Cover Image: No Less Days

No Less Days

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David Galloway is immortal and stuck at 35. Other than his quiet life as a bookseller, he keeps to himself preferring to surround himself with old books than people who will leave him. He thinks he is alone until he reads about a daredevil who falls thousands of feet and lives. When he travels to talk to this person he finds a small group just like himself. He knows that there are good people in the world and there are bad people and must wrestle with a moral dilemma. There are religious overtones to this story but the concept is clear and the writing is soft and easy at the beginning of a race car finish. If given the chance do you do the right thing? My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

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I really liked the first impression I read on Bookish so I requested a digital ARC via NetGalley. A big thank you to the Balfour and NetGalley for providing the advance copy.

David is a very likable protagonist and Tiana is a beautiful foil for his character. You can really feel his plight as a longevite as well as how much he has to share with humanity. I loved his relationship with Tiana and her loving encouragement as a sister in Christ. What disappointed me was the clutter of the others that were like David who suddenly surface in his life and cause much disruption. There were just too many plot threads and it was really difficult to know the others like we knew David. As Tiana's influence on David grows he is making very positive choices and I would have loved to see those explored further.

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No Less Days was my first book by Amanda G. Stevens. I chose this book because of its cover and description, and assumed that I wouldn't like it because sometimes you need to see a book like this rather than read it. However, I was wrong. It starts with a story of bookstore owner named David Galloway who has a secret that is slowly revealed through the first few pages of the book. He cannot die. After witnessing Zac Wilson survive a death defying fall on TV, David realizes he may not be the only one who has this same secret. The plot takes off from there, and Stevens provides a twist that I never saw coming. It appears to be the start of a series as there were several loose ends at the end of the book. I highly recommend this book as the plot is fresh and innovative.

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This is the first book I have read by Amanda G. Stevens, and I’ll definitely be looking for more by her. After awhile, it starts to feel as if most of what is on the market has a variation of the same plot. This one is definitely original.

The main character, Zachary Wilson, has lived over 100 years and doesn’t understand why. As a Christian, he feels that he has a purpose, and maybe that’s the reason he can’t die. His faith is always apparent in the story, as he prays for God to give him strength to do what is required of him.

The story is complex, filled with interesting developments, and is written in a way that kept me turning pages late into the evening. Some of the characters were more likeable than others, which always adds more layers to the book. The character development is very good, as how each lives and the experiences that shaped them are shown as the story evolves. I definitely liked Zachary and reading about his developing relationship with Tiana, who was a Christian and turned out to be a good source of support for Zachary.

This would make a good series, and I hope the author come out with another book using the immortal characters.

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I have to begin by saying that speculative fiction is not one of my favorite genres, but Amanda Steven's writing pulls me in every single time. The premise for this particular book is immortality. David, the main character, is a longevite or immortal. He was 165 years old but his aging process had stopped at 35.

Steven's writing style, word choice, and sentence flow carried the story from chapter to chapter and kept drawing me deeper into the story. I loved the setting of David's bookshop and how she drew in the books in the store into the storyline. Can't imagine any booklover not enjoying this. One of my favorite scenes was towards the end when David was playing the piano and drew Tiana into duets with him and they played many older songs through the different time periods which David had lived.

The plot is intriguing with plenty of action as David connects with 4 other (unknown to him) longevites. The character development is excellent as each of the major and minor characters is quite unique and has their own strengths and weaknesses. David has led a lonely and closed off life for many years with only his turtle for companionship and his bookstore clerk, Tiana, for a superficial friendship, It was wonderful to see him grow and open himself up to other relationships as the story developed. I also loved the communal feeling that grew between the longevites, David and Tiana.The slowly developing relationship between David and Tiana was a sweet touch.

Stevens never shies from Christian themes in her stories and focuses on morality, Christian fellowship, mortality, and salvation in this particular book as the characters face tough moral decisions and one character deals with an abusive relationship. In one extremely dark episode, the characters are faced with a moral decision which really has no good options.

Definitely recommend this book and am hoping that the threads left hanging will be picked up in a future book. I would love to see a series develop from this initial longevite story.

