“When people approach me, they often start the conversation in the same way. ‘Are You Kurt Warner’s wife?’ These days, in answer, I hold out my hand and say, ‘My name is Brenda.’”
In this gritty account of the wife of the former NFL quarterback who led three teams to the Super Bowl, Brenda Warner captures that same spirit in writing. She extends a hand, and flashes a confident, authentic smile, inviting us into the heart of who she is as a human being first, a celebrity second.
Prophetically, we learn that she was a charmer and a cheerleader, natural qualities that characterize her life. But what might appear as a Cinderella syndrome is, in reality, a journey marked by tragedy and trauma. The God to whom she was introduced in the sixth grade, was the One who held her firmly throughout the ensuing years, and to Whom she would turn again and again. She is unabashedly candid about her fears and failures and just as quick to attribute her triumphs to his faithfulness.
Being a pseudo-football fan, I particularly enjoyed the backstage look at the life of an NFL family, including the story of Brenda and Kurt’s romance--delightful and a bit stormy. If you enjoy a little drama with a happy ending, this is for you.
Today the Warners operate their own foundation “…dedicated to impacting live by promoting Christian values, sharing experiences and providing opportunities to encourage everyone that all things are possible when people seek to put ‘first things first’.” With many facets to the organization, one of her favorite projects is furnishing empty houses which have been provided to individuals by partner organizations. Brenda remembers a day when she was in need of the same.
Contemporary autobiographies are not the type of book I am typically drawn to, and it did seem to lag a bit near the end. Nonetheless it was a pleasant read, [mostly] fast-paced and earthy with a 16-page section of full-color photos. My teenaged granddaughter read it, as did my 50-plus husband and both were captivated. I suspect you will be too.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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