Pretty-Hot.com

You are here: Home / Archives for Memoir

The Ugly Daughter

Leave a Comment

About The Ugly Daughter:

The Ugly Daughter is a thrilling memoir, the gripping true story of a young girl who witnessed horrific murders and who overcame cruel abuse and unimaginable tragedies to find love and happiness.

Julia Legian’s emotionally, harrowing and fascinating memoir reveals how she endured a series of unbelievable tragedies and heartbreaking abuse from the hands of her parents and great aunty, and how she rose above her horrendous past to have a successful and happy life. It’s beautifully written with simplicity and shocking honesty. The Ugly Daughter is a wonderful reminder that regardless of your social background or environment you came from, you can rise above the tragedy and survive. This book also clearly demonstrates that anything is possible if only you have firm faith in God or your creator. It’s an amazing story of miracles, shocking reality of domestic violence, survival and extraordinary luck. This really is a powerful and touching story that must be read.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.
Visit the Twitter page.

[Read more…]

Family Legends, Family Lies

About Family Legends, Family Lies:

Trekking in Nepal. Climbing Snow Creek. Camping in Anza Borrego. Mountain climbing and hiking in the High Sierras. Horseback riding and rock climbing in Canon Tajo. Stunning mountain top vistas, unexpected storms, gold mines, and icy alpine lakes are the backdrop.

I have written for others for many years. Now, I have written my own story. After a stint on Wall Street, I made a change in life, joined Main Street, and took up mountain climbing. Along the way, I encountered rhinos, crocodiles, monkeys, eagles, elephants, tigers, coyotes, bears, and a pack of Wild Englishmen.

What lessons did I learn in my real-life adventures? Speaking truth leads to a clear pathway that truth wins.

My commitment to truth, even when someone else worked relentlessly to stop me, was worth every struggle on that pathway.

The early trauma was childhood sexual abuse. My grandfather was a Bishop in the American Lutheran Church, and he was a pedophile who preyed on little girls in his own family.

My book looks at the secrecy that surrounds this timely issue. Rather than address the actual sexual abuse, I hope to enlighten the reader about why anyone would keep these secrets. I hope to convey some of the lasting damage that sexual abuse of a child can cause.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
[Read more…]

Seeking Solace: Finding Joy After Loss By Author Amy Bovaird

About Seeking Solace: Finding Joy After Loss By Author Amy Bovaird:

“A most gripping and encouraging read as it is divided into bite-sized sections (devotionals) with scripture and prayer… I found myself devouring one after another to follow the author’s story of many adversities and challenges but how God, good friends, and family brought her through each one.” 5+STARS!

Life in the United Arab Emirates brings many ups and downs for Amy, an American, married to an Arab, now, pregnant with twins. But during her twenty-week check-up, Amy learns she has lost one of her precious babies. Suddenly she is hospitalized with pre-eclampsia and fighting for her and her second twin’s life.

She learns the fate of that baby while she is alone—more loss. Just as life settles down, her beloved father is diagnosed with two stage-four cancers. Will she make it home in time to see her father one last time? How does Amy cope with these fears and devastating losses in the United Arab Emirates?

This memoir, written in a devotional format, testifies to a loving Father who never once abandons His daughter to cope alone in a foreign country. ‘Seeking Solace’ centers on relationships and the complex and often messy emotions that accompany the many facets of loss. Discover truth, gratitude, and a growing awareness of God’s presence.

Then wrap yourself in the solace of God’s reassuring comfort…

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.
Visit the Twitter page.

[Read more…]

RV There Yet?

About RV There Yet?:

It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense. —Mark Twain

After selling their Minnesota home, Travis and Wendy plan an elaborate departure from the United States before repatriating themselves to the UK. Buying a second-hand RV, visiting states unknown, and selling the campervan after reaching Florida seems like the perfect exit. So they pack their lives and blind Shih Tzu into a once-luxurious thirty-one-foot RV and hit the open road.

