About the Book
Publication Date: May 13, 2104
Number of Pages: 355
Purchase Links: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - iBooks - Kobo - Sony - Chapters/Indigo - IndieBound
Synopsis:
Rick and Abby grew up together, became best friends, and ultimately fell in love. Circumstance tore them apart in their early teens, though, and they went on to lives less idyllic than they dreamed about in those early days. Rick has had a very successful career, but his marriage flat-lined. Abby has a magical daughter, Paige, but Paige`s father nearly destroyed Abby`s spirit.
Now fate has thrown Rick and Abby together again. In their early thirties, they are more world-weary than they were as kids. But their relationship still shimmers, and they`re hungry to make up for lost time. However, Paige, now nine, is not nearly as enthusiastic. She`s very protective of the life she`s made with her mother and not open to the duo becoming a trio. Meanwhile, Rick has very little experience dealing with kids and doesn`t know how to handle Paige. This leaves Abby caught between the two people who matter the most to her. What happens when the life you`ve dreamed of remains just inches from your grasp?
PRESSED PENNIES is a nuanced, intensely romantic, deeply heartfelt story of love it its many incarnations, relationships in their many guises, and family in its many meanings. It is the most accomplished and moving novel yet from a truly great storyteller of the heart.
My Review
Abby Soares has her hands full. She’s divorced and, due to her lack of finances, forced to move to a new home with her eight-year-old daughter, Paige. Her alcoholic ex-husband is absolutely no help and, in fact, a hindrance as far as their daughter goes. He frequently stands her up, leaving her in tears.
When Abby reconnects with her childhood sweetheart, Rick Giles, she feels like she’s been reborn and has another chance at happiness. Abby and Rick quickly rekindle their relationship and the sparks still fly after all these years of being apart. The one fly in the ointment is Paige. She immediately hates Rick and resents his presence in her mother’s life. She’s convinced he’s going to come between mother and daughter.
Abby is devastated, but she’s not about to choose between Rick and Paige. There’s no choice, her daughter will always come first regardless of her own happiness. Abby and Rick desperately try to find a way to win over Paige’s approval.
This story is filled with emotions from all three main characters. Their problems are realistic and mirror issues real life people face in this day and age. My heart tore for all concerned.
I did think there were times that Paige was a bit over the top. Rick had more patience than a saint and did all he could, but no matter what he did for Paige, it was never enough. She was rude, disrespectful, and downright mean to Rick both in private and in public. Sometimes it got to be a bit much for me, although I’m sure this could be a realistic response for an eight-year-old who felt threatened. I thought Abby catered a bit too much to Paige in an attempt to make her daughter happy when discipline is what the girl needed.
I do love Steven Manchester’s writing style. He makes the reader feel for the characters and his writing is fast-paced. This is a sweet, angst filled romance with believable characters who will have you in tears by the end of the book.
FTC Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
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 critically-acclaimed, award-winning novel, Goodnight, Brian, as well as A Christmas Wish (Kindle exclusive), Pressed Pennies (due out May 2014) and Gooseberry Island (due out 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:
http://www.StevenManchester.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorStevenManchester
http://www.stevenmanchester.com
Excerpt
The night was beautiful, unusually mild for the season. “How about a walk along the river?” he asked. “The water fire is tonight.”
“What a coincidence,” she teased, and didn’t think twice about grabbing his hand when he extended it.
Hand in hand, Rick and Abby strolled along the river. Hidden speakers offered the eclectic sounds of primitive chants and tribal drums. Alluring smells of vendor delicacies wafted on unseasonably warm breezes. Side streets were cordoned off and police officers rerouted traffic. Amongst thousands of pedestrians, the walk along the river moved like a stream of warm pudding.
They felt comfortably alone in each other’s company, occasionally stopping to point out something they had spotted and wanted to share.
Although Abby only had two glasses of wine, she felt lightheaded—almost drunk.
As if lovers were sworn to secrecy, other couples offered subtle nods in greeting—with Rick and Abby returning each gesture.
Steel fire pits sat several feet out of the water, lining the middle of the river every thousand yards. Old, wooden boats filled with thespians dressed in black threw fresh-split cordwood onto each. Like swarms of angry fireflies, a million sparks scurried into the air. Bright orange and red flames licked at the black sky, as strong smells of burnt oak and cedar reminded folks of cozy summer campfires and the love that could be shared beneath a starry sky.
At the end of the path, Rick summoned one of the many hawkers to buy Abby a single red rose.
She accepted the gift with a smile. “Good thing this isn’t a date,” she joked again.
“Good thing,” he repeated.
After hugging him, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you for this wonderful experience, Richard,” she said. “I mean it. This night has been absolutely amazing.”
“I only supplied half of it,” he replied, and hugged her again. “Thank you for the other half.”
Walking slowly, they started back toward their cars.
* * *
Once they reached the parking lot behind the Blue Grotto, Rick turned to Abby and cleared his throat. “Let me take you out again this weekend.” It was more of a statement than a request.
Abby shook her head and kissed his cheek. “I’d love to, Richard. Believe me, I would. But it’s not just about what I want. I still need to get Paige settled in. She’s not used to...”
