Throwback Thursday Book Edition #5: The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall

I am sorry it is a day late.

General Analysis

Book Title: The Ultimate Gift

Author: Jim Stovall

Publish Date: June 15, 2001

Genres: Christian Fiction, Inspirational, Adult

Plot (from GoodReads): What would you do to inherit a million dollars? Would you be willing to change your life? Jason Stevens is about to find out in Jim Stovall's The Ultimate Gift.

Red Stevens has died, and the older members of his family receive their millions with greedy anticipation. But a different fate awaits young Jason, whom Stevens, his great-uncle, believes may be the last vestige of hope in the family.

"Although to date your life seems to be a sorry excuse for anything I would call promising, there does seem to be a spark of something in you that I hope we can fan into a flame. For that reason, I am not making you an instant millionaire."

What Stevens does give Jason leads to The Ultimate Gift. Young and old will take this timeless tale to heart.

Why and When I Read This Book:  I read this book two years ago as a freshman in college.  I had seen the movie and to date it is still my favorite movie.

In Depth Analysis

The concept of this book is really great.  A man dies and leaves these secret gifts to his grandson.  If all the tasks are completed as asked in his will, his grandson will get "the ultimate gift".  When I had started reading this book, I had already seen the movie and that affected my view of the book some.  I really enjoyed the movie and had very high expectations for the book.  The plot and the characters in the book are very enjoyable.  My only complaint is the point of view that the book has.  The book is in third person and follows the grandfather's assistant.  I think that it would have been executed better if it was in third person, but following the grandson, like the movie.  The movie does not give a very good view of the lives of the characters, and I really enjoyed that in the movie.

Nonetheless, The Ultimate Gift  was a very inspirational novel.  The grandson learns life lessons throughout the novel.  The novel really made me think about the way I view life and what is really important in life.  I was excited to see what the next step would be that the grandson would need to do and whether he would continue to do things that he did not really want to do.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age:  Any age

Overall Rating:  4/5

Book Blast Spell Fire and $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash Giveaway

This week I am participating in a book blast.  I have NOT read this book, but I thought that I would share it with ya'll.  There is a $50 amazon gift card or paypal cash giveaway at the bottom of the page.


Spell Fire, The Teen Wytche Saga #3

By Ariella Moon



Summary

New school. New friends. New reputation. High school sophomore Ainslie Avalon-Bennett works hard to hide her Crazy Girl past. But as long as her best friend’s disappearance remains unsolved, she can’t shake the depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder that once landed her in a mental ward.



Ainslie’s tenuous control over her life shatters when her warring parents ditch her at Christmas. While they take a cruise to “work things out,” Ainslie must spend the holiday in Palm Springs with her aunt and uncle, owners of a struggling Mystery School and occult store. Plunged into the world of fire fortunes, dragons, entity eaters, and an ailing spell book, Ainslie is well beyond her comfort zone. Then she meets a boy who spikes her pulse and calms her OCD. But will she lose him once he discovers her past? Or will his deadly secret, hidden in plain view, be their undoing?

Author Ariella Moon

Ariella Moon writes about magic, friendship, secrets, and love in her Young Adult novels, Spell Check, Spell Struck, and Spell Fire, Books 1, 2, & 3 in The Teen Wytche Saga. Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred Ariella’s teen years. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. An author and shaman, she now lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, shamelessly spoiled dog, and an enormous dragon.



Spell Fire Excerpt

My body elongated, and I swore I grew six inches. Inside the cafe, there was no line. Another miracle. I paused beneath the fern‑painted ceiling fan and scanned the wall menu. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but a weird craving fueled my search.

The dragon exerted pressure between my shoulder blades, prompting me. "A Scorpion's Nest smoothie."

Morningstar leaned over the high counter and gave me a once‐over. "You feeling okay?"

I licked my lips. "Absolutely." I had never tasted an orange juice, vanilla ice cream, and peanut butter combo, but I slapped the countertop and said, "I'm fine. Hit me."

Morningstar tilted her head to one side and studied me.

Oh — crap. Maybe I'm dragon drunk.

I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth stood straighter. I could do this. I could act normal and in control. Behind me, the dragon blew on my hair. I clawed back the stray locks. "Strong ceiling fan."

Morningstar glanced up. I held my gaze steady on her face and tried to remember if the fan was actually on. I couldn't hear the whir of its motor or feel the stir of cool air. I can't feel anything. I went for distraction and slipped a ten across the counter.

Morningstar leveled her gaze, then handed me my change. "I'll bring the smoothie to your table."

"Cool." My eyes crossed. I pivoted and fell out of my right flip‐‑flop. Fortunately, the place was almost empty, and I didn't think anyone saw me stumble. Still, my face heated as I chose a table with plenty of space behind it for the dragon and my invisible wings.

"Mind if I join you for a minute?" Morningstar asked when she brought my drink.

"Please." I giggled, giddy with dragon energy. I was a bright, beneficent angel among earthlings. I was — as crazy as my parents feared.

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Book Blast Giveaway
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Ends 12/20/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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