Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace

by Mary A. Pérez

Readers who praised this story of coming of age -- and coming into grace -- will love this new book club edition!

More than a memoir, this book is a promise of hope for anyone who was abandoned as a child, to anyone who woke up hungry and went to bed hungrier every day, for every wife who has loved a husband who left bruises on her heart and on her body.

Somewhere between stealing cold cuts from stray cats and watching a stranger leave her mother's bed after breaking in through their bedroom window, Mary figured out that her family was dirt poor. Worse than her empty stomach, she was hungry for acceptance and love. She thought she found it when her baby sister was born and she became her "mommy," taking care of her needs as best as she could at the age of seven. Then she had to say goodbye over a small white casket.

Mary's grandparents, first-generation immigrants from Puerto Rico, took her in and gave her a glimpse of faith and stability. For a brief, shining spell, she had a real home--until they decided that Mama needed her.

They may have been right, but Mama needed more than a little girl could give, and Mary lost her way again.

Just out of Juvy Hall, Mary found a knight in shining armor to take her away. She became a teenage bride to a man twice her age -- a man as deeply enslaved to booze as every stepdad she'd had as a child. She loved him anyway and wore the bruises he gave her, even when she tried to leave him to give their children a better life.

Despite her fear and loneliness, she never imagined it would take a gunshot in the middle of the night to teach her courage. She was even more surprised when her rediscovered faith paved the path to forgiveness after so many years of pain.

Running in Heels is an autobiography of the grit and grace that carried a young girl through the shadows of her mother's choices and on through an abusive marriage. Mary A. PErez narrates an incredible story of survival in the face of hopelessness, and learning to forgive against all odds.

Now with "Questions and Topics for Discussion" for your book club!

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

414 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2015

About the author

Born in the Bronx, raised in Miami, relocated to Houston – Mary is of Puerto Rican descent, a mother to four grown children, “Mimi” to a couple of gorgeous grandchildren, and happily married (the second time around) to a phenomenal man for twenty-five years.

Mary A. Pérez is the author of "Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace", her debut memoir of the turbulent and uncertain childhood she survived, unlike her sister.

Mary was born to a Puerto Rican immigrant family in the Bronx of New York and moved to Miami, Florida in 1962. Her childhood story played out against the backdrop of constant social change which defined the 1960s and forever altered the landscape for future generations. With political tensions of the time raging during the Vietnam War, there was a personal war within Mary’s own family dominating her life. Her future held little hope for a precious girl who lived through more traumas before her adult years than most live in a lifetime.

As she cleaved to the Godly faith that her grandparents instilled in her at an early age, she still found the courage to persevere through her young adulthood seeking the peace and serenity they had shown her, though it continued to be an elusive ambition.

As you get to know Mary in the pages of this moving story of hope and forgiveness, you will be overcome by the power of a grandparent’s love for their granddaughter, a child’s quiet understanding of God’s path for her, and the way in which Mary turned a life of peril into a life of promise. This book will leave you with the undeniable power of faith, hope, and love.

Mary began writing her memoirs in 2008 and continues to share her inspiring outlook with her writers group and fans through her blog. Her award-winning essays have appeared in La Respuesta and Sofrito for Your Soul.
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"Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace," with Stellar Communications Houston

A Puerto Rican girl seeking love and security becomes a bride to a ruthless man twice her age. She has her first child at seventeen and her fourth at twenty-two. Can she survive obstacles thrown at her while hope is shattered time after time?

Order through these links below:
Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Running-Heels-...)
Barnes and Noble (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/runni...)

Reviews

[K.E. Garvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running In Heels is not good because the reader will learn all the juicy tidbits they’ve come to expect from a celebrity autobiography. It’s not good because her story is unique or made national headlines and is in any way familiar to us. It’s good because (but for the grace of God) it could have been anyone’s story. It’s relateable. It’s emotional. It’s raw. And today, it’s something that happens far too often.

