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The Ultimate Gift #4
The Gift of a Legacy
Beloved author Jim Stovall continues his best-selling Ultimate Gift series with The Gift of a Legacy.
“Just tell me how I can get my money and get out of here.” Theodore Hamilton’s good friend and Joey Anderson’s great-grandmother, Sally Mae Anderson, touched many lives during her lifetime. Joey, however, has little interest in his great-grandmother’s final wishes after she dies—until he learns that she’s left him Anderson House, her successful bed-and-breakfast. But he will only inherit if he lives at Anderson House and follows Sally Mae’s instructions. How can Joey ever meet her challenge?Jason Stevens knows how Joey is feeling. After all, Jason’s grandfather left him a similar inheritance years before—and his life has never been the same. The Gift of a Legacy reminds us that one legacy can change the world forever.
“Just tell me how I can get my money and get out of here.” Theodore Hamilton’s good friend and Joey Anderson’s great-grandmother, Sally Mae Anderson, touched many lives during her lifetime. Joey, however, has little interest in his great-grandmother’s final wishes after she dies—until he learns that she’s left him Anderson House, her successful bed-and-breakfast. But he will only inherit if he lives at Anderson House and follows Sally Mae’s instructions. How can Joey ever meet her challenge?Jason Stevens knows how Joey is feeling. After all, Jason’s grandfather left him a similar inheritance years before—and his life has never been the same. The Gift of a Legacy reminds us that one legacy can change the world forever.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2013
67 people are currently reading
1009 people want to read
About the author
Jim Stovall
159 books167 followersJim Stovall has been a national champion Olympic weightlifter, the President of the Emmy Award-winning Narrative Television Network, and a highly sought after author and platform speaker. He is the author of the best selling book, The Ultimate Gift, which is a major motion picture starring James Garner and Abigail Breslin. He is also author of The Ultimate Life and The Ultimate Journey, which have inspired another major motion picture to be released September 2013.
Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes magazine, says, “Jim Stovall is one of the most extraordinary men of our era.”
For his work in making television accessible to our nation’s 13 million blind and visually impaired people, The President’s Committee on Equal Opportunity selected Jim Stovall as the Entrepreneur of the Year. He was also chosen as the International Humanitarian of the Year.
Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes magazine, says, “Jim Stovall is one of the most extraordinary men of our era.”
For his work in making television accessible to our nation’s 13 million blind and visually impaired people, The President’s Committee on Equal Opportunity selected Jim Stovall as the Entrepreneur of the Year. He was also chosen as the International Humanitarian of the Year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 18, 2013
***an inspirational tale about a “selfish little rich boy,”***
Jim Stovall, bestselling author of The Ultimate Gift that 20th Century Fox made into a major motion picture, continues the Ultimate series in The Gift of a Legacy, an inspirational account of personal responsibility, life lessons and legacies.
This story, like others in the series, is told in the voice of attorney and friend, Theodore J. Hamilton. Sallie May Anderson, fondly known as “Miss Sally” is Hamilton’s client and executor of her will. Jason Stevens, Red Stevens grandson, once in need of mentoring, in this story, mentors a young man like he once was. Then there’s Hawthorne, Miss Sally’s devoted “chauffeur, traveling companion or assistant,” whatever she needed. He had devoted sixty years of his life to the care of Miss Sally and Anderson House…Full Review: Review: www.examiner.com/list/the-gift-of-leg...
Jim Stovall, bestselling author of The Ultimate Gift that 20th Century Fox made into a major motion picture, continues the Ultimate series in The Gift of a Legacy, an inspirational account of personal responsibility, life lessons and legacies.
This story, like others in the series, is told in the voice of attorney and friend, Theodore J. Hamilton. Sallie May Anderson, fondly known as “Miss Sally” is Hamilton’s client and executor of her will. Jason Stevens, Red Stevens grandson, once in need of mentoring, in this story, mentors a young man like he once was. Then there’s Hawthorne, Miss Sally’s devoted “chauffeur, traveling companion or assistant,” whatever she needed. He had devoted sixty years of his life to the care of Miss Sally and Anderson House…Full Review: Review: www.examiner.com/list/the-gift-of-leg...
