Memoir – Book Reader Magazine

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Bottom Line to Lifeline by Simon Higginbotham

About Featured Book Bottom Line to Lifeline by Simon Higginbotham

About the Book: Bottom Line to Lifeline

What happens when a high-powered business executive walks away from the boardroom and learns to save lives instead? Bottom Line to Lifeline is a gripping, real-life memoir that chronicles one man’s year-long transformation from international CEO to frontline paramedic student. This inspiring and sometimes harrowing journey pulls readers into the adrenaline-charged world of 911 emergency medicine—and the deeply human moments that come with it.

With vivid, present-tense storytelling, this memoir offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at emergency calls, classroom lessons, personal doubts, and the raw moments of truth that shape new medics. It’s a powerful read for anyone contemplating a life change, passionate about medicine, or interested in how resilience, purpose, and teamwork are forged under pressure.

Now with over 50 five-star reviews, Bottom Line to Lifeline has struck a chord with readers across careers and continents. Rashmi Agrawal, a Reedsy Reviewer, writes:

“It’s an eye-opening reminder of what really matters in life and work. The book got me thinking about purpose and meaning in my career, which is always a sign of a good read!”
And she adds,
“Imagine going from worrying about profit margins to holding someone’s life in your hands. The contrast is wild.”

Special EMS Week Offer: In honor of EMS Week (May 19–25), the Kindle edition is available for just $0.99 between May 20 and May 27—a massive 83% discount off the regular $5.99 list price.

Fast Facts:

3,700+ copies sold

4.7/5.0 average rating

Ranked #1 in Emergency Services and Personal Transformation on Kindle during launch week

Perfect for fans of medical memoirs, career-change stories, and leadership books with heart

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Author Bio
I’ve lived a life of contrasts, from corporate boardrooms in Europe and the U.S. to the back of an ambulance on a 911 call. After a successful career in international business leadership, I made the bold decision to retrain as a paramedic at age 50. Bottom Line to Lifeline is the story of that journey: a year of reinvention, challenge, purpose, and unexpected fun.

I’ve always been drawn to new perspectives, whether in life, business, or the outdoors. When I’m not working with EMS teams, consulting, or writing, you can find me hiking or mountain walking (Snowdonia in North Wales, UK, is a favorite) or out on the open road on my motorcycle. I also play both guitar and violin—music brings a kind of clarity and expression that words often can’t.

My writing reflects my conviction that life is too short to remain stagnant, that we’re all capable of profound transformation, and that the most meaningful work we can do often begins when we venture far outside our comfort zone.

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to change everything, or if you’re curious about what happens behind the scenes in emergency medical care, I hope you’ll find something in this book that inspires or stays with you.

Finding Lalla’s Anna

About Finding Lalla’s Anna:

Born to a globetrotting diplomat father and haunted by the silence of her absent mother, Anna’s childhood is a tapestry woven from fragments of different cultures. Guided by the unwavering love and wisdom of her Malian grandmother, Lalla, Anna seeks solace in ancestral traditions as she navigates a life marked by loneliness and displacement.
But years of nomadic existence take their toll, leading to emotional burnout in the bustling heart of New York City. Facing fractured relationships and the ghosts of her past, Anna embarks on a transformative journey. Fueled by resilience and Lalla’s enduring spirit, she confronts long-buried truths, mends broken bonds, and finally discovers the courage to embrace her true self.
Finding Lalla’s Anna is a captivating memoir of cultural identity, family, and the unwavering strength of love. It’s a poignant exploration of belonging, self-discovery, and the power of ancestral wisdom to heal even the deepest wounds.

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Dispatches from the Couch by Stacey Hettes

About Dispatches from the Couch by Stacey Hettes:

With exceptional candor, author Stacey Hettes invites readers to take a seat in the office of her new therapist as she chronicles the painful but beautiful dialogues working toward finally exorcizing the serpents a church deacon let loose in her kindergarten self.

Stacey has what she believes to be the perfect life, that is until she slips on the psychological equivalent of black ice. At an emotionally charged forum on sexual violence, Stacey takes a stand against a colleague’s reckless verbal assault, outing herself as a sexual abuse survivor in the process. The event sends her tumbling back into her fractured childhood, one she has already spent years trying to reconcile through cycle after cycle of therapy. But Dr. Hettes, the neuroscientist, must continue her work, even as Stacey Hettes, the abuse survivor, finds herself submerged in the sights, sounds, and smells of her painful memories.

