A Thousand Doors

The day Mia Jensen died is the day she began to live.

Mia’s choices have often brought her to a place of disappointment; now Mia’s dying moments bring her the opportunity to examine the “what if” and the “what could have been” roads she’s never traveled. But has her new-found knowledge come too late to make a difference?

In this unique narrative, readers journey with Mia Jensen as her life, re-imagined by a select group of writers, unfolds in new and unexpected ways. Through each of these stories, readers see how the choices she makes lead Mia along the story-filled pathways of her life. But, after seeing the wide-ranging possibilities, would Mia choose to change the life she’s known? It’s an intriguing question, spectacularly answered in these glimpses into what might have been.

The accounts of Mia’s possible lives fill the space between the first and last stories of the anthology, creating a satisfying whole that will cause readers to pause for reflection after they’ve turned the last page in this unputdownable tale.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this Advance Review eBook from Two Tales Press and NetGalley
#AThousandDoors #NetGalley

A THOUSAND DOORS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF MANY LIVES by J. T. Ellison and an all-star cast of award-winning and best-selling writers, is a brilliantly conceived and executed “what if” story of how one woman’s life might have changed if she made different choices along the way. Each contributor envisions a different scenario for Mia Jensen’s life if she had taken a different path from the one that lands her in her present circumstances. Each story of Mia’s possible lives is compelling, suspenseful and emotionally-charged. I thoroughly enjoyed this unique and thought-provoking book and highly recommend it! Thank you to the editor/authors, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

WOW! Amazing anthology. I admit I have not read many. The beginning has you believing that Mia is murdered by her husband. Many authors (most of whom were new to me) contribute to the story. A most incredible ending written by J.T. Ellison. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Assoc. and the Authors for allowing me to read and review this book.

A Thousand Doors is a wonderful concept written by several writers. Mia is dying and is regretting choices she has made in her life. Each story will take you on a different journey on if she had made a different choice along her life.This book is unique and is well written. It will take you on a emotional roller coaster.

There’s only one word that is perfect for this book and it is WOW! You get reading along and everything changes, then you adjust and it changes again! It does this all throughout the book and you haven’t a clue what’s going on. Then BAM it’s all revealed! Something I never expected! Great book, thanks J.T.

"We are rarely ready to leave this world, but when the sameness rears its awful head, one may wonder, is it even worth it? The existential crisis that comes for us all at one point or another-- what is the point of this life?"
An unhappy, bored young woman dies from a brutal attack. Does anyone care?
Upon her death, Mia Jensen begins to see "what could have been" in her life had she chosen differently. Can Mia see the life lessons she is witnessing, throughout her journey to the other side?

A brilliant idea created by J.T. Ellison, with chapters also written by different authors. I have read many books by these wonderful authors and the others others I will definitely be adding to my list.
It adds an interesting spin on the tale woven in this book.
This is definitely an eye opening novel and I truly enjoyed it!

This was a unique experience for me. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the make up of this book, but admit I found it fascinating.
JT Ellison lead into the story, with Mia Jensen murdered by her abusive husband, to cover a crime. She then experiences some alternative directions that her life could have taken. Who knows if they are dreams or unfulfilled desires, that are detailed by a variety of popular authors, some that I have read, most I have not.
I loved the way that each story focused on a different Mia, a new experience, with varied supporting characters. But I never felt that it wasn’t really Mia, she seemed to remain familiar, though the writers changed.
I enjoyed this book immensely and loved how it just came to a smooth conclusion. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

What if you had the chance to see how every choice you made affected your life path? Mia gets that chance in this new thriller by J.T Elliot. Edgy and suspenseful,I couldn't put this book down. Forget about guessing the end. This story takes you to the very last page and still leaves you wondering. Life is so short and Elliot shows just how every choice you make can be your last.

I was given this book by the author for an honest review -
This was an intriguing book -
Mia felt like she had a boring live - wondering if it was worth living - and then - she comes home from work and is stabbed in her kitchen.
In dying she experiences the different lives she could have had.
This book has added different authors to the story making it a unique read.

