The Ultimate Journey

The Ultimate Gift #3

by Jim Stovall

Jim Stovall has penned three delightful parables for anyone who wants to be inspired or give the gift of inspiration. In The Ultimate Gift , Jason Stevens learns to appreciate the value of his life, while in The Ultimate Life , he learns the value of love. Now, in the touching conclusion to the trilogy, Jason learns that life’s journey is all about traveling well—not about the destination. In The Ultimate Journey , readers will discover the secrets of a successful life, • Money helps pay for the trip, but should never be a destination …• Friends make the journey worthwhile …• Laughter lightens the load of any rough or rocky uphill road …• Time may be allotted in small or large portions but the moment is what counts …… and so much more. Do you know how to make your life a success? The Ultimate Journey packs a powerful message for all ages.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Inspirational, Novels, Audiobook, Self Help

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

Jim 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.

Reviews

[Breath of Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review:

Jim Stovall has done it again, The Ultimate Journey is the last book in this series, The Ultimate Gift. I so enjoyed the movie with the same title, but reading the three books have sent me on quite a journey of my own. With that being said I will set out to tell you a little about the last book titled The Ultimate Journey.

This book starts where Jason and Alexia have gotten married and are leaving for their honeymoon. And as usual Mr. Hamilton gives Jason a gift to open on their way. The book is told in the limousine drivers point of view. His name is James, and according to him Jason inherited him when he inherited the limo. I thought that was kinda neat, that James would stay on with Jason.

James tells parts of how the journey started with Jason after his grandfather past away, and gave Jason the Ultimate Gift!!! He also tells about Jason meeting Alexia and her daughter Emily. He continues by reflecting about somethings that Howard "Red" Stevens taught him and how. Like how Red gave him books on learning to drive a limo. Then James learned that before Red gave them to him, that Red and Read them himself. James and Red and all kinds of different talks as well during the time that James worked for him. I felt this really added to the book and made the characters seem real. I love it when I can get into the characters lives or that fact that "they" get in my life......

James was a very respective person. He called Jason and Alexia, Mr and Mrs. Stevens. He also knew that most limousine drives did not speak unless spoken to. But, Jason and his grandfather knew that sometimes it was good to just be friendly.

As I had said earlier before they pulled away, Mr. Hamilton come up and asked, "Just one moment, James, If I may." And then Mr. Hamilton handed a gift to Jason and Alexia, his words here made me cry. I will not say or quote them, let just say "You need to read them for yourself." After the limo pulls away from where reception was held, Jason and Alexia open the gift, wow... it is the tapes of that Jason's grandfather had made for him. He congratulates them both.. just not Alexia by name..

They as you can guess go through the tapes on the drive to the honey moon place. What a ride.
Do not want to give much more away about the book. But I will tell you I was caught up in the whole drive to their destination. James gets into listening to the tapes and also adds to the conversations at times. Let's just say by the time they reach the honeymoon destination, you have a whole other side of their story and a great outlook for Jason and Alexia. And reading the story from James' point of view was really a neat way to end this part of the series. At least in "my point of view."

So for my rating of this book I will have to give it a:

FIVE CLOCKS!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: This book was not given to me. It was and is my own book and the review is my own.

[Carol Arnold · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just boring! It might have been ok if I had read it before the other two in the series, but I had read the first two. It was just a rehash of the second book which was a rehash of the first book! I think the author was overly fond of "copy and paste" functions! The bones of the story were identical with different flesh put on for a small amount of variety. Just read one of the trilogy, not all three! The first book was very good, very insightful and thought provoking. But stop there! Don't waste your time unless you like to read the same book multiple times!

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh... such a major disappointment! I read the Ultimate Gift years ago and I absolutely loved it. I didn't know there were additional books until I was browsing through the library and I happened to find this book on CD. I was thrilled to learn that there was not only the Ultimate Journey, but also the Ultimate Life written after the Ultimate Gift. I eagerly played the CD and made a mental note to also check out the Ultimate Life. Only a couple of chapters into the book I realized that it was a let-down. While there are some lovely thoughts and ideas shared, half the book is simply the Ultimate Gift re-written. The grandson receives one last gift from his grandfather, but the grandson keeps replaying the movies from the Ultimate Gift to remind himself of what his grandfather had to say on each topic. While it is sort of nice to have the reminder, I couldn't help but feel that Jim Stovall had figured out a fabulous con where he got paid for 3 books, but he didn't do the work for 3 books. Halfway through the book I wanted to gag because the phrase "the Ultimate Gift" was being so incredibly over used. I felt like I was listening to an extended advertisement for the Ultimate Gift. A few times it was used by the characters, it sounded very natural... but most of the times it felt so awkward and weird to have it said. Why couldn't they have said "this was part of my inheritance" or "this is something I learned when I was in Texas" instead of the weird "I learned such-and-such as part of the Ultimate Gift..."? It became like listening to nails on a chalkboard. I no longer have any desire to listen to the Ultimate Life. I really do love the points that were made by the original book and there were some nice moments in the Ultimate Journey, but there wasn't enough new material to warrant an entirely new book.