Mary takes us on a journey that begins with her early childhood and ends with present day, hitting all of the life-changing elements without adding the unnecessary tidbits that would bore a reader. In a candid delivery she shares what it’s like to grow up without food. What it’s like to grow up too fast. What it’s like to love and dislike a person at the same time. We feel her loss, we share her pain, and we root for her to rise above.

Told in first person, Mary recounts many of the most emotional, painful stories of her life. She calls out others (including family members) on their part in her pain, but she also shares her own faults and mistakes. She credits those who made her life sane.

Mary shows us how to love someone who is less-than-worthy, how to look past a person’s flaws to find their heart, and how to forgive those who have caused the most pain. She teaches us that even though you may be a damaged soul, there is life and light if you allow God to lead the way.

This is not a religious book per say, although Mary’s faith is evident once she decides to follow. She shares many heart-breaking stories, but I think it was her happy ending that stirred the most emotion for me.

There were a few slow spots, but there wasn’t one that took away from the read. Before I reached the point where I wanted to start skimming, the pace picked up and the story continued to move along at a steady tick.

I know that most recommendations for ‘great reads’ go to well-known authors while indie authors are challenged with getting their books into readers’ hands. I hope that if even in a small way, I can help Mary to do that. This was truly an enjoyable, well-told story and one I think many people would relate to. Highly recommended at 4.5 stars.

[Joanne Friday · Rating 4 out of 5]

A variety of experiences led to a range of emotions while reading Running in Heels by Mary A. Perez. As I read Mary's story I felt the time and culture in which she grew up. I felt the neglect and the love that was the thread of her life. Memoirs and biographies are not the books I usually read but this book held my attention from the first page to the last. I will watch to see if any of these characters get a book of their own or will she move to fiction.

[Andrea Renfrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hard for me to read, mainly because – post motherhood – I have discovered that reading about terrible childhoods pulls at all the wrong heartstrings. Getting through the beginning and wanting to scoop little Mary away from all the mess, while simultaneously wanting to save her mother from herself, was stressful. The things I loved about The Glass Castle are the same things that, after having a daughter, held me back from finishing The Liar’s Club. Things I have the stomach to deal with in real life, because it needs done, is not something I have the stomach for in past tense memoirs, because what is done is over with now.

Mary’s memoir remains hopeful and hope filled. (Read my full review here: https://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/...)

[Cathy Vega-Gallardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running in Heels 👠.. what a book 📚!!..
I opened it and got stuck on it immediately and couldn’t put put it down until I finished. I cried, I laughed, and I really got to know Maryann on a different level. Her simple way of trusting God gave me a different perspective on who He is in her life. Truly genuine I’d say. I have the privilege and honor of knowing her personally from when she was 15, and I testify that the words throughout her book describes her to the “M”of her name instead of writing to the T, as we usually say.
The peace that flows from her story is real. Her pain, and sorrows, as are her laughter, and joy.
Her love for her Momma, and her family, is genuine and her relationship with her children, and siblings, is admirable. Her daddy is her heart, and her hubby her anchor and Prince 👑 who loves her and keeps her forever young.
You know who’s made this possible for her, after so much chaos, her simple trust in God. That attitude has kept her heart in a safe place, where regardless of what the statistics say about someone growing in that environment would become, didn’t affect her that way, but instead, made her an Overcomer. It’s safe to say that God does make the difference.

I am a changed woman after I read Maryann’s book, and anyone who reads this amazing memoir will be to.

[Karen Alterisio nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raised by an addict and a somewhat absent mother, saved, at times, by her loving grandparents, this author's memoir is packed with sorrow, fear, hope, and most importantly, faith --faith in God and faith one's self. An engaging story that should be required reading for high school students, the writing is quite good. The author really puts you in her shoes, or, in this case, heels. The pace is quick so the book reads fast which isn't really a problem since this story is un-put-downable.