Raw and heartfelt, this memoir aims to build empathy, understanding, and solidarity for everyone who has suffered through or witnessed the effects of abuse.

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The Adventures of a Florida Boy by Jim Melvin

The Adventures of a Florida Boy by Jim Melvin

NEW RELEASE: Many of us are in need of relief, and we sometimes search for something good-natured and joyous to put a smile on our faces. This is what “Florida Boy” is all about. This sweet memoir will make you laugh and feel happy in that stomach-warming way that fond memories tend to inspire, and it can be read in one or two sittings. Melvin’s boyhood was spent in Florida in the 1960s on an island called Coquina Key. His parents’ waterfront home overlooked a wide expanse of Tampa Bay. Back then, parts of the island were undeveloped, which left room for climbing trees, digging forts, and swimming in shark-infested waters. Some of the things he and his friends did were downright dangerous. But they didn’t care. They were the rulers of their domain. Readers will discover moments that will awaken their own childhood memories, regardless of where and when they grew up.

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You Still Can’t Make This Up! by J. Traveler Pelton

You Still Can’t Make This Up! by J. Traveler Pelton

In this second book about my twenty-eight years in professional Social Work, I reached back in my memory vault to put stories to the faces that still come to mind when I sit back and recall those days. Some of them are drop-dead funny, some are sad and some simply infuriated me. I’ve met people from the privileged to the poor and most their relatives. Book two continues the short, almost true history of that career, funny to tragic. Names have been changed to protect innocent and guilty; and I promise you won’t find anything more fascinating than true life in my world. It gets greasy, gritty, gracious and no way glamourous here; I think it has been a life well lived. If you like true to life stories, odd characters funny to tragic, you will love this book.

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My Life in Dog Years: A Poodle Named Henry and Other Melodramas by Candida Pugh

About My Life in Dog Years: A Poodle Named Henry and Other Melodramas by Candida Pugh:

An impulsive woman takes on a series of problematic dogs. Hilarious and heart wrenching by turns, My Life in Dog Years explores the many ways a loving dog owner can screw up and still wind up with a magnificent pet.

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Ascent of a Woman by Mhairi Blyth

Ascent of a Woman by Mhairi Blyth

In Ascent of a Woman, Mhairi Blyth presents an unfiltered, candid account of her life. Spanning over thirty years, her memoir shows a life littered with trauma, trials, and tragedy, starting with her dad leaving to work over three-thousand miles away, in the middle of a war, when she was just six.

With every chapter of her life, a new and seemingly impossible trial begins which tests Mhairi’s mental and physical strength, and her ability to overcome adversity. She reveals her darkest moments, together with feelings of loneliness, loss, and despair, where even mother nature is against her. Mhairi also describes her sparks of resilience and determination in fighting for herself and for her family, where she comes up against those meant to be the very people to help and protect.

Ascent of a Woman is one woman’s story of endurance, growth and forgiveness whilst overcoming massive personal loss, the consequences of which will always be with her. This is Mhairi’s ascent from a child to a girl, to a woman. This is her evolution.

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The Friend of My Mind by Gil Frank

The Friend of My Mind by Gil Frank

“Written by a man about the woman he loved with all his soul is healing. We NEED more books and works like these.” —Jessica Coates. Victims of Abuse Advocate During the week of mourning Gil opened the blue crate she never agreed to unpack. He discovered her poems of passion and erotic enjoyment with previous lovers. The family was shocked, but the secret consumed him in a tumultuous whirlwind. He hid it until the family left. Then, he let the verses, like Satan bites, scramble his dreams, twist his grief. He did not eat, headaches detained him. By keeping silent about what led her to carnal passion, she obscured how the wounds of their betrayals still impregned her soul and snuck into their relationship. Friend of My Mind is a two-part dialogue between a man and his departed spouse. He writes the letter she wanted to pen—their love story from his perspective. In part two, he recounts his own journey to love — ‘careloving’ face to face with her death, and himself. Across Paris, Jamaica, Jerusalem and America, the story climbs to “Friend of The Mind” as the response beyond distrust, prior toxic relationships, financial inequality, and ge

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Letters from My Hymie by David Fradin

About Letters from My Hymie by David Fradin:

What was it like to be a Jewish immigrant’s son serving in World War II? Through a collection of witty, touching letters and personal accounts, one soldier’s remarkable journey reveals the untold story of courage, family bonds, and resilience during one of history’s darkest times.

