The Boots My Mother Gave Me

By: Brooklyn James

Narrated by: Brooklyn James

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARD QUARTER FINALIST

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.

©2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Brooklyn James (P)2014 Brooklyn James

Really good!

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.

You Wont Be Sorry

Where does The Boots My Mother Gave Me rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Its in my top 10 for sure. This book will make you laugh, cry and everyone can relate to what the characters have to go through.

What does Brooklyn James bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hearing the author read the book adds to the story because she puts emphasis where she wanted it the book. It kind of brings the book alive from her perspective. I have also read the book and both versions are great. The other great thing is that you get to hear her sing the portions of the book that have music and her voice is AMAZING!!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both

Any additional comments?

"The Boots My Mother Gave Me" is a great coming of age fiction novel that any women can relate to. Harley's determination to survive hard times and constant need for adventure is something most anyone can relate to. The romance in the story adds to the plot while not taking away from the overall message. I was dying to listen to the next adventures of 'Miah and Harley when I finished the book. Finally, the soundtrack that accompanies the book is BRILLIANT!! Why has this not been done before? Check out this book and soundtrack. You WONT be disappointed.

Outstanding read!

Brooklyn James does an excellent job bringing the characters to life and having them find a place in your heart.

This is a go to read for me every summer and over the holidays. Love Harley and KitKat!!

Loved this book!!!

Where does The Boots My Mother Gave Me rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

first

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Boots My Mother Gave Me?

songs

Any additional comments?

This book tells the almost always painful and sometimes happy life journey of a woman named Harley LeBeau. She came from a dysfunctional family which mainly caused by her alcoholic father. She wanted to escape this life sooo bad she went away (after high school graduation) to find happiness and peace of mind she never got at home.

Oh... this is my first audio book that I truly enjoyed, I love the author's voice! Wish she could narrate all my favorite books, surely, I'd buy them all ;) This has a soundtrack which I think is cool, unique for an audio book. It was soooo nice to hear someone singing songs while "reading" but sometimes it could be distracting. Not that bad, just a little bit weird. The story telling and dialogue felt authentic. You know that feeling you get carried away with it...found myself talking to Harley like a friend... like she was just on the phone LOL

One character I soooo want to be my latest *wink* book boyfriend is Jeremiah Johnson, a.k.a. Miah/Big Johnson. He's Harley's best friend, her first friend, first kiss, the first in everything. Even after miles away, years not seeing each other, they still maintain that best friend, not so romantic relationship. I got so many issues with Harley about Miah, if she's my friend in a real world, I think she'd be in a hospital now. I like Harley, a lot, but when it comes to Miah, ohhh I hate her. *long sigh*

As you can see below, I've just labelled the book my "all-time-favorite", means this is highly recommended! Try this one, you won't be disappointed.

What a great experience!

What did you love best about The Boots My Mother Gave Me?

Listening to The Boots My Mother Gave Me was quite a unique and fascinatingly enjoyable experience. There were tones used to signal the beginning and ending of memory sequences. Ms. James also incorporated songs written and performed by her into the telling of the story. Those songs added to the telling of the story instead of being a distraction.

What did you like best about this story?

It was an amazing story dealing with many subjects prevalent in today's society, including alcoholism, physical and verbal abuse, PTSD, suicide and single partenthood. However, the basic theme of family and love wasn't overshadowed.

What about Brooklyn James’s performance did you like?

I loved Brooklyn James's voice to start with. I never had any problem knowing which character was talking and the volume was consistent. The unique songs were well done and played in integral part in the story.

If you could take any character from The Boots My Mother Gave Me out to dinner, who would it be and why?

If I could take any character out to dinner, it would have to be the main character, Harley. She went through so much and experienced so many different things in her life that it would just be interesting to sit down and talk to her...and maybe tell her to let the sexy, always there for her, Jeremiah into her heart officially.

Any additional comments?

I was given this audio book in exchange for an honest review. I think it is the first 5 star review of an audio book that I have given. Brooklyn James did it all. She wrote the story, the songs, she narrated and she wrote and sang the songs used. It was awesome! The story had me very involved with the characters and I found myself looking for other chores to do that would enable me to listen longer. Great job!!!

I loved Harley

What made the experience of listening to The Boots My Mother Gave Me the most enjoyable?

I really liked the main character, Harley LeBeau. She has determination and courage and despite an abusive father and dysfunctional family like, she knew what she wanted and went after it. She is proof that no one has to let a difficult childhood and dysfunctional family be the excuse not to live life to the fullest.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Harley LeBeau, of course. If I could go back and relive my 20s, I would like to leave home and live for myself like Harley did.

Which scene was your favorite?

Well, (blush) Harley's first sexual experience. It was sweet, tender and sensual and transported me back in time.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when Harley graduated high school and was leaving town, her father gave her a guitar.

Any additional comments?

No matter what the situation, Harley chose herself and her life. I think her story can be an inspiration to any woman, especially those who have suffered the same kind of abusive family situation.

Amazing!!!

Loved every bit!!! Narration!! And writing!!! Loved the twist of music in the mix!!
I haven't heard or read a book this good in awhile. Very pleased. Sorry to see it end.

Awesome from beginning to end

I really enjoy this book. It's intense. The author brings the story to life and her reading is very easy to listen to.

Amazing.

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

Highly Recommend

What made the experience of listening to The Boots My Mother Gave Me the most enjoyable?

In the audio version the songs included throughout the story were great I hope to see more audio books like this.

Any additional comments?

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.