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Someplace to Be Somebody: God's Story in the Life of Marshall Brandon
How do you choose life when all you've ever known is destruction? By the time Marshall Brandon was five he'd been beaten, abused, and abandoned. By eighteen he was addicted and dealing drugs, fully involved in living the life of a thug. By the time he finished his tour in Vietnam, all he wanted was to take the white man down. But God had other ideas. In a memoir that reads like an adrenaline-packed novel, you'll delve deep inside the life of a man who should not have survived, let alone be ministering to men and women in a way few others can. A man working to free people from opioid addiction and fighting the brutal racial rifts that are battering our country. Someplace to Be Somebody is real. Raw. And the riveting story of a man crushing insurmountable odds through the power of a God that says nothing is impossible.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published February 8, 2022
14 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 13, 2022
It is exciting To read a book about the true story of one of my dearly beloved pastors as told by the author. It is challenging to read at times because life is hard and messy. But God’s transformative work is so powerfully displayed!
January 9, 2023
Someplace To Be Somebody is a spiritual growth book well-written by author Lisa Loraine Baker.
Someplace To Be Somebody is organized into three parts. Part One: Raging Roots, Part Two: From One Mess To Another, and Part Three: Gettin’ Clean.
The reader picks up the true story of Marshall Brandon in 1953 in Youngstown, Ohio. Part One tells of the abuse Marshall suffered at the hands of his mom and his dad’s alcoholism. Marshall’s parents had married young. His dad worked as an indentured servant. His parents and their family moved from Alabama to Ohio to escape slavery. But, even in Ohio racism persisted.
As a young teen Marshall was the president of a gang that he began. He was determined that apart from his mother no one was going to beat him. As he aged he joined the army and fought in Vietnam (Nam), using his street smarts and years of abuse. It was during this time that he became involved in drugs.
In the last part, Marshall tells how he came to know Jesus as Lord and became free of drugs. This was such a beautiful story. I am glad I was able to read and review it.
I give Someplace To Be Somebody 5*/5*.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Someplace To Be Somebody is organized into three parts. Part One: Raging Roots, Part Two: From One Mess To Another, and Part Three: Gettin’ Clean.
The reader picks up the true story of Marshall Brandon in 1953 in Youngstown, Ohio. Part One tells of the abuse Marshall suffered at the hands of his mom and his dad’s alcoholism. Marshall’s parents had married young. His dad worked as an indentured servant. His parents and their family moved from Alabama to Ohio to escape slavery. But, even in Ohio racism persisted.
As a young teen Marshall was the president of a gang that he began. He was determined that apart from his mother no one was going to beat him. As he aged he joined the army and fought in Vietnam (Nam), using his street smarts and years of abuse. It was during this time that he became involved in drugs.
In the last part, Marshall tells how he came to know Jesus as Lord and became free of drugs. This was such a beautiful story. I am glad I was able to read and review it.
I give Someplace To Be Somebody 5*/5*.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
March 1, 2022
Marshall Brandon, born into adversity, abuse, and abandonment, later faced drug addictions, war, and gang activity. A life too-far gone for God to use? Not hardly! This riveting book tells the story of a man God redeemed for His purposes, to reach the lost souls deep into the same tragic circumstances and life situations that Brandon found himself in over the years. Coincidence? I think not. Someplace to Be Somebody is the raw story of a man who beat the odds and continues to change the world, one saved life at a time.
Julie Lavender, author of 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories (Revell) and Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime (Penguin Random House imprint)
Julie Lavender, author of 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories (Revell) and Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime (Penguin Random House imprint)
March 1, 2022
Someplace to be Somebody is a well-written, page-turner—the dramatic story of Marshall Brandon. The riveting plot travels from bad to worse as influences in Marshall’s life harden him. Poverty, abuse, Vietnam, drugs, crime, and prison. Author Lisa Loraine Baker skillfully traces racism and violence throughout periods of American history and how they impacted this man. But God used all of Marshall’s past for His glory. Truly an amazing story.
January 12, 2024
I was blessed to be in a writing group with Lisa as she was working on this book. I knew it would be wonderful, and it was. I also had the honor of meeting Marshall and Tik... beautiful people. As I read these pages, my love for God welled up in my heart. I want to live this kind of life, to be used by God for his glory. If you are struggling with finding your place in this life, I highly suggest reading Someplace to be Somebody.
March 5, 2024
Amazing Memoir
Such a great testimony of someone who had a bad childhood.
It's so wonderful to read about people who rose above their past and learned to love. God is so wonderful and amazing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to know that they can rise above their past and live again. Through Christ all things are possible.
Such a great testimony of someone who had a bad childhood.
It's so wonderful to read about people who rose above their past and learned to love. God is so wonderful and amazing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to know that they can rise above their past and live again. Through Christ all things are possible.
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June 16, 2022Through Lisa's beautiful writing and Marshall's amazing testimony, you can't help but see the unconditional, redemptive love of God. This is a compelling read that proves that none of us are ever too far gone!
February 17, 2023
A page turner. If you thought anyone was without hope, it would be Marshall. Real and raw. This man now personifies joy.
December 30, 2023
Could not put it down!
November 26, 2022
wow
What an incredible testimony of God pulling a man out of the miry clay, cleaning him up, and using everything that had happened to him for good. A powerful story!
What an incredible testimony of God pulling a man out of the miry clay, cleaning him up, and using everything that had happened to him for good. A powerful story!
December 23, 2022
This book was life changing for me. I cried, I laughed, I couldn’t put it down. Very inspirational and eye opening.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews