Deborah, Corrina, and Tyler, have decided to sell the Sugar Maple Inn, and this year’s Halloween party will be the last. As October begins, the Golds contend with the finality that faces them, and the implications it has for a family that has always been so close. For some, it means embracing new challenges and new love. For others, it means taking on unimagined roles. And for others, it means considering the inconceivable. Complicating it all is a series of “hauntings” that touch each of the Gold siblings, a series of benign interventions that will remain a mystery until October draws to a close.

Filled with romance, tension, and unforgettable family drama, LEAVES is the first in a series of novels about a world and a family that readers will want to make their own.
But this year, more than just the leaves are changing. With the death of their parents, the Gold siblings, Maria, Maxwell, Deborah, Corrina, and Tyler, have decided to sell the Sugar Maple Inn, and this year’s Halloween party will be the last. As October begins, the Golds contend with the finality that faces them, and the implications it has for a family that has always been so close. For some, it means embracing new challenges and new love. For others, it means taking on unimagined roles. And for others, it means considering the inconceivable. Complicating it all is a series of “hauntings” that touch each of the Gold siblings, a series of benign interventions that will remain a mystery until October draws to a close.
Filled with romance, tension, and unforgettable family drama, LEAVES is the first in a series of novels about a world and a family that readers will want to make their own.
Title: Leaves
Series: Book #1
Author: Michael Baron
Publisher: The Story Plant
Release Date: 25th September 2012
Format: e-galley
Source: Providence Book Promotions

My first thoughts when I started reading this book were WOW! It was well written, the story pulls you in and the prologue was fantastic. Within the first few pages the reader is drawn into the story of the Gold family and the LEAVES that are changing just like the characters within the book.

The story follows the Gold family, five siblings during the month of October. Each day is counting down to the final Halloween party at the Sugar Maple Inn and the last day of their ownership. Now that their parents have passed away, the Inn doesn't feel like home anymore and they decided to sell. With this last month and the major annual Halloween party to prepare for, the siblings go through their own dramas.

Maria is the eldest and seems to have had the hardest life so far. She is now an empty nester and doesn't know what to do with herself. Her husband Doug, works full time and is happy with his job, he doesn't realise how sad and depressed Maria is. When Maria was young, she was obsessed with music and the guitar. She used to play and play well, until their daughter came on the scene. Maria continued to play to her daughter, but then she lost interest and Maria put the guitar away. Now finding her love for music once again, fighting her fears and loneliness, Maria plays again.

Maxwell is a politician, married to Annie and they have a two year-old son. Maxwell is making a hard decision on whether he should run for Mayor. While chasing his toddler around, his wife disappears for hours and seems very distant. She won’t talk to Maxwell and doesn't seem to want to look after her son any more. Maxwell is confused and frustrated because Annie won’t open up to him.

Deborah is the Chef of the Inn and has been there all her life, practically. Being a Chef is not easy and her social life is usually non-existent. Until she meets Sage a local shop owner and another foodie. Their relationship blossoms and Deborah finds herself relying on Sage for stability. Deborah is stressing majorly about the last meal at the Inn. She has no idea how to plan it and doesn't know what her future will hold.

Corrina is married to a workaholic lawyer and looks after a step-son. She is known at the control freak and always has to take over tasks allocated to other siblings. She is sort of coordinating the Halloween party and always finds issues with their details. Corrina is having major issues with Tyler and the way he speaks with her step-son, Ryan. My first impression of Corrina was that her relationship with her husband and step-son were under duress. But as the story went along, I felt sorry for Corrina and her life, it isn't easy and raising an angry teenager that was not from birth would be extremely hard, especially with an unsupportive husband.

Tyler, the baby, is a photographer. He recently broke up from his long-time girlfriend Patrice and feels lost.  He takes photos of the leaves to sell to galleries in town, but when sales are down, he doesn't know what to do.

The siblings never get along and there are always 2 that are quarrelling more than the rest. They seem to falling apart and each day counting down to the end of that era, they each have a little vision that brings memories of their siblings and their happiness back to the forefront.

I really loved this book and I am so glad that it will be a series. I cannot wait to see where the Gold family goes, they have so much potential and they each have a story of their own. Leaves was a great introduction into their lives and the history that helped sculpt them into what they are now. Michael Baron has a beautiful writing style and such a way of spinning the story that you can’t help but fall in love with the characters. I will definitely be hanging out for book 2 and highly recommend this to all contemporary romance readers. Please make sure you have a box of tissues when you are reading this, you will need it at the end…..


4 BOOKS - GREAT READ



About the Author

I grew up in the New York area and I've lived there my entire life. I worked in retail and taught high school English before I got my first book contract. I have gotten several additional book contracts since then, which is fortunate because I didn't have the patience to work in retail and, while I quite enjoyed teaching, my approach was a bit too unconventional for most school systems. One school administrator told me that, “there are more important things than being a dynamic teacher.” Since I couldn't name any of those things (at least in the context of school), I figured I didn't have a long-term future in the profession. Hence, I became a writer, where I believe people appreciate a certain level of dynamism.

Though I started with nonfiction, I have always loved fiction and I have always wanted to write it. Since I can remember, I've had a particular affection for love stories. In fact, the very first book-length thing I ever wrote, when I was thirteen, was a love story. Mind you, it was the kind of love story that a thirteen-year-old boy would write, but it was a love story nonetheless. I have a deep passion for writing about relationships – family relationships, working relationships, friendships, and, of course, romantic relationships – and I can only truly explore this by writing fiction. These novels have given me a way to voice the millions of things running through my head.

My wife and kids are the centre of my life. My wife is the inspiration for all of my love stories and my children enthrall me, challenge me, and keep me moving (and have served as the inspiration for several of the kids I've written about). One of the primary reasons I wrote my first novel, WHEN YOU WENT AWAY was that I wanted to write about being a father. Aside from my family, I have a few other burning passions. I'm a pop culture junkie with an especially strong interest in music, I love fine food (as well as any restaurant shaped like a hot dog), and I read far too many sports blogs for my own good.




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