Approved for 12+

The Next Round (Manuscript)

A former champion boxer, Mike "The Monster" Williams, is barely keeping his gym open because he loses customers due to his gruff and abrupt behavior. He feels the gym is his father's legacy more than his own. His father, Jack, is fighting cancer and needs a bone marrow transplant, but the insurance company won't pay for it. Everyone tells Mike he needs a rematch against the goon that took his title away, but Mike is carrying a secret that no one is aware of. When Mike meets Allison, a lady from church who volunteers to help him get the gym's finances in order, his life takes a change for the better. But then, as is usual in life, he has one final hurdle to cross before a new life can begin.
7
Negative Rating
12345
SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
0
Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

To Mr. Greer: I really liked reading your manuscript. I read it in one sitting, and I usually only do that when the story is good and keeps my interest. The 83 page count is about perfect. I see it as a “Rocky” kind of story, with it being a boxing story about a man who is now an underdog. However, the resemblance ends there as it is an original story with a unique set of characters. Some interesting plot lines include: Mike’s problems with the gym’s finances, the underhandedness of Tim, Mike’s relationship with his dad, and Allison’s entrance into the story as a love interest. I thought Tim’s underhandedness in using gym money for his betting schemes was a believable and interesting story.

You did a good job in giving us rich characters, as we learn why Mike is sometimes abrupt and gruff. In Allison we have a girl who can be tough when she has to, taking boxing lessons from Mike to protect herself from her ex. I thought the conclusion was perfectly timed, and the suspense that remains sets up the happy ending nicely. This book is definitely one for families to enjoy together. I hope it is made into a movie or TV movie, and I would want to do the review for that too! As long as the content remains the same, it would receive the Dove Seal.

We are pleased to award this manuscript our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for ages 12+ and five Doves, our best rating. It is an enjoyable read with a believable story, interesting characters, and a neat ending.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

Some boxing and training violence but nothing gratuitous; man throws a water bottle and smacks a bag in anger; man smacks man on chest; woman has bruises from former boyfriend physically abusing her; man is punched by woman in the nose and he bleeds; man punches another man and knocks him out, preventing him from hurting a woman; a character is shoved; man uses arm bar on another character.

0
Sex

None

1
Language

Stupid-1; Screw this-1; Bull-1; Bullcrap-1; Several uses of the word "crap"; Geez-2; Sucks-1; Sucked-1.

2
Violence

Some boxing and training violence but nothing gratuitous; man throws a water bottle and smacks a bag in anger; man smacks man on chest; woman has bruises from former boyfriend physically abusing her; man is punched by woman in the nose and he bleeds; man punches another man and knocks him out, preventing him from hurting a woman; a character is shoved; man uses arm bar on another character.

1
Drugs

Man drinks a bit of alcohol in a few scenes; man is about to light cigarette but doesn't; a character takes prescription medication.

1
Nudity

Shirtless men in trunks.

2
Other

Tension between characters; man is embezzling money from his employer; man has a bookie and has been gambling, a collector shows up to talk to him.

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