Monday 9 March 2015

BOOK REVIEW - The Thursday Night Club - Steven Manchester - A great short read



TITLE - The Thursday Night Club

AUTHOR - Steven Manchester

LENGTH - 152 pages


SYNOPSIS


Five college friends, three men and two women, have been getting together every Thursday night to share humble meals and an abundance of laughter. But when tragedy takes one of them, leaving the others to question the fairness of life, the Thursday Night Club decides to embark on a contest in the memory of the generous spirit of their fallen brother. The objective of the contest is simple: whoever performs the kindest deed by Christmas night wins the pot – four quarters. And there are only two conditions: the benevolent deed must be anonymous, and it cannot cost a single penny to pull off.

As the four friends undertake the contest, the healing begins and they become inspired beyond their expectations. There might be a winner in this competition, but it is very clear there will be no losers.

A story of Christmas spirit that will strike a chord in your heart any time of year, The Thursday Night Club will make you look at the holiday season in new ways


MY BOOK REVIEW


This is the second emotional read for me from this author within the space of a few weeks. He knows how to get the tears flowing. 

This is a short read but the author has certainly packed an awful lot into it, and I honestly think it's one of the best short reads I've actually read. 

Its a story of five friends, who, as the title suggests, get together on a Thursday Night every week. Suddenly, something happens to one of them, which leaves just four. Rather than just sit back and dwell on what has happened, they decide that they must each do something to honour their friend and there are a couple of conditions, one of them is that it can't cost anything to do. It becomes a competition between them all.

It is amazing what they come up with and very heart warming and inspires you to want to do something similar. I won't include spoilers as it really would spoil this heart warming read. 

The relationship that the author has written between all the friends is very honest and you warm to each character instantly. This is one of those reads that I couldn't put down as I couldn't wait to find out what each of the friends came up with. 

Thoroughly recommend and a great quick read.





ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers, Twelve Months and The Rockin' Chair. He is also the author of the award-winning novel, Goodnight, Brian, as well as the critically-acclaimed novel, Pressed Pennies, A Christmas Wish (Kindle exclusive), Wilbur Avenue (novella), Just in Time (novella), The Thursday Night Club (novella, released November 2014) and Gooseberry Island (novel, released January 2015).

His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News. Three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing. Visit: 
www.StevenManchester.com


Please check out my recent review of Steven Manchester's Gooseberry Island.
Click here

BOOK REVIEW - Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester - An emotional read




Title - Gooseberry Island

Author - Steven Manchester


Length - Print - 300 pages


Buy LinkClick here


SYNOPSIS

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?

My Review


This was a very thought provoking read, and hit home in some ways having a Husband who is ex military.

David met Lindsey when he was least expecting to meet someone. It was the day before he was due to fly out to Afghanistan in his role as an Army Ranger. Not an ideal day to meet someone who you have an instant attraction to. After breaking the news to her, he promises to keep in touch. 
Once in Afghanistan he kept his promise but never told her the awful things he was experiencing whilst there, although she could tell he was keeping things back from her. Their relationship blossomed from afar whilst he was away and I felt the author captured this extremely well and having been in a similar situation I found things very familiar. It was as if the author had been through it too as it was so well described. 

Once David arrived home it was evident he had been traumatised by events, and couldn't settle back into real life, and couldn't face Lindsey. This was quite an emotional part of the book and it really makes you think about those who's partners have served in war zones and how it must affect their lives and the lives of the returning service personnel.

It was so well written and the author handled an emotional subject very sensitively. Some parts were quite upsetting but I won't add any spoilers. 
A very good read and one that will stay with you.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers, Twelve Months and The Rockin'

Chair. He is also the author of the award-winning novel, Goodnight, Brian, as well as the critically-acclaimed novel, Pressed Pennies, A Christmas Wish (Kindle exclusive), Wilbur Avenue (novella), Just in Time (novella), The Thursday Night Club (novella, released November 2014) and Gooseberry Island (novel, released January 2015).
His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News. Three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.

Visit: www.StevenManchester.com