The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall/Shannon Kirk What if you could choose your heaven now? Go on a celestial shopping trip of sorts? Thirty-five-year-old Vivienne does just that, as she lies in the ICU; a fatal walk into the path of a truck. In her final week of life, Vivienne treks through the Heavens of a priest, a best friend, a homeless child, and a lover who never was. Vivienne's guardian angel, Noah, who may just be her soul mate, escorts her through selections of Heavens and through the confusion Vivienne experiences as she flounders between a doubt of life and the certainty of death. Although her visits to varied afterlives provide peace and beauty, choosing proves not so easy: Vivienne's love for her young son and her earthly father pull her from her colorful journey—and from the divine love of Noah.The nature of love, the variety and magic of life, unending hope, and the importance of saying goodbye are central to this uplifting tale.
 
I wasn't quite as in love with this book as I expected that I'd be.
While I still enjoyed the concepts of love and eternity this made me think about, I wasn't completely excited about the way this seemed to promote an idea of there being one true love, and I really didn't like how people could only be in one other's heaven at the same time.I really enjoyed the characters the author created in this book. Vivi chose to visit the afterlifes of people who might not necessarily be obvious choices, but they were heartwarming choices and definitely made me think about the impact that people can have on others, even in the smallest of ways.
 
Vivi's family seems to be riddled with entirely too cute love stories--those perfect relationships featuring people who met in their childhood and stayed together for years. While I do adore these, I felt like they were almost perpetuated too much. I love the idea of true love, but I don't enjoy the idea that one can only have one great love in a life time; it's limiting.
 
This was told from varying perspectives which I found to be a little confusing at points as I got lost as to who each character was in relation to Vivi, but this was probably due to my not being entirely invested in this book. I felt like it could have been more focused, although I did enjoy seeing what happened after Vivi's eventual passing and being able to be omniscient in that sense.
 
This book definitely had a brilliant premise. I was reminded a little of Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven. I just feel like I didn't entirely click with the way it was executed. However, I recommend this to people interested by the blurb.
 
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall by Shannon Kirk and published today by Reputation Books will make the difference in the market. I am sure of it.

When I studied Dante Alighieri and his Comedia written in 1200 at the high school it was common opinion with the other colleagues and teacher that maybe, maybe Dante had had some visions of what it would have meant once dead Hell, Purgatory and Paradise.

I have had the same sensation reading this book by Kirk.

Many compliments to Shannon because presented something precious, touching under many aspects.


The book starts with Vivienne who, thanks to a very bad incident while she is going to work, she is in South Boston and she works for a Publishing House, she is transported without too much hope of surviving from the many injuries at the hospital.

At the moment what we know of her is that she is married, happily married with Jack, and she has a son, Ivan.

At the hospital she starts to goes in and out. Sometimes she is conscious in the sense that she is still attracted by this life, other times no.
Why? In the second chapter the first appearance of Noah.

Who is Noah?

Noah was Vivienne biggest love of her life. He died tragically. He firstly had had an incident who had left his body severely injured and then the final departure. Vivienne suffered like a beast, because Noah to her meant all during her childhood and teenage age. They have been firstly friends, then a couple. They grew up together, slept together when children as friends, discovered the first kisses together, and the knowledge of their body, experienced life. All together.
Common friends, same passions.

Then this adverse destiny changed the cards on the life's table for Vivienne and Noah. Forever.

But can a real love die although one of the two doesn't exist anymore on this Earth?

Noah tells without too many compliments to Vivienne that she will die.
It is sure it's just a story of hours, days, who knows? Maybe he knows the answers but can't tell it. Maybe he is cheating but Noah has never cheated Vivienne.

Vivienne is still attracted by her life on this Earth, she has a son a very intelligent son and Good Lord, she loves her husband, maybe not the same love she experienced for Noah, but she fought also for winning Jack. Jack in fact was brilliantly in the happiest phase of his life when they fell in love: he would have married a beauty from Michigan, Stephany. Numerous sisters and brothers, the perfect girl.

Vivienne appeared like the "error."

But then the two fell in love and the story started to be positive for Vivienne.