August 23, 2013
There is so much to learn from Jim Stovall about how the world might be a better place after we're gone, especially if we are intentional about how we love and reach out to / teach our family and friends. Reading this just makes me more anxious to reread the novel and to see The Ultimate Life, the second movie to be made from this series. (it will be in theaters September 6th)
June 12, 2013
"The Gift of a Legacy" was a really good read. It is a story of lessons passed on to a young man by his wealthy grandmother as part of her inheritance. The story is told in first person through the eyes of an elderly lawyer who was a close friend to the boy's grandmother. This was an excellent book.
Read
April 21, 2013Throughout the story it is difficult to not relay the lessons to your own life. It is about the human spirit that is in all of us. I about cried.
June 24, 2020
I enjoyed the other books in the series and love each of the lessons found in each of the gifts. However this book just seemed to repeat the gifts from the first book and didn't add much story to go with it. You don't see how Joey changes, in fact his character really has a minor roll in the book. The movie at least develops Joey's character more but I was disappointed with the movie as well.
February 16, 2017
Great Book
The best book I have read . Although fiction, the lessons apply to everyone, young or old, rich or poor . I know I have learned to be a better person. Thank you for this gift Mr. Stovall.
The best book I have read . Although fiction, the lessons apply to everyone, young or old, rich or poor . I know I have learned to be a better person. Thank you for this gift Mr. Stovall.
December 30, 2017
I just adore this author he has a way with words and of life. A pleasure and joy to read this book. Hope to see more from "Jim Stoval". He speaks to me on many levels that will make a better person. Thank You!!!!!
February 13, 2024
A Quick Rehashing of Previous Books.
A dull repeat. No character development, no real plot. A complete waste of money, brains, and time. Previous books by this author are wonderful. I guess he’s a one-trick pony.
A dull repeat. No character development, no real plot. A complete waste of money, brains, and time. Previous books by this author are wonderful. I guess he’s a one-trick pony.
May 10, 2024
It is a sweet book but just a little too unreal for me. I can only hope things would go this way, but having lived in this world....well...good luck with the book and spreading the good things in life.
July 10, 2017
Got the impression it was just an add on book for more sales, and that the book to read is The Ultimate Gift.
July 24, 2017
After Ultimate Gift this felt a bit like flogging a dead horse. Disappointing read.
October 14, 2017
Very moving.
December 9, 2018
Good story.
December 13, 2018
This was a lovely book!! Certainly makes you think about how we will leave this world. Hopefully a little better than before we were here.
March 15, 2020
A fantastic book. It has lessons for us all.
March 19, 2020
good book.
June 8, 2021
While I love the setiment of these types of books, often they are not well written. A grandson learns to help others.
November 13, 2023
This is a sweet book. But a little too much like. The ultimate gift.
April 15, 2024
Was just ok. Not bad but felt somewhat moralistic at times.
May 17, 2024
A shirt and quick read with powerful life lessons. Would be great for a parent to read and discuss with an adolescent or teen child. Great insight and wisdom for any age.
July 18, 2013
I feel this should get 3.5 stars.
I think the premise and the concept behind this book is excellent. I am not so hooked on how the final outcome was achieved. This is not to say that the book will not enrich you for it will I just feel that this book could have had more impact that it will with some people.
What I like:
I love the concept that there are lessons to learn and that we can all learn them even from the most unlikely sources such as a little girl who is ill and she shows us about faith and belief and dreaming but also the capacity to love and learn.
I love the lessons that were chosen for Miss Sally’s great grandson Joey to learn such as the value of working and being able to get a satisfaction and appreciate more when achieved by working hard. The lesson on love and friends and family are wonderful as well. But the lesson on learning is great for we see that no matter who you are you can learn and can teach someone something.
I like how we see that no matter walk of life is there you can learn and respect them for what they have to offer. This is something Joey learns fast.
I enjoy how Miss Sally went about Joey learning the different lessons.
What I would like to see improved:
I find that all the peacocking and strutting of feathers about the greatness of the Bed and Breakfast and who has gone there was overdone.
I think also that this book would have a more profound impact with some if more from Joey was seen. In other words what was he thinking and how did this view change as he was doing each lesson. We hear from him only a little but never really see his thoughts on the impact each lesson was truly having. We never saw his evolution and how he learned to appreciate and gain knowledge from each lesson. This for some would really make the book for they can see how people can become better and stronger.
Overall I found the message of the book to be powerful and the book itself to be a good read.
I think the premise and the concept behind this book is excellent. I am not so hooked on how the final outcome was achieved. This is not to say that the book will not enrich you for it will I just feel that this book could have had more impact that it will with some people.
