The Boots My Mother Gave Me

The Boots My Mother Gave Me #1

by Brooklyn James

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in someone else's shoes?

Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. Torn between saving herself and abandoning her mother and younger sister, Harley chooses her own life in hopes they will choose theirs, too.

A mature, candid read for everyone. A must for women. The Boots My Mother Gave Me explores the dynamics of abuse and dysfunction, the courage to overcome, the strength in sisterhood, and the ongoing conflict and unconditional love between mothers and daughters.

Climb into Charlene the Chevelle for a fast-paced story about a girl who is tough enough to survive and tender enough to learn to trust in love.

Signed Paperback & Original Music Soundtrack to The Boots My Mother Gave Me can be found at www.brooklyn-james.com

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Abuse, Chick Lit, Young Adult

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 9, 2010

About the author

Wife, mother, author, singer-songwriter, daydreamer, night-thinker!

Brooklyn's first novel, The Boots My Mother Gave Me, has an original music soundtrack, making for a unique Audible experience. Out of Boots grew a platform where it was her honor to serve as a guest speaker with a focus on awareness and prevention of domestic violence and suicide.

She holds an M.A. in Communication, and a B.S. in both Nursing and Animal Science.

@brooklynjamesauthor

Reviews

[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE REVIEW 5 STAR Read
5 STARS out of 5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
READ THIS BOOK!!!! I TOTALLY RECOMMEND It!!!
'Within each of us, there lies the innate ability to survive, triumph and overcome, rewriting the scripts of our own lives, having some power over our fate of generations to come.' -Harley's inner monologue

This book really dealt with a lot of topics from Domestic abuse/violence, alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, drug /substance abuse, suicide, forgiveness and of course love. I don't even know where to begin... The main character Harley was so diverse. I often found she was strong yet weak a total contradiction I know. But hey we all have our moments right? She spent most of her early adulthood proving herself so much so she lost what was important in life. Love, family, friendship and happiness. Nope. She ran from family, friendship, happiness and most importantly Love.

The Boots My Mother Gave Me is told from Harley's pov and it shows her journey from youth to adulthood. It was not always pretty in fact it got down right ugly at times. But with all the ups and downs I did get my HEA. Though I did not think it would happen because my girl Harley was a runner and at one point she even compared herself to Forrest Gump.

Harley was raised in a two parent home on a farm in Georgia, Pennsylvania with her younger sister Kat. The farm was the family's main source of income however it was not always enough so her mother Marilyn worked at a local diner for extra cash. John, Harley's father had her Kat and their mother working the farm. While he mostly remained in and out of a drunken stupor. Which left him violent towards his wife and kids often. His violence and hatred knew no bounds at one time he even killed a family pet. Talk about cruelty. The guy was EVIL.

Harley was a tomboy personified. With nothing but boys in her neighborhood and with a boy as her best friend(Jeremiah) she really didn't have a choice. Whatever the boy's did so did Harley. For years she was able to keep the issues at home on the farm hidden. And then one night after her basketball game everything changes. Jeremiah becomes a witness to her fathers verbal assault. When the drama escalates between John, Harley and Jeremiah she finds herself homeless. At seventeen. The thing about Harley is... she is resilient she manages to stay focused. Harley gets her own place thanks to her boss and she moves forward.

Harley has big plans and moving out of Georgia, Pennsylvania is numero uno. And that is exactly what she does the day after graduation. While wearing the boots her mother gave her.

Thoughts
First and foremost I think this book was well written I was so in tuned to Harley it was like reading her biography. The boots played an important role in her life almost like a lifeline. I really loved that. I shouted victory when she faced off with her dad. I whooped and hollered when she went and got Kat from that ASSHOLE Joey. Oh and I doubled over in laughter when Joey was found cuffed to the flag pole outside of city hall. Priceless. Hell yeah I loved this book! I totally recommend it!!

Harley-loved to think of grams as the backbone of the family but I beg to differ. It was her hands down. Harley showed strength and loyalty. Proving herself to be a true matriarch. She made decisions her own mother could not. And YES, sometimes her choice was to run. But she always came back when her family's needs exceeded hers. She was called upon time and time again and would drop everything to lend a hand. Her heart was big with her family yet guarded when it came to lovers.
Jeremiah- was Harley's best friend. The taker of her virginity and the keeper of her heart. Miah was sweet, loving and not to mention heroic. He suffered a whole lot of loss and Harley didn't help much with her constant here one day gone the next. But he took it in stride and continued to put it on her *Wink,Wink* if you know what I mean.
John- was a coward. As far as I am concerned his soul was lost and bitterness ate away at him until nothing was left.
Kat- fought her own demons but managed to pull through. Thank goodness!
Marilyn- I honestly found her weak. But I guess that can happen after years of being told you are a worthless piece of shit. However in the end she made out good.

My Ratings
Characters- Lovable
Writing Style- Good
Plot/Storyline- Raw, honest and at times profound
Steam Factor- Medium/Moderately Steamy
Overall- I loved it!

Now go forth and read. Then tell us about it on Goodreads!

For more reviews go to http://realitybites-letsgetlost.blogs...

[Splage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review posted to: Swept Away By Romance


5 Absolutely Brilliant Stars

The Boots My Mother Gave Me was a powerful and poignant story of a young girl’s turbulent life as she struggles to find that one special thing she was born to do. It was so emotional, yet beautiful to read that I was a puddle, exhausted, and completely wrung dry by the end. It is one of those books you can’t put down for even a minute, it completely hooked me. The story explored some darker topics such as alcoholism, abuse, and suicide, and yet the dialog was witty, frank, and at times very funny.

It is a hard plot to describe because it had so much to it. Was it a love story?…yes and so much more , a family’s story?… absolutely and so much more… but in the middle of it all was a strong loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, and lover named Harley LeBeau. It brought out the same type of sensations I felt when I read The Sweet Gum Tree, a huge favorite of mine. There were some basic similarities in plot; small town, friends to lovers, BEST hero in the world, but it was the emotion, the lump in the throat that made me draw the comparison.

Harley was a tomboy and grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania in what I would call a bipolar family because at times it was completely dysfunctional with an abusive father and weak mother and at other times completely normal, with generous, teaching and loving parents. A lot of time was spent on the relationships Harley had with all of her family members and flashbacks to her younger years. Brooklyn James, the author, was exceptional in showing many dimensions to her characters. Harley’s dad was not a good father, but I felt for him. Her mother was weak, but in the end the decisions she had to make were due to her strength. Harley was strong and extraordinary, but lost and always running. She had so many talents and she wanted out of her small town and small life so bad, but she had no destination or plan. THIS was the real story, Harley’s adventure and quest to find herself with the boots her mother gave her.

My favorite part though, was Harley and Jeremiah’s (Miah) romance. They were friends since they were 4 years old. Jeremiah was Harley’s everything, heck he was my everything after reading this book. He was her best friend, her protector, her anchor, her lover, and in a house with stone walls, Jeremiah gave her a soft place to fall. They were two souls so connected that they were meant to be one, just with a long, winding journey in between.

Although I wouldn’t say the sex scenes were detailed or enflaming. They were tastefully written, stirring and got better as Harley and Miah grew older. I would have loved for Miah and Harley to have been together much more in the book because he was such a good guy. I could have read a book where every sentence was about him, but there was a genuine blend of Harley’s experiences and loves that kept me turning until they would meet again and again.

This is the first book written by Brooklyn James, which just amazes me. She isn’t just a talented writer, but also a songwriter, and singer. She actually has a soundtrack for the book and there was song lyrics throughout. It was beautiful and fulfilling to listen to the songs as I read the book. They can be found on her website, www.brooklyn-james.com I read from her website that the book is fictional with true life experiences and the boots do exist and were her mother’s.

I can’t recommend this book enough and it is deserving of more than 5 stars.

[Anne OK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon's Book Description:

AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARD QUARTER FINALIST 2011 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in someone else’s shoes? Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. Torn between saving herself and abandoning her mother and younger sister, Harley chooses her own life in hopes they will choose theirs, too. A mature, candid read for everyone. A must for women. The Boots My Mother Gave Me explores the dynamics of abuse and dysfunction, the courage to overcome, the strength in sisterhood, and the ongoing conflict and unconditional love between mothers and daughters. Climb into Charlene the Chevelle for a fast-paced story about a girl who is tough enough to survive and tender enough to learn to trust in love.


This book is quite simply irresistible. It is uniquely edgy, beautifully crafted and emotionally satisfying. Harley’s story delivers a full load of heartache and pain, while serving up big doses of hope and love as well. There’s a mixture of complicated characters, a delicious and extremely devoted hero and an endearing and amazingly adaptable heroine, who share a childhood friendship and a sexy romance through years of trials and tribulations, which makes for a perfect combination in the romance department.

One of the most endearing draws to this story for me is the remarkable and playful conversations between a boy and a girl who share an unconditional and special friendship during the good times and the bad ones throughout their lives. The relationship between Harley and Jeremiah is so engaging and genuine it will grab your heart from the very beginning.

Brooklyn James did a magnificent job writing this breathtakingly unforgettable story in first person. The tough topics challenged my emotions with great depth and were realistical and believable. This is one of those magical books that stays with you long after you reach the ending. I highly recommend this book to readers searching for a uniquely challenging and thought provoking read!

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a 4.5 for me and I thought for sure I was going to light the 5th star through most of the book but the ending just bugged me. I HATED him and she just kept trying to make me feel something for the bastard and the more I pushed the more she pushed. I loved most of the book and I doubt that most people will have a problem with the part that brought it down for me, so if you are thinking about it you should def give it a shot. Sucked me right in and kept me there.

[Smitten's Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this. I'd read a lot of great reviews and had high expectations... I guess what they say is true, different strokes for different folks.

I find this book sooooo frustrating. I didn't get the heroine at all! She drove me insane.

Harley has issues. She comes from a dysfunctional family. Her father is abusive, her mother is his enabler. And the effect it has on the rest of her life is monumental.

Mr Yumani, my fifth grade science teacher, so specific in his explanation, made it clear: I did not have a soul, not in my abdomen or my chest, eben though it always seemed to ache there when I was offended, hurt, or otherwise affexted. My soul, my feelings, my emotions actually resided in my brain.
Life-changing and empowering, Mr. Yumani's lecture ranked as one of the most significant experiences in my ten years of life. The mind controlled all things; I was on my way to emotional and psychological freedom.

It's difficult for me to write a thorough review, but to put it plainly, Harley has an inbuilt 'flight' instinct. She couldn't commit to anything... a job, a town, a man...! So frustrating.

"Have you ever missed someone so bad it hurts?"
"Feels like you can't breathe."

Jeremiah, her closest childhood friend, is just wonderful.

If any two souls were ever meant to be one, we were they.

They experienced all of their 'firsts' together, supported one another through hardships, helped each other through the trials of school.

He wasn't just some guy and apparently I was that girl, because I wanted to surrender to him, completely. My first at everything, I wanted him to continue that tradition.

He's gorgeous, kind and clearly loves Harley more than life itself. And she is nothing but a flakey tease! Urgh, I wanted to slap her.

I ended up skimming a fair amount of the final quarter of this book. And I found myself very easily distracted. I just could not invest myself in Harley's story. I wanted to shake her and point out what was right in front of her. And I wanted to give poor Jeremiah a cuddle. He put up with way more than Harley deserved in my opinion.

"You think I can't feel it. Every time you're close to me. You want me, but you don't. You give a little then you take it away. How do you do that? You get close to me, I want you. I hear your voice, I want you. You look at me and I want you. You do things to me, Harley-girl. You move me, affect me, in here," he said, putting his hand over his heart. "I don't know how you do it, push me away. I've tried to push you away. Talk myself out of you. Get you out of me. But it never works. You're just there. It's always been you."

So yeh, this book didn't float my boat I'm afraid. Jeremiah was the best thing about this story and he didn't feature nearly enough for my tastes.

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[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story Rating ~ 5+ HUGE STARS!
Hero Rating ~ 5+ YUMMY STARS!
Heroine ~ 5+ BOOT LOVING STARS!
Romance ~ 4 Stars
Heat Level ~ 3 Stars
Ending ~ 5+ HAPPY STARS!
Overall Rating ~ 5+ Brilliantly Written Stars! A truly epic read that will captivate your heart.

The Boots My Mother Gave Me was truly an AMAZING read. This book grabbed me right from the beginning and kept me fully interested until the very end. The story line completely BLEW ME AWAY!

This book tells the story about a young lady named Harley LeBeau. It takes place from her early childhood and into her late 30’s. During her story there were so many dark and twisted things that happened to her and her family. I have to say that this book made me cry many of times while reading it but there were some good times that made me smile and laugh along the way too. I can honestly say that I was TOTALLY INVESTED in the story and the characters.

There were a lot of different characters added throughout this book and every single one of them was well thought out. My favorite character was the hero, Jeremiah Johnson. He was not included the whole time in the story line but he was what I consider a true hero should be. I have to admit, I fell in love with him and was rooting for him and Harley to get together right from the start.

