Nine Lives And Counting

 

Nine Lives And Counting

By: Duane "Dog" Chapman

Genre: Memoir

Summary:

Within Nine Lives and Counting, Duane “Dog” Chapman not only offers fresh perspective on well-known life events but also ventures into behind-the-scenes territory and backstories never shared publicly.

This book sheds new light on

• memories of the painful events that shaped the author’s childhood,
• the surprising hope he found in prison,
• triumphs and failures from his days as a single dad,
• lessons learned from his job as a vacuum-cleaner salesman,
• his story of learning to bounty hunt,
• and many other highs and lows from his life.

Most telling of all, Nine Lives and Counting follows Chapman’s faith in Jesus and the greater story he is focused on sharing with the world. ---bn.com

I was among the millions who watched Dog and his family track down the convicts who chose not to show up for their day in court. I remember the chase, the arrest, the cigarette and Dog riding in the backseat. And I was among the millions who had no idea there was a reason he did all the things he did. I thought it was nothing more than a bounty hunter apprehending his guy/girl. I only knew what I saw on the show- which was a fraction of the whole picture. There was far more that I didn't know compared to what I did. However, that's no longer the case.

Within the pages of Nine Lives And Counting, you're going to meet a boy named Duane. He lived a straight and narrow life. He was an active church member who many believed he was destined to be a preacher. And by the time he was in seventh grade, he escaped an abusive homelife in exchange for being a member of a biker gang. From there, life took Duane in directions he never could have expected.

A life a crime caught up with him and landed him behind bars. And within those bars, the groundwork for a caring bounty hunter was laid. Dog tells you about how he found himself there and how it changed his life forever. He's going to tell you about his interactions with his fellow inmates. He's also going to share with you how sharing his faith within those concrete walls changed more than just one man's protectory. 

You're going to learn about Dog's numerous marriages and his even more numerous children- the ones he knew of and the ones he learned of years later. He's going to share with you the good and the bad of his family life. The ways he succeeded in giving his children a better childhood than he had; and the ways he let his kids down. 

He's going to tell you of his career and personal accomplishments. He's also going to share with you the losses that devastated his world. Dog is open , honest and candid about it all. And he'll also share with you how God never left him and helped pick him up off the ground, repeatedly, to start over. 

I honestly didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. I didn't think I'd be captured by his story. I wasn't expecting him to be as humble and honest as he was. I definitely finished this book with a better understanding for this man who has been through far more than I ever thought of. Once you finish his book, you understand why he treated his bounties the way he did. He wasn't just in it for the money. He related to so many of his captures. He treated them as humans worthy of the opportunity to get their lives back on track, and not just as the criminals they were.

Thank you, Dog, for opening your story to us readers. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you better. Thank you for showing us how your faith was always important to you- even when you were lost to criminal activity, dependency or grief. You have left a lasting, touching impression on those you've met and those who have read your story. 

The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux

 

The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux

By: M.J. Robotham

Genre: Fiction

Summary:

Ruby Deveraux is a well acclaimed author. Not only is successful, but she still owes her publisher one more book. She finally agrees to give them the memoir they've been asking for, but only if it's done on her terms.  So, Ruby Devereaux tells her life story- through the men who had the biggest impression on her.

Ruby Devereaux may be 90, but she is still a force to be reckoned with. So, while it's easier to give her publisher the memoir they want, she's doing it her way. What follows is the 12 men who have shaped her life and left the biggest impressions on her. She shares her firsts: love, sexual experience, heartbreak and betrayal. Beginning in the late 1940s and going to 2020, you'll journey history through her life and heart. You'll see her fall in love, get her heart broken, navigate betrayal, get married and suffer gut wrenching losses- just to name a few. 

She'll tell stories of an actor, politician, artists, her Dad and others. She'll fall head over heels and, sometimes, just love the person for the moment. As she lays out her history, you'll run the gamete with her. You'll fall in love. You'll fall in lust. You'll feel her joy. You'll feel her pain. You'll see a woman embrace life in all it's emotions and experiences. Some will scar, some will enrich. And some will forever change you.

Ruby as a spy? Ruby as a wife? Ruby in love? Ruby learning the truth of someone she thought she knew. Ruby being the nurturer to a man who's own trauma threatens to take over. Ruby having the time of her life and getting arrested- at 52 years old. It's all in these pages and more. 

