WINNER OF BOOK GIVEAWAY IS DOLORES NICE-SIEGENTHALER!
Congratulations, Dolores. Watch your email for more information on receiving your copy of Kathy’s memoir.
Nothing can rescue her until she decides to rescue herself
Kathy loses touch with the faith she was brought up with as she attempts to find her way in the world, leaving her stable roots for adventure and romance. Despite a spiritual prophecy, self-defeating detours take her through a series of heartbreaking events.
When second husband Dan’s verbal abuse escalates, Kathy finally realizes she must escape before she and her children become a statistic.
How does a young woman from a stable, loving family make so many wise choices when it comes to career, but so many poor choices when it comes to love? Her life and the lives of her two children hinge on her choices and the answers she finds.
Join Kathleen Pooler on her roller-coaster ride of self-discovery, from shame and guilt to inner strength, in her tears to triumph.
(Image and synopsis provided by Kathy Pooler)
My Thoughts:
Having known Kathy Pooler for some years now and exchanging writing ideas via Internet, phone and blogs as well as assisting Kathy as a beta reader for her memoir, I am unable to give an unbiased review.
However, I am able to tell you that from vignettes written here and there, Kathy has pulled together a stellar written work which not only tells her story honestly but also provides hope for others walking the same path.
Kathy’s growing up was parented by a loving couple who always appeared happy and stable. Members of the Catholic faith, service above all else was the message passed on to their children. Hence, Kathy’s interest in nursing and her compassion for others.
Kathy dreamed of that perfect marriage, just like mom and dad’s. Yet choices made in her first two marriages did not play out like the perfect image Kathy saw in her dreams. Concerned with her own safety and that of her children, Kathy left her first husband and promised herself to make a better choice next time. And yet once again that did not happen.
During these trials, Kathy worked hard both on the job and in advancing her education while still maintaining her role as a mother to her daughter and son. She continued to dream her dream of a good husband.
Soon Kathy begins to see what choices she needs to make in order to bring her life into focus and find happiness. From this decision came the title for Kathy’s memoir.
I highly recommend Kathy’s memoir to anyone living in an abusive situation, with or without children, and to anyone who has a son or daughter in an abusive relationship. While we as parents are not always able to say what we feel to our adult children, Kathy’s book will give you an understanding of how to cope as your adult child works through these problems and signs you can watch for to know what is happening.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Meet the Author:
Kathleen Pooler is an author and a retired Family Nurse Practitioner whose memoir, Ever Faithful to His Lead: My Journey Away From Emotional Abuse, published on July 28, 2014 and work-in-progress sequel,Hope Matters: A Memoir are about how the power of hope through her faith in God helped her to transform, heal and transcend life’s obstacles and disappointments: domestic abuse, divorce, single parenting, loving and letting go of an alcoholic son, cancer and heart failure to live a life of joy and contentment. She believes that hope matters and that we are all strengthened and enlightened when we share our stories.
She lives with her husband Wayne in eastern New York.
She blogs weekly at her Memoir Writer’s Journey blog: http://krpooler.com
Connect with Kathy here:
Twitter @kathypooler https://twitter.com/KathyPooler
LinkedIn: Kathleen Pooler https://www.linkedin.com/pub/kathleen-pooler/16/a95/20a
Google+: Kathleen Pooler https://plus.google.com/109860737182349547026/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4812560-kathleen-pooler
Facebook: Personal page: https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.pooler Author page: Kathleen Pooler/Memoir Writer’s Journey, https://www.facebook.com/memoirwritersjourney
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/krpooler/
Book Details:
Publisher: Open Book Press
Published: July 21, 2014
Paperback and e-book available
ISBN: 978-0-9859367-9-2
Where to Purchase: Available from Open Book Press with links to Smashwords and Amazon and from Barnes and Noble. Also available from your favorite booksellers worldwide.
BOOK GIVEAWAY — SIMPLE as 1-2-3!
Clicking on this link will take you to an entry form.
All that’s needed is your name and email address.
The giveaway ends at noon on Wednesday, September 3rd.
At that time, a winner will be selected using random.org.
The winner will be announced on this blog on Thursday, September 4th.
Great review, Sherrey. Kathy has done such good work here and I continue to support her efforts to get her book into the hands that need it.
