Lissette E. Manning
Biography
I'm almost always cheery, unless you catch me on a bad day.
Love writing, hearing music, playing video games, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.
I'm also a bit of a computer geek. I can build/take apart computers, among other things.
I tend to write Romance Novels and poetry, but loving dabbling in other genres, too. Couple stories that I'm working on are of a Science Fiction/Fantasy genre, which is quite fun to tackle.
Occasionally, I find myself writing fan fiction for things I've seen/like. (Such as Chronicles of Narnia, Twilight, and The Man In The Iron Mask, to name a few.)
Where to find Lissette E. Manning online
Where to buy in print
Books
Compromise of the Soul
by Lissette E. Manning
Price: Free! 2840 words.
Published on August 24, 2011. Fiction.
It's been said that dreams can tell us what the future holds. Yet what if you can't remember what should have been?
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Lissette E. Manning's favorite authors on Smashwords
Smashwords book reviews by Lissette E. Manning
- A Moonlit Night
on Oct. 05, 2011
We meet Emily Johansson, who's out her friends celebrating her acceptance into The College of Charleston. She's young, vibrant, and quite ready to tackle life as it comes her way.
Her brother, and her friends, have always been there for her, ready to give her a helping hand whenever she needs it. They've been able to overcome the death of their parents at such a young age, yet they've never been able to understand the actual cause of their murders.
Falling prey to those that seek to do her harm, Emily's saving grace is a man she meets within a dark alley. There are also others watching her every move, eager to spring at any given notice.
When vampires descend upon her very doorstep, Emily must find it within herself to escape their clutches. This unleashes a power that she's never known she's had. A power that the very people hunting her covet. One that may prove to be her undoing if she doesn't get it under control.
While I like the premise for this short story, it did feel as if it was a little too rushed. There also a couple of errors/missing words found throughout the story. Setting that aside, though, the story does have promise. My one, and only, beef is that the author should have taken her time in setting the mood for the book of which this short story is a prequel of. It would have made the transition all the more sweeter.
- Saving Redwind: A Wallpaper Adventure
on Oct. 12, 2011
Having moved to a new place, Nick Stevenson yearns for adventure. To see new sights and more of the world just like his father. But sometimes things don't work out the way he wants them to.
When things start happening and his ceiling starts turning into some sort of storm, Nick wonders if he's losing his mind. Perhaps he's asked for more than he's bargained for in wanting an adventure. As he ponders this thought, a boy shows up asking him for help in saving his world - one known as Redwind. While everything inside cries out that the boy's request is completely unbelievable, Nick agrees and is sucked into the very wallpaper within his room. Thrown into an extraordinary world that takes him by surprise, Nick tries to grasp the meaning behind the boys odd request.
Having always considered himself as no one special, he's completely blown away by the fact that the people he comes to meet are relying on him to set all wrongs to right. With time being of the essence, Nick does his best to do as he is asked, praying that he'll have enough time to complete the objectives that have been set out before him.
Battling his doubts and insecurities, as well as the obstacles that have been strewn across his path, Nick finds it within himself to give it his all while trying to save a world that has come to mean more to him than he ever imagined. A world that seems more real as the minutes pass by.
While this is a children's book, it's truly an enjoyable read. So much so, that once you start, it's hard to put down. Kris weaves such a delightful tale that you find yourself wanting to know more about what happens to Nick and the friend's that he's made along the way. I truly recommend reading this book.
- The Collective
on Oct. 22, 2011
What if someone knew your every move? Who you talked to? What you did on the Internet? What if they could brainwash you and make you do what they wanted?
What would you do? Would you tell someone? Would you keep it quiet and pray that they’d leave you be? Or would you demand answers and try to figure out what’s going?
Dr. John Peterson, a psychologist at a correctional facility, is intent on helping heal those under his care. He’s a discovered a virus – one that’s affecting his patients. Truth be told, he’s not exactly sure what it is. Nor does he know what its true purpose is. This fact does not deter him from finding out exactly what that is.
Digging a little deeper, he discovers that this virus is embedded deep into his computer. And it’s not just his own, but that of the entire world. It can’t be deleted. Nor can it be removed. A firewall can’t block it either.
Everything a person does, everything they say – it’s all recorded. Privacy has been thrown out the window, allowing the group behind it to infiltrate a person’s home, even their minds, without anyone being none-the-wiser. John can only guess as to what The Collective wants. Yet he knows that they must be stopped. People’s lives are in peril, as is the way of life as they know it.
Attempting to destroy this unknown society, he sets off a chain reaction that threatens to bring him down as well as those around him and those he loves dearly. He refuses to stand by and allow them to gain the upper hand. Racing against time, he does his best to thwart The Collective’s attempts, even if it means that he gets caught in the process. Yet one thing is clear – the group must be stopped. No matter the cost!
