The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
My new friend Scott Kerson travels a lot, and I like those people who travel a lot because they are usually good readers. So, when he posted a recent picture of this book, I jumped at the chance to read it. The story of a soccer mom turned drug addict, turned ghostwriter, is right up my alley. "The Many Lives of Mama Love" chronicles Hardin's secret life stealing neighbors’ credit cards to fund her heroin addiction, among other crimes. When she ends up in jail, convicted of 32 felonies, her road to recovery begins. The epiphany of her time in jail is that the structure of prison actually suits her personality quite well. For her, the release from prison is the scary part because she has to figure out a plan for the rest of her life. Always a good writer, she gets a job ghostwriting for other people and turns it into a wonderful career. The irony is that she doesn't just write for small time writers, but ghosts books for Desmond Tutu, as well as the Dalai Lama. The most heartbreaking part of the book is that despite her new life, she is still haunted by the time she spent in prison. Society does not let her move forward, without continually dragging her back into her difficult past. After years of ghostwriting, "The Many Lives of Mama Love," is Hardin's chance to speak with her own voice, and share her true story, which is a book well done. To buy this book on Amazon click here.