[H. Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at inkorkeys.com

Running in Heels is a gut wrenching memoir from an extremely talented author.
Mary was dealt a seriously bad hand of misfortune after mistreatment after tragedy and still, in the end with a hell of a lot of learning, searching and growing up, she came out of horrible circumstances to create a better, healthier life for herself and those around her.

But lets backtrack for a minute and talk about the cover. That stunning, heartbreaking yet beautiful cover. It tells its own story. I see a lost little girl playing at being mummy, whose just as lost.

Growing up with a neglectful mother prone to abusive partners and between house after home, mother to grandparents to father and back again would leave a mark on anyone, especially a child and it is no wonder Mary acts and speaks years beyond her age with forced maturity within this memoir.

The voice throughout the book bleeds childlike innocence in the beginning and then as Mary starts to understand that things aren’t right the voice matures and develops with her while still keeping the tone of a child. Even though it is written in the past tense coming from years after the fact with the benefit of adult sensibility and hindsight Mary’s voice, as a child, is startling present. As the life events progress through the years so too does Mary’s voice. Events of abuse told from a very young child’s viewpoint in not fully grasping the terror in front of her but merely cataloging interactions. The resentful rebelliousness of a child barely teetering on the edge of calling herself a teen. The resigned to her fate of a too young mum in a violent and volatile relationship, with another one along the way (cross your fingers for a boy). All the while the strong reflective, strangely forgiving and omniscient voice of the author, real life Mary, comes through as a subtle and highly effective undertone to the book.

Running in Heels jumps from one anecdotal incident to another, opening with Mary’s mother and then boyfriend stealing Mary and her older brother from daycare. This style of writing still manages to maintain a semi-fluid pace that doesn’t jar the reader from the path the author is creating between memories.
I think it gives the memoir real substance because it is essentially one massive compilation of events which progress as the years go on, as Mary ages and is forced to mature and confront adult situations, like being pregnant in her early teen years.

The events retold in this book are devastating.
You want to reach into the pages and pluck little Mary out and take her home and just love her. You want to keep reading. You want to read to the end to see what becomes of Mary and to find out who the person she has become at the end of the memoir, once shes on the other side of these terrible life circumstances.
I believe it’s the really compelling books, novels, memoirs, autobiographies that make you want.

I personally have no idea of what it would be like to not only live through these experiences, but to relive them, write them down so they’re all in the one place and share them with the world.

It wasn’t a laugh out loud book or a life is good kind of book. It was inspiring towards the end but the bones of the story weren’t something that left you comforted or even particularly hopeful.

It was a book of intense emotions and overcoming habits perpetuated by generations. It was an amazing journey.

[A. S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaways program, though as usual that has no effect on my opinions or review.

I entered the giveaway for this book expecting something totally different. From the title, I thought it would be a fashion industry memoir in the vein of The Devil Wears Prada. When I received the book, the cover and description made me wonder if there was going to be a human trafficking story somewhere in there. In my opinion, the book could use better promotion and marketing, but I digress.

This is probably the most heartbreaking book I've read so far this year. Perez's journey throughout her unstable childhood, her love for her grandparents, the neglect she suffered under her mother's care, the abuse she suffered at the hands of her alcoholic first husband, and the eventual redemption she found to turn her life around are remarkable.

Prose-wise this book is nothing hugely unique or lyrical, but Perez is a competent writer that manages to convey her feelings as a child, teen, and adult as if she really were writing it as a child/teen/adult. I felt an unbearable rage as Perez described the difficulties of trying to raise her baby sister and parent her own mother. If you've ever wondered how abuse and childhood neglect can cause a cycle of abuse, this book is pretty much the best example. Despite the love she received from her grandparents, Perez still suffered from lack of structure due to her mother's wild ways. And yet Perez also writes sympathetically of her mother, noting that although her mother received love and guidance from Perez's grandparents, she still had feelings of awkwardness and perhaps undiagnosed learning disorders or mental issues that ended up having her seek validation from one alcoholic boyfriend to the next.

I often wonder how children in this situation break out of the cycle of abuse. Abstractly, I've seen it happen in my own family, and I know it happens to others. I've been so lucky to have loving parents and an amazing sister, and it makes me so heartbroken to know that other people did not have the luck to be born into families such as my own. One passage that made me break down crying was when an 8 year old Perez and her younger sister Anna were taken into custody by the police after their mother and stepfather didn't bother to feed them or provide baby Anna with diapers. The girls were brought to a children's hospital, where Perez noted how warm the bath was, and how it was the first time she had clean and warm pajamas. Imagine, a world where a child has never had clean clothes because her family never bothered to wash them. Perez also had an impressively bad haircut due to the nurse cutting out the knots in her hair, because Perez's mother never bothered to comb her hair. I am ambivalent about having kids of my own, but one thing I do know: no child should ever suffer neglect like that.

One thing I would have liked to see a little more of was the development of Mary's relationship with her husband, and how they found God together. That part was a little rushed, which is why I took off the fifth star.

I recommend this book, but readers should be aware that it is a heavy, heavy book. Try to have something cheerful lined up to lift your mood as you read, because otherwise you might slip into despair about how much people have suffered.

[Story Circle Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who grew up in a loving and stable environs, it is difficult to image what home life would be like if it were filled with drunkenness, shouting matches, and abuse. Yet the latter description captures only a portion of Perez's dysfunctional past. Written in three parts, Mary Perez's memoir delves into the spiritual healing of one woman who was once caught in the vicious cycle of codependency.

The first section centers on Perez's childhood and early teen years. At the tender age of three, Perez goes to live with her mom after her parents divorce. Her mom's life spirals out of control with the addition of alcoholic, abusive boyfriends, and plenty of partying. Mary is frequently left at home at night and has to fend for herself. Many moves and four years later, Perez's mom surprises her with a baby sister; while the newfound companionship is refreshing, Perez now has to take care of herself and her baby sister.

Children's Services steps in, her mom is sent to jail, and Perez and her sister move in with their grandparents. Situated in a strong Christian environment for the next three years, Perez is happy to attend school on a regular basis. But her home and school contentment is short lived. With the tragic death of her sister, candid narrative shifts into raw emotion as Perez slowly succumbs to withdrawal in her preteens, and by age twelve she takes an emotional nosedive. Juvenile detention, drugs, alcohol, abusive boyfriends, scores of unstable living arrangements, and finally dropping out school mark Perez's new life.

At the age of seventeen, Perez enters into a fourteen-year relationship with a man sixteen years her senior, and gives birth to four children over the next five years. In Part Two, Perez says clearly that her life with this domineering man—riddled with a troubled past and alcoholism—was nothing less then tumultuous, especially when he abandons her and the children.

Yet in a miraculous turn of events six months after their divorce, another man comes into Perez's life, and this time he's a keeper. While Part Three zeroes in on this marvelous transition, Perez points out that she would not be where she is today if it were not for God's intervention in her life over the years and her grandparent's faith that sparked her interest in Christianity.

Very moving and highly inspirational, Running in Heels, as Perez clearly states, "is more than a memoir. This is a promise of hope and survival to anyone who woke up hungry and went to bed hungrier every day, for anyone who was abandoned as a child or an adult, for every wife who has loved a husband who left bruises on her heart and on her body."

by Anita Lock
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read a memoir, I look for two components: a well-told, engrossing story and a gutsy protagonist who battles adversity. Running in Heels has both. It follows the protagonist, Mary’s journey from child of an alcoholic mother to finding guidance in the care of her grandparents, to a return to her mother and trouble. At sixteen, she goes off with much older Donny, an alcoholic whose erratic and destructive behavior turns Mary into a co-dependent. She sticks with him, despite his alcoholic rages, jealousy, anger, mood swings, and inability to provide for his family. Her need for love keeps her believing his promises long after the reader wants to scream at her to leave him. But she can’t. Without a high school degree (which she obtains later), no work experience, and two and then four kids, she is trapped. Importantly, she still loves him. “I hated seeing my husband in a drunken stupor, losing touch with reality. But when he was sober, I became goo-goo eyed, in love with him all over again. The paradox of my heart.”