[Gail Welborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ultimate Journey, a Novel, by Jim Stovall, David C. Cook, 2011, 176 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-1434703149, $14.99

“James, I’ve seen my last doctor…it’s time to make some plans…never thought much about dying…there’s got to be a right way to do it,” said “Red” Stevens from the backseat of the stretch limousine.

James, longtime chauffeur and friend, pulled away from the curb, saddened at the news. From lengthy limousine conversations he knew the regret Red lived with. Knew that while Red Stevens “had been out changing the world, he had failed to have a similar impact on his own family.”

His grandson Jason would inherit billions, but Red wanted to leave more than his fortune behind, he wanted to leave a never ending legacy for his grandson…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/3kbt2ew

[Jerry McMurray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Guide to Ultimate Importance

In quarantine with the virus, I found the videos made from the Ultimate series by Jim Stovall, and watched all three. This led me to reread the series for it reinforces what is important in life. The ultimate secret is to identify what is truly important in life and live every single day focusing on that. Jim Stovall has created a great book series that everyone should read to have the best in life.

[Jovelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually my favorite of the series. I definitely liked the perspective it was told from much better than the others.
My major pet peeve with this one is that I noticed a distinct (and important) discrepancy from the other two books. Not a very big spoiler: In the first two books, Red Stevens says that he was sick and needed a kidney transplant, and that Mr. Hamilton donated his kidney. But in this book, he says it was Ted Hamilton who needed the transplant, and Red that gave it to him. Which is really annoying, because I really liked that small detail. It made Red seem a lot more human and less saintly.
So yeah. I don't really reccomend it, but it was certainly better than the first two.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I would highly recommend this book to all. Life is a journey. We can focus on the negatives or the positives. Sometimes I get stuck in the everyday minutia; and feel as if I’m drowning. This book helped me realize I need to stay focus on the bigger picture. To continue to focus on the positive. Accept what life brings. To be the best I can be daily. And to be grateful for all that I have and for everyone in my life - past, present and future.

[Heidi Matheson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely reminder about what is important in life. Probably good, though to leave some time after the previous books in the series before reading it, as they are all very similar. I have read The Ultimate Gift and The Ultimate Journey. I don’t think I’ll read The Ultimate Life. But I have discovered that there is a movie which I am looking forward to watching.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the two previous books in the series, I found this to be too repetitious and the inconsistencies between the three books were disappointing considering that they are short and easy reads. The overall messages are good and it will definitely help many people focus on the positives in life. I would not recommend reading all three books consecutively as I did.

[Tiffany - Fifis_cabin_of_books · Rating 3 out of 5]

So finished of the series and again, no need for anyone to read all of it. You could honestly pick up the last book and know everything. Because of that, it feels repetitive when reading the series back to back like I did. However, I did enjoy the perspective from which this one was told and the narrator was quite good. It seemed to wrap up everything nicely as well.

[Jeffa Turner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did the author forget the story of the first two books?
Where were Jason and Alexia married?
Who had the failed kidneys and who was the match for the kidney transplant? I find it quite odd that the”author” got these facts in the storyline so blatantly wrong between books one two and three. Were there no editors? Did anyone proof the book? Don’t waste your time.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit redundant after reading the first two in the series. There was also a significant continuity error. While the concepts repeated for a third time were still meaningful it made the story weak. I suggest reading the first two and skipping the third.

[Denzel Struchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

As you read this book and reflect on your life, will it change or is your heart so hardened that you can't or won't. Maybe you a re one of the few who have lived a life that has been a blessing to other

[Chad Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read

Really drove home the lessons of the Ultimate Gift. This book is packed full of nuggets of truth. Each chapter gives you inspiration, encouragement to leave a legacy to your family and friend. I laughed, I cried and I thought. A must read series.