Thanks, Patti for your ongoing support and efforts to spread the message of my book. Much appreciated!
My pleasure 🙂
Patti, thanks for stopping by to read my review and to support Kathy as she proceeds with her launch efforts. Many will be touched by her story and the hope she extends.
When are you going to come to Portland? When are you back from Alaska? Maybe I’m going to have to come to you!
Home from AK Sept 29th, but then I need to spend some time with kids and grands, then back to the cave at Westport. I’ll check to see if Kevin wants to visit his mom again before winter sets in. If so, maybe you and I could meet for lunch. Lots of ifs, but I will call when I come your way, as I’m sure you will if you come my way 🙂
So, you have another month in AK. If it’s any more beautiful the next 30 days, I won’t be able to look at your photos. They have been stunning! Well, just now whenever you’re in Portland, coffee or lunch would be fun and it would be a treat to meet you face-to-face. Continue to enjoy your time up north. It’s lovely that we don’t have to go through withdrawal thanks to social media when a friend goes travelling. 🙂
So glad you enjoy the photos, Sherrey. I’ve been up to my eyeballs in framing, so I haven’t posted in a few days. I know we’ll catch up to each other one of these days! 🙂
I’m on page 65 of Kathy’s book now – making headway. I’ve followed Kathy’s blog as her book’s final edits and publication have unfolded and have read several reviews so far, but what keeps me reading is the easy flow of her writing style. Her readers will be compelled to turn the page because they care about what happens to this young woman.
So kind of you, Marian. As always, you are right there with an encouraging word. I especially love your description of “easy flow of writing”. Thank you!
Marian, I know you are going to enjoy Kathy’s book as much as I did. It has been a wonderful experience watching her write, edit, publish and now launch, and it has been a great way for me to learn what’s coming when I finish my book. Thanks for stopping by to support Kathy.
A deep and thought-full interview about a deep and thought-full book. I read Kathy’s book three times as it evolved, and it kept me reading each time. It’s not just for people in trouble relationships. We can all take lessons from Kathy’s journey of self-discovery.
Thanks for your generous feedback, Sharon. Your honest input along the way helped me shape this into a story I wanted to share. 🙂
Sharon, thank you for stopping by to read my review and continue your support of Kathy and her book. You are correct in your assessment that this is not a book just for people in troubled relationships. There is much to be learned from cover to cover.
I agree with all of the above from other writers and readers. You have summarized well the value of this book to all readers, especially ones who serve others so faithfully that they forget to serve themselves. I loved reading as Kathy grew stronger and more perceptive –and I saw my own many failures of judgment as I empathized. And, Sherrey, congrats again on creating a space here that serves other writers so well. Are you working on a book about the writing and publishing process? You are becoming a pro!
Shirley, as always I appreciate your ongoing support for my story. And I totally agree with you that Sherrey has a great thing going here. Yay, Sherrey! Thanks for stopping by.
Shirley, thanks for stopping in to check out my review and to support our friend, Kathy, as she launches her memoir. I too saw many of my own poor choices made over time, and as I read and watched Kathy grow stronger, I also saw myself as I grew stronger and realized the error of my ways.
Thank you for your kind and supportive comments regarding my space here. No, I am not currently working on a book about the writing and publishing process. Maybe later. Right now I want to complete my memoir.
Dear Sherrey, I remain so grateful for your ongoing friendship and support on my writing journey. You have gathered a wonderful community together here. I feel very honored to be among so many good friends and colleagues whom I respect and admire. Thank you for this lovely and insightful review of my memoir.
Dear Kathy, the friendship developed while we talked through beta reading, edits, and the rest of your journey to this point in time is a gift I will always treasure. Thank you for your kind comments about the blog and the people who come together in community here. And the review was easy to write — it’s a great book you’ve written.
[…] 8/26: “Ever Faithful to His Lead Book Review on Sherrey Meyer’s blog, Sherrey Meyer, […]
Kathy’s roller coaster ride will help so many because she took the time to develop it on the page. The power of memoir!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Linda and for sharing in my journey. I appreciate your comments.
Linda, nice to meet you and thanks for continuing to support Kathy on this new leg of her journey. Hope you’ll return to visit again.
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