What I like:
I love the concept that there are lessons to learn and that we can all learn them even from the most unlikely sources such as a little girl who is ill and she shows us about faith and belief and dreaming but also the capacity to love and learn.
I love the lessons that were chosen for Miss Sally’s great grandson Joey to learn such as the value of working and being able to get a satisfaction and appreciate more when achieved by working hard. The lesson on love and friends and family are wonderful as well. But the lesson on learning is great for we see that no matter who you are you can learn and can teach someone something.
I like how we see that no matter walk of life is there you can learn and respect them for what they have to offer. This is something Joey learns fast.
I enjoy how Miss Sally went about Joey learning the different lessons.
What I would like to see improved:
I find that all the peacocking and strutting of feathers about the greatness of the Bed and Breakfast and who has gone there was overdone.
I think also that this book would have a more profound impact with some if more from Joey was seen. In other words what was he thinking and how did this view change as he was doing each lesson. We hear from him only a little but never really see his thoughts on the impact each lesson was truly having. We never saw his evolution and how he learned to appreciate and gain knowledge from each lesson. This for some would really make the book for they can see how people can become better and stronger.
Overall I found the message of the book to be powerful and the book itself to be a good read.
December 15, 2014
This may not be as much a book review as a reflective piece( I am a minister after all) that I hope I can also share with Mr. Stovall via the email prominately offered in the introduction.
ebook, read your freebies 2014, Christian fiction, theology, favorites
If I had one book I would give to anyone out of the near 200 I have faithfully reported on in 2014, it is this one. I also admit that I had never heard of any of his works prior to this book reported on in a publishers' email no too long ago. I believe I had heard of the movie that was made of The Ultimate Gift, but also admit to not seeing it.
I never knew what I have been missing. And...I wonder if Oprah Winfrey and the late Dr. Maya Angelou had ever read or possibly met this extrodinary author.....
At almost 100, Miss Sally Anderson has had a marvelous life. She has also outlived most of her family, save her great grandson Joey, the typical trust fund who gives a flying fig kid who has spent his life as far away as he could afford physically, emotionally and monetarily from his great grandmother. She has however, left him a conditional legacy if he listens, learns and teaches the product of the program and people that she wills him.
This uber spoiled, self centered brat (no other word will do) is forced to learn practicality and humility from people he doesn't know, but learns to trust and love over the span of his lessons. These are lessons our world, which may mirror the BEFORE Joey, fails to teach or to reach those who have no faith community or mentors they can rely on. We are a self-centered, self absorbed world. That is a blanket statement I really wish wasn't true.....
Joey's lessons are a slap on the head, lessons these people Sally and Hamilton have brought together to teach him what it means to be totaly present in the world today.
This book is a sermon unto itself, and I hope people learn from it.
[ NB: I did hear back from Mr. Stovall....he thanked ME]
ebook, read your freebies 2014, Christian fiction, theology, favorites
If I had one book I would give to anyone out of the near 200 I have faithfully reported on in 2014, it is this one. I also admit that I had never heard of any of his works prior to this book reported on in a publishers' email no too long ago. I believe I had heard of the movie that was made of The Ultimate Gift, but also admit to not seeing it.
I never knew what I have been missing. And...I wonder if Oprah Winfrey and the late Dr. Maya Angelou had ever read or possibly met this extrodinary author.....
At almost 100, Miss Sally Anderson has had a marvelous life. She has also outlived most of her family, save her great grandson Joey, the typical trust fund who gives a flying fig kid who has spent his life as far away as he could afford physically, emotionally and monetarily from his great grandmother. She has however, left him a conditional legacy if he listens, learns and teaches the product of the program and people that she wills him.
This uber spoiled, self centered brat (no other word will do) is forced to learn practicality and humility from people he doesn't know, but learns to trust and love over the span of his lessons. These are lessons our world, which may mirror the BEFORE Joey, fails to teach or to reach those who have no faith community or mentors they can rely on. We are a self-centered, self absorbed world. That is a blanket statement I really wish wasn't true.....
Joey's lessons are a slap on the head, lessons these people Sally and Hamilton have brought together to teach him what it means to be totaly present in the world today.
This book is a sermon unto itself, and I hope people learn from it.
[ NB: I did hear back from Mr. Stovall....he thanked ME]
August 20, 2016
I loved it.
I want to read the others in this series. I enjoyed it so much.
The characters were wonderful. This is another of those books were the townspeople and the town itself and so wonderful that you want to go live there.