It was fun to see her life unfold. Ruby lived so many different lives, but all those lives were the pieces that made Ruby who she was. I grew attached to her and wanted to see her happy and succeed. No matter what love brought to her, or did to her, she was the feisty woman I rooted for every time. 

There's no way to escape the inevitable comparisons to  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. They are similar in many ways, but don't dismiss Ruby. Don't underestimate Ruby. You will enjoy her story, her loves, her life, her guts, her grit. Curl up and get to know a woman who lived a long, incredible life.

 

Permission To Dream

 

Permission to Dream

By: Christine Caine

Genre: Christian Living, Christian Non-Fiction

Summary:

Have you ever had a dream or a goal you really wanted to achieve? have you ever felt you've messed up too much to achieve something you set out to do? Have procrastinated something to the point you feel it's too late now to accomplish? Well, God and Christine Caine have a few things to tell you: It's Never Too Late. May the pages ahead shed new life into the dream or goal you once wanted. May the words within this book help you see that you aren't alone and you can still set out to accomplish what you stopped thinking you can.

You know that saying: Life is what happens when you're busy making plans? I relate to it sooooo much. When I was younger, I had dreams I dreamt with such passion. However, life, insecurity, doubt, etc got in my way. If outside situations didn't waylay my goals, I had no problem letting my inner critic do the job. Years would pass by until I finally hit that point where I felt too much time had gone by. It's too late for me. I've probably wasted to gift God gave me. 

Well, this book was a great reminder that isn't the case. It's not too late. No matter what life throws at you, or what people have done to you, that goal/dream is still within your reach. Christine shares you the story of Favour whose own cousin sold her into prostitution and how, despite the nightmare she endured, she was able to heal enough to chase the dream she once had. You'll also read about Lori Ann's gut wrenching journey to have children. Repeated loss forced detours she hadn't planned, but they led her to her dream being achieved, though differently than she expected. 

This book is packed with encouragement to still be what God called you to be or achieve what God put on your heart to achieve- NO MATTER WHAT STUMBLING BLOCKS OR DETOURS YOU ENCOUNTER. Many of us need this reminder. The dreams we once had can still be achieved. It isn't too late. We haven't wasted too much time. I hope you find as much encouragement as I did.

The Berlin Letters

 

The Berlin Letters

By: Katherine Reay

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

August 1961 changed the life of Monica Voekler and her family. She planned on joining her parents and sister for lunch, but she's stopped by a barricade. One that arrives overnight and separates more than just parts of a city. The Berlin Wall changes history and the lives of the Voekler family. Sacrifices are made with devastating consequences. Lies that were once believed reveal their truth. Eyes that were blinded to the reality of the the wall are cruelly opened. Navigate the Berlin Wall with the Voeklers- from all angles- as it goes up, while it's up and the day it's torn down. 

Katherine Reay has quickly become one of my favorite historical fiction writers for good reason. The Berlin Letters has sealed her place among my favorite writers. I LOVED this book. So very much. I was gripped to the story. There were several times I thought I knew what was going to happen only to be proven wrong. I was captivated. I was enthralled. I was rooting for each character. I didn't want to put the book down. This book has found it's way onto my favorite books of all time list.  

Monica Voekler is a wife and mother in 1961. On this particular day she plans on joining her parents for breakfast. However, she finds a wired barricade stopping her from entering West Berlin. It doesn't take her long to realize the barricade has nefarious intentions. Nor does it take her long to realize she has to decide not just her future, but that of her 3 year old daughter, Luisa. As Monica watches events unfold at the barricade and the actions of the guards in charge of it, she knows the life she knew is over. The woman who set out to meet her family doesn't return home the same.

Monica's husband, Haris, is a reporter for a local newspaper and a member of the Stasi party. He's heard rumblings of a barricade going up and is positive it's for good intentions and not meant to be permanent.  He's the last of his family to see things for what they really are and he stands to lose everything he has left. However, in learning the truth, Haris fights for the truth to be known. He finds help in the last place he would've expected it ands sets out to educate the world beyond the wall of what life is like for those living behind it. He has no idea the words and secrets he passes on become known by more than the eyes he wrote them for. 