Harley was an excellent character too. She was smart, talented, strong and stood her ground. I did feel that she ran from her problems and the things that scared her a bit too much. But when someone she loved needed her, she was always’ there ready to help any way she could.

For those of you who don’t care for the heroine having sex with other men besides the hero, you might have a problem with this book. NO Harley did NOT jump from man to man, however this story takes place over many of years so she did have sex with more than one man. These scenes were all tastefully done and added just a bit of heat that I crave in my books.

This book was the Anniversary Edition which included a new cover and a new epilogue. To be honest, I think I liked the original cover better but that’s just my opinion and it did not make me like the book any less. The newly added epilogue was HUGE! It added SO much to this story and left me COMPLETELY satisfied with the way it ended. It also set it up perfectly for Harley’s sister Kat’s story which I plan to read as soon as it’s released.

If you have not read this book, I HIGHLY recommend it! Make sure you check out ALL the fantastic review that are offer for the Anniversary Edition and for the original book, The Boots My Mother Gave Me. This is a book not to miss out on.

*This book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Aestas Book Blog]

FREE ON AMAZON TODAY

[Drita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like "The Boots My Mother Gave Me" are why I love to read.

“It’s amazing, really, how the good in people can virtually cause us to ignore the bad, as we nurture the perpetual desire within each of us to believe in the humanity in the ones we love.”

This is a BEAUTIFUL tale that will trigger all your emotions and will draw you into the story and the characters. I love this author’s voice, she writes with so much heart. She gave us a story that has so much soul, so much emotion, so much heart and; so very inspirational. The way she paces the story is in the most captivating and magical way...a story about life, family, friends, love, loss, pain, forgiveness, grief, and just about everything in between...

~Will she ever fully admit she gave him her heart years ago~
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I loved every moment in this story...a story of a strong-willed, free-spirited girl named Harley. Harley's dysfunctional family and her strong will to make it all better, while shes trying to find herself. But most i loved the special friendship and unconditional love between Harley and Miah throughout their long heartache and painful journey. This story will grab your heart from the very beginning!

~Two souls so connected that they were meant to be one~
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"The Boots My Mother Gave Me” is the first book written by Ms. James. She isn’t just a talented writer, but also a songwriter, and singer. She has a soundtrack for the book and It was so beautiful and satisfying to listen to the songs while i was reading. They can be found on her website... www.brooklyn-james.com

I want to thank Ms. James for gifting me “The Boots My Mother Gave Me” and for introducing me to Harley and Miah. I CANNOT wait for you all to meet them! This truly is a great read!

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++ Stars!
This book was FANTASTIC!!! I couldn't put it down. I started it late in the afternoon, ignored the hubs and the little dude for the majority of the evening and stayed up until midnight finishing it. It grabbed me from the first chapter and never let go. I was sad, I was mad, I was happy....I cried, I laughed. You name it, I felt it. Best part of all....it ended just the way I had hoped! I absolutely recommend this book!!!

[Irene Bañuelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free for review. The characters were well written, they had multiple sides to them, none of the characters were all good or bad. The flash backs where simple and strait forward. In the audio version the songs included throughout the story were great I hope to see more audio books like this.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: A+

The Boots My Mother Gave Me is a powerful story about a young woman named Harley who's family life is dysfunctional. Her father is an abusive alcoholic. The day after she graduates from high school, she packs Charlaine, her 1970 Chevelle SS 396, and takes off to see the world. She has no idea where the road will take her and doesn't care. She just wants to spread her wings and fly.

What the hell did I really want? What do you do when you want to do everything? What do you do when you can't find that one, special little thing you just know you were born to do?

Harley is an exciting and unique character. She's free-spirited, strong-willed, and marches to her own beat. She grew up a tom boy who loves to work on cars and hung out with the boys. She eventually grows into herself as a woman. As the reader follows her journey, she moves around the country working different jobs and meeting different people that play an important role in the way her life is shaped. She's also a talented musician who writes honest songs about her life. While she is on the road, one emergency after another with her family always brings her back to the one place she is trying to escape. Home. Her family is extremely dysfunctional with a mother who is unable to walk away from her father no matter how many times he physically and mentally abuses her. Being that her mother is an enabler, it's hard to save her.

They were both so incredibly sick and co-dependent, the abuser and the enabler. A dysfunctional, ill group, that's what we had become, effortlessly fulfilling our designated roles.

She and her sister, Kat, have tried time and again to get her mother out of the house but her mother refuses to leave him. Over and over her father abuses his family, but then he does something kind that reminds them why they love him and they all keep going back to him, including Harley. This family finds it hard not to love this man even though they are victims of his abuse. Any kindness he gives the family, gives them hope that he will change. I felt like Harley was the true back bone to the family. She followed her dreams when her mother never had the guts. She helped this family over and over in one crisis after another. Even though she chose to keep running from her past, she always came back home to her family when they needed her.

I fell hard for Jeremiah Johnson! The scenes with Harley and Jeremiah were my favorites. He is Harley's best friend-turned-lover. He was her first kiss, her first love, her confidant, her safe haven. The day after their high school graduation when Harley takes off, he joins the Marines. Several years go by before they see each other again. And now that they are adults, things are different. What they felt towards each as teenagers has grown into something more defined, stronger, and passionate.

The man, he was my friend, my love, my muse, and my hero. The world could have ended that night, and I would have perished completely and utterly fulfilled.

Miah is a patient and kind man who unconditionally loves Harley. He knows she has a restless heart and gives her the space she needs to go out and find herself. Even though they wouldn't see other for years at a time, the chemistry between them is so intense, they are like moths to a flame, unable to resist one another. But, Harley has issues with commitment, unable to settle down for fear of being stuck in a bad marriage like her parents. Therefore, Harley never commits to Jeremiah and he never pressures her. This man has the patience of a saint! Such a frustrating situation for me as a reader. I really wanted Harley to just be with Miah. It crushed me every time she left him. Will she ever fully admit she gave him her heart years ago?

I loved Harley's sassy and vivacious sister who battles her own issues when it comes to her father. I loved the sisterly bond between Harley and Kat. They watched over one another the way true sisters should. I loved how the boots her mother gave her played an important role in the story. I loved seeing the flashbacks of Harley when she was younger. I especially loved the flashbacks with her and Jeremiah.

Miz Brooklyn did not gloss over the dark topics of abuse, alcoholism, and suicide. Harley's father is a selfish man for abusing this beautiful family and at times it was hard to read. I felt uplifted while following along Harley's journey. And at times, it was frustrating when Harley couldn't see what she needed was right in front of her. Harley made some bad decisions that broke my heart at times. But, Harley needed to take this journey in order to come into her own. While her growth was slow coming, she eventually finds her way...in her mother's boots...where she was meant to be.

Such a wonderful, amazing, beautiful story! I felt such an emotional connection to Harley's story. The message behind this story was clear and concise. My heart goes out to anyone who has grown up in an abusive home. I highly recommend this story to everyone!

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review


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[Kathyjacks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book book. I really did. I would like to give it 3.5 stars but since we can't give half stars on Goodreads I can only give it 3. This book tells the story of Harley, a headstrong free spirited girl who comes from dysfunctional home. Her father is an abusive alcoholic and her mother is a co-dependent enabler who always makes excuses for him. Harley is bound and determined not to end up in a relationship like her mother and father's. She sets out on a self-discovering journey with her first car, a guitar from her father, and the boots her mother gave her hoping not to walk down the same path as her mother.

The characters in this story were wonderful even the ones that you loved to hate. Harley's father was an alcoholic and was physically and verbally abusive to his wife and kids. Even though I hated him I wanted to see him succeed and get help for his addiction. Harley's mother frustrated me for keeping her children in an abusive home but you could feel her pain and understand she wasn't a bad person but she was as damaged as the father just in a different way. Harley's grams was one of my favorite characters of them all!

"What did you name your first car, Gram?"Kat asked. "Old Son-of-a-bitch."
"Well it seemed like I was always saying, Start, you old son-of-a-bitch."Gram said.

Harley's sister Kat was also a great addition to the story. The differences between Harley and Kat showed that people cope with the damage in different ways but both chose dysfunctional paths.I really enjoyed Harley and Kat's night out drinking with Jeremiah. I would have liked that to be more drawn out and detailed but I really got a chuckle when they woke up in the morning and found their tattoos!

"Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!"-Harley
"What?"She quickly sprang to attention. "I have Dorothy on my ass?"-Kat

The reason this book is not five stars has almost everything to do with one character in particular. It's not what you think! I loved this character and my love for this character really frustrated me throughout this book. This particular character was Jeremiah. I got so sick of watching Harley use him when she wanted him and walk away the next day that my head was spinning in circles like the girl on The Exorcist movie by 75% of the way through the book. I was seriously fed up with both him and Harley. Him because he should have been more aggressive. He knew she needed him and that he needed her but he let her traipse around the whole situation in denial for too long!This book really concentrated on her father's addiction and denial when in reality I was obsessed with Harley's denial. Frankly it pissed me off to the point I almost put the book down and gave up around that 75% mark. I'm glad I didn't but if someone asked me to read this book again my heart couldn't take it. The book needed more Jeremiah and Harley together. Those were my favorite parts. They had awesome chemistry together and everyone else knew they belonged together except for them. When Jeremiah finally got a spine I actually threw a party!!!.............Well not a real one but one in my head !

"You can stay, tonight. Anything after that, it's solid. You come to me after tonight, consider yourself committed, tied down, had, however you want to take it. No more tiptoeing, getting your feet wet, jumping in, then out. Your in it for the long hall, you and me. Maybe even a few kids down the road, blonde-headed, green-eyed, strong-willed little girls, tomboys. I'd like that,"he said.-Jeremiah

WTF took you so long Jeremiah???? So in the end I'm glad I read this book. Brooklyn James has a beautiful writing style and it was enjoyable to read. I have heard a lot of people compare this book to The Sweet Gum Tree by Kathryn Allred. That is like my all time favorite book in the world so it's a hard thing for me to compare but I see where people make the comparison.

I only like HEA's. If you want a HEA for this book then be prepared to wait until the very end for anything to be resolved. Until then fasten your seat belt because this story is definitely a wild ride. It's more like an experience then just a simple book.

[Tessa Teevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. Torn between saving herself and abandoning her mother and younger sister, Harley chooses her own life in hopes they will choose theirs, too.

I'm finding it really difficult to put into words just how deeply I loved this book. It's been days since I read it, and I still cannot get it off of my mind.

Harley's home life was terrible, to say the least. An abusive father? Check. An enabling, apologist mother? Check. Younger sister to protect? Yep, we have that, too. Incredible, swoon-worthy protective best friend of the opposite gender? Oh yeah, Miah fills that role quite well.

Jeremiah and Harley have been best friends since childhood. He was her first kiss, her first love, her first.




After high school graduation and one last beautiful night with Miah, Harley left her town and her abusive father behind, while Miah went off to join the military. Neither of them really knew where they were going, or when they'd see each other again.





Throughout the course of the book we travel with Harley as she goes from town to town, working various jobs and investing in various relationships. She keeps in close contact with her family, so we continue to learn about what's happening at home, as well. Several times Harley finds herself back in Georgia, PA, straight back into the family drama she tried to leave behind.

And then there's Miah. I swear, Miah had the patience of a saint. He always knew that Harley was it for him, and he was just waiting for her to stop running.



Overall, this story resonated within me. I cried, laughed, and found myself contemplating the various situations throughout Harley's journey. I'll remember this story for a long time, and would recommend it to anyone. I'm going to re-read and probable add to this review, because this is a book that deserves more than one pass.

[Brooklyn James · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Not since Margaret Mitchell's Scarlett O' Hara have we seen a literary female of such strength, vitality, vulnerability, and complexity as Harley LeBeau. The Boots My Mother Gave Me is a powerful and emotional novel examining a young woman's journey to outrun her past. Brooklyn James navigates effortlessly through the rough terrain of her characters' complicated psychologies. If truth is beauty, then James has written the most beautiful of tales." -Candice Adams, Editor Muse, Austin, TX

"Brooklyn James' soundtrack to her novel The Boots My Mother Gave Me does more than give a clever feminist twist to the title. Her songs serve as chapters themselves, underlining James' deft ability as a storyteller and songwriter." -Margaret Moser, The Austin Chronicle

"Very satisfying read! Up there with To Kill a Mockingbird." -David Kobierowski, A Neighborly Conversation - KOOP 91.7FM - Austin, Texas

[Sarah (SB) ღ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++++ Quite a journey, amazing.
There was not one thing I didn't like about this story, because not one time did it feel contrived or forced in any way. It is simply genuine, yet not simple at all.
It felt like sitting down with a friend to share the experience. I so very much wanted to hold Harley's hand and reassure her that even lost, broken, neglected hearts can find their way home.

Also ;) I'm a Pittsburgh gal.

[Danielle Overly Bookishly Backlogged · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5

I've been thinking a lot about how to review this novel, it's unique and sort of in a league of its own. I'll admit, I was reluctant to pick it up even though I've had it for in my queue for months, for some reason I kept shuffling it to the bottom of the pile. But lately I've been getting suckered into the more "popular" reads and have found the majority to be very disappointing. So on a whim I bumped this to the top. I'm super, super happy I did. I think my reluctance came from the lack of buzz, I know, shame on me. Truly, I am very sorry and have scolded myself ad nauseum.

I'm a bit uncertain how to catagorize this novel, it's a smidge Y/A (coming of age), a dash of contemporary, a pinch of New Adult. As the bulk of the story spans about ten years (longer if you include some of the flashbacks scenes), it's hard to pin down where it falls with respect to genre.

This is not a fluffy story. Yes, there are some fantastic moments, but there are many dark aspects to this novel which cast a shadow on its characters throughout the story. The heroine, Harley, our narrator, has had a tumultuous childhood, raised by an abusive, alcoholic father and a doormat of a mother. What fascinated me most, however, are the moments of joy and love which are experienced in between the fits of rage directed at the women of the household. It's an interesting juxtaposition as oftentimes we only get to see the abuse in novels such as these. In fact, the author did such an amazing job in creating her charaters I found it truly difficult to hate any of them, even when there were a plethora of reasons to do just that.

I should take a moment to note that I loathe and find offensive all types of abuse. It's critical, I think, to point that out as I'd like for my opinions not to be taken out of context. While Harley's father's actions are despicable and vile, through Harley's eyes we see a man struggling with a wealth of pain. Does he do the things he does because he's evil? No, I never got that sense. While there's no excuse for abusing your family, people often fall victim to their circumstances and this is precisely what's happened to this man. Raised in a home with a hateful mother, he became that which he feared most, as is often the case. Coupled with what is clearly a case of PTSD from serving in the Vietnam war, Harley's father is a ticking time bomb. But he's also a man with no sense of self-worth who comes from an era in which people kept their problems to themselves and psychoanalysis was akin to voodoo. Men especially fell victim to the stigmas of seeking help for things like addiction, PTSD and childhood traumas. They were viewed as less than, not real men, impotent and weak. This was a generation of "hysterical woman" and men who were simply viewed as "difficult".

Interspersed with flashbacks of her family we're offered peeks into Harley's more normal relationships, like that of her long-time friendship with Jeremiah Johnson, the boy next door. We watch as this relationship slowly evolves over time, from two little kids playing ball and fishing to teenagers figuring out who they are and how they fit. The adoration they feel for one another is palpable though their romantic love takes quite a while to be recognized. Even still, Harley does all she can to avoid any sort of committment to Jeremiah. It's not angsty or dramatic, there are no huge over the top fights between the two, it's simply two souls destined to be together who simply can't seem to connect. Jeremiah's understanding and patience is quite lovely to behold. He's borne witness to Harley's childhood traumas, understands her fears and lets her go time and time again, knowing that she'll return to him, like she always does. While it's uplifting to watch this kind of love endure a myriad of tests and distance and time, it's also sad to bear witness to Harley's inability to accept Jeremiah's love and equally frustrating to see her continually abate the love that is offered.

It takes the length of this book for these two to get it figured out, during which Harley zigzags across the U.S. in search of herself, dabbling in educational adventures and liasons with other men. Her perpetual need to be something more than she is, in essence, an survival mechanism. Her constant need to move, a way to escape the ever-brewing emotional turmoil that lies just beneath the surface. It takes the entirety of this novel for her to make peace with her father, herself and the mother who failed her, and, eventually, her love of Jeremiah.

This book is a true character study, primarily focusing on Harley's relationships with her sister, Kat, her mother and her father. There are complex family dynamics at work here, there is a wealth of history to work through and a maze of confusing emotions. At times it's so heavy it feels suffocating, other times there's such hope and bouyancy that it becomes difficult to navigate the haze of underlying emotions because you want so much for Harley to move beyond them. But, as in real life, true healing takes time, longer for some than others. This is that journey. It is steeped in complexity and rich in self-discovery. And while it is an engaging, thought-provoking and immersive experience, one that is impossible to put down, it is also difficult to endure at times.

Harley is wonderfully portrayed. She is elusive, as characters go, and sometimes difficult to pin down. Her thought process is often so logical its devoid of any true emotion, her pain so deep it's often difficult to excavate. It's really only when she returns home that the wounds are opened and she allows us to see the underpinnings that make up who she is fundamentally. These are compelling elements, offering Harley opportunities to ferret out the truth about her life and who she's expected to become, both by herself and her mother. With each journey home, Harley is offered new experiences, new chances to redefine herself and new challenges designed to help her peel back the layers of dysfunction.

I think I could go on and on with this one, the more I type the more things come to mind and I could probably write for the balance of the evening. So I'll end with this: in recent times I can only think of two other novels which have taken character exploration to this level; A Different Blue and The Sea of Tranquility. They all host beautifully drawn women, women whose lives are rich with strife and complexity and perseverance. They also play host to amazing male leads and Jeremiah Johnson has now joined the elite ranks of "Super Swoony Gooey Boy" with Josh Bennett and Darcy Wilson from the above noted books. I loved these boys, loved them each for a different reason, for each brought balance to the female leads, each offered something unique which left its mark in the most special way.

These books are all very different, both in their themes and characters, but they all have something in common. There is a quietness about the storytelling that sucks you in, and they're all very cinematic in a sense. It's almost like watching the story unfold as opposed to reading it. Good authors can do that. They can pick you up and place you in their story without making you aware they've done it. This is one of those stories. It's impossible to walk away from and impossible to forget.

[Alyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a giveaway from the author in exchange for an honest review. I'm not really good at leaving reviews.
The story kept me entertained and angry at the same time. Characters in the story are a mix of likable and unlikable ones which makes it a good balance.

[Lauren ♥ Inked in Chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read this and other reviews at Madisonsays

I have tried to write this review numerous times; spent literally hours contemplating the right adjectives to use to describe its brilliance. Absolute nothing I can come up with does this book justice. The Boots My Mother Gave Me is just flat out incredible! Every once in a great while, if you’re lucky, you find a book that really speaks to you. One that you measure all others against. For me, The Boots My Mother Gave Me is that book. If there were ever a book to give 5 stars to, THIS is the one.

“People say you shouldn’t judge others until you have walked in their shoes. Here I stood, literally in my mother’s shoes. A part of me was curious how she walked through life and found herself in the present. The other part remained frightened, should I ever find myself on the same path.”

Harley LeBeau is a strong willed, independent, free spirited tomboy. We first meet Harley her senior year of high school and follow her on a journey of self-discovery spanning over 10 years. She’s determined to shake the dust of Georgia, Pennsylvania off her boots and make a life for herself. A life away from her abusive father and co-dependent mother. In order to do that she has to walk away from her little sister, Kat and her lifelong best friend, Jeremiah Johnson.

Armed with a guitar, her mother’s boots and Charlene the Chevelle, Harley starts out on the open road. Her path is riddled with challenges. Every few years Harley seems to be lead back home to “clean up” a mess of some kind or another. Always searching for the one thing she excels at, Harley spends a good deal of time running. Running from her family, from love, from her past. No matter how hard or long you run, eventually everything catches up with you.

“An amateur model, an amateur songwriter, and now, an amateur actor, would I ever truly excel at any one thing? What was I born to do? What did I love to do? For as long as I could remember, I never had that thing, that one thing I knew I was destined to do. I wanted to do everything, at least once.”

In this poignant coming of age novel, Brooklyn James tackles some very sensitive topics with such grace. From Harley’s abusive father to teenage pregnancy and even suicide, she approaches each subject with compassion. This is a beautifully written story which can easily move any reader.

“Within each of us, there lies the innate ability to survive, triumph, and overcome, rewriting the scripts of our own lives, having some power over our fate and the fate of generations to come. Nothing has to be just because that’s the way it’s always been.”

I cannot recommend this book enough. If there is one book you read in your life, let it be this one. I could NOT put it down. I tried. Believe me, I did. I couldn’t sleep. I had to know what would happen to Harley, to Jeremiah, to all the beautiful characters within the confines of those pages. I found myself falling asleep at midnight only to wake up at 3am NEEDING to finish the novel. I have never felt that way about a book before. I will say it once and then say it again… READ. THIS. BOOK!

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book of The Boots My Mother Gave Me. I was addicted from the start.
Usually I would not advise an author to narrate their own audio books but as a singer and a professional in this business, Brooklyn could not have done better. This is an amazing story about a father and his daughter and the dysfunctional part of having a father that is an alcoholic and who was so tortured himself that he does not know how to relate to the people in his life.
It is a story of trust. It is a story of betrayal and a story of love. Although it has some romance to it the story is not about romance but about how failed relationships shape expectations for future relationships.
The audio book is a first for me in as far as it has a musical soundtrack to accompany it. These songs/tracts are sung by the author herself and it may not be for all but my one biggest complaint against the incorporation of these songs into the productions was this ---THEY WERE MOSTLY ONLY SNIPPETS -- leaving me wanting more. Craving more and it worked wonders to show the main characters naive notions on the one hand against her world weary well earned mistrust on the other. This was totally brilliant. The second and more important facet of this audio book was that the author wrote a true story in fictional context and her voice became Harley's giving the book a feeling of intimacy second to none. I stand in awe.
Now the main character in this book is Harley LeBeau. Her direct family and the boy next door Miah. All in all these 5 people are pivotal to the story but towards the theme of the story lies this basic truth. Parents teach their children via behaviour and the fact that Harley's mother coped with the abuse, the fact that her father is hot and cold in his affection. Physically and mentally abusive. Cognitively absent from the rearing of his children and the running of his household, all of these were crystal clear and achingly truthful in its telling of the story.
All in all, this is a story I will recommend to all. A story that you should, possibly must read...

WaAr

[Trewen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

With all the glowing reviews, I had high expectations.
First, I wouldn't call this a romance. It read a little like a memoir or narrative.
It started out strong then once I hit the half-way mark, I wasn't as engaged.

This story is told from the POV of Harley, a daughter growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father and a mom who enables him. It spans many years as she journeys through life battling the damage left by a dysfunctional family. She's searching for a way to be comfortable in her own skin.
I could totally relate to her character. Strong and driven on the outside. Always there to rescue and clean up peoples messes. But on the inside, scared and vulnerable. Over analyzing everything to find some answers.

So, over analyzing.....I felt the story was a bit heavy with the narration. It became repetitive and I just wanted something to happen already. I would have liked a bit more dialogue.
Also, the author used unusual syntax. She put the subject at the end of a sentence. (Think old-school british.) For example, (Harley asks her grandmother) "How did you know you loved him, Gramps?"
Now, I know it's not necessarily incorrect, it was just distracting and drove me crazy.

That said, I enjoyed the characters and the direction of the story. I liked how Harley could just pick up and go. (I've never known anyone to have so many different jobs) Her bond with her sister was heartwarming.
And Miah, sigh... I wish we could have gotten to know him a little better.

[Stephanie Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story was fascinating. I loved Harley; loved her attitude and her determination. Throughout her journey of life, she was determined not to end up like her mother, in an abusive relationship. She wanted more out of life and she wasn't going to be satisfied with anything less.
Her number one goal after graduation was to go and never look back. She knew she'd miss her mom, sister and Miah but also knew that she had to get away and live life to the fullest.
Harley travels to different places, takes many different career paths, tries school several times but somehow always find herself back in Geaorgia and in bed with Miah.
Even though she feels safe and complete with Miah, she continues to leave in search for her perfect life. Watching her mother make bad choices, she wasn't going to give up trying to find her happy place in life; even if that meant being by herself. Ultimately she finds herself being alone after helping everyone get their lives back on track. After finally waking up and realizing that being happy has to involve Miah, she finds her way back to her him and thankfully it's not too late.

Even though I gave this book 5 stars, I found myself getting a little agitated with Harley when she kept leaving Miah. I was screaming......WAKE UP. So glad she finally did.

This is a MUST read :-)

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Amazingly, Wonderful Stars!!!

What a journey I just went on. I honestly feel empty yet full at the same time what a beautiful beautiful book! This was similar to The Sweet Gum Tree and yet also a soul searching book that gave me a feeling like Eat Pray Love. Also the love story between Harley and Jeremiah was heartwarming. Oh isn't Jeremiah the most wonderful?! I would wait for him that's for sure.

This was one of my favorite books I have read. I will be for sure reading this one again. It will be one of those books that I will often think about. Honestly it will change the way I think, the way I view things,the way I love, the way I take care of and love my children. I love a book that teaches me something...this one did many things. Please read this one!

[Kellie Maddox-Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had great reviews on here. Including some of the Blogs I follow.

Unfortunately I have to disagree with them.

I skimmed about ¾’s of this book I think.
It bored me and our heroine shit me to tears.

The saving light in this was Jeremiah. He was everything a book boyfriend was supposed to be.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I Can Say Is.....I Loved It!!!

If you Loved The Sweet Gum Tree, Give This A Try!!

[Keighley]

Speeding through the months & years too quickly so i lost connection to characters. Could be a nice quick read for others, just wasn't the one for me!

[Candice]

I think I am going to have to say that I can't rate this...right now. Parts of me says 3 star and other parts are screaming 5. I have no idea if this is a true story turned fiction or not, but it sure felt like that to me. I don't know if I feel comfortable putting a star rating on that. I might change my mind though. So, if you see the stars filled in you know my heart caught up to my head.

First can I say that the mother pissed me off. Your kids are in danger...GET OUT! Seriously. No if's, and's, or but's about it. GET OUT! I don't care if you are poor and have no where to go, you get the eff out of the abusive home and find a shelter. Yes, I know it's easier said than done, but it's not your life anymore...you have to think of those kids. THEY are what matter now. So, right off of the bat I wanted to strangle Harley's mom. Especially at the court house. Nope, adios. See ya. I would have cut them all out right then and there.

Now, the dad. Piece of shit. Feels good beating on women and children, huh? I have no idea why Harley kept going back--even after you kicked her out. Yeah, sure, he's her dad, but he didn't care about her why the hell should she give him the time of day? Because she's blood? Family? Sorry, but that's not a good enough reason for me. Again, easier said than done, but get some common sense Harley. Seriously. You were just trying to get him to love you after all that he did to you? Why? I don't understand. Why waste your breath after everything he did? Why do you want to forget what he did? To only remember the good times? NO! Remember what he did, get out of the situation and move on and learn from it. Don't put yourself in that situation again.

Kat, you should have learned from your mother's mistakes. WHY would you go through that? What would you want that for your life...AGAIN?! You pissed me off so much, but I couldn't fault you. Because, you did finally see the light.

Harley, I have no idea what to say except you ran too long. I wished you would have gotten wise a little sooner. Imagine all those years you spent running when you could have been spending them with your Miah. Here's where I fall into this, yes me personally, I ran. I traveled all over and wanted to experience life like no one from my small town has done. I wanted to be the "free spirit" that everyone claimed me to be. So I did. I was lonely. Oh so lonely. Turns out, I really did want to sprout roots somewhere, but I was too scared to admit it. So Harley, I understand your sense of freedom, but there comes a time when you have to stop running and accept the truth head on. It should have happened to you a hell of a lot sooner than it did, but I am just happy it did at all. Your Gram said it best and I was hoping you'd listen to her, but you got scared and did what you did best...run.

Jeremiah, you are a saint. Truly. There are no other words. You knew Harley would find her way back to you and you waited...and waited...and waited. For that, you are an incredible man. You were always there for Harley from the time you were 4 years old. When you showed up on the page I knew all was right in the world...at least until Harley freaked out and ran again. I kept waiting for Harley to come to you. I cried...BAWLED when Xander came in the picture. I BAWLED the first time Tate and Cassidy came on the page. Miah, I heart you! There just aren't any other words. Saint, perfection, incredible, patient, loving, loyal they all equal love. You are it.

In this book there are so many inspirational quotes, I think I highlighted something from each chapter. For me though, it's the fine line between the abuse and loyalty. I can't get over that. I can't wrap my head around why after you were abused--whether it be verbal, physical, or sexual-- would you ever want to go back to your abuser? Why would want their approval? Who says that because they are your blood you are supposed to love them?

"Within each of us, there lies the innate ability to survive, triumph, and overcome rewriting the scripts of our own lives, having some power over our fate and the fate of generations to come. Nothing has to be just because that's the way it's always been."

[Sorcha O'Dowd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning, emotional rollercoaster of a journey, ‘The Boots My Mother Gave Me’ is up there as one of my top reads for 2013.

There was something about Brooklyn James’ writing style which grabbed me from the word go. I was yanked into the beautifully written and heartbreakingly realistic storyline which managed to crush my heart into a million pieces in between laughing and smiling as I witnessed the most beautiful and loving of relationships being forged and the winning of battles that characters had been fighting for so long.

The picture that Brooklyn James created of a small community was spectacularly done. Everyone knows everyone elses business, and if you are lucky enough to escape the trap of the town you grew up in, you can never truly leave it behind as the ties that you made always pull you back. It was one of the reasons that I loved and admired Jeremiah as a character so much. He knew everything about our heroine Harley, he knew of the struggles of her past and understood and despite knowing he would lose her, he still encouraged her in her desire to escape and see the world.

It was such a refreshing change to see a hero of a story let the heroine make her own way, and make her own mistakes. I loved that he didn’t try to stop her from leaving him behind so many times, and that even though it broke his heart, he knew that she had to find and love herself before she would be able to accept his love.

Now, that is my kind of hero *swoons*.

Being able to witness every part of Harley’s journey of self-discovery really helped me connect to Harley, and see her not only as a charater who I hoped would have a happy ending, but as a real person, with real issues and insecurities. The mistakes she made and the relationships she forged weren’t skirted over, which I loved! As a hopeless romantic, it tore at my heart to see Harley in relationships with men who weren’t Jeremiah, but although this had me clutching at my chest in fits of sobs, it was seeing Harley’s journey in such detail that made me appreciate the ending all the more. It was truly a case of ‘good things come to those who wait.’

The continued emphasis on the importance of family in this book was a very heartwarming message. I adored Harley’s relationship with her younger sister Kat, and how no matter what she is doing, Harley would always drop everything to return to her mother and sister’s side in their time of need, even when it came at a cost to Harley. That is the pure strength and devotion of family, and especially in a lot of recent new-adult fiction, the focus on the main romance tends to overshadow the importance of familial ties, so I was delighted to see that this wasn’t the case with this book. This story was realistic and poignant reminding us that romantic love isn’t the only love that exists.

Brooklyn James’ writing was phenomenal and I loved how fleshed out the secondary characters such as Cassidy were, and how the issue of abuse isn’t always as black or white as it is in some cases. I really admired how Harley’s abusive father was portrayed as a flawed human who craves forgiveneness, rather than as a faceless manipulator. I really disliked Harley’s father, and never condone abuse in any form, but the way that this storyline flowed is a reminder that whilst to most abuse is simply wrong, to people like Harley the abuser is still their father, and nothing can change blood.

This was a stunning story which tore me to shreds, and I recommend having a box of tissues at hand when you read this.

Superb book and most definitely recommended!