The plot simple but impacting on my soul. I really needed something spiritually uplifting after I finished The Girl on the Train. And I wanted something quick because the end of our summer reading program at the library was Aug. 20th and I wanted to count as many books as I could before that ended.
This book was just the thing. It got me out of that downward funk I was in and got me on the right track doing the next right thing God has for me to do.
"Cornerstones
If I am to dream, let me dream magnificently,
Let me dream grand and lofty thoughts and ideals
That are worthy of me and my best efforts.
If I am to strive, let me strive mightily.
Let me spend myself and my very being
In a quest for that magnificent dream.
And if I am to stumble, let me stumble but persevere.
Let me learn, grow, and expand myself to join the battle renewed-
Another day and another day and another day.
If I am to win, as I must, let me do so with honor, humility, and gratitude
For those people and things that have made winning possible
And so very sweet.
For each of us has been given life as an empty plot of ground
With four cornerstones.
These four cornerstones are the ability to dream,
The ability to strive,
The ability to stumble but persevere,
And the ability to win.
The common man sees his plot of ground as little more
Than a place to sit and ponder the things that will never be.
But the uncommon man sees his plot of ground as a castle,
A cathedral,
A place of learning and healing.
For the uncommon man understands that in these four cornerstones
The almighty has give us anything-and everything."
(location 394 and following)
I want to read the others in this series. I enjoyed it so much.
The characters were wonderful. This is another of those books were the townspeople and the town itself and so wonderful that you want to go live there.
The plot simple but impacting on my soul. I really needed something spiritually uplifting after I finished The Girl on the Train. And I wanted something quick because the end of our summer reading program at the library was Aug. 20th and I wanted to count as many books as I could before that ended.
This book was just the thing. It got me out of that downward funk I was in and got me on the right track doing the next right thing God has for me to do.
"Cornerstones
If I am to dream, let me dream magnificently,
Let me dream grand and lofty thoughts and ideals
That are worthy of me and my best efforts.
If I am to strive, let me strive mightily.
Let me spend myself and my very being
In a quest for that magnificent dream.
And if I am to stumble, let me stumble but persevere.
Let me learn, grow, and expand myself to join the battle renewed-
Another day and another day and another day.
If I am to win, as I must, let me do so with honor, humility, and gratitude
For those people and things that have made winning possible
And so very sweet.
For each of us has been given life as an empty plot of ground
With four cornerstones.
These four cornerstones are the ability to dream,
The ability to strive,
The ability to stumble but persevere,
And the ability to win.
The common man sees his plot of ground as little more
Than a place to sit and ponder the things that will never be.
But the uncommon man sees his plot of ground as a castle,
A cathedral,
A place of learning and healing.
For the uncommon man understands that in these four cornerstones
The almighty has give us anything-and everything."
(location 394 and following)
December 15, 2013
The Gift of a Legacy written by Jim Stovall
I really enjoyed reading this book, yes it is little like "The Ultimate Gift" but still many lessons to be learned and Jason the young man from The Ultimate Gift helped Joey understand more fully by sharing some of his experiences.
I liked this lawyer who helped Sally May Anderson set her will up just as he had helped before. She had known him for many years and knew he was trustworthy.
Sally May is someone I would have liked to have met, her home turned into a beautiful Bed and Breakfast...Anderson House was a gathering place for the best, brightest and most forma
table among us. even the gardener has secrets that would be opened before Joey was finished and ready for his inheritance.
How do you think you would do with this type of legacy and what was involved to receive it? I am not sure I would have done as well as Jason and Joey did. Open your heart and read a wonderful story....
Thank you Jim for sharing your words and lessons learned with us.
I really enjoyed reading this book, yes it is little like "The Ultimate Gift" but still many lessons to be learned and Jason the young man from The Ultimate Gift helped Joey understand more fully by sharing some of his experiences.
I liked this lawyer who helped Sally May Anderson set her will up just as he had helped before. She had known him for many years and knew he was trustworthy.
Sally May is someone I would have liked to have met, her home turned into a beautiful Bed and Breakfast...Anderson House was a gathering place for the best, brightest and most forma
table among us. even the gardener has secrets that would be opened before Joey was finished and ready for his inheritance.
How do you think you would do with this type of legacy and what was involved to receive it? I am not sure I would have done as well as Jason and Joey did. Open your heart and read a wonderful story....