I totally enjoyed this book. Once I started reading it, it enthralled me so much that I didn’t stop till I got to the very last page. Max’s story, while fiction, does give us food for thought and is quite provoking, to say the least. What if something like this were to ever happen? Who would you turn to? What would you do?
- The Unscheduled Stops
on Nov. 15, 2011
Daisy’s Love At War
Daisy Patterson has never forgotten the man she’s love so long ago. A man whose memory continues to reside within the confines of her mind and her heart. While most consider her to be just a senile old woman, one of her caretaker’s knows that’s not true.
When moments of lucidity arrive for Daisy, those caring for her are given glimpses into the world she once knew. Intent on giving Daisy something special for her birthday, one of her caretaker’s decides to present her with a bound copy of a book that she wrote while her husband was away at war. Little do they know, the story may not be a story at all, but rather an account of Daisy’s past.
Living Dead
This poem was very thought-provoking about what it’s like when love is taken for granted and how hard it is for someone to grasp how far they fall. It’s harder still when the spirit is broken and the strength to keep on going seems so far away. Most of all is the reality that’s encountered when, one realizes that things will never be the same.
No Cookies Today
Often times, we take a lot for granted. Food, clothes, practically everything around us. Sometimes, it takes another person to make us realize this little fact.
No Cookies Today is an endearing story about a woman who comes to realize that sometimes giving someone else a helping hand goes a long way. Kindness is the best thing that we can gift another, for it’ll always be remembered. Especially when there are children involved.
Possessed
The heart knows when it’s found what it’s looking for. It latches on and will never let go. Possessed is a poem that reflects just that. It tells a tale of what it’s like to lose oneself to the one who’s captured the very essence of who we are.
Thief’s Moon
I had the chance to beta read this story. I must say that it was quite better than it was before and just as hot and heavy. The primal hunger between a man and a woman can never be denied. Most especially when it’s shared between those that are meant to be together.
Desire
Desire is a tricky thing. It consumes us in a way that leaves us wanting more. This poem conveyed that very message with but a few words. The vivid image of vampires stayed with me throughout the entire book. A thought-provoking and very unique poem. I enjoyed it immensely.
Chance
A chance meeting, that’s all it takes for her to lose her heart to a man’s she’s just met. A beautiful man and the heady desire that breaks out between them are more than she can bear. Yet she can’t deny that she’s losing herself to the moment. With just one kiss, she falls under his spell, yearning for something she can’t quite understand.
This story, while short, was quite intriguing. It left me wanting to read more. I felt that it was the basis of what could be a great novel. ::hint hint::
Landlocked
I found this poem quite heart-wrenching. The feeling of despair was apparent within every line. You can almost feel the want and need to just let go by the time you get to the very end of it.
A Startling Character
With a casual glance about the café, her glance is riveted to a man she’s never met. His unique visage captures her attention, adding to the thoughts that continue to rumble throughout her head – thoughts she intends to use as inspiration for her stories. Little does she know, her thoughts may not even be her own.
This was quite a unique read. Enjoyed it immensely. I think it has potential for novel material, though. There were elements in it that I could be expanded upon.
Too Much
Love’s flame always burns bright, even from a distance. You can feel the yearning, the need exuded throughout this poem. It’s quite thought-provoking. Enjoyed it immensely.
Moving On
This last story was quite full of feeling. The way Sinead wrote it, you can feel the character’s pain and the extensive loss she feels inside. She tries to hold on to the memories, to make sense of it all even though her heart is breaking.
Falling out of a relationship is very hard, most especially when it’s been one that has gone on for your years. The picture Sinead painted was quite vivid, one that everyone can relate to.
I absolutely loved this book. Sinead has a way of drawing the reader’s attention so that it remains riveted to her stories and poems. Each of her unscheduled stops, or muses, if you will, are unique in their own way. They allow us a glimpse into the workings of her mind, her thoughts, and ideas that she puts down on paper.
I enjoyed this very delightful journey. I know you will, too. I truly recommend this book for reading.
- When Do I Get to Live My Own Life?
on Feb. 17, 2012
This book chronicles the author's struggles to overcome his diseases as well as his doubts and indecisions in the world he lives in. The theme of the book is not for the faint of heart. Some of the topics touch on subjects a person doesn't talk about normally, but it does give us a glimpse on how one man can overcome the adversities of his every day life.
We're able to feel his pain and the depression he feels at being rejected by the one who should have cared for him and loved him unconditionally from the moment he was born. We also come to understand what he experienced during his stint as a naval officer while operating a submarine. That harrowing experience was hard to bear, but Paul is able to show us that in spite of such cramped quarters and limited contact with the outside world, there's still hope in being able to assert oneself as life goes on.
We are able to transcend time and live through Paul's experiences in such a dysfunctional home environment as he fights to overcome the trials and tribulations littered across his path. We see him grow into a man, unsure, at first, of where he stands and how he feels, who is willing to take a stand and right all wrongs committed against him.