In ‘Letters from My Hymie,’ the extraordinary tale of Hyman ‘Hymie’ Fradin unfolds through his personal wartime correspondence and family history. Born to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants who escaped persecution, Hymie’s story interweaves his mischievous military adventures with his father Louis’s powerful immigrant narrative.

From being discharged from the Marines for flat feet to serving as an interpreter for German POWs in the Army, Hymie’s letters home paint a vivid picture of World War II through a unique Jewish-American lens. His humorous observations and personal insights provide an intimate window into both military life and the immigrant experience.

This carefully researched work combines family photographs, historical documents, and oral histories to create a rich tapestry of one family’s journey from Ukraine to America, their struggles, triumphs, and the unbreakable bonds that sustained them.

‘Letters from My Hymie’ is more than just a collection of wartime correspondence – it’s a powerful testament to family, faith, and the American dream. This remarkable story bridges generations, cultures, and continents, offering readers a deeply personal perspective on both World War II and the Jewish immigrant experience.

Pick up your copy of ‘Letters from My Hymie’ today and unlock a remarkable journey through history that will touch your heart and illuminate your understanding of the past.

https://amzn.to/411JFAN

Later he pioneered the field of environmental mediation and joined Hewlett Packard to help site new facilities after running a successful campaign for Governor Al Quie and John Connally’s Minnesota presidential campaign.

While at HP he was classically trained as an HP Product Manager and was then recruited by Apple to bring the first hard disk drive on a PC to market and later became the Apple /// Business Unit Manager at the same level as Steve Jobs.

He is the author of “Building Insanely Great Products,” “Organizing and Managing Insanely Great Products,” and the Wiley published “Successful Product Design and Management” all available now on Amazon plus Letters from My Hymie.

He has trained companies such as Cisco on product success worldwide.

His mission is to help products succeed.

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Letters from My Hymie by David Fradin

About Letters from My Hymie by David Fradin:

David Fradin was born and raised in Detroit during the automotive go go years of the 1950s and 60s. He attended the honors Cass Tech High School and the University of Michigan where he started the University of Michigan Flyers Club which has trained over 5000 pilots to date. There he also started a nationwide student organization to support the SuperSonic Transport (SST) called FASST for Fly America’s SST which later became Federation of Americans Supporting Science and Technology to counter on the nation’s campus’ the anti-technology movement of the early 1970s.

While at HP he was classically trained as an HP Product Manager during the 50 years that HP grew 20% a year. He was recruited by Apple to bring the first hard disk drive on a PC to market and later became the Apple /// Business Unit Manager at the same level as Steve Jobs by heading the Apple /// product line and providing the profits which helped fund the development of the Macintosh.

He has trained companies such as Cisco on product success worldwide.

His mission is to help products succeed.

He is a commercial pilot, flight instructor and advanced ground instructor in addition to a certified SCCA race driver and white water rafting guide.

Pick up your copy of ‘Letters from My Hymie’ today and unlock a remarkable journey through history that will touch your heart and illuminate your understanding of the past.

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The Pink Dress: A Memoir of a Reluctant Beauty Queen by Jane Little Botkin

The Pink Dress: A Memoir of a Reluctant Beauty Queen by Jane Little Botkin

For fans of Little Miss Sunshine and Secrets of Miss America, this memoir from a national award-winning author reveals the reality of being the first Guyrex Girl in the 1970s. Beauty pageant stories have never been this raw, this real.

Growing up in West Texas, Jane Little Botkin didn’t have designs on becoming a beauty queen. But not long after joining a pageant on a whim in college, she became the first protégé of El Paso’s Richard Guy and Rex Holt, known as the “Kings of Beauty”—just as the 1970’s counterculture movement began to take off.

A pink, rose-covered gown—a Guyrex creation—symbolizes the fairy tale life that young women in Jane’s time imagined beauty queens had. Its near destruction exposes reality: the author’s failed relationship with her mother, and her parents’ failed relationship with one another. Weaving these narrative threads together is the Wild West notion that anything is possible, especially do-overs.

The Pink Dress awakens nostalgia for the 1960s and 1970s, the era’s conflicts and growth pains. A common expectation that women went to college to get “MRS” degrees—to find a husband and become a stay-at-home wife and mother—often prevailed. How does one swim upstream against this notion among feminist voices that protest “If You Want Meat, Go to a Butcher!” at beauty pageants, two flamboyant showmen, and a developing awareness of self? Torn between women’s traditional roles and what women could be, Guyrex Girls evolved, as did the author.