As they roll through the Midwest, heading for the Deep South, they soon discover “RV” doesn’t mean “Reliable Vehicle.” Historical sites give way to repair shops and the excitement of the once-in-a-lifetime trip quickly turns into apprehension of what’s around the next corner. With the wheels literally coming off the wagon, bogus repairs, temperatures rising inside the RV and under the hood, sleeping in junkyards, and being laughed at by the Mississippi police, the once-happy couple just want the nightmare to end so they can return to England. But the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles has the final say as to when they can leave.

Of course it’s a true story. You couldn’t make it up.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.

[Read more…]

Saving Souls in Paradise: A Mormon’s Failed Mission in the Canary Islands

About Saving Souls in Paradise: A Mormon’s Failed Mission in the Canary Islands:

Balog’s fascinating debut memoir is a first-person account of the daily grind of the proselyting Mormon elder, revealing delightful secrets about missionary life.

This young elder—serving in the Spain, Las Palmas mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—bounces from island to island to convert Canarians to Mormonism. The rote work means knocking endless doors, contacting strangers in the street, and soaking in sweat under the Spanish sun. A clash with locals brings him face to face with rejection and hostility, vulnerable to slings of insults and sometimes rocks. Elder Balog, in his quest to find converts, debates religion with all walks of life but suffers a crisis of faith and questions his lifelong religion, leaving him searching for meaning to his service.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.
Visit the Twitter page.

[Read more…]

Travel Adventures for the Young at Heart

About Travel Adventures for the Young at Heart:

When Al and Sunny Lockwood signed up for a 12-day Mediterranean cruise, little did they know that the trip would morph into 42 days of fascinating travel filled with old world wonder, colorful characters, and just plain fun.

These three travel memoirs document the entire exciting journey in dazzling detail.

Join Al and Sunny as they travel by foot, cruise ship, and train through seven famous cities in five European countries. You’ll be awed by gigantic cathedrals or swept away by romantic canals. Enjoy the enchantment of off-the-tourist-track neighborhoods. Indulge in mouthwatering cuisine, renowned museums, quaint hotels and magical moments that will warm your heart.

Buy Travel Adventures for the Young at Heart today and find yourself on the journey of a lifetime.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Buy the Book On Amazon.

[Read more…]

Mayhem 337: Memoir of a Combat Advisor in Afghanistan

About Mayhem 337: Memoir of a Combat Advisor in Afghanistan:

In Mayhem 337, Rickard powerfully recounts his experiences during a nine month period of intense combat deep in the mountains of Eastern Afghanistan. His graphic account guides you through intense combat from the streets of Khost City, to deadly mountain warfare while based at an austere combat outpost. He vividly describes the sights and sounds of battle as well as the heartbreaking aftermath of fallen comrades. From IED laden roads to air assault missions and hostage standoffs, Rickard’s story leaves nothing to the imagination. His riveting memoir brings recognition and honor to the Embedded Transition Team legacy that is but a footnote in U.S. military history.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.

[Read more…]

Loving Tiara by Tiffani Goff

About Loving Tiara by Tiffani Goff:

“I have found the quiet. At forty-five years old, my life’s mission was complete. If I died tomorrow, I would be proud of the life I lived.” – Loving Tiara

When Tiffani married the love of her life, Lou, after graduating from college, she assumed she would continue to live the affluent life she had always known, having grown up in Newport Beach, California. She never imagined she would soon be stalked by creditors, driving a car on the repossession list and forced to worry about providing basic necessities for her family, such as buying diapers and groceries. This increasingly desperate situation forced her to decide to return home to her parents with her baby and husband.

After getting their life back on track, and with Tiffani in her final year of law school, they decided to have another baby. At eight months old, however, they discovered that their new daughter Tiara had Tuberous Sclerosis, a rare genetic disorder resulting in intractable epilepsy, developmental delay, chronic hospital admissions, and uncontrollable violent behaviors. So how did Tiffani cope with her new reality? She chose to fight. She challenged the doctors, battled the insurance companies, and refused to give up caring for Tiara even when her own life was at risk.