Granted, his road to redemption isn't easy. It never is, but he is able to firmly cement his feet upon the ground and make his way back from everything he's encountered in the past. He's shown that anything is possible when you're willing to make the effort to better yourself, even when it doesn't seem as if you'll be able to in the first place.
This book was quite heart-wrenching. I felt Paul's pain with every turn of the page. I think he's come a long way from the man he used to be and think it takes courage to share his story with the rest of the world. Anyone who reads the book will be able to glean the subtle lessons he's instilled throughout the story itself. Perhaps by telling his story, he'll able to help someone else who is going through the very same thing he was in the past. A truly remarkable read!
- The Marriage Contract
on March 28, 2012
It's often been said that friendship can be forever. For Cara Carvalho and Devin Michaels, it surely felt like that from the moment they met on a beautiful summer day so long ago. They were the best of friends and did everything together until the moment Devin's father died and everything changed.
Throughout the years, the pair have gone their separate ways. Both have achieved their dreams and have been reaping the rewards of their successes. Yet their lives are as different as night and day. Devin is now a successful lawyer while Cara owns her own shop in the posh Back Bay area in Boston as a successful home interior's expert.
When Cara's parents decide they'd like to move down to Florida, she finds herself agreeing to help her mother pack up the entire house in preparation for them to sell it. Immersed in a world full of past memories, she comes across a card Devin sent her years ago with a promise he'd made in regards to marrying her if she was still single at the age of thirty-five. The card's appearance brings back memories Cara had locked away for so long, memories she now finds herself yearning for.
Her mother, being the crafty person that she is, sees the card as an opportunity to reunite the pair in hopes of making them see just how perfect they are for one another. When Devin shows up on her doorstep, Cara begins to suspect her mother of blatant match-making. Yet deep inside she can't deny the feelings she still harbors for him, feelings Devin himself seems to reciprocate.
Unfortunately, Cara isn't at liberty to give in to what she feels for him. Her boyfriend has joined her for the duration of her vacation and she finds herself caught in the middle of juggling his attentions and Devin's. Despite the minor inconveniences, the two find themselves attracted to one another in more ways than one.
Dodging her mother's machinations, Cara can no longer deny the stirrings of her own heart. She begins to wonder what a life with Devin would be like. The changes that ensue have her questioning just what she wants in life. Yet one thing is clear: Devin holds her heart and she'd do anything to keep him.
I absolutely loved this story. The pace throughout the book was consistent and the camaraderie between all of the characters kept me interested with every turn of the page. I found myself unable to put down the book. That's how good it is! I look forward to reading more of Lisa's work soon.
- Illicit Magic
on April 17, 2012
With her parents taken from her at a very early age, Stella Mayweather has spent most of her young life bounced around from foster home to foster home. The existence of unexplained powers has caused her to live a solitary existence, something she much prefers, since it allows her to live in anonymity. Keeping away from others is the only way she can ensure no one else gets hurt when bursts of her powers surface unexpectedly. Yet, at times, she yearns to have someone she can depend on. To have that one friend who would be understanding about who and what she is.
An unexpected attack on her one night draws her attention to the unexplained burnings occurring all over Europe. Woman are are being burned alive on supposed accounts of their being witches. The reasons behind such things elude Stella, yet she can't deny the fact that she has always been different. When help arrives unexpectedly, she knows she has no choice but to do what has been asked of her. Surviving to live another day is a must and she'll do anything to make sure that happens.
Accepting Etoile's helping hand, she's catapulted into a world she never really knew existed. She'd always know that there were others like her out there, yet she never expected to meet them so soon in so short a time. As secrets surrounding her true origins come to light, Stella begins to question everything she's ever known in hopes of coming to terms with her parents untimely deaths so long ago.
With no other option but to accept the new life she's been given, Stella immerses herself in learning all she needs to know. She's intent on making the most of the gifts she's been bestowed. Getting used to them, however, isn't as easy as it seems. Her new teacher, Evan, is determined to show Stella that she definitely has what it takes in handling her raw power. She's willing to do as he asks of her, yet never once did she imagine finding herself attracted to him.
When it becomes apparent that someone is out for blood, Stella's especially, the Council decides to protect her, at all costs. The repeated attempts on her life are jarring, yet she's willing to show everyone that she's more than what they think of her. As more and more secrets, both hers and those surrounding her new family, make it into the light, she comes to the realization that there's quite a bit she doesn't know. Things have been kept from her a reason. While curiosity has killed the cat in the past, Stella knows she'll need to get to the bottom of things if she's to live a peaceful life. But first, she'll need to stay alive long enough in order to achieve it.
This book is the beginning of a great series. Action packed and quite addicting to read, the reader finds him/herself immersed in a world full of magic and intrigue. A world where appearances are definitely deceiving. I'm definitely look forward to what comes next!
