Tag: Steven-Manchester • BookLikes

review 2017-11-10 20:54

The Thursday Night Club and Other Stories

Arlena Has Read and Reviewed What Novels?

Title: The Thursday Night Club and Other Stories

Author: Steven Manchester

Publisher: Fiction Studio Books

Reviewed By: Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

"The Thursday Night Club and Other Stories of Christmas Spirit" by Steven Manchester

My Thoughts.....

What a beautiful collection of three short stories that will really grip the reader especially doing this Christmas season that is very much full of 'emotions, spirit and faith.'

'The Thursday Night Club' ...we have five college friends that soon changed to four due to a horrible accident. I loved what this group of friends did in order to honor the memory of their dear friend. This story turned out to be a very inspirational read that would definitely be one importance read especially during the Christmas season. It was indeed wonderful seeing as these friends 'undertake the contest, the healing begins as they even become inspired beyond their expectations.'

'A Christmas Wish'....Another wonderful story of who a Italian matriarch, Mama that is there for her grandchildren as she shares not only her 'experience, wisdom but so importantly her unconditional love.' Will the granddaughter Steph be able to learn to have faith and courage and not be afraid of her life?' What about the grandson Brian? Will they 'both be able to finally find the courage to be true to themselves?'

'The Tin Foil Manager'....What will happen when a geriatric nurse Jeanne decides that she will not let Nancy Guillmette who is suffering from dementia give up? I liked how Jeanne pushed Nancy into remembering her 'favorite childhood Christmas memories of retelling Christmas legends from around the world' that had been told to her by her father a long time ago. In doing this it was beautiful seeing how Nancy remember being loved. I loved how this memorizing brought back even through smiles and tears that special gift that was greatly shared among the two which helped Nancy regain the will to even want to live.

All three of these reads will definitely get one into the holiday spirit and put a smile on your face as you are turning the pages of these well written stories. Would I recommend "The Thursday Night Club and Other Stories of Christmas Spirit?" YES!

Thank you to the author for another good read!

holidayChristmas

review 2016-10-22 21:38

Ashes

Arlena Has Read and Reviewed What Novels?

Title: Ashes
Author: Steven Manchester
Publisher: Story Plant
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Ashes" by Steven Manchester

My Thoughts...

'Ashes' was quite some story about two brother Tom and Jason Prendergast. These two brothers
hadn't been together for many years [15]mainly due to their hateful abusive father and now he was dead and had requested them to make a drive together to Seattle in order to take and spread his ashes. Now, they had to do this in order to get the 'contents of a sealed envelope their father had lift with his lawyer.' At this point I wondered why it was so important to get this envelope especially since the way their father had mistreated them so horribly while growing up. What in the world would this man be leaving them that was worth this trip? What turns out to be a trip from hell also turns out to be so much more as these two brothers travel together to Seattle. What these two brothers find out during this trip will truly have you shaking your head and saying how more crueler could this father have been! Wow! I don't want to spoil it for you the reader other than saying this is one well written story to pick up and read. I enjoyed how this author was able to give the reader a little humor and even some tears in the midst of what all was going on in this read. In the end will these two brothers be able to get over the abuse they both suffered during their dysfunctional childhood and now they were both parents how has this affected their present life? I liked how this author puts the storyline together with answering all the questions....to how will this trip end? Along the trip who all did they come in contact with? Was this trip with getting that 'envelope' left from their father? What happens in Tom and Jason's 'brotherly relationship' after this trip? All of these questions and so much more will be answered fully in this excellent read.

So, be ready for a very tensed, emotional journey, sentimental, a travel across country, little mystery and even some humor as "Ashes" will bring it all to you front and center all the way to the very end. Would I recommend? YES!

Abuse family dysfunction