Twelve Months by Steven Manchester

From Amazon - Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full.

Twelve Months has got to be one of the most poignant and emotional novels I've ever read.   It hit really close to home for me, so I can to keep putting it down, stepping away from it, and then resuming when I was calmer.  Manchester writes eloquently and has a way to really draw the reader into the story.

Don goes to the doctor, something he has been putting off for quite awhile, and doesn't receive the news he is expecting.  Instead, he gets an expiration date.  From that point, he decides to right some wrongs, leave lasting words of wisdom to his grandchildren, show his wife how much he really loves her and spends quality time with his children.  Not only that, but he does some things he has always wanted to do, but never took the time.

Twelve Months is a book about family, love and loss, but it's mostly about living.  We never know how much time we have left, so why not live life to it's fullest everyday.  I really admire Manchester for taking a real, yet everyone's worst case, scenario and giving it a different slant - one filled with blessings, life and love.  I loved this book and highly recommend it! Just make sure you have the tissues handy.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.