The author’s story of unconditional love, unimaginable challenges, and, ultimately, triumph, is a compelling one, which will take hold of your heart and not let go. This memoir will inspire you to tackle fear, encourage you never to give up, and remind you always to trust your gut instincts.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.
Visit the Twitter page.

[Read more…]

Powerless by Lela Fox

About Powerless by Lela Fox:

For 13-year-old Lela Fox, an electrifying new life started in a gravel alley with a six-pack and two albino sisters. Four beers roused the ogre of alcoholism and began a lifetime struggle against the bottle and a string of absurd choices, curious antics, and profound consequences.
It’s a high-spirited and poignant story, definitely not a drunk-a-logue, with most chapters followed by a “reflection” from Lela’s current 20-years-sober perspective. You’ll find hair-raising action and plenty of “you are there” dialogue in POWERLESS, the story of a coming of age that never came.
What came instead was a life sidetracked by a myriad of challenges – Bi-Polar mood swings, harrowing accidents, love’s betrayal, and mixed messages from a tee-totaling family.
As heartbreaking as it is funny, this tale examines Lela’s eccentricities and warped motivations with eye-opening style. It’s a gripping story with captivating characters, written with raw honesty and laugh-out-loud hysterics.
POWERLESS is the intense beginning of Lela Fox’s life story in the seven-book series The Life & Times of a Curious Drunk, beginning with her first drink, continuing through 17 years of sobriety, and ending with her final step into serenity.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.

[Read more…]

Letters to Emma

About Letters to Emma:

A happy ending with a twist you will have to read to find out…
Katherine has had a tragic life, with abuse and death of parents and her child. This does not stop her from leading a full and happy life with her husband Calvin and second child.
Nothing stops Katherine, not loss, not mental illness…
Follow the letters that Katherine writes to her lost child and let you decide what fact is and what is fiction.
Based on real-life events of Lorna Michael’s
Trigger warning; mention of abuse and child loss, mental illness

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.
Visit the Twitter page.

[Read more…]

Petals of Rain: A Mother’s Memoir

About Petals of Rain: A Mother’s Memoir:

Taking a girl’s voice is the same as taking her power.

This is a memoir about love and loss, secrets and lies. When a young girl from a broken family meets a charming man, she attempts to build a new life. But after a whirlwind marriage and the birth of two sons, their love story rips apart at the seams.

Exploring the impact of parents’ sins on the lives of children and the fates we endure for the chance to be loved, the story follows a mother navigating motherhood and womanhood – an abuse survivor emerging and learning to speak, to scream, to sing to her own wounded heart and to finally understand what it takes to be whole after breaking to pieces. Weaving the present and past together, the author reveals her truth in hauntingly evocative scenes.

As surely as the sun shines behind the grayest clouds, healing comes drop by drop. Like petals of rain.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.

[Read more…]

I justify Hitler

About I justify Hitler:

Even though there is a tons of literature written about the events of the First and Second World Wars, the historians still voice their debates that the true history of the 20th century hasn’t been written yet. Indeed, there are still no meaningful answers to the questions: who unleashed the First World War, why did the October Revolution in Russia happen, what were the true reasons for the Second World War? For these and other questions, the author is trying to find the answers in his book.
Of course, there is absolutely no way to justify the horrors of the war, but a different perspective of the generally held opinions of the historical events allows one to look at this troubling period in European and World history differently and make critical conclusions for the present.
The book is appropriate for a wide audience.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Buy the Book On Amazon.

[Read more…]

Russian Justice: The Horror & The Fear

About Russian Justice: The Horror & The Fear:

It’s not just my memoir – it’s my soul’s open wound that still hurts. This book is not just a book, but an appeal to the world community: there are big problems with justice and human rights in Russia. Read this book and you will read my first hand account of bribery, corruption, slander, suicide, poisoning and broken families. You will also read about Lenin, Stalin, Sorokin, Pasternak, Vavilov, Lysenko and other prominent Russians.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Buy the Book On Amazon.

[Read more…]

Golden Monkey

About Golden Monkey:

Little Lance Pototschnik wanted to grow up and play pro football, but that pipe dream got smoked by his lethargic growth hormones and a terrible skin disorder. The death of his childhood aspirations did, however, plant the seeds for Lance to find comedy in rejection and suffering.
In this gaspingly funny collection of stories, Lance’s battle with disease, his overbearing parents, and his maniacal bosses push him toward the startling discovery that the daily grind–which scrapes the gold off even the best of us–is the very thing that reveals what we are truly made of. This book is for every intellectual slacker whose very soul is straining against the chains of a dead-end job, a disease, or bad culture. Golden Monkey is a hysterical and bittersweet look at the dark moments that define us, and the triumphant aftermath when we get to say, with all our hearts, that we know exactly who the hell we are.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Twitter page.

[Read more…]

Coffee Drinkers Make Better Lovers: A Stroke Memoir

About Coffee Drinkers Make Better Lovers: A Stroke Memoir:

One night, I went to play soccer and woke up from a coma five days later.

I had a stroke.

Yes, a stroke at 33. And I had met the love of my life on Instagram. Just when everything seems better than perfect, suddenly I can’t walk and talk. If life is a cruel irony, this is it. I can’t even feed myself, let alone keep a long-distance relationship alive. But I won’t give up just like that. Mom and Dad didn’t raise me that way. Life tore me apart but I will pull through.

I’m a survivor, not a victim.

Told through blog entries, this memoir breaks your heart and puts it back again with the aroma, acidity and aftertaste of life.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.

[Read more…]

Celebrity Cameos by M Dee Dubroff

About Celebrity Cameos by M Dee Dubroff:

Their faces graced the silver screen of yesteryear and they were at one time considered Hollywood royalty. Although they have long since passed to the other side of the sod, they live again in these mini-bios that summarize their lives and many achievements. Come visit the golden age of Hollywood and learn more about the stars of stage and screen that comprised this special period in history that spanned the years from 1917 to 1960.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.

[Read more…]

Love & Feathers: what a palm-sized parrot has taught me about life, love, and healthy self-esteem

About Love & Feathers: what a palm-sized parrot has taught me about life, love, and healthy self-esteem:

When Shannon Cutts and Pearl first meet, she is still mourning the sudden passing of her first cockatiel, Jacob. The last thing she wants to do is to fall in love with another baby parrot! But one look at the tiny grey ball of fluff and Shannon just knows – he is love with wings, and they are meant to be together.

A lifelong parrot lover but by no means experienced at caring for cockatiels, Shannon quickly assumes the role of eager student, with Pearl as her willing and equally eager teacher. From negotiating victuals preferences to socializing with the parrot-phobic, making home improvements to avoiding the dreaded V.E.T., Shannon learns from her feathery sidekick how to meet his basic needs, offer extra enrichment, nurture and care for him, and be nurtured and cared for in return.

Pearl, in turn, opens a window for Shannon into a refreshing new world full of self-acceptance, self-respect, trust, laughter, love, and FUN. In Pearl’s world, everyone is a potential new friend, every mirror reflects prettiness, every meal is a celebration of good food and good company, and each new day is a great day to celebrate being YOU.

Today, 12 years after their first meeting, Shannon and Pearl are still blissfully joined at the beak. Love & Feathers, a book based on the popular blog by the same name, is their story.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.
Visit the Twitter page.

[Read more…]

The Game That Almost Broke Me

About The Game That Almost Broke Me:

The most prolific defensive player in NCAA Division III history, 13.41 tackles-per-game a Division III record and ranks second all-time in any division. I had it all but it meant nothing because it almost killed me.

