Gooseberry Island ~ Review

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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?

Gooseberry Island is the most nuanced, dramatic, and romantic novel yet from a writer whose ability to plumb the depths of human emotion knows few peers.

MY THOUGHTS:

There is so much going on in the media right now, about the movie, "American Sniper" starring Bradley Cooper. Cooper portrays Chris Kyle, and tells the story of Chris' service as a Navy Seal, and the struggles he has when returning home and suffering from PTSD. 

Gooseberry Island isn't just a beautiful love story. It is a story about David McClain, his service in the Iraqi war, and the difficulty he has when returning home suffering from PTSD.  

I love many things about this book, but what I loved the most, is how David and Lindsey wrote the most beautiful letters to one another through every aspect of their relationship! Having met one another the night before he left for Afghanistan, really left them no option but to begin to know one another through writing. As time goes on, their friendship grows and blossoms into a beautiful love story. But the longer David serves, the more he sees, and the more his heart begins to break.  He honestly doesn't know how to deal with the pain and heartache of all he experienced while in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it only becomes worse when he returns home for good. 

Lindsey understands all to well the signs and struggles a veteran has when he suffers from PTSD. Her Father has long since returned from war, yet he still battles his demons. She also knows that while she believes David can do things to help himself, and work through the battles he has, she can't do it for him. He is going to have to do this for himself, just as her father does.

Lindsey and David's relationship goes through many stages! At times I would have LOVED to just shake David, and maybe even smack him upside the head while telling him to "go get some HELP!!" But as with life God has things under HIS control and HIS timing is perfect and right on! Do they make it? You will have to read it to find out! You really don't want to miss this one! Put this one on your MUST READ pile!!

I just have to say with regards to the "American Sniper" movie and all its controversy, I am amazed that this book came out at the very same time as the story of Chris Kyle! Author Stephen Manchester says in his Epilogue:

"Although it took me nine months to pen Gooseberry Island,  it's been a novel in the making for better than twenty years." 

Isn't it just amazing that it took him all those years, and all those months, to get his story down in pen, and that it came out at this precise time??? I think, this too, was Gods perfect timing!

Thank you Stephen Manchester for allowing me the opportunity to review your book. Thank you for your service, and for fighting for our Freedom! 

PLEASE NOTE: 
I feel it important to share that I would not recommend children under 17 read this, as there are adult situations.



 If you would like to help out the Wounded Warriors Project by purchasing Gooseberry Island, that would be AWESOME!! Here is more info. on that! 


Steven Manchester's next book will be out on January 6, 2015. Voted one of the Must Read Books of 2015 by Cyrus Webb Presents, Gooseberry Island is sure to be the next hit from one of our #1 bestselling authors. The book looks at the budding relationship between Lindsay and David, who have to deal with David's deployment overseas and his recovery from the trauma he witnessed in the service of his country. 

PTSD is one of the biggest problems facing soldiers as they return from war. As an experienced veteran himself, Steven Manchester understands that. That's why, during the promotion of this book, Steven and The Story Plant are going to be working toward helping returning veterans. And we need your help to do that.

From now until January 31, 2015, we 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 us a copy of your receipt and we will make the donation. In addition to that, we will also donate a copy of the e-book to returning soldiers, one donation for each copy sold.

Here's the really important part - we need your help to spread the word about this campaign! Tell your neighbors, tell your family members, tell the person working the checkout line in the grocery story. Just tell as many people as you can and ask them to help spread the word too. We want this campaign to go viral! Let's do something good this holiday season and celebrate those who protect and serve our country!

You can read more about Gooseberry Island at our website. It is available for sale atAmazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and IndieBound.

Curious about Wounded Warrior or want to make your own donation? Visit their websitehere.