Spare by Prince Harry (Book Review)

 

Spare by Prince Harry

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: January 10, 2023

Format: Hardcover - 416 pages

               Paperback - 672 pages

               Audiobook - 15 Hours 39 Minutes

               Kindle - 4766 KB

               Nook - 4 MB

ISBN (HC): 978-0593593806

ISBN (PB):  978-0593677865
ASIN (Audiobook): B0BJ4JGQGS

ASIN (Kindle): B0BCP3JP6F

BNID: 978-0593593813

Genre: Memoir

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Audiobook

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Book Description:

It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow - and horror. As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling - and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

Prince Harry wishes to support British charities with donations from his proceeds from Spare. The Duke of Sussex has donated $1,500,000 to Sentebale, an organisation he founded with Prince Seeiso in their mothers' legacies, which supports vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS. Prince Harry will also donate to the non-profit organisation WellChild in the amount of £300,000. WellChild, which he has been Royal patron of for fifteen years, makes it possible for children and young people with complex health needs to be cared for at home instead of hospital, wherever possible. 

Book Excerpt: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spare-prince-harry-the-duke-of-sussex/1142564630?ean=9780593593813

My Book Review:

Spare is the story of Prince Harry's telling his truth of life in Britain's Royal family that spans from Princess Diana's death on August 30, 1997 to Queen Elizabeth II's death on September 8, 2022. 

The memoir is broken into three parts: life after Princess Diana's death, his military career, and his romantic relationship / marriage to Meghan Markle. 

I read the memoir with an open mind, but I did take his account with a grain of salt, because every family has dysfunction, and like the old adage states that there is always three sides to every story: his, theirs (the Royal family), and the truth (which no one but Harry, the Royal family, and Royal insiders really know). That being said, I was still curious enough to read what Prince Harry had to say in his memoir, and I came away with the feeling that his life journey has been an emotional roller coaster ride that encompasses the full gamut of emotions. 

Spare starts out with the princes finding out from Prince Charles that Princess Diana has been killed in an automobile accident in Paris on August 30, 1997. Prince Harry was tweleve years of age when his mother died, and the reader can't help but understand how her death completely changed his life. Throughout the book, Harry's grief over the death of his mother is palpable, he did not believe she died until 2007 when he visited Paris and drove through the tunnel that he got a painful reality and closure. 

The second part of the book focuses on life after Princess Diana and his life in the Royal family. Prince Harry acknowledges that he did not enjoy living in the regimented life within the Royal fish bowl, and not having a normal life. He was not a good student, prone to panic attacks and low self-esteem, and had to deal with the Heir vs. Spare sibling rivalry and competitveness with Prince William. He also yearned for a close father-son relationship with Prince Charles, but his father was reserved and not one to express affection. 

The main theme throughout the memoir is devoted to Prince Harry's dislike and contempt for the paparazzi and their headlines and stories that often put him in a terrible light with the public (his naughty Harry partying days), and how the paparazzi was always ruthlessly stalking the Royal family, from his school days to his military career to his marriage to Meghan. He can't understand the Royal family's motto of never complain, never explain, and their complicity toward the media. It is this complicity and the fear for his family's safety that eventually leads Prince Harry and Meghan to leave the Royal family for the US. But underneath the surface is also his strained relationship with Prince Charles and Prince William that led him to write this memoir. I think that Prince Harry's recollections and shade towards his family will only lead to a permanent rift, there really was no need to air the family's personal business to the public. 

Writing Spare may have been cathartic for Prince Harry to release his personal demons, but I don't think it will fare well in the long run, what a shame. What he could have done is just put the Royal life behind him, and live the normal life that he and Meghan wanted without the public snark and money schemes that this memoir, the Netflix documentary, and subsequent media publicity has created, especially since he spouted his comtempt for the paparazzi and publicity throughout the book. I enjoyed his memory of Princess Diana, but the rest of his story is just a sad account of a man that had a hard time finding himself within his family. 

Rating: 4 Stars 

About The Author

Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, is a husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate, and environmentalist. He resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his family and three dogs.

Website

From The Lake House by Kristen Rademacher (VBT: Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Virtual Author Book Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for From The Lake House by author Kristen Rademacher!

Book Review

From The Lake House by Kristen Rademacher

Publisher: She Writes Press

Publication Date: July 21, 2020

Format: Paperback - 256 pages

               Kindle - 1628 KB

               Nook - 2 MB

ISBN: 978-1631528668

ASIN: B07VN53WMS
BNID: 978-1631528675

Genre: Memoir

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Flyleaf Books

IndieBound

Goodreads

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher / author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Virtual Author Book Tours.

Book Description:

Dizzy with grief after a shattering breakup, Kristen did what any sensible thirty-nine-year-old woman would do: she fled, abandoning her well-ordered life in metropolitan Boston and impulsively relocating to a college town in North Carolina to start anew with a freshly divorced southerner.

Dismissing the neon signs that flashed Rebound Relationship, Kristen was charmed by the host of contrasts with her new beau. He loved hunting and country music, she loved yoga and NPR; he worried about nothing, she worried about everything. The luster of her new romance and small-town lifestyle soon―and predictably―faded, but by then a pregnancy test stick had lit up. As Kristen’s belly grew, so did her concern about the bond with her partner―and so did a fierce love for her unborn child. Ready or not, she was about to become a mother. And then, tragedy struck.

Poignant and insightful, From the Lake House explores the echoes of rash decisions and ill-fated relationships, the barren and disorienting days an aching mother faces without her baby, and the mysterious healing that can take root while rebuilding a life gutted from loss.

