American Wife: Love, War, Faith, and Renewal

by Taya Kyle, Jim DeFelice

The widow of American Sniper Chris Kyle shares their private story: an unforgettable testament to the power of love and faith in the face of war and unimaginable loss—and a moving tribute to a man whose true heroism ran even deeper than the legend.

In early 2013, Taya Kyle and her husband, Chris, were the happiest they ever had been. Their decade-long marriage had survived years of war that took Chris, a U.S. Navy SEAL, away from Taya and their two children for agonizingly long stretches while he put his life on the line in many major battles of the Iraq War. After struggling to readjust to life out of the military, Chris had found new purpose in redirecting his lifelong dedication to service toward supporting veterans and their families. Their love had deepened, and their family was whole, finally.

Then, the unthinkable. On February 2, 2013, Chris and his friend Chad Littlefield were killed while attempting to help a troubled vet. The life Chris and Taya fought so hard to build was shattered. In an instant, Taya became a single parent of two. A widow. A young woman facing the rest of her life without the man she loved.

Chris and Taya's remarkable story has captivated millions through Clint Eastwood's blockbuster Academy Award-winning film American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper as Chris and Sienna Miller as Taya, and because of Chris's bestselling memoir, in which Taya contributed passages that formed the book's emotional core. Now, with trusted collaborator Jim DeFelice, Taya writes in never-before-told detail about the hours, days, and months after Chris's shocking death when grief threatened to overwhelm her.

And yet throughout, friendship, family, and a deepening faith were lifelines that sustained her and the kids when the sorrow became too much. Two years after her husband's tragic death, Taya has found renewed meaning and connection to Chris by advancing their shared mission of "serving those who serve others," particularly military and first-responder families. She and the children are now embracing a new future, one that honors the past but also looks forward with hope, gratitude, and joy.

American Wife is one of the most remarkable memoirs of the year—a universal chronicle of love and heartbreak, service and sacrifice, faith and purpose that will inspire every reader.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Military Fiction, War, Biography Memoir, Audiobook

329 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Taya Kyle is an American author, political commentator, inspirational public speaker and military veteran's family activist. She is the widow of US Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. Taya founded the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation where she volunteers her time as Executive Director. She is also a Fox News contributor. Taya resides in Texas with her two children.

Reviews

[Carrie-Anne O'Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a writer.A wife. A police officer. My words fail me at this moment. Taya Kyle is a heroine for the ages for how she led her family through tragedy and then shared her story with the multitudes. It's a hard read so I know it was difficult to write. I'd never met Chris Kyle but I've respected him. I've never met Taya but I, like any other reader, feel a type of kinship with her.
She showed the world the pitfalls in her marriage in such a way that we could analyze our own. She shared her mistakes so that we could avoid making them in our lives. She wasn't afraid to tell us about her pettiness or her over reactions to small things. She showed us that through all of these things- love can prevail. I am thankful.
I'm sure that the comparison has been made before but I must make it again. Taya Kyle has become our generation's "Jackie Kennedy." Through grief and loss she has stood tall. She has showed us how to grieve. She shared with us exactly who we all lost that February day. She wasn't stingy with him either. She's ensured that America understands more than the American Sniper. We understand more than the hero. She allowed us to know the man through her memories.
This book is so eloquently written and so perfectly reflected that I actually cried. This is a foreign emotion to me. It happens very rarely but I shared the pain of a widow and a little boy and a little girl. I learned of the love, the laughter, the tears and the smiles of the Kyle family in a way that could never have been told with Taya.
I cannot express how appreciative I am for being allowed to share these memories. To say that this is a "must read" is simply not enough. In these times when the political climate is frightening, the support for our service men and women is waning and despair seems to waft on the breeze, this book shows how it's all worth it. Taya Kyle has illustrated in real life how true Tony Arata's words were in the song, The Dance. "I could have missed the pain but I'd have had to miss..... the dance."
Taya is not simply a widow. She's not simply a mother. She's not simply a heroine for our times. She is exactly like me. An American Wife.