**Thanks to Amanda Stevens and Shiloh Run Press for an ARC. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
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Liked this book, though it started off weird for me (a little slow without much intro) really picked up and went to some interesting places. Would like to see more in this (hopefully) series.

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Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I had a very hard time with the writing style, and the sentence fragments made it hard for me to understand what was going on. I had to give up early on because I had such a hard time. DNF. I have to rate it, but I don't want to go with 1 star or 5 stars because I didn't finish it, so I'm giving it 3.

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No Less Days by Amanda Stevens
David Galloway owns a bookstore and leads a quiet life on purpose until he reads about a daredevil who has fallen a thousand feet from a tightrope and lives. He starts to put the pieces of the puzzle together and suddenly his quiet life begins to spiral out of control.
The author sets up unlikely but fascinating circumstances and brings her readers face to face with some uncomfortable questions about life, immortality, and death. What would it be like to be immortal? Would immortals yearn after death?
This book could be the beginning of a series. The story piqued my interest and I wondered what would happen to David, Tatiana, and the other immortals. With immortal characters, the storyline could be unending!
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and found much to admire about David and Tatiana. I appreciated David’s character and his desire to live a righteous life. Tatiana added some spice to the story. I am curious as to how their relationship may develop.
I enjoyed this book. I would definitely read another by the author. Readers who enjoy Christian fiction with a bit of a twist will enjoy this. I received a free copy from the publisher for this, my honest review.

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I found this book very hard to get into, & even took a long break after the first few chapters. I would not have forced myself to continue if I wasn't expected to review it for NetGalley.
To me it doesn't sit well as a Christian book - the only parts I could appreciate were about music, which came as much-needed relief after very dark goings-on. Overall I was really disappointed : the description was most promising, but there should have been some warning as to what was contained.

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Imagine spending your entire life—centuries—thinking you’re the only one. David Galloway did. He couldn’t die. He was sentenced to a life of eternity on earth, passing his time by avoiding any relationships that would end up leaving him alone. Again.

One day, a story on the news grabs his attention. This man should be dead! Could it be he isn’t the only one?

This storyline was quite thought-provoking as it explored the downside of living forever on this side of Heaven. All the goodbyes. The loneliness. So many memories—many painful. The strong bond between the characters was wonderfully heartfelt. But once the characters were established, the story began to lag. In many places the author chose colorful wordiness over pace and depth. There was also a lot of telling vs. showing.

Perhaps the author plans a sequel. That would be the only good reason to leave so many dangling plot lines. There is an intriguing twist near the end that leads to many questions but goes nowhere. If this is a setup for the next in a series, it should have been developed more to make the reader want to find out.

Overall, the pace was much too slow for my liking. The characters weren’t fully developed. It had potential to be a truly great story, however, it just didn’t come together.

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What would it be like to never die from a terminal illness or gunshot or crippling disease or bone-crushing accident?

Amanda Stevens explores the answer to that question. She is an excellent writer who creates believable worlds, believable characters, and satisfying stories.

In this first in a series, Stevens develops a complicated story of life longevity that squeezes tension into every muscle. The premise is intriguing. There's a handful of people who have been living for about 150 years, and no matter what happens to them, they can't die--even a 8,000-foot fall into a rocky canyon.

The characters are very 3-dimensional with quirks and complications that have solidified the faith of some and twisted the perversions of one. You can't help but care deeply about each one, especially the handsome, book-loving, book store owner, main character, David Galloway.

Five of five stars. Enjoy your romance with David... or is his name John?

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy in exchange for my honest review.