Advance Praise:

“Over the course of this book, in well-structured, descriptive prose, Rademacher effectively leads readers through a gradually withering romantic relationship that culminates in a tragedy . . . Some of the most painful sections of the book are her loving letters to the little girl whom she held for but an hour, and whom she named Carly. It soon becomes clear that these missives helped to lead her back from a precipice of despair, so that she could finally face her future. A poignant and painful remembrance with comforting messages for the grieving.”- Kirkus Reviews

“Kristen Rademacher’s achingly honest memoir about her losses of place, partner, and much-anticipated baby daughter Carly resonates with courage and an abiding gratitude for the preciousness of life. A truly tender reflection about loss that illuminates the devastating experience of baby loss.”-Janel Atlas, writer and editor of They Were Still Born: Personal Stories about Stillbirth

“From the Lake House is an intimate, inspiring story of surviving in a world where blessings and tragedy walk hand in hand. Written with tender honesty and luscious language, it is a joy to read, even amidst the pangs of heartache and loss. As a bereaved mother, I found myself nodding in agreement with so many of Rademacher’s experiences of life after the death of a child . . . This book is for memoir-lovers and anyone who finds themselves in a turbulent relationship or who has said goodbye to a dearly loved child . . . Rademacher champions solitude for its healing capacities and the wholeness birthed from dogged, hard-earned resiliency. Perceptive and endearing, it is a moving saga of motherhood.”- Alexis Marie Chute, award-winning author of Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing, and Pregnancy After Loss

“In this beautifully written and poignant memoir, we learn that though people and dreams die, relationships don’t. If we’re attuned, the dead can transform our lives, offering enduring love and guidance―and hope.”- Carol Henderson, author of Losing Malcolm: A Mother’s Journey Through Loss and Farther Along: The Writing Journey of Thirteen Bereaved Mothers

Book Excerpt:

From the Lake House: A Mother’s Odyssey of Loss and Love by Kristen Rademacher

Excerpt from Chapter 17: Shells

As the shuttle van carried us from the airport to the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, I leaned my head against the window and stared out at the banyan trees, the pelicans, and the pink houses. My father had gifted Jason and me with a trip to a luxury resort in Florida with the goal to get away and start healing. But I’d packed my bag with hesitation. I’d hardly left my house since returning from the hospital a week earlier; how could I venture as far afield as an entirely different state?

We arrived on the sprawling grounds in the late afternoon and checked in to our spacious villa. From our screened-in porch we could see a dozen tennis courts nestled in the live oaks, and just beyond, the ocean.

“Pretty nice,” I said to Jason. He thumbed through the visitor’s guide in the wicker-filled living room, complete with seashell-filled lamp bases and star shell-themed pillows and throws. Now that I saw where we’d live for the next week, my worry about being far from home eased. I’d be okay.

I sat beside Jason and looked in the glossy brochure featuring photos of happy people playing golf, or swimming in one of the five pools, or getting massages in the spa. There were half a dozen restaurants, miles of beach, and cheerful red trolleys to take these smiling people from one venue to another. This trip must be costing my father a fortune. I doubted I’d ever stay in a place this ritzy again and wasn’t even sure I wanted to. Even if Jason and I had come here for a regular vacation, a financial impossibility, we likely had little in common with its guests.

“Let’s go see the beach,” Jason suggested.

We followed a lush path through the tennis courts that opened onto the chilly and windy beach. A balmy, sunny afternoon would have been nice, but it was January after all, Florida or not. The ocean always energized me, and the first moments on any beach delighted my senses: salty air, roaring surf, soft sand between my toes, and the vast expanse of sparkling water. Whether swimming through the waves on a hot summer day or walking the shore wrapped in fleece, I came alive at the beach. With Jason beside me, I removed my sneakers, let the salty spray splash against my ankles, and waited for that familiar feeling. I may as well have been at the mall. I felt nothing. A steely sky bled into the lead-hued water. Fellow tourists bundled up in sweatshirts were stooped along the
piles of shells dragged in by the tide, searching for treasures. The wind blew relentlessly, flicking my hair into my eyes and knocking seagulls off their spindly legs. I was tired and wanted my feet inside warm socks.

“It’s too cold,” I said. “Let’s go.”

Back at our place, Jason collapsed with eyes closed on the sofa while I unpacked the odd array of books we’d brought: humor (David Sedaris), home improvement (green building), and self- help (surviving infant death). In the bedroom, I pulled out my journal and wrote a few lines.

Where am I? Not home with my baby. I’m on an islandin Florida. Two weeks ago I was pregnant, waiting for labor. Now I’m at a resort with a sea-green plastic band around my wrist.

Jason and I eventually visited the nearby deli, ordered sandwiches for dinner, and brought them back to our villa.

“Want to watch TV?” Jason asked.

No, I thought. I hated the blare of TV, and hated in particular Jason’s style of watching, which was to cruise the channels interminably. I’d often complain how he wouldn’t commit to one show. Jason always promised he would, as soon as he found something good. He rarely did. But I was not about to have our same old, tired argument at the South Seas Resort.

“Watch anything you want,” I said, quickly tuned out, and buried my head in a USA Today crossword puzzle.

The next morning, like always, I awoke much earlier than Jason and tiptoed out of the bedroom. From the porch, I noticed vacationers strolling the perfectly manicured sidewalks. Their lean and fit bodies wore tennis and golf apparel: form-fitting colorful jackets, leggings and nylon sweatpants, caps, and unblemished athletic footwear. They held small gym bags and sipped from Styrofoam cups. Coffee. I threw on a sweatshirt and sneakers and grabbed my wallet.

The deli was bustling at seven thirty. After being surrounded by family and friends who had tended to me carefully and cautiously, I liked my newfound anonymity. I perused the menu among strangers as if I were just another wealthy woman vacationing. I wasn’t the woman whose baby had died, whose breasts were still leaking milk, or whose hips were still too full to fit into anything but stretchy pants or one pair of too large, shapeless jeans. I wasn’t the woman who was supposed to be caring for an infant and whose house was filled with baby gear waiting to be packed up. I wasn’t the woman who was ready to end her maternity leave early and return to work because what else was she supposed to do?

Here, I could pretend that my life was intact.