Thank you Jim for sharing your words and lessons learned with us.
July 20, 2013
I wanted to like this book but I just could not get interested in it. It seemed repetitive at times and I was actually bored.
Now the message in this book was great! I liked the idea of Miss Sally teaching her grandson that things mean more if we work for them instead of having them handed to us. He expected to inherit, had an attitude and was just interested in getting his money.
I didn't feel like I got to really know any of the characters. Maybe if I had read the other book first I would have felt more for them.
Even though this book wasn't for me, it is a book I would give to a young person trying to find themselves. It teaches good lessons for life. Maybe if I were younger I would have liked it more.
* Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read and review. Every word of this review is my own honest opinion.
Now the message in this book was great! I liked the idea of Miss Sally teaching her grandson that things mean more if we work for them instead of having them handed to us. He expected to inherit, had an attitude and was just interested in getting his money.
I didn't feel like I got to really know any of the characters. Maybe if I had read the other book first I would have felt more for them.
Even though this book wasn't for me, it is a book I would give to a young person trying to find themselves. It teaches good lessons for life. Maybe if I were younger I would have liked it more.
* Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read and review. Every word of this review is my own honest opinion.
September 8, 2014
I was given this book to read by Net Galley and its publishers
I did like the concept of this storyline, it never surprises me how much influence our grandmothers and mothers can have in our lives moulding us without us even realizing it.
There are several morals to this story and as other reviewers have noted, the Legacy was a bit over done, I think someone said it was like a peacock spouting its feathers, I tend to agree with that.
Its lessons learned in life. I did think it was a good story, but nothing that hasn't been tried before.
I had read one of Jim Stovall's books before and thoroughly enjoyed it, its horses for courses I guess.
I did like the concept of this storyline, it never surprises me how much influence our grandmothers and mothers can have in our lives moulding us without us even realizing it.
There are several morals to this story and as other reviewers have noted, the Legacy was a bit over done, I think someone said it was like a peacock spouting its feathers, I tend to agree with that.
Its lessons learned in life. I did think it was a good story, but nothing that hasn't been tried before.
I had read one of Jim Stovall's books before and thoroughly enjoyed it, its horses for courses I guess.
July 2, 2013
This 'novel' is really a sermon/lecture wrapped thinly in the guise of a narrative story. It seems possibly intended to 'reach' younger audiences who don't like sermons but tolerate stories.
Strangely, this book seems to be repeating the contents of a previous book in large portions, almost like they are virtually identical in theme, message and basic structure. Why all the references and quotes from the earlier book? Are these two works really so similar that each chapter can showcase a quote from the previous version? If there is so little difference, why spend the time to make this near-duplicate version?
Confusing. The sentiment expressed behind the story is admirable at least.
Strangely, this book seems to be repeating the contents of a previous book in large portions, almost like they are virtually identical in theme, message and basic structure. Why all the references and quotes from the earlier book? Are these two works really so similar that each chapter can showcase a quote from the previous version? If there is so little difference, why spend the time to make this near-duplicate version?
Confusing. The sentiment expressed behind the story is admirable at least.
July 15, 2015
You can read "The Ultimate Gift" or see the movie starring James Garner, a couple of times. This book is a repeat, if you didn't get it the first or second time. Good lessons to be learned.
Very spoiled rich boy, dying wealthy person, black lawyer, and assorted people determined to straighten him out so he will take proper care of a lot of money. He learns, over a year, what money can and cannot do.
Jim Stovill is a winner, but a one-trick pony.
Very spoiled rich boy, dying wealthy person, black lawyer, and assorted people determined to straighten him out so he will take proper care of a lot of money. He learns, over a year, what money can and cannot do.
Jim Stovill is a winner, but a one-trick pony.
July 10, 2016
This was a sequel to "The Ultimate Gift." Never read that book but saw the movie at least a half dozen times so in reading this new book by Jim Stovall I enjoyed it in the sense that when they referred back to the other book I was able to picture and hear James Garner saying the words. That was good. It is basically the same type of story, working to change the life of a young man who was wasting his life on reckless living. Was light reading but good.
October 1, 2014
If you read The Ultimate Gift you don't need to read this. This book is nothing but a rehash of The Ultimate Gift. Stovall had an opportunity to motivate his reader into being a better person with some new twists but instead chose to cash in on the formula he used in The Ultimate Gift. Sadly to the point of using the same lessons just on a new troubled young man. Not worth your time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews