Professional Reviews for If Mama Were Here
The best part about this book is the author—and her story. She took a topic, a very difficult and personal one to write about—the death of her mother at a young age, and turned it into a page-turner. I was literally weeping at parts, especially it’s conclusion, where she finally writes to her mother and finds peace… It’s very sad, but she infused a lot of humor and real life into it, so it never seemed overdone or a burden to read.
Writer’s Digest
I would hope that if there are people who are dealing with terrible problems right now and feel that they will never get over their sorrow, that they will consider reading this book. Even if you wish to read an inspiring story, this may very well be the book for you.
I would hope that if there are people who are dealing with terrible problems right now and feel that they will never get over their sorrow, that they will consider reading this book. Even if you wish to read an inspiring story, this may very well be the book for you.
Marquette Mining Journal
Professional Reviews for Faded Genes
I still like the author’s voice. It is strong and she commands the story telling role quite well. There is a lot to tell. The story of her father, her brothers and sisters and how they survived—without a mother and being so poor is still amazing—even in book 2. It was touching—again—right up to the end.
Professional Reviews for Faded Genes
I still like the author’s voice. It is strong and she commands the story telling role quite well. There is a lot to tell. The story of her father, her brothers and sisters and how they survived—without a mother and being so poor is still amazing—even in book 2. It was touching—again—right up to the end.
Writer’s Digest
This is a story of a growing up in a bath by fire, and coming out learning from the experience. I’d think not only grief-counseling groups would be interested, but AA groups would embrace it, children of AA groups, and people who’ve been molested and /or sexually harassed would also be attracted to its story of rising out of the ashes. It is somewhat reminiscent of Cheaper By the Dozen but without the comic adventures.
New York Book Festival/JM Northern Media LLC
“Every day of that first year after my mother’s death was January ninth for me,” Donna Jean shares. She is caught in the middle of her many siblings, she struggles with the trauma of losing a mother and the destitution of her family while witnessing her over-burdened father valiantly trying to keep his children together…The memoir, Faded Genes, reminds us our past is only a small part of whom we are and that those who came before us were also, many times, victims of circumstances.
This is a story of a growing up in a bath by fire, and coming out learning from the experience. I’d think not only grief-counseling groups would be interested, but AA groups would embrace it, children of AA groups, and people who’ve been molested and /or sexually harassed would also be attracted to its story of rising out of the ashes. It is somewhat reminiscent of Cheaper By the Dozen but without the comic adventures.
New York Book Festival/JM Northern Media LLC
“Every day of that first year after my mother’s death was January ninth for me,” Donna Jean shares. She is caught in the middle of her many siblings, she struggles with the trauma of losing a mother and the destitution of her family while witnessing her over-burdened father valiantly trying to keep his children together…The memoir, Faded Genes, reminds us our past is only a small part of whom we are and that those who came before us were also, many times, victims of circumstances.
Midwest Book Review