In Mary Perez’s case, some innate toughness and her grandparents’ love plus her belief in God get her through her worst trials. With the help of friends, she learns to stand up to her husband, and she manages to bring up her four children despite an unstable home life. This all takes its toll on her health and mind. “Emotions carved a hole in me like the machete Donny used to slice at the shrubs, vines and lurking snakes.”

While the reader applauds Mary’s efforts to rise above the bog she has fallen into, there remains a concern about her marriage to alcoholic Donny. How will it work out? Mary is not only compassionate but a forgiving human being. An unexpected twist toward the end serves to illustrate just how far she takes this.

I found the book wordy, overwritten in places, slow in others, and repetitive. (Her mother doesn’t like cooking – said three times and referenced at the end). The book goes on too long in the latter part as if the author didn’t know how to end the book.

However, this memoir is valuable reading for any readers who are living/have lived with alcoholics or have/had to deal with the effects of alcoholism on their family. I also recommend it for young women to gain awareness of both the short and the long-term consequences of alcoholism.

[Yolanda Johnson-Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publication Date: January 28, 2015 Title: Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace– Mary A. Perez–– 351 Pages –Chart House Press – 978-1631250286– Paperback –4 Stars

Memoirs are a great way to get inside a person; to see how they tick, what experiences made them who they are today. I’m not a big memoir fan, but every now and then, I read one that captures my attention. Running in Heels was one of those books. Most who read this book will find some part of it relatable, especially if you came from humble beginnings or if you had or have some type of dysfunction in your family. And let’s face it, we all do.

I love Mrs. Perez’s ability to show transparency and share her life with us as readers. There is no holds barred as she tells us about a time of being raised by her grandmother because of her mother’s dysfunction and frivolous lifestyle. She also shares how she viewed life and how and what she learned at various stages of her life. She goes on to talk about her own dysfunction, failed life challenges and failed relationships with her mother men and her children.

Mary’s story is one void of a fairytale happy ending as she talks about her struggles, and the use of faith and endurance that got her through and continues to get her through the challenging experiences and how she was blessed with a husband who loves her flaws and all.

Remember that this book is a memoir; however, the author’s story telling skills and narrative make this book read like a novel. Mary’s shared story is full of culture and faith.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running in Heels is a compelling memoir that explore the life of author Mary Perez as she experiences tragedy, abuse, extreme loneliness, and ultimately forgiveness.

From the moment Mary's parents divorced, and she was sent to live with her mother, her life was set on a downward spiral. Her mother was more interested in drinking and men than in parenting and Mary often went without food and on a few occasions shelter. Her only reprieve was the time spent with her grandparents. A house full of love, laughter, and plenty to eat Mary longed to remain with them, but always found herself back with her mother. Due to lack of parenting Mary becomes a delinquent teen and ends up in juvy. Upon her release she finds her "prince charming," or so she believes, but her prince is abusive and possessive. Mary, vows to make the relationship work and believes Donny's empty promises which only lead to several pregnancies and lots of heartache. Will Mary ever escape the cycle and find the peace and love she deserves?

Running in Heels is a heartfelt recollection of a life filled with unimaginable struggles as well as the inspiring determination to survive which, by the grace of God, the author does. This gratifying memoir is well written and moving. I felt so many emotions as Mary suffered abuse, loss, and finally discovered the joy life has to offer.

I highly recommend picking up a copy.