5 fabulous stars!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. This book was just an emotional read from page one to the last. It hit on so many emotions and topics. It's hard to walk away from this without being wrecked. I was surprised that I was not a puddle of tears on the floor after this. But I have a feeling that moment will come.

Harley is a tomboy, she spends her days wondering what dad will she get today. The loving father or the one that tells her she is worthless. Will today be the day she can just be a kid with her sister or will she have to look after her like a mother? Harley finds solace in her friendship with Jeremiah, 'Miah', he is her safe place, her soft spot to fall. He is her best friend and the one who makes her feel safe. He is her first, her first kiss, her first time and her first love.

Raised in a home where her father drank too much, watching her mother be content in the life she had. An abusive husband and two daughters - no dreams left to seek out and no desire to want something else. But she did want more for her daughters. Katrina, the ever forgiving sister, desperate for her father's love and willing to do anything to fill that void in her heart. And then there is Harley. Desperate to escape.

Upon graduation, she is leaving - searching out her own dreams. Taking an old worn pair of cowboy boots that her father gave to her mother; she sets out trying to be anything but what they were. The problem is, that she doesn't find it. She runs, from everything - from everyone. Unable to find her peace anywhere. She picks a path and once she becomes settled she leaves, seeks out something new. Things change four years after she leaves, she sees him again - days before the events of 9/11, Miah is sitting at the bar. They spend the next few days wrapped up in each other until he gets the call. Having spent the last four years in the military, he is off to war. And Harley is off again, trying to pave her own path.

Something draws her back home, something always does. She gets the call one day that Miah was injured and has been transferred home. But Harley has been living a new life, a steady job and even a man that she was willing to settle down with. But settling was not in her blood. There is far too much to fix at home for her to run off. So she stays for a while...then she runs. Returning home again, things may be too broken for her to fix. But as many times as she runs away, something has always been waiting for her. She just had to realize that it was there and that it was okay to want it. There was not weakness in it, there was peace and there was comfort in it.

This hit some nerves for me. The book reminded me of The Sweet Gum Tree and A.L. Jackson's books. It isn't really a romance, but a personal journey of loving yourself and finding your own road to being happy. With addiction, abuse and death as the dark points it can be a bit of a tough read. I have experienced life with those dark points so reading about a young girl trying to beat those odds hits close to home. We can all find our own ways in life. We don't have to follow in the footsteps of those that gave birth to us. Maybe by waking a mile in their shoes, we can find peace or understanding as to why...but sometimes there is no answer.

[Lynn Worton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated Review:

Review 6******

I was given a copy of this book in audio format by the author in return for an honest review.

This is a very emotionally charged story that touched me deeply, and had me hooked from the first page.

Harley Le Beau is a very strong character. She has had to be, to cope with the verbal and physical abuse perpetrated by her father.
The one constant in her life is her mother, sister and her next door neighbour, Jeremiah Johnson.

Jeremiah (or as Harley calls him, Miah) Johnson is a wonderful character. He hasn't had a wonderful childhood either, but he is kind, honourable and gentle. I fell in love with him a little bit too.

Having previously read and reviewed this book in 2012, I was eager to listen to this story in audio format narrated by the author. I loved Brooklyn James's narration of the story and found her voice extremely pleasant to listen to. I also loved the songs and music, sung and played by her interspersed through the story, which brought Harley's character more to life. Reading lyrics to songs is a completely different experience to listening to them and how they are meant to be sung. They brought out a plethora of emotions in me, much more than just reading a story could ever do. I do love listening to country music with a catchy tune and great lyrics, so I wouldn't mind getting a CD or MP3 download of these songs to listen to on their own.

This older YA story is like a biography of Harley's life. It follows about 10 years or so of her life, after being thrown out by her abusive father. It is a very poignant tale. I loved the interaction between Harley and Jeremiah. It shows that love can bloom even in the most damaged of hearts. This is a very difficult book to read, especially if you have gone through something similar. However, this book deserves to be read, as Harley's voice needs to be heard. Harley's journey is full of ups and downs, love and hate, anger and forgiveness. The reader is swept up in the emotional roller coaster that is Harley's life. There are some really humourous scenes that made me giggle, but there are also some scenes that had me bawling my eyes out. Though there is mention of sex in this book, it is tastefully done and is not explicit or erotic in any way. Some of the subjects in this book are very difficult to listen to, never mind read, but Harley's journey in trying to find herself and what she wants with her life, combined with the love/hate relationship with her father, makes this book a MUST READ.

Brooklyn James has written a story that has stayed with me for two years, but listening to it reminded me how powerfully this book affected me. I love her fast paced writing style, and the flow was wonderful. I am now looking forward to reading her other books as soon as I can.

Due to the mention of alcohol abuse, as well as physical abuse, I do not recommend this book to younger readers, or those of a sensitive nature. However, I highly recommend this book if you love older YA, Coming of Age and Romance genres. - Lynn Worton

[Jessica's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

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The Boots My Mother Gave Me is one of those books that will stay with you forever after reading. It deals with a lot of hard issues, child abuse, domestic abuse, alcoholism, suicide, teen pregnancy, and trying to accept the life you were given without running away from those who truly love you.

The Boots My Mother Gave Me centers on the character of Harley LeBeau. She is an amazingly strong girl who has goals for herself and does not want to be like every other woman in her small town. Marry a boy in town, get married, have kids, and give up all your dreams. She is determined to make it on her own and leave the small town and abusive father behind and that is what she does the day after high school graduation. I adored the character of Harley; she was wise beyond her years but she was a sad soul. She definitely had issues with men because of her father and moved through life changing cities and careers more than anyone I’ve ever met. She couldn’t say the words “I love you” and commit to any man. I love that the book starts with Harley as a child and ends with her as an adult with flash back scenes. It helped really understand who her character is and why she is the way she is. Though at times I was furious with Harley for her actions and choices I also admired her.

Harley’s father was an alcoholic and abuser and her mother always stood up for her husband and not for her daughters. Harley only had one person in her life who was always there for her, the boy next door Jeremiah. Jeremiah is the type of boy us girls only dream of meeting and falling in love with. He has been there for Harley through everything; their friendship turn romance was such a sweet storyline. He kept waiting for Harley to get it together and realize she loved him too. He waited years and years… it was beautiful and touching how much he loved her.

I really appreciate this book in more ways than I can express. Some of the topics were hard to read but I really enjoyed the original storyline and beautiful romance between Harley and Jeremiah. I loved Ms. James’ writing style and her connection to music through her writing. I look forward to reading more work from Brooklyn James in the future.

I give The Boots My Mother Gave Me 4 Stars.