Running with Stilettos - Book Review

Running with Stilettos: Living a Balanced Life in Dangerous Shoes
Mary T. Wagner (iUniverse, Inc.)
April, 2008. Paperback

Mary T. Wagner’s Running with Stilettos: Living a Balanced Life in Dangerous Shoes is a series of very personal essays; whatever the subject, this author’s humor and resilience shines through.

From the minute you read Ms. Wagner’s forward you become entwined in her life. Her essays run the emotional gamut of her day-to-day roller coaster life and you are invited to come along for the ride. Time and again, Ms. Wagner shows her mettle and proves that she is not faint-of-heart. She learns how to handle a cordless drill with expertise, climb on the back of a Harley and she come to grips with her father’s aging. Her words touch your heart, tweak your spirit and make you smile.

If you are divorced, you will laugh with understanding as you read about this long-time married, newly divorced mom with children, being thrust back in the game of dating or as the author calls her experience “turbo dating.” And, when it becomes obvious to her that her beloved horse Babe is beyond help medical help, you cry with her as she does what is necessary with dignity and compassion.

A portion of Ms. Wagner’s Blog biography shows her depth, humor and a zest for life to be envied. She writes "Award winning essayist, photographer and spike-heeled prosecutor with a penchant for Belgian chocolate, Irish castles, great shoes, long clean shorelines, classic cartoons, big skies and Lee Child "Reacher" novels. Multiple degrees earned in the "school of life" include mother of four, former girl scout leader, truckstop waitress, cocktail waitress, office temp, judicial clerk, and radio talk show host." All of this, while she manages to stay balanced.

Running with Stilettos: Living a Balanced Life in Dangerous Shoes received a 2009 Silver IPPY Award from the Independent Publisher Book Association.

Highly recommended.

See Amazon.com for Running with Stilettos: Living a Balanced Life in Dangerous Shoes Also see Mary Wagner's Blog at Running With stilettos.