The Game That Almost Broke Me is the inspirational story of Tavarski Wallace, an ambitious player in the game of achieving a spot in the NFL, and a resilient player in the turbulent, challenging, and sometimes unfair game of life. The intriguing evolution of “Taz” Wallace is remarkable in this book-long journey, which is marked by milestones of overcoming adversity – from resolving struggles academically, supporting his hard-working single mother, to ultimately managing the unforgiving politics of professional football.

From modest beginnings in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Taz documents a series of key relationships which shaped him as an individual and helped fuel his dreams of becoming a linebacker in the NFL. With unrelenting persistence every step of the way, the experiences, failures, and surprising successes of Taz in The Game That Almost Broke Me prove how the American Dream can dramatically transform with time, and may even become something entirely different in the end.

In The Game That Almost Broke Me, Taz writes about the decisions that shaped his life. Taz’s transparency about his journey will inspire readers to hold on to belief in the midst of adversity and win in the game of life. Perfect for anyone looking for an inspiring story.

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.

[Read more…]

The Kingdom Has Arrived Volume 1: Foundations by Amy Jean

About The Kingdom Has Arrived Volume 1: Foundations by Amy Jean:

The Kingdom Has Arrived Volume 1: Foundations is Jean’s debut memoir. A compilation of poetry and prose quaintly detail the groundwork laid during her childhood and early years, leading to a miraculous faith journey and supernatural encounters. Jean takes the reader along on her pilgrimage – one driven by a passion that has not galvanized humanity for thousands of years, a journey that leads to self-discovery and a deeper understanding of the universe and the presence of God’s Kingdom now.

Jean shares personal details of her mystical and otherworld encounters, including physical manifestations, visions, locutions, prophetic dreams, and apparitions. Through Scripture, she beings to uncover her life events woven through time, and she discovers her life is written in Biblical history. Charming images accompany events, bringing her story captivatingly to life for the reader.

In sharing her story, Jean aspires to bring light to a world that seems to be in a state of demise. With so much violence, political unrest, bullying, sickness, and death in the news, many are struggling to find joy. The hectic pace of life gears many toward building financial wealth, and coupled with the adversity in the news, many worldwide are left without hope. We, as a society, are trudging through our day, going through the motions, and forgetting to stop and smell the roses—embrace life, chase passion, and feel joy. Why not listen to what God wanted for us:

Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist,

And make use of the creation to the full as in youth.

Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes,

and let no flower of spring pass by us.

Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither.

Let none of us fail to share in our revelry;

everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment,

because this is our portion, and this our lot.

―Wisdom 2:6–9

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.

[Read more…]

CORRECTION OFFICER: The Other Side Of The Wall

About CORRECTION OFFICER: The Other Side Of The Wall:

Correction Officers are often referred to as “the forgotten cops!” Working behind the walls and fences of correctional institutions and prisons understandably ranks as one of the most dangerous professions, and Correction Officers are rarely observed by the public in performance of their duties. They function as police officers within communities where EVERY citizen is a convicted felon. The mandate of Correction Officers is care, custody, and control of inmates, and involves much more than just standing around eyeballing convicts. Their responsibilities frequently include disturbance control; fire prevention; emergency first aid; weapons proficiency; and documentation of incidents and events; but a successful shift was one in which it was unnecessary to utilize these skills.

My career as a Correction Officer was similar to that of other public safety professionals like police officers and firefighters; there were frequent moments of inactivity amidst the routines of the day, but when “the fertilizer hit the fan,” that’s when we earned our pay. I made my contribution to society by helping keep the local public safe from a large population of criminal offenders.

CORRECTION OFFICER: The Other Side Of The Wall provides an in-depth look at my 20-year career at MCI Norfolk, Norfolk, Massachusetts; the difficulties and rewards of the occupation; the hazards of inmate contact, unreasonable management, and interpersonal relationships; and the professionalism, camaraderie, and dedication expressed by Correction Officers in the face of so many obstacles. A time-honored expression very appropriately states, “We walk the toughest beat,” and I did – on the other side of the wall!

Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author’s Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.

[Read more…]