[John Maberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many memoirs, including my own, depict a great deal of suffering. Mary Perez does it as well. I suspect many people find memoirs good reading because in the end the author triumphs over all the hardships they faced. Not only did they survive but now they thrive. It's the journey that holds the interest. Mary does that by detailing derelict parenting of her mother, problems the mother and her boyfriends faced with alcohol and more. As often enough happens, Mary herself fell into the same problem of becoming dependent on a man with a drinking problem. She marries this man twice her age and has her first child while still a teen. She has three more within just a few years. You can't help but feel her pain and wonder when she will give up on her mother and other dysfunctional people in her life. She did have helpful people as well, but ultimately she had to find her own truths and her own way. In her case it came in the from a strong faith in God. I can identify strongly with the need to find values and purpose in life. I found it in another religion, Buddhism, but I do understand her choice. Her memoir doesn't push her faith on you as much as my own does so don't take this as any reason not to read this powerful book.

[L V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Celia
Rating: 3.5 stars
By A Latina Book Club


Review: This is the true, inspirational story of a girl named Mary. Her story includes the battling elements of alcohol, abandonment, poverty, hunger, and domestic violence. “The term ‘upper class’ didn’t mean us. Neither did the term ‘middle class.’ We didn’t move up in the world, but we did move way down. Down into a hellhole.” (16)

From girlhood to womanhood, Mary narrates this cunning and deeply profound tale of strength and hardship. The reader will see her pain and struggles while taking a seedy tour of America’s history. The story chronicles the life of a girl, transforming from a neglected child to an abused wife. Details were brief and fleeting, yet, I felt that certain areas a lagged a little too much.

Generally well-written and soulful, Running in Heels is a raw and colorful piece of art. Although the pace was slightly offsetting, readers will still be amazed by this simple recollection and will be able to relate.

A good story!

[Nancy Cupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Gut wrenching! Mary Pérez has written a book that I found difficult to put down. Each page is filled with yet another thing that would be the end of most of us, but she continues to persevere. This memoir shows what many children of alcoholic parents must endure while they figure out what is normal for most children.
The book is written in a style that just tells the story like it happened. There is no fluff or attempt to make it more interesting, just raw, painful, events, one after another, like they happened in life. perhaps the book could have been made more "novel like" for our reading pleasure, but I don't think there is any way to sugar coat a life like Mary endured.
This is a great book for book clubs to discuss, much could be learned about how children are affected by their parent's behavior. Perhaps it would be a good read for AA members, it is a sobering reminder!

[Anna Mcpherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some time ago, before this book was published, I always wondered what she was typing in her home-office computer all those hours. She never let me in...

I don't like reading, but I could not put this book down. Found myself upset towards the end, because I knew I was near the end of reading it.

First of all, it was an easy read. Secondly, I have a much more profound respect for my mother now. Learning more of the stories that were told to us kids (my siblings) in livelier detail. The hardships my mother endured and overcame. Pretty neat how she kept those letters from my great-grandma. And I could actually "hear" all the characters of the book in my mind, especially Grandpa! She captured their voices perfectly and put them in the pages.

I'd give her five thumbs up, but I only have two... Love you Mom, this book rocked and I can't wait to see what you have in store next!

[Linda Ingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently met this author when she was in my area selling her book. I am an avid reader, but usually always tend to lean towards the murder mysteries venue. However, I purchased this book and wow.....I could not put the book down & read it in 2 days. Heart wrenching yet also uplifting, the story of a young girl growing up in impoverished times, with the exclusion of any positive role model to influence her life. Her daily experiences were overwhelmingly filled with challenges, and always filled with the hope of conquering them all. A very fast moving story, with the author bringing every character to life. Great reading and looking forward to more books by Mary A. Perez.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I normally read fiction, this book kept my attention and kept me reading. Some people's life stories amaze me. I was born into a Christian home to loving parents; I dated one boy and then married him. My life hasn't been one struggle after another, but that's exactly what Mary's was.
As a little, uncared for girl, she watched her mother make one bad decision after another. While Mary vowed to not live the same, she too, made many bad choices. She did have one saving grace and that was her grandparents. Even though she only lived with them a short time, they were an anchor for her.

