The Ultimate Gift

by Rene Gutteridge, Jim Stovall

Jason Stephens lives a life of wealth. A life of privilege. A life that's about to take a radical turn. Jason always had a straightforward relationship with his billionaire grandfather, Howard "Red" Stevens. He shunned him but welcomed his money. So he figured when Red died, his part of the inheritance would be a simple cash transaction that would fund his extravagant lifestyle.

Instead, for Jason to receive his inheritance, he's given an ultimatum...a series of twelve tests or "gifts" as Red calls them. If he fails at any one of them, he loses everything. If he completes them all, the ultimate gift will be his.

One of those "gifts" involves finding a friend...something Jason has never experienced before. Yet this unlikely friendship and an unexpected romance may just open his eyes to what he's been missing all along.

"You don't begin to live until you've lost everything."

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Inspirational

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Rene Gutteridge is the award-winning and best-selling author of more than eighteen novels, including the beloved Boo Series and Heart of the Country, her novelization release with director John Ward and Tyndale House Publishers. Her recent suspense titles include Listen, Possession and the award-winning Seven Hours project Escapement. She's been published by Bethany House, Tyndale House, WaterBrook Press, Thomas Nelson and B&H and novelized the successful motion picture The Ultimate Gift. She is teaming again with screenwriter Cheryl McKay for the romantic comedy Greetings from the Flipside from B&H and releasing her new suspense title, Misery Loves Company from Tyndale in 2013. Her romantic comedy Never the Bride won the 2010 Carol Award for Best Women’s Fiction. Her upcoming literary projects include the novelization of the motion picture Old Fashioned with Tyndale House Publishers and filmmaker Rik Swartzwelder.

Her adaptation of her novel My Life as a Doormat is in development with Kingdom Pictures and she is also a creative consultant for Boo, a film based on her best-selling novel, in development at Sodium Entertainment with Cory Edwards attached as director and Andrea Nasfell as screenwriter. She is also co-writer in a collaborative comedy project called Last Resort with screenwriters Torry Martin and Marshal Younger. Her screenplay Skid is currently in production and scheduled to begin filming in April of 2013. Find her on Facebook and Twitter or at her website, www.renegutteridge.com

Reviews

[Lorrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, as well as the DVD. Although very simple and predictable, it had a great message about the importance of love and relationships.
The character had to learn to really live without the luxury of all his possessions and wealth. He learned to love and care for people besides himself.
Truly heart warming.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was very different from the movie. In some ways I liked the movie much better, but in other ways I liked the book better. It definitely has some good messages and things to think about. It was a fast read for me...only a couple of hours sitting in the bathroom bathing my kids!

[Diane Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was very little between the book and the movie that was the same. Other than a young man who had to work to earn his inheritance almost everything was completely different. Although I enjoyed the book for a change I felt a movie was much better and more complete than the book. Watch the movie after you read the book so you won't be so disappointed in the book.

[Peggy Davenport]

The Ultimate Gift.
Originally written by Jim Stoval Novelization by Rene Gutteridge
Novel
Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
2007


I read this one because someone gave it to me and I was soaking up anything I could read. I kept putting it off as a to cutsy kind of book and that I wouldn't like it though until a day I'd kinda ran out of options. And I was right. It had an intended Christian religious message and that's fine for a thirteen year old kid in that community but still I don't understand why that message can't get across without being corny? And even in the religious factor the dude in the end drove off in a fancy car still had his fancy apartment and all of his fancy leather couches and stuff and that just isn't life. So on the Christian message level I feel a whole entire "yeah right well we aren't all handed a silver platter" I mean this kid already lived off life for free and well beyond anything most of us can imagine...then he has a few months of a lesson...whoopedie fucking doo. And then he's handed billions of dollars in the end. Dear fucking God let me build a church then that I never even attend for that kind of thing. I like that an idea of what a real gift is in any book...mentioning God or not...but why in the end and even before with just a few rough months in between is it abnormally unreal? I can't feel the message because this book is written way too ridiculously. I guess I am just over all the ramen noodles I am currently eating. However on the actual writing...it is explained in forward that it is a first novel...before the movie, and that is where I give it relaxed due credit because it is written exactly as a first novel. I can't fault anyone there for that tone of it as we all start somewhere. Where I do fault is in a rewrite of the novel by an experienced writer later, after the movie, by Rene Gutterbridge...then I can say it sounds like her extent as a writer is the church bulletin because I give her zero credit in the writing....Jim Stovall brought what he thought would be a nice message...he wasn't a writer so I relax on him there. But Rene Gutterridge brought us utter garbage as a writer. No heart was put into it and all of the dialog ....isn't. I understand that she had the perplexity to write as a movie had been written now but then....I guess it's the director and screenwrights I will give the evil eye to and who's shoulders hold the responsibility for an utterly flat and one dimensional piece of writing. Even at the age of nine I would have thought this book as too religiously and too cutsy.