Sure: Vivienne remembers Noah. She missed him so badly during all these years although of course life and work absorbed her a lot and life suck all our energies and sometimes past since there is not a brutal event able to bring it back is buried as it must be buried - I am sure it's not a fault but a necessity or just a word called Life -, in a distant corner of our soul.

Vivienne is remembering... Noah loved her and she loved him so badly.

Noah asks her to choose the Heaven she wants...Vivienne will choose the places of people attracted her the most stopping by in amazing places plenty of colors, beatitude where there is a profound peace and the hope of a great serenity.

They're artistic trips, (thanks for Milan!) with incredible friends like Armadillo, eccentric, an artist, with a special past, one of the closest Vivienne's friends.

At the very beginning of the tale there is also a different voice, the one of Marty: Marty is a nurse, from the profound South of the USA and with a Bostonian accent. Wonderfully portrayed Marty will try to keep alive Vivienne with all himself reading her journals, and telling her anecdotes, because she must return, wherever she is, she must return.

Problem is: Vivienne wants to return or she will choose to love for all her afterlife passionately her Noah?

Touching the choice of the new house of Vivienne when 25 years old she discovers to be pregnant and still unmarried. A victorian house bought for few dollars because the actual owner, we can say remembered Noah and remembered her, and their big love deciding to leave her the house for just a symbolic price.

And this house, in case of her departure couldn't be sold by Vivienne's husband leaving in case the choice at their son Ivan once Ivan 21 and only for financial necessities.

Ivan in fact loves this big house where he can plays where he can stays relaxed, surrounded by trees, a big garden and the magnificence of a countryside.

And I found extraordinary the description of Hell. It sounded like to be in one of the scene of Robin Williams' movie What Dreams May Come, where the protagonist is searching for his wife (she killed herself) and found her if I remember well in a sort of horrible grey field plenty of souls' heads...

Hell is grey. Hell is immobility and impossibility of doing anything. Hell is this. Maybe much more worse than flames and warm.

Another voice in the book the one of a very very old son of Vivienne, arrived at 98 years and plenty of children and great-children! What a joy. A life that closed the circle of its existence. Ivan told that no one of his family was called Vivienne after his mom's departure, because that name too important to all of them.

The writing-style of this writer is incredibly poetic and erudite. I loved it so badly from the first time I opened digitally this eBook thanks to NetGalley.

I wish all the best at this book!

Go for it, and buy it with the certainty that you will buy a memories more than a book about the after life or the sufferance.
There is the analysis of a life, friends, parents, relationship, work, passions.

And you will love it, exactly as I loved it.

Perfect for a gift!

I thank NetGalley for the book.

( )

The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall by Shannon Kirk and published today by Reputation Books will make the difference in the market. I am sure of it.

When I studied Dante Alighieri and his Comedia written in 1200 at the high school it was common opinion with the other colleagues and teacher that maybe, maybe Dante had had some visions of what it would have meant once dead Hell, Purgatory and Paradise.

I have had the same sensation reading this book by Kirk.

Many compliments to Shannon because presented something precious, touching under many aspects.


The book starts with Vivienne who, thanks to a very bad incident while she is going to work, she is in South Boston and she works for a Publishing House, she is transported without too much hope of surviving from the many injuries at the hospital.

At the moment what we know of her is that she is married, happily married with Jack, and she has a son, Ivan.

At the hospital she starts to goes in and out. Sometimes she is conscious in the sense that she is still attracted by this life, other times no.
Why? In the second chapter the first appearance of Noah.

Who is Noah?

Noah was Vivienne biggest love of her life. He died tragically. He firstly had had an incident who had left his body severely injured and then the final departure. Vivienne suffered like a beast, because Noah to her meant all during her childhood and teenage age. They have been firstly friends, then a couple. They grew up together, slept together when children as friends, discovered the first kisses together, and the knowledge of their body, experienced life. All together.
Common friends, same passions.

Then this adverse destiny changed the cards on the life's table for Vivienne and Noah. Forever.

But can a real love die although one of the two doesn't exist anymore on this Earth?

Noah tells without too many compliments to Vivienne that she will die.
It is sure it's just a story of hours, days, who knows? Maybe he knows the answers but can't tell it. Maybe he is cheating but Noah has never cheated Vivienne.