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No Less Days by Amanda G. Stevens is an intriguing look at life and what would happen if we lived forever in our mortal bodies.
David owns a bookstore and his employee, Tiana, has lit incense which means smoke and fire in David’s mind and completely overwhelms him as it has for a century. He makes her get rid of it immediately and tells her smoke is very bad for the books. Many of the first edition he owns were purchased new at the time of publishing by him. How is this possible? The story line is that he was injured in what should have been a fatal wagon accident in the 1800’s but a doctor experimented with a blood clotting agent and saved his life. However, he has never aged since that time and has remained in his thirties every since. Is he the only one or will others be discovered? Does being immortal give one a higher responsibility to protect the world and those around them? Does it make one more or less dependent or devoted on God?
I found this story to be very intriguing and couldn’t put it down. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. The characters are very well-written and make you care for them. I even felt bad for those less savory characters; I wanted them to be saved and turn to the truth. The use of scripture is done in a manner which is relevant to the story and not preachy; each one still has to choose their own path. I give this book 5 of 5 stars and highly recommend it.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Sorry but this book just totally list me about halfway through. Just too unbelievable.

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David Galloway is uniquely cursed—or is it blessed? Simply put, he can't die. Formerly a soldier, and now a humble book shop proprietor, David is a 167-year-old who will forever look like he is 35. He has loved and lost, and the pain of those losses has taken its toll. If you peered into David's eyes, you would now find walls with “keep out” signs posted on them. Holding people at arm's length has become his modus operandi, but it has not come without a cost. Why would God so afflict him with seeming immortality? What is the divine purpose for his extraordinary longevity? These questions and more plague David's mind. Then a daredevil falls from a tightrope and doesn't die. “Caught up by an angel,” the headlines proclaim, but David learns more. He is not alone in his affliction. Finding others who are like him is a relief that finally offers David a community where he doesn't have to constantly lie about his past and who his is, but can they be trusted? David slowly begins to open his heart to others again, particularly with Tiana, a dear friend who works at the book shop, but a shocking turn of events pose David with one of the greatest challenges he has ever faced, and his strength alone will not be enough to make it through this time.

Do you ever feel that you have read all of the good books, and wonder if you will ever find another one? No Less Days by Amanda G. Stevens will cure that feeling in a hurry! From the very first page, I was mesmerized by this book. I couldn't put it down because I had to find out what would happen next! Stevens is a talented author who finds just the right blend between the action and the drama, the “showing” and that little bit of necessary “telling.” While in the Christian fiction genre, No Less Days is in no way preachy. Stevens' characters are real, likable, and relatable. Her protagonist is not without his flaws, although he has had 167 years to hone some remarkable skills as well. I was deeply invested in both David and Tiana's lives, and cared greatly about what would happen to them. When the last page was turned, this book stuck with me for days after, and I will definitely be reading the sequel as soon as it is available.

My one complaint about No Less Days would have to be the abrupt ending. Not a cliffhanger exactly, but some major action is yet to happen, and the characters are still reeling from what has already happened. Since a sequel will be forthcoming, this kind of ending is understandable, although I would have loved to see a bit more of how the main characters processed what they had just been through—more of a debrief in a sense. Perhaps that debrief will be detailed further in the next book.

If you're looking for your next great read, I highly recommend No Less Days, and I look forward to reading whatever else comes from the pen of Amanda G. Stevens.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.

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I received this book "No Less Days" from Netgalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I liked the idea of this book but... some of the storylines went no where. You are left wondering what happened. I would like to know what happened. This book just didn't do it for me. I was glad when I hit the last page. I almost stopped reading it but I did continue. At times I was confused as to who was really speaking. Too many loose ends and story did not flow for me.

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Wow, 4 1/2 stars! This is the first book I have read by Amanda Stevens, but will not be the last. Very interesting story about a man who has lived for decades and cannot die. Peeks at his history and things he has gone through in his life. He has isolated himself from other people but then he discovers that he may not be the only person who is the same way. Changes take place when he meets the others like him. He also starts to open up and make some friends, specifically his employees, Tiana and Jayde. Good and bad things happen.

This is speculative fiction and I can't wait to read more. Hoping for a sequel!

I received this book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

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Many want to be immortal, but what if you truly couldn't die?

David Galloway wrestles with the practical, moral, and spiritual implications of immortality. For decades, he has believed he alone is cursed with the inability to die. This preternatural life has led to excruciating physical pain, heartache, disillusionment, and isolation. A sudden twist of events, however, throws everything he thinks he knows about his extraordinary existence into doubt.