[Valerie (Val's Vicinity) · Rating 3 out of 5]

(This review is for The Ultimate Gift movie novelization by Rene Gutteridge!)

I originally thought this was going to be the book the movie was based on...later I realized that this particular book is actually a novelization of the movie. Having seen and enjoyed the movie, I decided to read it anyway.

Normally I like books better than their movie counterparts, but this is one exception. While the story is good, it didn't seem to have enough detail in spots....it just felt a little stiff. If the story interests you, I'd recommend that you watch the movie instead, it has alot more power and emotion with the superb performances the actors give. Maybe the original book (The Ultimate Gift) by Jim Stovall is different, I haven't read it so I'm not sure...

The story in this book is still good...it just could have used a little more detail and emotion in spots.

[Sarah Cassavaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very easy read and left me with a warm feeling. It was just a nice message. DO not be confused by the title. There are two The Ultimate Gifts with Jim Stovalls name attached. He wrote the book originally and his book is OK but not an engaging reading. More like reading highlights of a sunday school talk. This one written by Rene Gutteridge took his book (with his permission) and turned it into a screenplay. It is exactly as the movie was which was also good (watched it after I read it and the kids enjoyed the movie as well - family friendly). So I enjoyed the message of this book.

[Donna Davies Corley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book and had no idea what it was going to be about. Afterward, I saw the movie on DVD. It was very enlightening about so many things we take for granted. It meant more to me being an adult with life experiences about forgiving and changing one's life for the better. The book is like nuggets of gold wisdom for teens, young adults, and adults. The DVD tops it off to bring it all home.

[Nona Peachey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Recommend to all ages. Well written Thought provoking. So grateful I found this book. Looking forward to sharing with others.

[Rex Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Book I've Ever Read Made Into The Best Movie

The Ending Blew Me Away. Do not cheat but read it front to back. The story changes lives, viewpoints and values. Hang on for a roller coaster ride through what is important in life. It will make you live, laugh, love, cry and hope. It's a great gift for someone special in your life.

[Nancy Ekstrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Movie version

This is not the original book but the movie version. The book is an interesting spin on receiving a gift that comes with some serious life lessons. Young adults would be my suggested audience.

[Bakios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Message

[John Norman]

I thought it met the hype. A great story. wonderful people well characterized, it left me wanting more, more more. I did tear up, more than once. Glad I read it.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I absolutely loved this book! There are so many life lessons in this book it should be on the mandatory reading list for middle school students everywhere.

[Jeanne Vogel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story

Good story. Gets you thinking about your own life. Didn't like how the chapters were laid out. Hard to follow the gifts!

[Windy Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great message

This book has a great message and was such a joy to read. I enjoyed the characters and appreciate reflecting on each of the gifts. Very inspiring!

[Charlene White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. Had humor and serious themes. I liked this book.

[Pamela · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the movie was amazing and could potentially help you to make important life changes. It was really moving, so I was excited to read the book. Usually I like books much better than movies because they can give you more details. This book did not do that at all. In fact, it was so sparse on details it definitely left you wanting much more, especially after seeing the movie. I was really disappointed.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is actually a rewrite of the original book. Both are good. If you want a feel good movie to watch rent the DVD. Being the annoying parent I am I made all my kids watch it. Good lessons about what's important in life.
I loved it!

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite q good story with good lessons but in the end,as my sister Joanne noticed, it's all about money and lots of it. Not particularly well-written but then, Doris Lessing is my all-time best writer and who can compete with her?

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was sitting with a patient one night and didn't have any books with me and found this one lying around. So I am reading it. Thus far it is alright. I have already seen the movie and thought it was lame...so we will see how the book goes!

[Kami · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this movie, so I thought I'd read the book to see what didn't get into the movie. It turns out that I picked the wrong book. This one is a recap of the movie with nothing new. I was a bit disappointed.

[Carlla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book, loved the message and the writing. I am going to try to get the movie to watch tonight, New Years Eve and order the authors book. This book is written from the screen play.

[christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool story. Very easy read. A great book to pass on to family and friends. Has a very positive message.

[Arielee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really good, it is better than the movie. Most movies aren't as good but I have watched to movie more than once. It's really inspiring. Read it then watch it!

[Ron Lohrbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary and watched the DVD on Friday night (4th of July) and found very very thought provoking and we, too, are considering our individual legacies as we approach the twilight years.
Ron

[Kelly Glenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great story which makes you think about what is really important in life. The movie was also good, a good msg. for kids too!

[Cindy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book while I had some down time on my cruise. This book is a quick read. But it is amazing! Great life lessons in this story. Its definetly worth your time, go read it!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. I read it in one sitting. For a quick read it really says a lot.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an easy read, a little cheesy, and predictable, but a good reminder to not take life for granted . I loved the foreword by Jim Stovall - he put his phone number in it so you can call him.

[Musicom · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, book from movie