He placed his finger to her lips. “Okay,” he said, “then when?”
She thought about it and shook her head. “I honestly don’t know.” She shrugged. “But what I do know is that our timing couldn’t be any worse right now.” She searched his eyes. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Richard. I wish...”
He looked surprised and devastated, all at the same time. “Not even as friends?” he asked.
She looked deeper into his eyes. “I’d love that, but do you really think that you and I could just be friends?”
He smirked, and then shrugged. “I don’t know.” He thought for a moment. “A different place, a different time, I think you and I...”
“Who knows what the future holds,” she said, stopping him from saying any more.
“Friends then,” he said, and kissed her cheek. “I understand.”
“Thank you,” she said, but she could tell by his tone that he didn’t understand at all. “I’ll be seein’ ya,” she said, and hurried off to her car while she still had the strength.
“Yeah,” he said. “See you around.”
* * *
With his head spinning, Rick got into his car and began replaying every second of their time together. As he drove away, he could still smell Abby on his clothes and hoped the scent would last. It had been an eternity since he’d felt this way about anyone.
* * *
When her mom returned home from her “dinner with an old friend,” Paige was sprawled out on the couch, pretending to be asleep. Abby took a seat beside her. Even with her heart pounding in her ears, Paige dared not stir. Abby pulled the blanket over her and kissed her forehead. “Night, babe,” she whispered, and quietly stepped out of the room.
Paige slowly opened her eyes and took a deep breath. “Just the two of us, huh?” she whispered, and fought back the tears.
“What a coincidence,” she teased, and didn’t think twice about grabbing his hand when he extended it.
Hand in hand, Rick and Abby strolled along the river. Hidden speakers offered the eclectic sounds of primitive chants and tribal drums. Alluring smells of vendor delicacies wafted on unseasonably warm breezes. Side streets were cordoned off and police officers rerouted traffic. Amongst thousands of pedestrians, the walk along the river moved like a stream of warm pudding.
They felt comfortably alone in each other’s company, occasionally stopping to point out something they had spotted and wanted to share.
Although Abby only had two glasses of wine, she felt lightheaded—almost drunk.
As if lovers were sworn to secrecy, other couples offered subtle nods in greeting—with Rick and Abby returning each gesture.
Steel fire pits sat several feet out of the water, lining the middle of the river every thousand yards. Old, wooden boats filled with thespians dressed in black threw fresh-split cordwood onto each. Like swarms of angry fireflies, a million sparks scurried into the air. Bright orange and red flames licked at the black sky, as strong smells of burnt oak and cedar reminded folks of cozy summer campfires and the love that could be shared beneath a starry sky.
At the end of the path, Rick summoned one of the many hawkers to buy Abby a single red rose.
She accepted the gift with a smile. “Good thing this isn’t a date,” she joked again.
“Good thing,” he repeated.
After hugging him, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you for this wonderful experience, Richard,” she said. “I mean it. This night has been absolutely amazing.”
“I only supplied half of it,” he replied, and hugged her again. “Thank you for the other half.”
Walking slowly, they started back toward their cars.
* * *
Once they reached the parking lot behind the Blue Grotto, Rick turned to Abby and cleared his throat. “Let me take you out again this weekend.” It was more of a statement than a request.
Abby shook her head and kissed his cheek. “I’d love to, Richard. Believe me, I would. But it’s not just about what I want. I still need to get Paige settled in. She’s not used to...”
He placed his finger to her lips. “Okay,” he said, “then when?”
She thought about it and shook her head. “I honestly don’t know.” She shrugged. “But what I do know is that our timing couldn’t be any worse right now.” She searched his eyes. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Richard. I wish...”
He looked surprised and devastated, all at the same time. “Not even as friends?” he asked.
She looked deeper into his eyes. “I’d love that, but do you really think that you and I could just be friends?”
He smirked, and then shrugged. “I don’t know.” He thought for a moment. “A different place, a different time, I think you and I...”
“Who knows what the future holds,” she said, stopping him from saying any more.
“Friends then,” he said, and kissed her cheek. “I understand.”
“Thank you,” she said, but she could tell by his tone that he didn’t understand at all. “I’ll be seein’ ya,” she said, and hurried off to her car while she still had the strength.
“Yeah,” he said. “See you around.”
* * *
With his head spinning, Rick got into his car and began replaying every second of their time together. As he drove away, he could still smell Abby on his clothes and hoped the scent would last. It had been an eternity since he’d felt this way about anyone.
* * *
When her mom returned home from her “dinner with an old friend,” Paige was sprawled out on the couch, pretending to be asleep. Abby took a seat beside her. Even with her heart pounding in her ears, Paige dared not stir. Abby pulled the blanket over her and kissed her forehead. “Night, babe,” she whispered, and quietly stepped out of the room.
Paige slowly opened her eyes and took a deep breath. “Just the two of us, huh?” she whispered, and fought back the tears.
For some reason, I thought this was a mystery. Whoops!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like Paige would annoy me but I might give this a try.
This sounds interesting and I've loved the excerpts you've posted. The Paige issue does sound a bit annoying though. I'll definitely keep this in mind though!
ReplyDelete