Luisa Voekler has been brought up by her Grandparents after her parents die in a car accident. Her Opa has died, so it's now just her, her Aunt and her Oma. Her family doesn't know that Luisa is one of a team who cracks WW2 and Third Reich codes and ciphers. When Luisa helps her coworker decode a set of letters from berlin, she notices small details like dots over paragraphs and an infinity symbol. The same symbol she's found on one of her Opa's envelopes. Thus begins the journey of uncovering secrets she has no clue of and no idea how deep they went.

As Luisa discovers more letters with the symbol on them between her Opa and someone she long since thought she lost. Once she makes the connection of who her Opa exchanged letters with, she's on a race against time to rescue them from the hell they're in.

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. I'm not even remotely doing it justice here. Katherine Reay wrote a story that had me gripped to the very end. My heart broke over Monica's story. My heart felt despair over the path Haris found himself on and the consequences it had. I was shocked as Luisa learned the truth of her beloved Grandfather. By the time I read the last line, I had traveled all over the emotional map. This book was AMAZING!! Not only did you learn about the characters and all they endured, but you learned so much history. I haven't heard of any other book involving the Berlin Wall and Katherine did it perfectly. 

If you love historical fiction, you will be a fan of this book. You get a real and in depth look at what life was like during the years the Berlin Wall was up. I cannot rave about this book enough. Katherine Reay, thank you for telling the story of so many. Thank you for bringing to light the events many people know nothing about. 

Untangle Your Emotions

 

Untangle Your Emotions

By: Jennie Allen

Genre: Christian Non-Fiction, Christian Living

Summary:

For many feeling your feelings is a hard thing to do. In this book, Jennie is going to show you how it's normal and healthy to feel your emotions- no matter what you've been led to believe. She'll share experiences from her own life that helped her realize feeling her feelings was an impactful breakthrough for her and many others. 

By Jennie's own admission, feeling her feelings wasn't something she always did. In fact, it wasn't until college that she even allowed herself to feel them over suppressing them. Add to that, the man she married was also of the camp that you didn't feel feelings, but buried them. As you read Untangle Your Emotions, Jennie shares how she, and many in her world, learned that it was healthy to feel the feelings they had. Not only was it healthy, but God blessed. She walks you through learning that God gave you your emotions with the intention to feel them- not deny them. 

Untangle Your Emotions is a great source for those who, like Jennie, were not encouraged to feel their feelings. I know many who were brought up their whole lives with the belief that you buried emotions rather than dealt with them. They learned to think their way through life over feeling their way. And while that may be useful in certain situations, it's not a healthy and ideal way to go through your life. Many feel it's sinful to feel emotions. Jennie is going to address that and where the sin line lies and when we've crossed it. 

Jennie gets candid about her own family and their journey with emotions. From her, and her husband's, conceal don't feel mentality growing up to her own children's' struggle with emotions. She's going to give you tips of how to address them so they don't cause unnecessary stress or damage down the line. 

While I wasn't her target audience in that I wasn't someone who needed to learn it was okay to feel my emotions, I walked away with a better understanding for those who did. I have many in my own family with the buried it mentality. This book started several great, thought provoking conversations. For many within the church, and out of it, this book could be a great tool to help you realize that you are allowed to- and should- feel all the feelings you have. God not only felt His (as Jennie will show you), but He gives you the boundaries to feel them in a healthy, beneficial way. 

The Beautiful People

 

The Beautiful People

By: Michelle Gable

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

The Beautiful People transports you to Palm Beach Florida in 1961. You're going to hobnob with the famous people of the 1960s- the ones you read about in the newspapers. Be prepared to spend the next couple of years getting to know Peter and Lilly Pulitzer and a Vanderbilt. Get ready for the insanely lavish parties they throw and learn their secrets- whether you want to or not. And while you're jet setting around the world you just might discover a talent you never would've thought you could do. But be careful not to get too sucked into the madness where all that glitters isn't the gold it looked like from a distance. 