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Choose You First: One Woman’s Journey Through Pain, Resilience and Hard-Won Healing. A Powerful Reminder That Your Story Is Far From Over. by Michelle Bishop

Choose You First: One Woman’s Journey Through Pain, Resilience and Hard-Won Healing. A Powerful Reminder That Your Story Is Far From Over. by Michelle Bishop

What if choosing yourself first was the most powerful gift you could give to those you love?

As women, it’s almost natural to forget about what we need and put everyone else first. It seems to be part of the mom/daughter/sister package that we’re born with.

But putting yourself last doesn’t do anyone any good. It leaves you tired, drained, and fresh out of creative solutions to everyday problems.

But here’s the thing…

The habit of putting yourself last doesn’t come out of nowhere. How you were raised has an immense impact on how you are as an adult—more than you can imagine.

From self-worth to confidence to your ability to say no and set healthy boundaries. It’s all influenced by those early years.

In Michelle Bishop’s memoir, Choose You First, the author opens her heart to share her deeply personal journey from chaos to self-love. Through candid stories of resilience, she takes you on a path from the struggles of her tumultuous childhood to the healing moments that reshaped her sense of worth.

In this book, she gives you the tools she developed through her most difficult times to help you step further, deeper, and bigger into your life.

Whether you’re seeking hope, healing, or inspiration, Choose You First provides the courage and wisdom to take that step into a future full of love and fulfillment.

As well as learning how to overcome personal trauma, develop inner strength, and choose yourself in a world that often asks you to do the opposite, this book shows you:

The importance of self-love and why it is not selfish to put yourself first.
How to overcome personal trauma and use it as a foundation for growth.
Practical ways to set boundaries with others to protect your well-being.
The value of resilience and how to find inner strength even in the darkest times.
How to recognize and break free from destructive patterns learned in childhood.
Techniques for silencing self-doubt and building genuine self-worth.
Why forgiveness, especially of oneself, is a crucial part of healing.
How to find hope and light within, regardless of past experiences.
It’s time to Choose You First.

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The Adventures of a Florida Boy by Jim Melvin

The Adventures of a Florida Boy by Jim Melvin

“A joyous glimpse into a childhood we all wish we’d had: fun, carefree, and near the sea.” —JS Hyder

Many of us are in dire need of relief, and sometimes we search for something good-natured, random, and joyous to lift our spirits and put a smile on our faces. This is what The Adventures of a Florida Boy is all about. This short and sweet memoir will make you laugh and feel happy in that stomach-warming way that fond memories tend to inspire.

Jim Melvin’s boyhood was spent in Florida in the 1960s on an island called Coquina Key. His parents’ waterfront home overlooked a large expanse of Tampa Bay. Back then, parts of the island were undeveloped, which left plenty of room for climbing trees, digging forts in the sand, and swimming in shark-infested waters. Some of the things he and his friends did were downright dangerous. But they didn’t care. They were the rulers of their domain. Jim wouldn’t trade his childhood for anything.

In this lovely book, readers will discover moments that will awaken their own childhood memories, regardless of where and when they grew up.

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Glory Through Pain

About Glory Through Pain:

Hey there! My name is Christy Callahan. I’m a published author who writes with a mix of honesty, a little quirkiness, and a whole lot of heart. Recently, I published a book on Amazon that is rated as a Hot New Release in the Family Health Genre. I’m super excited to share my memoir with the world! Below is my synopsis from Amazon, which is where my book is currently published!

Glory Through Pain is a riveting memoir of faith, perseverance, and the miraculous. One phone call altered Christy’s world forever—the call that delivered the news that her brother had been in a life-threatening head-on collision. Afraid and uncertain, she rushed to the hospital, where the next few weeks were filled with tension, prayer, and waiting.

As Christy endured the agonizing hospital ordeal, she couldn’t forget the miraculous moments from her past that had changed her life. These memories of divine intervention strengthened her faith, leaving her hopeful as she witnessed God’s grace at work during times of uncertainty. She held onto the belief that miracles happen in God’s perfect timing, even when the future seemed unclear.

Throughout this heart-wrenching journey, Christy also faced her own battles. Her heartache led her to new experiences, including a fresh start in Southern California. But through her brother’s journey in the hospital, Christy witnessed how God’s miraculous power can heal even the most broken pieces.