“I’ll take a hot buttered bagel”—I smiled openly at the barista as if I didn’t have a care in the world—“and a cup of coffee with cream and sugar.”

“Coming right up,” he said and smiled in return.

It worked. I could blend in, sound normal, stand in line with strangers, and order a cup of coffee.

I relaxed into a wicker chair on our porch with my drink, buoyed by my
successful solo jaunt. The ocean’s briny aroma wafted through the screen, and I could hear the rhythmic thump of tennis balls on the courts. I read the newspaper, knocked out another crossword puzzle, and started a new knitting project. I felt focused and calm as my needles clicked. Maybe the worst is over, I thought. Chapel Hill, the hospital, and the bassinet at home were all far away, and I couldn’t connect to any of it. Everyone is
expecting me to be weepy and wounded forever, but I am fine. I’m not so different from women who miscarry, and they aren’t crippled by sadness for the rest of their lives.

Right?

My Book Review:


From The Lake House is a compelling memoir that follows author Kristen Rademacher's heartwrenching journey of rebuilding her life after two failed relationships, and the devastating loss of her baby daughter, Carly.

Kristen takes the reader on an emotional journey as she recounts the choices and hardships that she went through in regard to her romantic relationships, and the difficult battle to heal and move forward after giving birth to her stillborn baby daughter.

From The Lake House is a beautifully written and very moving memoir that documents the very sobering struggle that Kristen endured while battling the traumatic loss of her baby daughter, and how she finally was able to move forward in her life, while holding the precious memory of Carly with her always. You can't help but feel compassion and empathy as Kristen's story unfolds, it will tug at your heartstrings as her account of this devastating loss changed her life.

From The Lake House is an amazing memoir that will tug at the heartstrings and stir the soul.


RATING: 5 STARS 

About The Author

Kristen Rademacher has lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina since 2002, which is when she began writing. FROM THE LAKE HOUSE is her first memoir. With a Master’s Degree in Education and a Professional Coaching Certification, Kristen is an Academic Coach and ADHD Specialist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also leads trainings and presentations at national conferences on the topic of academic coaching.


Author Website
Amazon Author Page
Facebook
Goodreads

Contest Giveaway

Win A Copy Of 

From The Lake House

This giveaway is for 1 print copy for 3 winners and is open to the U.S. only. This giveaway ends September 19, 2020,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour Event

From The Lake House by Kristen Rademacher ~ VBT Event Page Link

Tour Participants:

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Aug 3 Kickoff
Lu Ann Rockin' Book Reviews Aug 4 Review
Andy Amazon Aug 5 Review
Dawn (Linda Lu) Bound4escape Aug 7 Guest Review
Betty Toots Book Reviews Aug 10 Review & Interview
Miller Amazon Aug 11 Review
Becky Sincerely Uplifting Aug 17 Review &  Excerpt
Penelope Amazon Aug 18 Review
Voni VonisView Aug 20 Review
Bee Book Pleasures Aug 21 Review
Amber Amazon Aug 24 Review
Kathleen (Gud Reader) Celticlady's Reviews Aug 25 Guest Review & Interview
Denise Amazon Aug 26 Review
Bookgirl Goodreads Aug 28 Review
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Sept 8 Review
Amy Locks, Hooks and Books Sept 10 Review & Excerpt
Kathleen Jersey Girl Book Reviews Sept 18 Review & Excerpt

A Daughter's Promise by Fran Lewis (VBT: Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Providence Book Promotions, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for A Daughter's Promise by Author Fran Lewis!

A Daughter's Promise by Fran Lewis

Publisher: EditPros, LLC

Publication Date: Paperback: July 27, 2017 / eBook: August 1, 2017

Format: Paperback - 147 pages

               Kindle - 116 pages / 2752 KB

               Nook - 146 pages / 2MB

ISBN: 978-1937317409

ASIN: B074HCD7XC

BNID: 2940158617904

Genre: Memoir / Alzheimer's Disease 

Buy The Book: 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Providence Book Promotions.

Book Description:

This story is about a promise I made to my mother to take care of her through her Alzheimer’s disease nightmare. The book includes my mother’s own thoughts from her journal about her ordeals with the various stages of this debilitating and dehumanizing condition. Her outlook on life was remarkable, and although her mind began to wander, she never lost sight of who she was, her sense of humor, or her family. This is the story of someone whose courage went beyond what most people could endure, and whose never-dying zest for life kept her alive. I hope our story will help others in coping with this difficult and demanding affliction.


Book Excerpt:

Part One
A Daughter’s Promise
Reading has always been the way for me to escape to other worlds, learn about many different places, and expand my knowledge of so many subjects. With a notepad in hand and several pens at the ready, I begin reading the many books that authors send me each day. Detailing the plot, the characters, and taking notes throughout, I create a perfect analysis of the book.
Remembering what my mom had told me, to always look for that special message in the book and create that first paragraph to stimulate reader interest, I begin my review. Perfection: that’s what she always told me. Each piece of writing, each assignment had to be done to the standards set by my teachers and professors, and then pass the highest test: mom’s. I remember coming out of school one night, and she stuck her hand out waiting to see what I’d gotten on my midterm in one of my graduate courses in administration. I still smile when I remember what happened. I left out one question and got a 98, and I told mom what I did wrong and the right answer. But, the professor was so frustrated with most of the other students that she had to revamp the scores by adding ten points to everyone’s test scores just to have more students pass, so mom was satisfied with my 108. And, of course, on the final I did get 100 and an A in the class, because it was what was expected of me by myself, and of course, mom.
Till this day I still create my reviews, my schedule for my radio show, and anything else that I decide to venture into, like the MJ magazine in memory of my sister Marcia Joyce, with the understanding that my work has to stand up to the highest standards. The articles, reviews, stories, and issues that are published should be equal to those of any credible magazine on the newsstands.
So, mom, it’s been five years and it seems like yesterday. I hope I will continue to make you proud of me. You taught me well. Yes, I never leave the house without looking my best. You were my mom, my mentor, and my best friend. You will always be here for me in spirit.
Today you would have celebrated your 89th birthday with a special red rose and your favorite chocolate cake. Your blue eyes and your great smile would light up the room, and of course the presents we would give you would make you proud. You taught us never to give up on our dreams, nor settle for less than we want in our lives. You made sure that you listened when we felt down and needed a guiding hand to rise back up. You never faltered and never passed judgment. You were our mother, our guide, and our best friend. Rules were made and enforced, but never with an iron hand. Explanations were given for your requests, and we all followed suit and showed you the respect you deserved.
When you became ill we all rallied together as a family to make sure you remained at home and received great help. We were truly blessed to have Joyce, Joan, Laurel, Pat, Tessa, Loretta, and Getty to take such good care of you and, of course, someone we all miss and loved, Veronica Collins, your case manager, who made sure that you were safe and protected by the best aides in the world from Partners in Care. So, mom, happy birthday, and let the sun shine tomorrow so we know that you are still watching over us and protecting Marcia, who is with you now. We miss your wisdom, your guidance, the huge grey mobile that you drove anywhere you were needed, as the taxi driver for your friends, and the orange mobile that my reading students loved when you picked me up or drove me to school. I made a promise and vowed that I would do everything in my power to care for you, keep your mind and body active, and never even consider the one thing so many others do—placing you in a nursing home.
The circle of life begins on the day you are born and ends when you close your eyes for the last time and take your last precious breath.
Ruth Swerdloff started her life on November 22, 1927, and became a part of a loving, nurturing family that would remain intact for the first two years of her life until the loss of her mother, when things would change. But, Ruth was special from the start, and although facing her first obstacle at the age of two, losing a parent, she somehow learned to accept the change with the help of her sister, Tova, and three brothers, Kenny, Irving, and Harry. This is her story. This is where her circle of life begins.
Excerpt from A Daughter's Promise by Fran Lewis. Copyright © 2017 by Fran Lewis. Reproduced with permission from Fran Lewis. All rights reserved.

My Book Review:

A Daughter's Promise is a compelling memoir that follows author Fran Lewis' mother Ruth Swerdloff's journey after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and the affect that the disease had on Ruth, Fran, and their family.

Ruth and Fran take the reader on an emotional journey as they recount Ruth's difficult battle as the progression of the disease overtakes her life, and the tragic affect that it had on Fran as her primary caregiver.

As a retired nursing home administrator, I couldn't help but become captivated by this bittersweet story. In my twenty years of running nursing homes, I have watched many patients, families, and caregivers as they tried to navigate and deal with this heart wrenching disease as best as they possibly could.

A Daughter's Promise is a beautifully written and very moving memoir that documents the very sobering struggle that Ruth endured while battling the disease, and how Fran was determined to keep the promise of providing home care for Ruth instead of placing her in a nursing home. You can't help but feel compassion and empathy as Ruth's story unfolds, it will tug at your heartstrings as both Ruth and Fran's account of this devastating disease changed their lives. I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I appreciated the very detailed information, facts, and website links that Fran provides the readers if they should ever find themselves facing this journey with their loved ones.

A Daughter's Promise is an amazing memoir that will tug at the heartstrings and stir the soul.


RATING: 5 STARS 

About The Author

Fran Lewis is the author of the Bertha and Tillie Series, Faces Behind the Stones series and a series of books on Alzheimer's and Caregiving. She has three master’s degrees, worked as the reading and writing staff developer and dean of a NY CITY PUBLIC SCHOOl for over 36 years and remains in touch with her students. She is an avid reader and reviewer and has her own show on blog talk radio: Literary Viewpoints with Fran Lewis. Fran created her own Magazine MJ magazine in memory of her sister Marcia Joyce and her radio network too: MJ network.


Author Website
Amazon Author Page
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest
Goodreads

Contest Giveaway

Win An eBook Copy

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Fran Lewis.

There will be 3 winners of one (1) eBook copy of A Daughter’s Promise by Fran Lewis.

The giveaway begins on October 1 and runs through December 3, 2017.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour

A Daughter's Promise by Fran Lewis ~ VBT Event Page Link

Tour Schedule:

10/01 Showcase @ Books, Dreams, Life

10/03 Interview @ Writers and Authors

10/04 Review @ Blogging with A

10/05 Interview @ Blogging with A

10/09 Review/Showcase @ Romance Under Fire

10/12 Interview @ A Blue Million Books

10/19 Review @ Wall-to-wall books

10/25 Review @ Mythical Books

10/26 Review @ CMash Reads

10/27 Guest Post @ CMash Reads

11/03 Review @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews

11/05 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader

11/07 Review @ Laura's Reading

11/08 Showcase @ The Reading Frenzy

11/10 Review @ Cheryl's Book Nook

11/11 Guest post @ Cheryl's Book Nook

11/17 Review @ Books Direct

G.I. Joe & Lillie by Joseph S. Bonsall (Book Review)

G.I. Joe & Lillie by Joseph S. Bonsall

Publisher: New Leaf Press

Publication Date: Hardcover - March 1, 2003 / eBook - March 31, 2003

Format: Hardcover - 192 pages

               Kindle - 566 KB

               Nook- 553 KB

ISBN: 978-0892215379

ASIN: B002BSH0SE

BNID: 978-1614580133

Genre: Memoir

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Book Description:

In the early morning hours of June 6, tens of thousands of boys from the shores of Maine, the rivers of Mississippi, and the lakes of Minnesota were taking a boat ride that would go down in history. With the ocean spray in their faces and hearts practically beating out of their chests, American G.I.s peers through the mist and saw the beaches of France. The Allied invasion of Hitlers Europe was on!

A skinny kid from Philly checked his rifle for the umpteenth time and swallowed hard. A strip of beach code named Utah lay just ahead....