Such a beautiful book, the protagonist in all the stories has the same name but such different and heart touching tales. I was floored by this book, An incredibly satisfying reading experience. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC. Highly highly recommended

Wow! 'What If'' has always been the question we ask ourselves most often. This book answers those questions in an imaginative way and as it goes along you are able to reach conclusions about your own 'What Ifs". I cannot recommend this book enough. It is unique and clever and compulsively readable. As a huge fan of J.T. Ellison, this is another great one to add. There are chapters by many favored authors and some new ones to investigate.

# A Thousand Doors # NetGalley #

I am struggling to find the words to express my love of this book. It is like no other I have read before. It is a collaboration of various authors who put together the story of the character, Mia Jensen. The novellas all tell how her life could have gone if she had lived a full satisfying life. They are told as dreams of her as she lies in the hospital struggling for her life, but I didn’t get that at first. It took me several novellas to figure out why the main character in each was Mia. Each story was depicting various jobs, families, careers, husbands that were possible in a different life for Mia. It made me think how nice it would be if we could choose to live some of our dreams. I read this book in one sitting because I was eager to see how it was all going to pull together. This is a new concept in writing, but one I think readers will like. I am rating it a solid 5 stars.

I was provided an advance copy of this book from NetGalley for a fair and honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

If J.T. Ellison were an inventor, she'd create an intricate key machine that unlocks the "thousand doors"; As Editor, and she also pens a few chapters about MIA (the protagonist), Ellison leads the way to unlocking the story of MIA, who is a complex character that fuels this tragic, and sometimes seriocomic tale. Its underpinnings really take root in WALL STREET, as the financial conflict is the initial conflict between MIA and her soon-to-be ex husband, who has a twisted, criminal mind and is NO MATCH for MIA! Ellison, who is a dedicated writer that is devoted to her craft, gives other creative authors a chance, because each chapter in the RISING ACTION is written by other authors. Does this method round out the three-dimensional leading character Mia's compelling tale? Ellison takes great care in choosing "roles" for Mia, which are chapters dedicated to each aspect of her hypothetical life (actually what her life "could have been" if she hadn't been murdered in the beginning of this tale). As Mia sheds each of her lives, we become engrossed in Ellison's scheme for this formidable leading female character who has SPUNK. I dare say as READERS approach the ending of Mia's life (or second life?), BEWARE, because Ellison a highly inventive gal, has conjured up a magical PLAN, and she's pulled readers into a magic SPELL as you reach the photo-finish ENDING of MIA's tale, or is it?

The day Mia Jensen died, she finally got to live. Mia has a terrible day so she goes home to have some wine and try and relax with a hot bath. She is brutally attacked and left for dead. As she lies there dying, she sees her life as different choices. I loved this book as it was different from anything I have read before. I wanted to read this book since so many authors I love contributed. This book did not disappoint! I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Two Tales Press. All opinions are my own.

One of my top books of the season. Love how J.T. Ellison writes and the fact that it had a bunch of stories written by a lot of my favorite authors makes it even better. This books was nothing short of amazing.

Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and this handful of incredible thriller authors for the chance to read this ARC. What an awesome concept. I am not a fan of short stories but this group of authors pulled it off. It was interesting and telling of each individual what they did with the main character, Mia, while maintaining the same voice. This was a powerful premise, and quite relatable, because how many of us have wondered, "what if?" I don't want to compare, but this was almost like A Christmas Carol. Mia is on her deathbed and sees all of the paths her life could have taken if she had made a different decision in any point of her life. It's almost spooky if you think about it, the concept of The Butterfly Effect. But overall, this was a great read, and I highly recommend it for the refreshing storyline.

I'm so glad I was approved for this book, I'm a huge J.T. Ellison fan this book didn't disappoint! I loved A THOUSAND DOORS: An Anthology of Many Lives by JT Ellison and this talented cast of superb authors! The collection takes us through the many lives of Mia. The has done, and what ifs. Mia found herself in some crazy situations. I loved each and every one.