Glory Through Pain is a true testament to the power of belief and the transformational nature of God’s love. Christy’s story will encourage you to believe in the miraculous, even when all hope seems lost.

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U.S. Marine Vietnam Sacrifice by Crystal Mary Lindsey

U.S. Marine Vietnam Sacrifice by Crystal Mary Lindsey

Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers’ Favorite
U.S. Marine Vietnam Sacrifice is a memoir by Raymond Isaac Lindsey, a Vietnam veteran, of his experiences after the war, written by his wife, Crystal Mary Lindsey. At nineteen, Raymond (Ray) fought in the Vietnam War against children recruited by the Viet Cong. The experience left him with physical and mental injuries. His therapy and treatment in Japan caused more harm, and when he returned home, he experienced symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Despite having a loving family and friends, Ray felt like he was in another world most of the time, which affected his relationships. He could not sleep because of his narcolepsy, and when he finally closed his eyes, he had nightmares. Ray eventually met Crystal, an Australian nurse whose father had experienced PTSD. The two fell in love, and she brought light into his dark life and helped him confront his demons.

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Uprooted 3rd Anniversary by Peter J. Boni

About Featured Book: Uprooted 3rd Anniversary by Peter J. Boni

Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Honorable Mention in Nonfiction Social Issues
2024 International Impact Book Award, Memoir
2023 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Honorable Mention, Nonfiction Social Issues
2023 National Indie Excellence Awards Winner
2023 IPPY Gold Medalist in Nonfiction Audiobooks
2022 Best Book Awards Nonfiction Narrative WINNER

How a journey of self-discovery unearthed the scandalous evolution of artificial insemination

By his forties, Peter J. Boni was an accomplished CEO, with a specialty in navigating high-tech companies out of hot water. Just before his fiftieth birthday, Peter’s seventy-five-year-old mother unveiled a bombshell: His deceased father was not his biological father. Peter was conceived in 1945 via an anonymous sperm donor. The emotional upheaval upon learning that he was “misattributed” rekindled traumas long past and fueled his relentless research to find his genealogy. Over two decades, he gained an encyclopedic knowledge of the scientific, legal, and sociological history of reproductive technology as well as its practices, advances, and consequences. Through twenty-first century DNA analysis, Peter finally quenched his thirst for his origin.

In Uprooted, Peter J. Boni intimately shares his personal odyssey and acquired expertise to spotlight the free market methods of gamete distribution that conceives dozens, sometimes hundreds, of unknowing half-siblings from a single donor. This thought-provoking book reveals the inner workings—and secrets—of the multibillion-dollar fertility industry, resulting in a richly detailed account of an ethical aspect of reproductive science that, until now, has not been so thoroughly explored.

This Memoir book is available in these Formats: eBook, Print, Audiobook

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Cruising the Mediterranean by Al and Sunny Lockwood

Cruising the Mediterranean by Al and Sunny Lockwood

Chosen best nonfiction book by the Seven Sisters Book Awards, gold medal winner in adult nonfiction by The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, “Cruising the Mediterranean” is a feel-good exploration of some of Europe’s grandest cities.

From Amsterdam’s Red Light District and Athens’ Acropolis lift to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, Al & Sunny Lockwood share delicious fun, playful adventure and dazzling beauty.

Even before taking off on their bucket list cruise, the Lockwoods devise a unique way to defeat jet lag so that from the moment they arrive in Amsterdam, they’ll be alert, awake and ready to enjoy all that the city has to offer.

Join this spirited duo as they explore historic canals, scout picturesque neighborhoods, and wander cobble-stone streets.

In Venice, get a bird’s eye view from the tallest structure in the city — St. Mark’s Bell Tower. Walk with wonder through St. Mark’s Basilica, glimmering in gold and candlelight.

Climb the Bridge of Straw to photograph the famous Bridge of Sighs.

Wander colorful neighborhoods with jigsaw puzzle streets and magical waterways.

Visit the oldest neighborhood in Athens, the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, and the stunning Greek island of Santorini.

If you like being swept away by beautiful places and entertaining adventures, you’ll love Cruising the Mediterranean.

“We write for readers who love to travel and those who dream of traveling,” says Sunny Lockwood, a former newspaper reporter and columnist. “When they read our books they discover how great travel can be. No matter what your age, travel renews you. It energizes you. And it gives you lots of good stories to share with friends.”

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