The 1944 D-Day landings preserved freedom all over the world and affected countless individual lives including G.I. Joe and his wife, Lillie.

After the war, G.I. Joe and Lillie settled into a life that included two children. Old wounds, though, never quite let G.I. Joe leave France. Nightmares and crippling injuries left him with only one true friend, but she was all he'd ever need.

Lillie embarked on a decades-long love affair, from the moment she saw that skinny boy from Philly in an army hospital. Five days of courtship and 55 years of marriage strengthened by faith saw to that. Lillie prayed daily for her husband and children in the difficult years ahead. Together, they made it all the way home.

In Lillie's America, it was sacrifice that preserved cherished freedoms, and loyalty kept families united and strong. Lillie's steadfast faith and heartfelt devotion is a lesson for our time.

This story of patriotism, bravery abroad and at home, and most of all, deep commitment, sets in a gold frame the very essence of America. The story of G.I. Joe and Lillie helps us all remember that true love never, ever dies.


My Book Review:

There is no greater love than when a child honors his parents, and in G.I. Joe & Lillie, Oak Ridge Boys tenor Joseph S. Bonsall pays a beautiful tribute to his parents Joe and Lillie Bonsall with a beautifully written memoir as a testament of their true love for each other.

G.I. Joe and Lillie's love story begins when they are called to duty in World War II. Joe was a street kid from Philly and Lillie was a farmer's daughter from Roanoke Rapids, NC. Both had a difficult childhood and left high school in the 9th grade, and both had a desire to help the war effort in the best way that they could. Joe & Lillie's journey began in May 1943, when at the age of eighteen, Joe enlisted in the Army, while Lillie left home in 1943 at the age of sixteen and worked in a defense plant in Michigan before joining the Women's Army Corps. (WAC) at the age of seventeen in August 1944. These two young people met, fell in love, married, and served their nation in the armed forces. They had a special marriage that spanned fifty-five years, one that was based on love, faith, loyalty, commitment, and dedication to each other, no matter what trials and tribulations that they faced through the years.

Since his childhood, Author Joe Bonsall has been fascinated with the idiosyncrasies of war, so in addition to sharing G.I. Joe and Lillie's story with the reader, he interweaves a richly descriptive and historical account of World War II, with photos interspersed throughout the book.

G.I. Joe & Lillie is an inspirational and compelling memoir that documents the lives of two American heroes, their love, and the memories that will remain forever in the author and his family's heart. You can't help but feel the patriotism and pride that runs throughout the story, and feel the enduring love and deep family values that kept G.I Joe & Lillie's marriage going throughout the years. This lovely memoir will make the reader pause and consider what our military personnel go through as they serve overseas, and the serious trauma and other effects (PTSD) that they face when they come home, and how their families provide the love, support, and perseverance to help them get through it with dignity, honor, and grace.

G.I. Joe & Lillie is an emotional memoir that will tug at the heartstrings and stir the soul.


RATING: 5 STARS 

Book Trailer

About The Author

Joseph S. Bonsall is an avid writer, songwriter, and 40-plus year member of the legendary American music group The Oak Ridge Boys. His previous books include G. I. Joe and Lillie and several children's books. For relaxation, Joe retreats to his 350-acre farm on the Tennessee-Kentucky state line with his wife, Mary, and their seven cats. He also plays the banjo!


Author Website
Oak Ridge Boys Website
Facebook (Oak Ridge Boys)
Facebook - Joe Bonsall Fan Club Group
Twitter
Twitter (Oak Ridge Boys)
Google+
Pinterest
YouTube
Goodreads

Pound for Pound by Shannon Kopp (Book Review)

Pound for Pound by Shannon Kopp

Publisher: William Morrow / HarperCollins

Publication Date: October 6, 2015

Format: Hardcover - 288 pages / Paperback - Pub Date: July 26, 2016

               Kindle - 3472 KB

ISBN: 978-0062370228

ASIN: B00U1TTARY

Genre: Memoir

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Description:

The brave, inspiring story of one woman's recovery from a debilitating eating disorder, and the remarkable shelter dogs who unexpectedly loved her back to life.

“The dogs don’t judge me or give me a motivational speech. They don’t rush me to heal or grow. They sit in my lap and lick my face and make me feel chosen. And sometimes, it hits me hard that I'm doing the exact thing I say I cannot do. Changing.” 

Pound for Pound is an inspirational tale about one woman’s journey back to herself, and a heartfelt homage to the four-legged heroes who unexpectedly saved her life.

For seven years, Shannon Kopp battled the silent, horrific, and all-too-common disease of bulimia. Then, at twenty-four, she got a job working at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, where in caring for shelter dogs, she found the inspiration to heal and the courage to forgive herself. With the help of some extraordinary homeless animals, Shannon realized that her suffering was the birthplace of something beautiful. Compassion.

Shannon’s poignant memoir is a story of hope, resilience, and the spiritual healing animals bring to our lives. Pound for Pound vividly reminds us that animals are more than just friends and companions—they can teach us how to savor the present moment and reclaim our joy. Rich with emotion and inspiration it is essential reading for animal lovers and everyone who has struggled to change.


Book Excerpt:

Excerpt from Pound For Pound: A Story of One Woman's Recovery and the Shelter Dogs Who Loved Her Back to Life By Shannon Kopp 

At 7 a.m., my name was called for "Morning Vitals." Light poured in through the windows and I begrudgingly changed out of my boyfriends T-shirt into a white paper gown. I wanted to sleep more. I wanted coffee. I wanted to kiss Danny. I wanted to kill the shepherd-eyes woman, who was now sleeping peacefully. Apparently, it wasn't her turn yet for vitals. 

I followed a nurse across the hall to a freezing cold, windowless room. The nurse wasn't a pretty woman, but her teeth were straight and white enough to make me wonder if they were bleached. She had pale green eyes and bright purple scrubs on, looking far too colorful for this place.