Margot, "GoGo" Hightower was expecting to get engaged to her well off boyfriend. It was going to be the end of the financial troubles her family has been enduring since her stepfather's federal indictment on securities fraud. However, she gets dumped instead leaving her with no plan- or money. Best friend, Dolly, comes to her rescue when she introduces Margot and the well know photographer, Slimbo "Slim" Aarons. Margot begins a new life as Slim's latest photography assistant. Now, she's jet setting around the world and claiming Palm Beach, Florida as her new homebase. Hobnobbing with the likes of Peter and Lilly Pulitzer expose her to the life she longs to be a part of. 

As Margot becomes friends with Peter and Lilly, she soon learns that not all love stories are as real as the story you make them out to be.. In time, she gets to know the key players of the Palm Beach society and their secrets. However, it doesn't come without her own entanglement with the very people she's been admiring. Once she starts seeing the not so shiny side of the wealthy, Margot realizes this isn't the world for her. But, now she's gotten herself entangled with the key players and doesn't know how she can get out. 

I enjoyed this book. It wasn't an action packed story, but rather very character focused. Michelle takes you along for the ride as Margot navigates the ins and outs of Palm Beach society. You see what Margot sees and learn as Margot does. As the story unfolds, you get to know Slim. He's known for going through assistants, but he connects with Margot. They form a bond that sneaks up on Margot. 

I especially loved all the real life information Michelle gives you about the characters you just read about. She directs you to where you can see the photographs that made Slimbo Aarons so famous. She tells you what happened to the people you got to know after you turned the last page. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the world of Palm Beach in the early 1960s- all the people, the extravagant parties they had and the daily life of the privileged. It was eye opening- and very far from what I've ever known. 

Pull up a chair. Grab a cozy blanket and get ready to travel back in time. Get to know people you may have only heard about. Enjoy your visit. I know I did.

Unstoppable

Unstoppable

By: Maggie Nichols

Genre: Young Adult Non-Fiction

Summary:

Maggie shares with you her career of being a highly acclaimed gymnast. She'll tell you the highs and struggles and how she overcame those struggles. She also is going to take you into her dark nightmare of dealing with assault from what should have been a trusted source for her- and hundreds of fellow gymnasts. Maggie tells you how the Special Olympics inspired her and influenced her personally and professionally. Read how she navigates it all and survives pivoting her career.  

Maggie was like many little girls- myself included- who was bitten by the gymnastics bug. Once she found it, she found her passion. However, it wasn't always a happy journey. She was plagued by injuries. She had setbacks that forced her to have to reevaluate her passion and how she was going to achieve the goals she set out to accomplish. Within the pages of Unstoppable, she shares with you what it was like and how she did it. Injuries are a blow to any athlete, but the recovery isn't always just a physical one. Athletes have to overcome the mental aspect of any physical injury that requires a break from their routine. 

Unstoppable isn't just the telling of her career. Within it's pages, you're going to read some disturbing things that not only happened to Maggie, but too many of her fellow gymnasts. I've always known how disturbing the much acclaimed Karoli camp is. I've known how the athletes are treated there and the methods used to get the athletes into the "best condition for competition". I've never agreed with it and was angry with every story I read about it. Maggie shares hers with you and it will upset you. The way they altered her diet for the "better" and pushed her to the breaking point isn't uncommon to anyone who's walked the property. I had a hard time reading about what was overlooked and allowed for the sake of medals. This book reminds the reader that this facility is focused on winning at the expense of athletes' long term health. 

The hardest parts to read within the book are those involving the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Larry Nassar. Long before he was charged and sentenced for anything, the abuse occurred. Maggie is just one of the hundreds who came forward to tell their story. Maggie tells you how that came to be and how the process was for having him put behind bars. It's not an easy read to see how many trusted adults turned a blind eye or even covered up what was happening to the very athletes they should have been protecting. It was a victory I celebrated when it finally was done and it was a victory I celebrated as Maggie takes you on that journey.

I loved reading how her transition was into college gymnastics. I loved reading how she was treated by teammates and coaches. I loved how they became a family. I loved how they were able to comin in and undo the unhealthy eating and training habits instilled, in party, by the Karoli team. By the time you finish the last page of Maggie's book you will have read how she pursued her dream and overcame the nightmares she encountered along the way. 

Unstoppable is a great book that any young adults could pull lessons from. She explains the technical aspects of gymnastics, so starting out gymnasts can have extra knowledge. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Maggie's story and I hope you do, as well.