Memoirs Archives - Sweet Southern Savings

based on a true story

About the book:

Based on a True Story – in 1960s Italy where honour, respect and the judgment of others are the cornerstones of life, Diana’s youth is lived in fear. When she marries Marco, Diana endures overriding hatred from her mother-in-law. A torrid affair, devastating revelations from her husband and her generous nature cause great suffering. To unravel her daughter’s mysterious death becomes Diana’s only reason for living, but the truth is double sided – and Diana’s attempt to end it all marks the start of a glimmer of light.

About the author:

Born in Rome, Italy, Pamela lived fifty years in Scotland.

After raising four children, completing the Diploma in creative writing and a BA Degree in Literary Studies as a mature student at Glasgow University, she could finally start writing.
In 2004, Pamela’s autobiography was published by PublishAmerica and later her short play, The Light, was announced a contest winner.

Intertwined Poetry was published by United p.c. and Pamela has achieved recognition for her poetry in Italy, Germany, and the USA, appearing through the years in magazines and anthologies.

An Emotionally Charged Reading Experience

My review of this book:

Having several appointments today I took my Kindle along with me so that I could start reading The Guilty and the Innocent by Pamela Blake. When I arrived home after a long day of waiting rooms, I had most of this heart-wrenching, yet inspiring book read. I must say that the cover doesn’t even come close to the torment and heartache that the characters behind it endure and survive. Needing to know how it ended I quickly fixed dinner and sat down to finish it. With excellent descriptors of events, emotions, and setting the author draws you into the lives of these well-developed characters. I found myself on a roller coaster of emotions as the story of Diana and all those who touched her life, both good and bad, unfolded in vivid detail. You know the kind ride that reaches deep down in your soul and leaves you contemplating how differently your own past could have been. If you are looking for a book to inspire, move, and evoke emotion then, The Guilty and the Innocent is a must read. This book is a five on a scale of one to five.

See more Books For 13+ that we have reviewed.

Everything and a Happy Ending

OMG! I ALMOST passed on a GREAT book!

Judging this book by its title and cover, I almost didn’t read it. Everything and a Happy Ending by Tia Shurina is a memoir about three interconnected relationships & three special men in the life of Tia Shurina. Her journey almost destroyed her, but she has come to love the word “ALMOST.” As Tia points out, it holds such great potential for it can change pessimism, doubt, and fear into optimism, faith, and love. As she went through the discovery process of living her own personal truths and sharing what was truly in her heart, she almost gave up, but I am so glad that she left her comfort zones and pushed past her limits.

If you are looking for a book that will take you on a journey of self-discovering this is a must-read. Although at times her message got lost with convoluted sentences slowing down the pace and flow, the excellent content that this new author shares is worthy of a solid four stars. In Everything and a Happy Ending Tia offers a brutally honest and heartfelt story of her journey of falling in love with herself. One of my favorite passages in the book is, “My love trusts completely and fully; it is all-inclusive and all-encompassing. It gives unconditionally, unapologetically, and almost unbelievably. It doesn’t feel entitled or enabled…” Just as true love inspires the best within each of us, the author has shared a story that can help you on your journey to reaching this truth.

Everything and a Happy Ending, a memoir published by Mascot Books, details the journey & soulful shift of her story as Tia shares her holy grail & trail she took to transform her life. After moving through her own metamorphosis she then helped an old friend, Ray Romano, move through his own transition, going with the flow very privately, but most profoundly.

“My journey almost destroyed me. Almost. Boy have I come to like that word. What a pleasurable word almost can be. You may almost be ready to buy my book. You may almost be ready to begin an amazing new journey of your own. You may almost be over that rainbow Judy Garland sings about. What great potential almost can hold if you can flip your way of thinking. Just imagine, controlled pessimism, doubt & fear flipped into blind optimism, faith & love.”

That flip helped Tia move to a place where heaven meets earth…the pearly gates of her own happy ending. Changing the ending for her story brought a pure, precious, peace of heart, but kicked her butt a bit as she made her way…committed to keeping her faith. The book was a Plan C, maybe even D, but Tia was determined, after a dedicated intention & divine decision to start swimming more with the current of her life, instead of bucking that flow. Her ordinary, relatable story took an extraordinary, fantastical turn when she showed the Universe she was committed to her intention & her desire to be given an opportunity to make some new, different choices. EAAHE is a memoir that shares the “how’d that happen?” & the “how’d she do that?” in a holy hope of helping others to see life in a new way.

Everything and a Happy Ending recounts 3 inter-connected relationships & love stories that enabled Tia to love truly, deeply, & most of all, love herself. Three special circles she rounded with Ray, her dad, & her ex-husband. A true woman’s full circle journey to learn how to really trust, how to “thine own self be true”, & then, the real & true love it led her ‘round back to. It shares how the power of love & a journey to intimacy helped her make a faithful flip which began a sacred circle & new chapter…one that would allow a different ending for a story she had begun writing for herself when she was much younger. One that Tia feels strongly will inspire other women of a certain age to keep faith that it’s not too late to write a new ending for their own, as they embrace their history, not try to re-write. Tia is, most days, filled with joy. She is, every day, filled with peace. She looks forward to a happy ending each new day now, however it unfolds, whomever it holds, & whatever way the Universe molds, as she continues to create a new “happily ever after”, staying committed to rising above her fears, moving out of her comfort zones, and going with the flow of her life.

Here is what the customers are saying about the book on Amazon – If you are interested in reading the book, here is where to find it – check out on Amazon – or from Tia’s own site –

Here is a Press Release about the book – http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/will-tia-shurina-give-ray-romano-a-happy-ending-new-memoir-reveals-relationship-and-unveils-transformation-300212049.html

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