In "No Less Days," Amanda Stevens builds a fantastical story which draws on the shared human experience. Her major characters are well developed and deal plausibly with the complexities of relationships. She writes in a way that acknowledges the messiness of living a life which honors God in less-than-ideal circumstances. These less-than-ideal circumstances are certainly influenced by the paranormal twist of immortality, but the author is careful to maintain her characters' humanity.

While some characters leapt from the pages as being plausible (well, other than the whole un-dead factor), others hovered in the shadows. One twist in particular left me a bit jarred. How in the world did we get here? I didn't quite follow how the progression of events led to that major up=tick in the action. While the book begins to tie up some loose ends toward the end, the author doesn't neatly tie up all the relational aspects among characters, leading me to believe this book lends itself to being the first book in a series. I hope she continues and develops some of the secondary characters, who were enigmatic and likable.

Readers who enjoy writers such as Ted Dekker, Karen Hancock, and Terri Blackstock will likely enjoy this page-turner. It falls well outside the bounds of sterotypical or predictable Christian fiction, and it flirts with the boundaries of both fantasy and crime thrillers without falling fully inside either. I found it an interesting read and look forward to reading more of Amanda Stevens' work.

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I enjoyed Amanda G. Stevens Haven Seekers series. With each consecutive edition to the series, I was more involved with each individual character and I couldn't wait to see where the series ended. Stevens grabbed my attention with the concept and delivered what she promised. So of course, when I heard she was writing a new novel No Less Days, I really couldn't wait to get my hand on a copy. Boy, am I glad that I did.
Stevens does a good job at creating stories of what if? What if Christianity had a bigger impact on the global scale? What if you couldn't die? She took No Less Days in a way I didn't see coming, but I throughly enjoyed it. She isn't afraid to talk about the dark issues in Christianity and throw it into a literal story. Her writing is excellent. I loved following David around in this story and watching him interact with his changing world.
The plot was definitely something I haven't read anywhere, and I do read ALOT, so this was a refreshing tale to enjoy. I got caught up in the story from the beginning, and I really didn't want to put the story down. I finished it one day. What a great ride! The plot is filled with twists and turns I didn't see coming. Stevens had me turning the pages quickly to wonder what was going to happen next.
I don't know if there is going to be more to the story as in a series, but I hope Stevens has more to this series up her sleeve because I would jump in line to read the rest of the stories.
Overall, No Less Days by Amanda G. Stevens is an unique story with fascinating characters filled with many unexpected turns. I recommend this novel to fans of James Rubart. Both authors touch on spiritual concepts in the normal world.
I received a complimentary copy of No Less Days by Amanda G. Stevens from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

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Beautifully written story about a man who can't die. It's a very unusual christian fantasy with philosophical elements, a sweet love story and even crime parts about loneliness and fellowship.

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From CBD: "As far as he knows, David Galloway can't die. As those he loves grow old and perish, he grows increasingly isolated in his Michigan used bookstore, until at last he finds others who share his predicament. But when crimes come to light that are older than any mortal, what will God require of him?"

I feel conflicted about how I feel about this book. Sound confusing? That's how I feel about it, too! The premise is intriguing - a man who can't die, perpetually 35, alive since before the Civil War, what are the possibilities in that long of a life on earth? Would those granted the ability consider it a gift to be used for good, or a curse to resent? For a man of God, how do you live over and over, without knowing when you'll make it to heaven? How do you find a community of believers, if you have to move every 10 years or so before the fact that you're not aging would start to raise suspicions?

Some of those questions were addressed, but the book also took a very dark turn that I wasn't expecting. I felt like the story was trying to go in too many directions to thoroughly explore any one of them. It felt like it would have made a good series; that would have allowed the characters and their relationships to develop, as well as give time to flesh out some of the side plot lines. The discussion questions at the back were thought provoking, though, and would allow a conversation to follow some of those thoughts to see where the readers thought they'd lead.

Overall, this was a unique book, and I appreciate that. I give it 3 stars; while I wish it went a little deeper, I was intrigued by the possibilities it presented.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

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