My Three Lives: A Memoir

by Tina Cole, Bob Mackie (Foreword)

Tina Cole has been a performer since she was old enough to walk and talk. She was brought up in the limelight of her famous musician, Buddy Cole and Yvonne King of the singing King Sisters.

Tina made her mark on the television world starring on the series Hawaiian Eye at the age of 19 and continued to perform on television with her famous family, The King Family on ABC.

Tina became a national sensation when she joined the cast of “My Three Sons” as Katie Douglas and fans of the show fell In love with her.


“Being in the film and TV industry, I’ve read a lot of biographies. The first thing I felt when reading Tina’s book is how much she created the feeling that you were a fly on the wall of her storybook life .. .Tina shares so many life changing stories and experiences. Her book was an easy page turner ... Get the popcorn out and enjoy the read!”
- Victoria Burrows, 40+ years casting Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Cast Away, Contact, The Polar Express, Walker Texas Ranger

“Tina Cole’s long awaited book is an engaging gem of heartfelt memoir. She exudes joy as she shares the story of her family life and stardom as an actress-singer. Her writing voice is vibrant and insightful as she tells of both fame and life’s challenges. This book will resonate with baby boomers who grew up knowing and loving Tina Cole on television and live on stage.”
- William Anderson, author at Harper Collins, Publishers

Genres: Memoir, Biography, Biography Memoir

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2023

Reviews

[William O. Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining read. If you were a viewer of the 1960s television show, "My Three Sons" you will find many interesting tidbits of what it was like for actress Tina Cole as one of the characters in the show's later years. Most interesting of all, if you remember late 1960s television variety show specials, you will undoubtedly remember "The King Family" which Tina was a singing member.

Tina writes from her heart and holds nothing back. In fact, in some stories she opens up very personal on her life--from young love, to adult sorrows and happiness. This book is about how one individual lived life--and still lives life to its fullest.

[Gregtriggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katie is a Kick

Really fun, vulnerable read by a woman who appears to passionately love life, her family, her friends and her work. Disarmingly candid. I’ve always liked her. After reading this I like her even more.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, but I feel like I was the first one to read it / so many grammatical errors!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember seeing Tina Cole on My Three Sons and the King family specials so it was nice to see she came out with a memoir. She writes her memoir in "three lives' her childhood growing up. The her show business career on shows like My Three Songs and being a member of the King family. her third life is mostly after the show business career and her marriages having children help running a hotel with second husband. she writes of her four kids and spouses. a decent memoir a would give this a 3.5.

[Phillip Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read by a wonderful lady.
Interesting book written by a sweet sincere vulnerable actress and singer who has always been one of my favorites.
I always thought that her character, Katie Douglas, from “My Three Sons” was the epitome of the girl any young man would want to marry. Tina Cole was and is just such a lady in real life.
Some reviews complain of the writing style and some of the personal details, but I thought the book flowed superbly.
Tina was just being open and honest about her life and experiences, but sometimes in a sly manner.
So glad I read this great memoir!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, Tina Cole wrote her story very well and I enjoyed reading it. And I recommend this book for anyone.

[Marca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio version read by Tina herself, which I appreciate. I am just a few years younger than Tina and my family watched the King Family in its original airing. I also watched My Three Sons in its original airing. Tina was so pretty and spunky as Robby's girlfriend and eventual wife. In fact, all the Kings were lovely in looks and voices. My attention was on Chip, the young brother on MTS so I wasn't too worried about Robby and his wife. I didn't realize until I read this book that Tina and Don Grady who played Robby were in love in real life. They never got their timing right in real life, however, and drifted apart when the show ended. Tina shares the highs and the lows, including two cheating husbands. She had financial hardships as a single mom and, at one point, worked a minimum wage job as a receptionist, which she does not disparage. She possesses the optimism one expects from the perky King family and soldiers on. Tina seems like a celebrity I would like if I met her in person. She has a sense of humor, is not braggy, and gives others their due. I didn't expect to enjoy the book as much as I did. It's rare to read a book about a celebrity that doesn't include drugs, alcohol, and sex. Tina's does not - she really lives her faith (Morman). I downloaded the ebook briefly so I could look at the photos in the book. But the audio book included some music, from the family and Tina sang a few lines of some songs. Near the end of the book, Tina writes that, after the deaths of her elders, that she is now the senior woman in the group, the matriarch of a huge, extended family. I realized that I am the matriarch of my smaller family. How did this happen? We blinked and fifty years went by.