[Carolyn Reardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

A heartwarming story. I enjoyed the diary entries a great deal. They showed how so many people our country used to be. We can still be that way ourselves if we make the proper choices.

[Maddy Welton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jim Stovall is really talented at one thing: a formulaic plot structure. Not only is this something used throughout the whole book, but also in his others books in this “series.” The story is great, if you can get over feeling like you’re reading the same thing over and over again.

[Lori Bindner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take this journey

If you read nothing else this year, read this book. It speaks millions of pounds of truth and will set you free from this technological age we are immersed in. Please. Read this book.

[Keshia Burchette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again I loved this book. It was repetitive but it just seems to drill those important values into your mind. The only fault I had was the part about the kidney transplant. It didn't go along with the other 2 books.

[D. Higginbotham · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Great book. I just love the way "Jim Stovall" can teach the world and it's people how to treat each other and what things/ideas are most important in life.

[Robin Brigham · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story in the first book in the series. This one presents the lessons Jason went through as he and his new wife review them. It's just a summary of the first book.

[Karina Cortes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book conflicted with the previous ones and I felt like the author just wrote it stream of consciously. Super cheesy.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing.

[Treasure · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's based on a real life story and I also have this book physically.. and it really helps. It inspired me too in the sense that you can always pull through in what ever situation you find yourself.

[ML Blair · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reapeat of one and two.

[Rhonda Gingerich · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too repetitive of the previous books in this series

[Katarina Irizarry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was definitely good but unfortunately it was just a rehash of the last 2 books, but with a bit of a different perspective. I ended up just skimming over most of it. Still good though.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are a bit repetitive but it's a good story to retell and this one has an interesting twist with the limo driver.

[Amy Webster-Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

good third book

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Ultimate Journey" Book Three in the Ultimate series written by Jim Stovall has been released in audiobook format by Christian Audio and is available from them at Christian Audio (http://christianaudio.com) and is narrated by Paul Michael.

Jason Stevens has lived through both "The Ultimate Gift" and "The Ultimate Life" and has learned quite a bit about life and the living of it from experience and from video made especially for him by his grandfather, Red Stevens. Now in this last adventure Jason and his new bride, Alexia are given a journal of Red Stevens, Jason's grandfather and their life picks up again. If you read the first two books in this series then you know that there are twelve journeys each of us takes and Red's journal and DVD take the young couple through each of these journeys again. Each chapter has something from Jason, Alexia, Red and Red's Chauffeur and each has something new to teach us about living. As with each of the previous books there are gems in each journey that we should learn to take with us as these books are both fiction and parables combined.

It is an injustice to say that Paul Michael is the reader of this book. Paul Michael brings his soothing voice and manages to bring to life what was originally written on pages. Mr. Michael skillfully and artistically weaves different inflections and intonations into each character permitting the reader to stop listening to an audio book and become part of the story itself. Mr. Michael does a magnificent job of creating the emotion of the moment as we travel through what Mr. Stovall had written.

I, personally, do not have time to just sit and read all the books that I would like to read so audiobooks make my life much easier. I can take the book with me in the car and play it while I am driving to work or to the store. We need the ability to fill up our commute with good Christian material that will allow us to expand our world and gain new insight into what is going on around us. Christian Audio meets that need.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this audiobook free from Christian Audio. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Stovall in his new book, "The Ultimate Journey" Book Three in the Ultimate Gift series published by David C. Cook takes us back into the life of Jason Stevens.

From the press release: "Jason Stevens has really worked to get his life back. He managed to impress a judge and win back an alienated family in spite of a difficult lawsuit. He even won the heart of Alexia, the girl he loves. Now, Jason's deceased grandfather, Red Stevens, has one last gift for him. As Jason and Alexia are driven to their honeymoon by long-time chauffeur and family friend, Jim, they unwrap the journal Red has left for them. Just when they thought they knew it all, Red shares rich stories and secrets that will change their destiny."

Jim Stovall has given us another winner with "The Ultimate Journey". This is it, the conclusion of this series and once again we live the life of Red Stevens through his written and video journals. In going through the twelve journeys with Jason we come to think of Red as our grandfather as well. "The Ultimate Journey" is a book of fiction however it is also a book of learning from life's lessons. Mr. Stovall has an impacting quality that will change lives if we allow his words to do their work. I truly am sorry to leave these characters behind but there is comfort having some idea of the future from the way this story ends. Well done Mr. Stovall! I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it highly.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Jeane Wynn at Wynn-Wynn Media for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”