After closing my eyes and stepping on the scale (we weren't allowed to know our own weight), I sat down on a table padded with the butcher paper. An air conditioner hummed somewhere in the background. The nurse took my temperature and looked inside my eyes, ears, and mouth. I was self-conscious of my breath, as I hadn't brushed my teeth yet.

She asked me questions about how I felt physically. I listened and responded politely, even though hate crawled in my blood. All I could think about was how I didn't want to be weighed every day in this stupid paper gown, how I didn't want to be around these women moving peas around their plate like children and tottering on bony legs and weeping in wheelchairs.

"I need to take your blood now," the nurse said, asking for my arm.

My irritation melted into fear. I bit my lip and anxiously told the nurse how much I hated giving blood. "Is it really necessary?" I pressed.

"It will just take a minute. I promise I'm very good at this."

I don't care if you're good at this. I don't want to do it.

She tightened an elastic band around my arm and tried to distract me. "So, where are you from?" she asked.

"California," I said. I stared at the white wall in the opposite direction.

"Oh, I've been there once. I love the ocean, so peaceful."

I took a deep breath and braced myself for the prick of the needle, telling myself not to be a wuss, but still the knee-jerk reaction happened anyway. Just before she inserted the syringe, I pulled my arm away and hissed, "No!"

The nurse gave me a gentle smile, seeming a little entertained by my response. I held my arm near my chest, feeling stupid.

"You weren't kidding, huh?" she said. "It's okay, dear. Let's just talk for a minute. Okay?"

"Okay."


"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" she asked.


"One."


"Brother or sister?"


"Sister. Her name is Julie."

I thought of Julie then as a child. At our doctor's appointments, I always made her go first whenever we needed shots. She'd stick her skinny arm out and say, "See, Shan, it's not scary." Then when the needle was inserted, she'd smile in an effort to show me it wasn't so bad, the right side of her lip curling up more than her left.

For the past twenty-four hours, I hadn't talked much and kept to myself. I walked around quietly nodding my head and doing what I was told. But now I found myself telling the nurse how much I missed my sister. How in my eyes, she'd always been the stronger one of the two of us.

"Maybe, when your time gets hard here, you can think of Julie," the nurse said. "Think of how it will be to spend time with her with this awful disease off your back. Think of how much more present you'll be." 

Even though she was trying to help me, what I heard was that I had not been present for Julie, the little girl with watery blue eyes who was now battling her own demons as an adult. Her story is not mine to tell, but suffice it to say that she'd recently needed me in a big way, and I hadn't been there. She needed someone now to make her less afraid, to hold out their arm and take a shot for her first. But I was busy in California puking my brains out.

To be there for Julie without the background noise of food obsession -- I'd never let myself imagine it before. Perhaps because I couldn't imagine it. And at that thought, a bomb of tears went off in the center of my chest. There was no way to redirect the emotion, nothing I could stuff into my mouth or force out of my body to make me forget how ashamed I was.

All I could do was sit in the arms of a nurse I never learned the name of, sobbing into her warm shoulders for five minutes, maybe ten. I cried so hard that tears fell down my face and made my paper gown translucent in some places, the material ripping.

She held me tight as the waves of grief passed through me. I felt like if I needed to sit there and cry for another hour in her arms, she would have let me.

But I didn't cry for another hour. I finally lifted my head and wiped my eyes and extended my arm. For the first time in my life, I stared directly at the syringe.

I watched the dark blood seep out of me.

© 2016 Excerpt from Pound for Pound: A Story of One Woman's Recovery and the Shelter Dogs Who Loved Her Back to Life by Shannon Kopp Courtesy of William Morrow, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

My Book Review:

Pound for Pound is an inspirational and compelling memoir that follows author Shannon Kopp's journey to recovery from the debilitating disease of bulimia through the healing power of the loving shelter dogs that she cared for at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA.

As a dog lover who has adopted shelter and rescue dogs, I couldn't help but become captivated by Shannon's story. Shannon takes the reader on her emotional journey of recovery as she recounts her seven year battle with bulimia, and the inspiration from working with the shelter dogs that led her on the road to overcome her addiction, heal, and move forward with her life.

Pound for Pound is a beautifully written and very moving memoir that documents the sobering struggle that Shannon endured in her life while battling the disease of bulimia, and how her work with the shelter dogs (specifically pit bulls) gave her the hope, inspiration, and resilience to heal as she traveled down the path to recovery. You can't help but feel compassion and empathy as Shannon's story unfolds, your heart will explode with joy as she describes how working with the shelter dogs provided the best medicine that led to her recovery. There is nothing like the unconditional love and devotion that a dog provides to a person, nothing else can compare!

Pound for Pound is a wonderful story of hope and redemption that will tug at the heartstrings and stir the soul.


RATING: 5 STARS 

Book Trailer

About The Author

Shannon Kopp is a writer, eating disorder survivor, and animal welfare advocate. She has worked and volunteered at various animal shelters throughout San Diego and Los Angeles, where shelter dogs helped her to discover a healthier, more joyful way of living. Her mission is to help every shelter dog find a loving home, and to raise awareness about eating disorders and animal welfare issues.


Author Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads

On The Road With The Oak Ridge Boys by Joseph S. Bonsall (Book Review)

On The Road With The Oak Ridge Boys by Joseph S. Bonsall

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Publication Date: May 1, 2015

Format: Paperback - 272 pages

               Kindle - 6661 KB

               Nook - 6 MB

ISBN: 978-0736964197

ASIN: B00WANH9T0

Genre: Biography / Memoir / Country & Gospel Music

Buy The Book:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Oak Ridge Boys Website
Goodreads



Book Description:

For more than 40 years, the legendary Oak Ridge Boys (40 million records sold) have been on the road entertaining sold-out audiences with their classic hit songs like "Elvira," "Bobbie Sue," "Thank God for Kids," and many others. As their fans will testify, an Oak Ridge Boys concert is an unforgettable experience.