Vivienne is still attracted by her life on this Earth, she has a son a very intelligent son and Good Lord, she loves her husband, maybe not the same love she experienced for Noah, but she fought also for winning Jack. Jack in fact was brilliantly in the happiest phase of his life when they fell in love: he would have married a beauty from Michigan, Stephany. Numerous sisters and brothers, the perfect girl.

Vivienne appeared like the "error."

But then the two fell in love and the story started to be positive for Vivienne.

Sure: Vivienne remembers Noah. She missed him so badly during all these years although of course life and work absorbed her a lot and life suck all our energies and sometimes past since there is not a brutal event able to bring it back is buried as it must be buried - I am sure it's not a fault but a necessity or just a word called Life -, in a distant corner of our soul.

Vivienne is remembering... Noah loved her and she loved him so badly.

Noah asks her to choose the Heaven she wants...Vivienne will choose the places of people attracted her the most stopping by in amazing places plenty of colors, beatitude where there is a profound peace and the hope of a great serenity.

They're artistic trips, (thanks for Milan!) with incredible friends like Armadillo, eccentric, an artist, with a special past, one of the closest Vivienne's friends.

At the very beginning of the tale there is also a different voice, the one of Marty: Marty is a nurse, from the profound South of the USA and with a Bostonian accent. Wonderfully portrayed Marty will try to keep alive Vivienne with all himself reading her journals, and telling her anecdotes, because she must return, wherever she is, she must return.

Problem is: Vivienne wants to return or she will choose to love for all her afterlife passionately her Noah?

Touching the choice of the new house of Vivienne when 25 years old she discovers to be pregnant and still unmarried. A victorian house bought for few dollars because the actual owner, we can say remembered Noah and remembered her, and their big love deciding to leave her the house for just a symbolic price.

And this house, in case of her departure couldn't be sold by Vivienne's husband leaving in case the choice at their son Ivan once Ivan 21 and only for financial necessities.

Ivan in fact loves this big house where he can plays where he can stays relaxed, surrounded by trees, a big garden and the magnificence of a countryside.

And I found extraordinary the description of Hell. It sounded like to be in one of the scene of Robin Williams' movie What Dreams May Come, where the protagonist is searching for his wife (she killed herself) and found her if I remember well in a sort of horrible grey field plenty of souls' heads...

Hell is grey. Hell is immobility and impossibility of doing anything. Hell is this. Maybe much more worse than flames and warm.

Another voice in the book the one of a very very old son of Vivienne, arrived at 98 years and plenty of children and great-children! What a joy. A life that closed the circle of its existence. Ivan told that no one of his family was called Vivienne after his mom's departure, because that name too important to all of them.

The writing-style of this writer is incredibly poetic and erudite. I loved it so badly from the first time I opened digitally this eBook thanks to NetGalley.

I wish all the best at this book!

Go for it, and buy it with the certainty that you will buy a memories more than a book about the after life or the sufferance.
There is the analysis of a life, friends, parents, relationship, work, passions.

And you will love it, exactly as I loved it.

Perfect for a gift!

I thank NetGalley for the book.

( )

Be careful…when you are texting. Your inattention could be the death of you.

Vivienne lay hovering on the brink of death, one foot in the land of the living and one foot with the dead.

Noah, her dead, dream husband explains it to her. The scene made me think of a Supernatural episode, where Castielle says our Heaven is of our own making.

Is there a Heaven? Does our life pass before our eyes?

What would it look like? Who would you want there with you?

What secrets would be brought to light after your death?

And if there is a Heaven…what about Hell?

The lovely pics sprinkled throughout are a nice touch and I love it.

I am sitting in one of my favorite reading places, my patio and watering the lawn, even as the black clouds roll in, the thunder rumbling, and I am lost in Vivienne’s world, unable to quit reading.

Shannon’s descriptive words draw me into this novel from the opening pages, her poetic words bring to life fantasy worlds full of vibrant colors, beauty and love, but the flowery prose becomes onerous for me, having me starting, stopping and rereading, but that is me. I think there are many readers who will LOVE it and get lost in the story too.

This Heavenly love story is tragic, yet hopeful and very thought provoking.

I voluntarily reviewed a free ARC copy of The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall from Shannon Kirk. ( )