[Pamela Beaudry · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many errors! The book really needed someone to proofread it before it was published. As for Tina Cole, I found her very full story f herself in the 1st part. Blonde California girl mentioned , along with all the hoopla of boyfriends. I also thought when she felt her world was crumbling, and she moved into a Hugh mansion to be a bit over done. I don’t really think she understands how real people live. She seems to have lived a very sheltered and spoiled life. We should all be so unlucky.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm familiar with Tina Cole mainly through the TV show, "My Three Sons," but have known about her as a part of "The King Sisters."

"My Three Lives" walks readers through Tina Cole's life. From the beginning of her career with her family, to her TV shows, all the way to the life she is living now.

I enjoyed this candid and truthful look at her cultivated and rich artistic legacy.

[Mary Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full disclosure.... my daughter's name was inspired by Katie Douglas. As a little girl, I thought Tina Cole in that role was the ideal. And as a kid whose fondest dream would have been to be part of a big singing family (the von Trapps, the Partridges, the Osmonds - heck, even the Bradys) the fact that Cole was a member of the King Family just made her unbearably cool. Little wonder, then, that my daughter bears the burden of being named after a 60s sitcom character. And little wonder that I had to read this book.

First, as other reviewers have pointed out, the atrocious editing should be a source of humiliation for the publisher. The library patron before me got to a point where she couldn't stand it any longer and started to correct the most egregious errors with her pencil. I joined in, taking less intrusive Wite-out to extraneous apostrophes and random stray letters. Sadly, not much could be done about the repetition of full paragraphs. Cole should demand a recall and reprint.

If one can get past the distractions of the editing, Cole has had an interesting life to share, despite an elementary writing style and an uneven narrative. She has some verbal tics, and uses lots of exclamation points!! Her family is so big that it's challenging to keep them all straight, which may have been helped with some more creative writing techniques. But the stories about the King Family give readers an interesting look at that era's entertainment industry, and who knew how incestuous the fictional Douglas family was in real life? (Cole and Don Grady were an item in real life, and later she married Beverly Garland's stepson.) It's also a cautionary tale for celebrities to save and invest wisely, as Cole claimed to have been destitute on more than one occasion, having to reinvent herself time and time again. Luckily she's had the support of family, friends, and her church as a safety net.

Tina Cole seems, like Katie Douglas, to be a sweet woman. But My Three Lives would be of little interest to any but fans of a certain age who are longing for some nostalgia.

[Katie Cotter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I APPRECIATE YOUR CANDOR. You are very respectful to readers. I received the book on the 25th and read all 345 pages in less than 24 hours, finishing on the afternoon of the 26th. I think that's the highest compliment you can pay a writer. I was consumed by your story. Your book was so fascinating, vivid, and interesting that I could not stop reading it. It's highly commendable that you spent so much energy examining your life with such objectivity. You were able to involve me emotionally. I was able to enjoy your triumphs. I raged at how some men treated you. I saw wisdom that now I get to possess. I still have questions about piecing together your life story, but I am happy with every detail I received. I'm livid I missed the King Cousins at the Catalina Club. I have a friend who performs there 7 or 8 times a year and I faithfully enjoy and support her. I would have gone crazy to see the cousins. I enjoyed your KING specials and own a few on DVD. My mother introduced me to your family early in my childhood. I thought Katie was absolutely the most perfect woman and wife ever. You created a more beautiful image. I hope you sell many, many copies and there are crowds of people at your book signings. I will be at one if I can get there.

[Heather Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Three Lives: A Memoir is a heartfelt and captivating memoir that offers readers an intimate look at a life shaped by change, resilience, and personal growth. Tina Cole shares her experiences with honesty, warmth, and reflection, creating a story that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.

What I appreciated most was the authenticity of the narrative. Rather than simply recounting life's milestones, Tina thoughtfully explores the lessons, relationships, and defining moments that shaped her journey. Her reflections on overcoming challenges, embracing new chapters, and finding purpose make this memoir both inspiring and emotionally engaging.

The writing is graceful, conversational, and easy to connect with, drawing readers into a life story filled with memorable experiences and meaningful insights. Whether you're a fan of memoirs, stories of resilience, or personal reflections on life's unexpected turns, this book offers a rewarding and uplifting reading experience.

I highly recommend My Three Lives: A Memoir to readers who enjoy memoirs, inspirational life stories, personal growth, resilience, family narratives, and thoughtful reflections on the many chapters that shape a meaningful life.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just don't know what to say about this book. This first part seemed like it was written for Tiger Beat magazine. Very fluffy. The second part was all about how beloved the King family was and how she and her husband were the "Golden Couple" The third part was about how she survived being "poor" after a messy divorce. I guess what I struggled with (along with the horrible editing and mistakes) was how Tina told the stories that she found most amusing whether they were really relevant or not. She told a story about someone who always admired her emerald ring, and then showed Tina that her husband got her an emerald ring, too. (???) And Tina told the story of how she found out her father died. But then he wasn't mentioned again for several chapters and then only in passing. But if you stick with it and pick thru the errors and fluff, there are some interesting stories here.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is in need of some heavy handed editing and guidance. Ms. Cole has had an interesting life with ups and downs, but always supported by her strong family centered in show business. She was a member of the King Family which was a television staple on entertainment shows in the 60’s before her run as Katie Douglas on the show My Three Sons. I had no clue that her real life mother in law was Beverly Garland who played her mother in law on the show or that she had a romance with Don Grady from the show. For her sake, I wish she’d had a better publisher.

[Eileen Sateriale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate Tina’s candid recollections of her being a part of the King Family Singing Group. It great to learn about the behind the scenes glimpses of how a show gets put on before the performers take the stage and the follow-up activities after. She was fortunate to be a part of a positive and energetic family. I got the sense that Tina values her family.

I agree with the other comments that there should have been better editing. A few times I got lost in the run on sentences and some stories that were repeated.

Thank you, Tina, for sharing your story.

[Leila Kern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the grammatical errors, I found the book interesting and entertaining. It goes to show that celebrities don't have a perfect life; they have their troubles. Tina Cole has certainly led a full and loving (mostly) life, and her family has always supported her. I almost felt that I was a fly on the wall watching her life unfold. Thank you, Tina, for sharing your family!

[Andrea A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watching the King Family specials and My Three Sons as a kid,I really enjoyed the nostalgia reflected in this book. I was so engrossed in the story I did not even pick up the typo errors mentioned in the other reviews. Enjoyable read!

[Nancy Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember watching Tina Cole on My Three Sons and knew of The King Family when I was younger.
It was an interesting read. She was incredibly honest even about events I would have kept quiet about 😂.
I enjoyed it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

#12 of 120 books pledged to read during 2023

[LMTZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks for sharing, Tina!

(A bit of nostalgia, remembering the entertaining shows that featured Tina.)

Needed some editing as there were a lot of errors.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting.

[Rocky F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very young when the King Family was on TV, and I still remember them. Very entertaining book. The fact that Tina Cole stays so positive throughout is amazing.

[Connie Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story!

What an awesome, inspiring, beautiful, touching story! My mom was a big fan of the King Family and she got me started. You were my favorite! Somehow I lost track of you and your family for awhile but you filled in the gaps. I wanted to laugh and cry with you but in the end we take it to a higher source! Thanks for sharing this memoir.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also enjoyed all the photos :)

[Cindy Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Read!!!

Had a hard time putting this book down. I had no idea Tina went through such hard times. This book is well written. A very good account of Tina's life so far.

[Betty Brass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Loved this book. It's also been re-edited to fix the typos. Glad to know that.