[Raven Haired Girl]

Taya Kyle is quite a woman. Her story is brutally honest, utterly touching and completely heartbreaking, ultimately leaving you inspired. I can’t count the number of times I laughed out loud learning of her husband’s crazy antics, his love of practical jokes, his sense of humor. Other moments I found myself wiping tears, his tender expressions of love, their sentimental moments and gestures shared with each other as well as their children. The highs and lows of marital challenges, the reality of life with a SEAL. The toughest part was reading of Chris’s murder, her grief and her children’s grief – simply gut wrenching. Taya slowly regains her footing with the help of family and friends along with her faith as she and her two children navigate life without Chris. Revisiting moments and memories as well as clinging to each other, the family begins the slow process of healing through incomprehensible tragedy. Completely affecting.

“Um.” I was already crying. “Daddy’s hurt,” I told them.
They looked at me. I closed my eyes.
“Is he dead?” blurted Angel.
I opened my eyes and nodded yes. She let out a “cry that came from her gut. Bubba’s eyes glassed over and tears poured out. I held them both close. “I’m so sorry, guys. I’m so sorry.”

Beside every man is a great woman, with all certainty Chris Kyle stood proudly next to Taya. You see how these two shared a magical connection through life and death.

For this and more reviews visit http://ravenhairedgirl.com

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be the first to admit that I am a sucker when it comes to these types of memoirs and do tend to get a bit obsessive. Whilst this book will not win any literary awards and I felt myself somewhat alarmed and cringing at what I can only see as condoning the ownership, use and passion for guns, it was a heartfelt tribute to one woman's love of her life. It did make me feel very emotional and many a tear was shed as the tragedy unfolded. It does bring to the fore how fragile life can be and not to take anyone or anything for granted. It is also a book about Faith with a capital F. I was a little bit envious of that as I have yet to discover or understand such a thing with as much conviction. Although some of Taya's motives and beliefs and Chris' for that matter may be questioned I think one thing that comes through very clearly is the importance of love and family. I feel sad for Taya and her children and I especially am affected by the tragedy that befell this family. To have been to war...justified or not is not my concern here at the moment...to have survived several deployments to Iraq and elsewhere, survived being injured and shot at and then to realise that the danger was closer to home than you could possibly imagine is just heartbreaking. In spite of this Taya still continues to help military servicemen and their families in her husband's memory. I know there will be those cynics out there who will see this as propaganda and patriotism taken to extremes but for me it is a tribute of great love. So sue me!!!! 3.5 stars.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though I easily felt sorry for the author and her children (and wish them a happy life), it was impossible to scrape up any intellectual respect due to the content of this book. Which included gems such as...

"ironic catch-22"

Ok, this one made me laugh at least. I suppose she does admit she has never read war novels but you think an editor would have. Later in the book she does let us know what books she did read which were how-to-husband manuals and self help titles.

"A lot of the protests against the war were simply naive"

She's referring to the Iraq war. She neglects to provide one reason (good or not) for supporting the war. She only has something to say about the 'other' side.

"There is a point for everyone, I think, where physical attraction is everything, and it can lead to love. A person looks beautiful to you, and therefore you love them."

I'm not sure why her ghostwriter didn't point out how shallow this comes off but the book had plenty more of these kind of "insights".

When talking of others who wrote books about her husband she mentioned that some of them were attempting "to make a quick buck at the expense of a hero's life". This was hard for me to reconcile with the fact that I currently was reading a book which was filled with private emails that her husband had sent to her. A book that was designed to make money and make him look less like an asshole (I've read his book so I'm aware of the contrast in how he is portrayed). I guess if you exploit his life in a positive light it makes it ok? If you were close enough to him then it's ok to sell his emails?

Overall it usually only took me a few paragraphs before I got frustrated and was offended either politically, morally or intellectually. I got through it though and won't even go into my thoughts about the religious and nationalistic aspects of this book, which I did not find agreeable. And when I did get to the end of the book I was treated to a list of "lessons" that Mrs.Kyle had learned ,and generously passed on to her readers, after the hardships of military marriage, children, relationship problems, foreclosing on a house, lawsuits, the bankruptcy of her husbands business, the murder and loss of her husband, single parenting and more. At the top of the list was this:

"Never complain about the price of a gift from your spouse- accept it with love and gratitude. You can't put a price on romance."

I wish I was joking but I'm not. This shit makes me ashamed to be an American. We are not all this shallow but a major proportion of us are. We like to say we believe in love and tolerance but we practice very different morals and values. And in that regard this book very much lived up to its name.

