Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Today I am reviewing It’s Never Too Late by Kathie Lee Gifford for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book (from the publisher): When Kathie Lee Gifford stepped down as cohost of the fourth hour of the Today  show with Hoda Kotb, you might have thought her best days were behind her. It turns out, she was just getting started. As Kathie Lee says, “I’m not retiring; I’m refiring!”

In It’s Never Too Late, Kathie Lee draws on stories from her remarkable life to weave together a beautiful reminder that whatever circumstances we face, God is still dreaming big for our years ahead.

Taking us from her Chesapeake Bay childhood when she first heard God’s calling, to her skyrocketing fame with Regis, to her decision to leave television for Nashville, Kathie Lee inspires us to pursue what really matters.

Because it’s never too late to forgive, to dance the cha-cha, to make a difference in the world. God placed His dreams in your heart for a reason. And like Kathie Lee, you might just discover that the best is yet to come.

My review: I decided to read this book and review it because I’ve always liked Kathie Lee Gifford. She is refreshingly honest and funny and down to earth. She’s 67, I’m 68. And I like the concept of dreaming big, no matter what your age. That being said, I am often uncomfortable with anything I perceive as ‘preachy.’ I’ve mentioned this before on the blog. I was raised in organized religion, but that particular domination did not preach, except on Sundays in the pulpit. One’s faith was private, just as one’s politics were (obviously, I’ve changed regarding politics!) So when reading a book like this one, I have to let those old “judges” go and read it with an open mind. And I did.

Kathie Lee’s faith is a constant in her life and she really lives it. I admire her for that. She prays, she reaches out to others, she does a lot of work for charities and for the betterment of her fellow man. The book itself is composed of short chapters in which she speaks of moments and experiences in her life that illustrate the theme of this book. It’s written very much in the way she speaks, so there’s an intimate and upbeat sharing of things she’s learned along the way – always honest, always uplifting.

I enjoyed it very much. There’s a lot of scripture quoting, so if you’re uncomfortable with that, this may not be the book for you. Also woven throughout the book are lyrics to the songs she has written. She is a prolific songwriter and her recent move to Nashville is yet another example of her openness to change and growth.

There’s valuable advice here. It’s far too easy at this age to think it’s all over, that nothing new and exciting can happen. But it can. And I have personally had several pivotal moments in my life where I felt led by God (Divine Power, Supreme Being, Deity, whatever word you are comfortable with) to make a major change which I could never have engineered on my own, when things and people and opportunity came together in a way I never could have imagined.

I was particularly touched by the idea that it’s never too late to forgive. I have wrestled with this in my own life and have found the act of freely forgiving to be incredibly healing. Not only for the person I forgive, but for myself. It isn’t always easy; in fact, it can be incredibly difficult to get to that point, but it’s worth it in the end.

If these are ideas that appeal to you, I think you’ll like this book. It’s an easy and entertaining read and you’ll feel better for having read it.

About the author: Kathie Lee Gifford, four-time Emmy Award winner, is best known for her eleven years cohosting the popular fourth hour of the Today  show alongside Hoda Kotb. Gifford continues to pursue her dreams as an actress, singer, songwriter, playwright, producer, and most recently, director. She has authored numerous books, including her most recent children’s book, Hello, Little Dreamer, and four New York Times  bestselling books, including The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi.

I am giving away one copy of this book. If you’re interested, leave a comment on this post (not via email) and I’ll draw the name of the winner on Saturday.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.