Mia Jensen is not having a good day. Her life hasn't turned out the way she thought and now she is lying on her kitchen floor, dying. Stabbed by her husband.

But in those moments she is allowed to see her own What if? moment. And to do that Ellison has brought in a group of authors that are nothing short of brilliant! What if she had chosen to be a mother? A politician's wife? Would she have chosen a different path?

This is one of those pieces of work that come along and leaves you thinking about every life choice you have ever made. And what would you do if you had the chance for a do over?

Each story tells a different path and outcome. I have no idea how all of these authors came together and speak with the same voice. I have never read anything like this and it is just a brilliant idea and body of work. And yes I've used the word brilliant more than once. I find myself wandering around my house thinking, " That was bloody brilliant!" and this is not something I normally do. I'm jaded. I've read it all. Except this. 

Very Well Done All Of You!

Netgalley/ November 5th 2018 by Two Tales Press

Thank you Two Tales Press for sending me A Thousand Doors for review.
A Thousand Doors is a short story collection edited by J.T. Ellison. They are all connected by one idea but they are all very unique. The first story sets up the whole collection, Mia is murdered in her kitchen and as she is dying, she see all the different lives she could have lived. All the different careers, personalities, experiences, etc. It is a great way to compile a short story collection by a wonderful compilation of writers.
Like all short story collections, some are more to my taste than others, but that is one of my favourite things about anthologies like these. There is something for everyone and it’s a quick fun way to try new authors and see how their style works for you.
I also love a short story collection like this for the quick little moments when you don’t have enough time to settle in to a bigger story. Some of these had a quick pace and I was able to squeeze most in between cooking for my son or waiting for him at school pickup.
Publishing November 5, 2018 this would be a wonderful book to keep stashed in your car or purse for those little moments in life.

What a neat idea! This was such a great and unique book. I loved being able to read each story from different authors and getting a little taste of each of their writing styles. It was very cool to see what Mia's life could have been like if she had chosen different paths. A big thank you to Net Galley for letting me read this!

A Thousand Doors is unlike any book I’ve ever read. I love thrillers but I also love anthologies and short stories and this was a brilliant combination. The day Mia Jensen died was the day she started living. The concept for this book is nothing short of brilliant.

As Mia dying, she is given the chance to see how her life would of been different based on different choices she made.

There are so many outstanding contributors to this book, I was so impressed that J.T. Ellison was able to bring them together in a seamless way. Each story was unique yet fit in perfectly with the book. J.T. Ellison has crafted a book that will make you laugh, cry, scream for Mia and also make you think about your own choices.

J.T. Ellison has brought together an amazing team of writers that carry out her vision and idea for this book magnificently. Highly recommend.

Love the collaboration between writers to get this book out to the readers. The idea of what lives you could have led in life and what would have happened if you made different choices is something I think crosses everyone's mind at one point or another. The transitions between the writing of all of the authors is seamless even though there is introductions through titles and author names. There are some unresolved/let your mind choose ends to some of the stories but I loved it. I would love to see another collaboration done with these authors.

I think it’s fair to say that I am OBSESSED with this story and the way it was written. I love J.T. Ellison’s work already but this idea of starting a story and asking some of the best female authors around to add pieces to it is Genius! Each snip-it of Mia’s life was captivating and a pleasure to read. I was so invested in this story, I couldn’t out it down.

Although this is considered an anthology, it is unlike any I’ve ever read before. I am not a fan of short story anthologies usually because of the lack of flow but this one is PERFECT! I can’t gush about it enough. Please pick this one up, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

This was a phenomenal read! A Thousand Doors, written by several writers, takes you through the story of Mia as she reflects on the choices she has made through her life. Each chapter takes you on a different journey (written by a different author) Just when you ease into the choice she has made- it changes again. What a rollercoaster! I have never read a book like this and am looking forward to reading more. All the authors showed up with their best writing and it made this book just click.