These "on the road" stories, written by tenor Joseph S. Bonsall and spanning the four decades since the present group came together, will bring laughter, insight, and heartfelt appreciation to their fans young and old.

You'll read about...The faith shared by all four "Oaks" the backstage goings-on of The Oak Ridge Boys what "the Boys" do on the tour bus stories about special fans they've met down through the years their surprise mega-hit, "Elvira" and how it came about "Join me as I take you on the road with The Oak Ridge Boys. We'll revisit some of our favorite concerts, reminisce about some old friends, and I'll let you in on what happens behind the scenes. Come on along!" Oak Ridge Boy Joseph S. Bonsall


Book Excerpt:

Author Joseph S. Bonsall offered this book excerpt on his Twitter account on March 25, 2016: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sog2mj

A Personal Note "Born To Climb"


I do love to write however, I am a man who has never been taught… or to be honest, has never thought very much about the finer points of putting ink to scroll, and yet the blank page constantly calls out to me as a mother might call for her lost child. The words come in a vortex of constant movement and it is only the openness of my own heart and mind that that keeps the door ajar. I pray that it never closes upon me. One doesn’t write as a reward to ones ego although I imagine some do. One doesn't write just to pontificate or to make unnecessary noise. One doesn't write just to hear ones own voice speaking although again many do indeed love the sound of their own voice droning on and on into the abyss. The true creative process in the writing as far as I am concerned is to fill a blank page with words that are meaningful to the reader or at the very least tells a good story! I seriously work towards a good mix of the two! I want to entertain you with a well-woven yarn or at best provide a laugh or two but if somewhere in that blend of words I haven't moved or inspired the reader in some way then the writing is just an empty voice that becomes quite forgettable and meaningless in no time at all. That's how I see it anyway. To me it is the same philosophy that resides behind an OAKS show. I want to take you on a fun and exciting journey with the music and such but somewhere along the way I want for The Oak Ridge Boys to touch your heart. I hope that you leave a show or yes even this page with a word or two that you can use and apply to your own life. I would hope that along with the storytelling and the singing that you would always see a glimpse of the love of Jesus in all things and that perhaps that light shines through and touches your heart. I pray every day for the light of His leadership in all that I do and most times I sincerely do believe that these prayers are answered as I keep on writing words and singing songs and breathing air.
I count on the presence of the Holy Spirit and yes perhaps a few Angels to help me translate my oft times jumbled thoughts into that which is a readable edifice, and I am so thankful for these constant inspirations that guide my very soul down these shadowy pathways.
Yes, life itself is oft times shrouded in darkness and uncertainty and I do believe that is the master plan or why else would we have reason to seek His Light? We bob and weave through the high weeds, praying constantly for a clearing. We seek a parting of the clouds and a ray of sunlight to shine down upon us and we long for a comforting voice to whisper ever so softly to our being that we might or can or WILL come out okay and that our efforts might be deemed worthy.
There are those however who choose to languish there in the dark and for them I feel pain and sorrow, but blessed is the man who strives to be better even when the pathway is long and tedious and full of sorrow. The decent soul strives to be better. The hungry heart is never satisfied until certain goals are reached. The stout minded strives for that light, and the darkness is only a metaphor to him. He is constantly looking upward and sees himself above the darkness even when the brambles are tugging at his ankles and the thorns are tearing at his cloak. STILL… he is not deterred. He is not discouraged. His vision is not dimmed and his mind is not altered for he has purpose and is not content to reside in mediocrity.
Many men just die little by little with each time passing and do not even consider their legacy of failure even as they constantly fail themselves and all of those around them. They accept shortcomings as if that was the natural order, and they plod along with no meaning or purpose, and sadly love eludes them and their pathway shortens and becomes meaningless. They lose sight of all hope, and I would say that faith and even LOVE is downright impossible without hope. So the downward spiral feeds upon itself until all hope is gone, and the light is dimmed and eventually vanquished.
I choose to climb! A dear friend once called me a climber, so YES…I am a climber! Yet I know that no matter how positive I strive to be that the journey is not and never has been easy, and I will again humbly acknowledge that I am constantly in need of help!
Since childhood I have always believed in myself, yet because my heart has always been wide open, the help I have needed has always been there for me. I have never been alone in my quests and visions… no not once. And I am thankful for the many who have been there for me to guide and to lead and to share and to love and to constantly point me in the right direction. I have written about some of these folks in the preceding pages. But, again, I reiterate that one must be cognizant and willing and above all one must believe and have faith, or else many opportunities and relationships are never experienced and when they are missed, more times than not, they are never realized again.
Did I mention LOVE?
Oh yes… perhaps the most important element of all as our small vapor passes through this dimension of flesh and blood and bone on to eternity. Faith, Hope and Love… but as the Bible says, it is love that is most important and greater love has no man than he would lay down his life for his friends.
Many times Jesus spoke in a simple fashion for those around Him, for then as today human beings were relatively simple folk in comparison to God’s all-seeing plans and visions. Such a unique way to express to His followers that one day HE would take on the sins of the world upon Himself, while He hung in pain suspended between two worlds, upon a crude Roman cross fashioned out of a dogwood tree. He was NAILED to this TREE while wearing a crown of thorns that had been tightly pressed into His very skull. Even as a spear pierced His side, He spoke of forgiveness while all the time He was bearing MY sins… and yours.
I wonder what pained Him the most. Was it the physical pain of being tortured to within a hairs breath of life, or was it the incredible weight of dark and dirty sin that He bore deep within His soul.
He who was perfect had now became the worst of sinners as He hung there. When He said, “It is finished,” I believe that He meant this part of the process had ended at last, and I believe that when His sprit left the human body and He once again regained the power of Heaven, He must have been oh so ready for the battle ahead.
The pain part was over. The prophecies had been fulfilled. It was NOW TIME to reign as KING! He had paid the price that was asked of Him. He did what His Father asked Him to do! I can’t even fathom what it must have been like for Jesus during all of this.
Then, while the angels and the entire spiritual world looked on in awe, He paid a visit to Hell itself and let it be known that HE, Jesus Christ… God’s only begotten Son, now held the keys of life and death, that HE was the beginning and the end of everything. I’ll bet the devil was quaking in fear. Jesus then proceeded to do that which we might have thought was impossible. He rose up from the tomb on that third day after the cross!
Yes, I am a climber. I choose a more positive frame of mind, even when things around me collapse and disappoint I climb onwards, and I give my Lord all the credit for anything that I have been or am or might become, because in Christ there is perfect Light. My Bible says that there is no darkness at all in His realm… only LIGHT! I choose the LIGHT.
Oh to live in the Light of His Glory. Because of what He did on that cross and on that day we call Easter, a new road was paved for each one of us. Songwriter Bill Gaither wrote that “‘Because He Lives’ we can face tomorrow, and “‘Because He Lives” all fear is gone.
Ah, there it is… the word FEAR! Fear is perhaps our biggest stumbling block as we run our short marathon, yet Jesus has told us so many times that we need not be overcome with fear. Yet we are human and a certain amount of being afraid seems added into the equation. To be able to be victorious over fear we must constantly seek Jesus Christ and seek His will in our lives. We must commit ourselves to Him in all things, and fear and sorrow and sin and chaos will dim in His Light.
So as I continue to climb I strive to seek more of God in my life. I actually believe it is easier to believe in the final place that He has prepared for me then to NOT. The world will tell you that death is the end, and to me that is the tougher pill to swallow.
“When I get where I am going,” the Brad Paisley song says, “And I see my Maker’s face… I’ll stand forever in the light of HIS amazing Grace.”
I will also see my mother and father, and celebrate with long lost friends and loved ones forever in a new time zone of eternal life that has been promised to me by the Cross and the empty tomb of my Lord Jesus, and as Jim Hill once wrote, “What A Day Glorious Day That Will Be!”
So even though most of my earthly journey is behind me, I continue to peer forward. My earthly sight has been dimmed, yet the pathway ahead seems always clear and bright, and for this I am thankful.
So how about you, my readers? I invite you to climb with me. Accept Jesus Christ into you life and began to shine as the stars with a new purpose and a new goal.
Onward and upwards! May God bless you, and I sincerely thank you for reading!