[Kristal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this autographed copy in a giveaway. I don't even know where to begin. Mary's story kept me turning the pages and having to remind myself that this is a TRUE story!!!! My heart wrenched for her as a child struggling to grow up in a less than ideal environment and the envied her in her ability to forgive as an adult. She's made me want to improve on this in my life. What a wonderful and enlightening read.

[Cherrie McBurney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir reveals the story of Mary's painful childhood, her mother too emotionally unhealthy to properly care for her and her siblings, the loss of her beloved sister due to neglect, Mary's marriage to an abusive, older husband and ultimately the awakening in her heart of a Heavenly Father who loved her and had a purpose for her life. It's a story of sorrow, loss, forgiveness, and a life renewed by hope and faith.

[Kathleen Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author had the ability to keep me reading from beginning to end in one day. I would rank her up there with Janet Evanovich, Mary Higgins Clark who also have that ability.She has a wonderful career ahead. I cannot wait for her next book.The struggles she had as a child seem to have made her a very strong and caring person.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Mary Perez for inviting me into her life via this Goodreads win....she told the difficult story of her life with humor and grace, always giving credit to God. She was able to forgive the people in her life who did her wrong. I admire her devotion to God and also that she never comes across as preachy in telling her story. Bravo Mary, I'm SO glad you found happiness!!

[Angie Dokos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad, but Encouraging

This story breaks my heart. I can’t imagine having to go through some of the things this family endured. It made me stop and take notice of how blessed I really am. I’m thankful Mary had her grandparents and others to help her know of God’s love. I hope her story inspires others to make changes and keep the faith needed to improve their lives.

[R.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will tear your heart out and then put it back in. The troubles that excessive alcohol use bring to a family can repeat for generations, a cautionary tale. But the grace of God can put families back together and introduce a peace that passes all understanding. A good well-written read.

[Candice Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because as I read the it I felt like I was sitting on the couch talking to Mary. The book had a natural flow to it and I was done reading way to early in my opinion. I just wanted to know more about Mary. It was such an inspirational story!

[Robert Prather · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest and authentic glimpse into the author's journey of transformation, Running in Heels was gripping from the very beginning. I had to constantly remind myself that I was reading a true story. Mary's story is one of discovery and forgiveness that gave me a new appreciation for my own family.

[Raul Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reader is immediately drawn into a journey filled with love, fear, uncertainty, turmoil, and forgiveness. Running in Heels: A Memoir of Grit and Grace -- a boot camp on emotional survival.

[Maren Cassian · Rating 4 out of 5]

When our book club picked Running in Heels, we expected a heavy memoir about survival, but what we found was something so much more profound. Mary’s storytelling pulled us in completely. Her voice is raw, heartfelt, and unflinchingly honest. We admired her ability to revisit such painful memories and still write with love and grace. The book opened up a long and emotional discussion about resilience and what it truly means to find healing after trauma. It reminded us all that grace isn’t something you earn, it’s something you grow into.

[Tahlia Bastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of our most emotional reads this year. Our book club sat in silence after finishing the final chapter, just letting it sink in. Mary’s life story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The way she describes her childhood, her losses, and her strength to rebuild felt incredibly authentic. We talked a lot about how she managed to transform pain into purpose. The theme of forgiveness hit especially hard for many of us. Running in Heels is not just a memoir, it’s a mirror for anyone who’s ever had to find light in the darkest corners of life.

[Penelope Jank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an honest testimony of courage despite so many challenges. I am amazed at her memory of so many details in her life. You will be encouraged when you read it.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but she also never loses her hope. You watch her go through some truly awful situations and still find a way to stand up again and again. Her faith, and her ability to forgive after everything, is honestly beautiful.
From the very start, you feel her pain and strength, growing up in poverty, dealing with loss, and trying to survive in a world that didn’t give her much of a chance. It’s heartbreaking, but also incredibly inspiring.