Roger is going to jail for a very long time. He did it to himself. He embezzled money from a fund that was there to help other. A fund he set up through his own company. He may have gotten away with it. If not for his "B" of a wife who is going to testify against him. Not only that she's divorcing him so she can testify. How dare her!
Mia is in her cozy cabin. Entering her kitchen, she sees Roger sitting at her table. Then he attacks!. Mia sees the bright light. Would her life have been happier if she had chosen a different path? Thus begins her journey of paths she might have chosen, and their endings. She's a spy, actress, news anchor, author, homeless and many other lives. This author has other authors write a story of the different lives Mia could have lived. They are each unique and have interesting endings or beginnings. What life will Mia choose? Read this amazing and thought provoking book to find out. Cleverly written.

Wow, what an exciting Anthology! I loved the premise of this one. PLUS, the collaboration of authors coming together for this piece was amazing. The story of Mia dying at the beginning and then each author telling us what each of them imagined Mia experiencing in different “What Ifs”- was perfect that it felt like a singular story told by one author. Short Stories aren’t my usual genre however, this was so unique and was such an emotional rollercoaster for me from beginning to end. After I finished, I thought about this one for a few days after and felt this deserved 5 stars hands down because I couldn't stop thinking about it. I highly recommend this book, it must be one of my top favorites this year.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC and allowing me to give my honest opinion. This is a must read for everyone!

Thank you J.T. Ellison for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

Finally an anthology that I LOVED! Every single author nailed their short story. There was not one that I did not enjoy. This is seriously the dream team of Authors, and my mind was blown with the creative geniuses! It's like someone whispered in J.T.'s ear "Build It, And They Will Come" (or for us readers, Write It, And They Will Read) Bow down to these queens! Seriously, they all just blew my mind! 

We've all played the what if game, What if I did this? What if I chose that? What if I never met so & so? What if I moved there? What if I took that job? It's something we all do, always wondering if the choices we didn't make, turned out better than the choices we did choose. I love that Mia got to see what those "what ifs" were, she got to see how her life panned out, in all kinds of ways. If you had the option to answer your what if questions, would you? 

These woman wrote an amazing book, it didn't even feel like a series of short stories, they were all cohesive and flowed seamlessly, I at time's forgot I was reading several different authors. Such an amazing job well done. And don't you dare ask me which one was my favorite, because that is impossible to answer.

Reader, beware that once you pick up this book, you won't want to put it down. So when you start reading, give yourself a good amount of time. This book is highly addictive, and un-putdownable for sure!

This was brilliant! Written by several amazing authors, the story compiled of chapters of various alternative versions of Mias life. A very unique approach and interesting idea. It was also wonderful way to try new authors I haven't read yet! I will be looking into several of them now to try their books! J.T. Ellison is among one of the authors I never read before and was surprised to read how wonderful the writing was. This is a fun way to get a taste of different authors writing style in one book. Give this a try...it was good!

The concept of this book is that each person’s life is the result of each decision we make along the way. The future is undecided until the person makes a choice.
This book consists of short stories by different authors, all with the main character of Mia Jensen, at different ages and in different circumstances. They are all wonderfully written and several brought me to tears. It is amazing how in the limited pages of a short story my heart could break over and over again for Mia being in the situations that result from her decisions.

It was a slow read for me. I generally take a few hours or days, in-between finishing a great book and beginning a new one. I like to absorb the story and let is settle. That is what happened with each short story of this book. I had to wait a few hours or more before I could continue to the next one. That shows to me how much I loved this book. I would not need that time to let the story settle before moving to the next one, if it was not written so well that it had me in that state.
I have previously read only one of the contributing authors, Kerry Lonsdale. I will definitely be looking into the works of the others, after reading this emotional book. If they can bring out such strong feelings in me in a few pages, I cannot imagine how touching a full length book would be.
I want to thank NetGalley.com for the precious gift of this book and putting these memories in my mind. It does make me think back on my own life and wonder what would be my present, if I had made different decisions in my past.