My Book Review:

Every once in a while I come across a book that completely captivates me, currently that book is On The Road With The Oak Ridge Boys by author / ORB tenor Joseph S. Bonsall!

As a longtime ORB fan, I couldn't help but get excited to read the behind the scenes memoir of the magical musical journey that this band has embarked on for the past 40+ years. From their humbled beginnings as a gospel group to transitioning into a phenomenally successful country music group, the Oak Ridge Boys: Duane Allen (lead), Joe Bonsall (tenor), William Lee Golden (baritone) and Richard Sterban (bass) have always based their successful career on their faith and love for God, family, country, and singing harmony together.

Author Joe Bonsall takes the reader on a wonderful journey as he recounts how the Oak Ridge Boys have lived out their dreams (and continue to do so today) from their gospel quartet roots founded in the 1940s, and how the current members (1960s - present) transitioned into the mainstream country music genre with their first big hit "Y'all Come Back Saloon (my all-time favorite ORB song!) in 1977, to becoming a major household name with the wildly popular "Elvira" in 1981, that made song history when it went viral with a crossover into the pop charts.

Joe provides the reader with a little history of each of the members' lives, and how they came to join the Oak Ridge Boys. You can't help but feel the brotherhood that was formed between these four men, each of them live by the unwritten and unspoken ORB Doctrine that has been a major part of their long-term success: keep egos in check, make few demands, treat people right, be humble, be respectful, work hard, fulfill obligations, be honest and have integrity, go the extra mile, have a good relationship with promoters, venues, the music industry, and fans, and most of all love what you do. Each member of the Oak Ridge Boys brings something different to the group, and when you add it all together, you get a very successful phenomenon that continues to be very relevant in the country music industry today!

This memoir is jammed packed with memorable moments in their 40+ year career: from their first concert together in Cincinnati, Ohio in October 1973, to being on the road with their Mighty Oaks band and hosting concert dates from "everywhere" USA across the years, to their recent induction into the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2015 (which is well deserved and was a long time coming in my eyes!), the Oak Ridge Boys continue to bring their special kind of musical magic to their fans at each and every concert. As quoted by lead singer Duane Allen: "Every song has a story, and three minutes of magic," and this my friends is the essence of the group, for their love of gospel and country is passed on to their concert goers in a ninety minute family-oriented concert that is pure Americana at its best!

There is so much more that is included in this inspirational and delightful memoir, but you really need to read this book to get a full appreciation of just how special this group really is. But I will leave you with a tantalizing tidbit to whet your appetite: included is a wonderful array of pictures of the ORB throughout the years, a complete discography and list of awards, and a fun ORB Trivia that every fan will enjoy.

On The Road With The Oak Ridge Boys is an amazing memoir that is a must read for every ORB, gospel, and country music fan!


RATING: 5 STARS 

About The Author

Joseph S. Bonsall is an avid writer, songwriter, and 40-plus year member of the legendary American music group The Oak Ridge Boys. His previous books include G. I. Joe and Lillie and several children's books. For relaxation, Joe retreats to his 350-acre farm on the Tennessee-Kentucky state line with his wife, Mary, and their seven cats. He also plays the banjo!


Author Website
Oak Ridge Boys Website
Facebook (Oak Ridge Boys)
Facebook - Joe Bonsall Fan Club Group
Twitter
Twitter (Oak Ridge Boys)
Google+
Pinterest
YouTube
Goodreads

Elvira - Music Video