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not seen or read American Sniper and didn't realize this was Chris Kyle's wife. I found this book very interesting to read Taya's view of what happened. I listened to the audiobook and Taya read it. It also covers what happened after Chris' death. This was worth the listen. I will have to say sham on you Jesse Ventura for suing them about Chris' book when you weren't even named and shame on the jury who decided in favor of Jesse and awarded him more money then should have happened. I hope Taya wins in the appeal.

[Bonnie_Rae · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like there are two types of military wives. There are those who have an identity outside their husband’s occupation and there are those whose husband’s occupation is their identity. Taya Kyle definitely belongs to the latter. Since the death of her husband, Chris Kyle, Taya has made him her entire world. It wasn’t enough to have the original book - American Sniper - or the movie of the same name to glorify her husband. She needed to write her own book and sell more pieces of him to the public. Since his death, she has launched a foundation in his name, a jewelry line, been on Fox News multiple times, and has basically made a grift out of her husband’s death. It’s gross.

The book itself is this meandering mess of errant thoughts, hardcore nationalism (“Support the troops no matter what. Some people do that, but not enough.”), displays of their relationship (when in the middle of a long fight between you and your boyfriend, be sure to give him “hot, steamy” sex instead of actually trying to resolve the issue). She gives nothing but grace to American soldiers committing war crimes (like one soldier pissing on a dead “terrorist”) because it’s okay when they do it, but “savages” deserve everything they get. Like her husband, Taya has very black and white thinking. I guess that keeps things simple for her, but it doesn’t leave much room for nuance or consideration for others.

It’s pretty telling how persecuted both husband and wife decided to feel. Taya writes that she felt better in their Texas neighborhood because they could be more open about their faith, as if San Diego were an atheist hellhole where Christians are sneered at. She is all about traditional values - letting your man take the lead, never questioning your husband’s decisions (even if you have a background in sales and management and your husband doesn’t), PATRIOTISM, don’t nag (so don’t share your concerns with your husband, cool cool cool), GOD comes first, AMERICA comes second… you get it.

When you are excited to get on The O'Reilly Factor and on the Opie and Anthony show (where he famously “confirmed” that he socked Jesse Ventura in the face, if that even happened). Their “paranoia” is hilarious to read, like when they were concerned that al-Qaeda might attack Chris Kyle… at a Barnes & Noble… in Texas. Surrrrre.

She also seems (seemed?) very clingy. Every time Chris Kyle talked (or exchanges messages) with another woman, like an ex-girlfriend or a fan of his, and Taya found out, she lost her shit. She later gives a story about when he found his iPad and saw messages between him and another woman and became convinced he was going to cheat on her, because the other lady asked how old he was and showing off a buck she shot. The relationship wasn’t that stable if she managed to overreact to him daring to talk to another woman. Was he not allowed to have friendships with other women?

The way she trots out e-mails from her deceased husband feels exploitative. Yes, that is technically their private communication but shouldn’t some things remain private? Especially the sexual stuff and how much he loved her. If someone has to show over and over again how great and wonderful their relationship is in a book (or over social media), was their relationship really that great? I respect people a lot more when they are frank about the challenges or even petty, silly stuff about their relationships.

Heck, even just talking about the weird or sad issues about being in a relationship with someone in the military (the long gaps in communication, the need to withhold information, settling someone in when they come back home, the growing tension and strain as your spouse prepares to go back overseas) can be informative and interesting. Taya (and even Chris, in his book) kind of touch on it - like how Chris had a lot of trouble connecting with his children when they were babies - but don’t really delve into the messy bits.

Also, this book relies heavily on what happened on American Sniper . If you didn’t read that book, you would probably be pretty lost reading this one. The number of times she has to refer to her husband’s book or even seems to assume that you have read the other book to know what she is referring to, which comes across as lazy.

There is also so, so much fluff in this book. She went on and on about various charities, going on vacations and hunting trips, how people were sooooo nice in giving her money and free clothing, how really quite sweet her husband was (despite all his claims about bar fights and how he would brutally haze his teammates?), and how mean, mean people slander her dear departed husband. She refuses to acknowledge that other people knew her husband better than she did, especially when it came to his faults and failings. She just chalks it up to mean people who are miserable and just want to spread lies for the sake of it. Everything that goes her way is a gift from God. Everything that goes against her is a test or just mean people throwing a fuss.

There is also the entire scandal of Taya Kyle not living up to her husband’s promise to give money to his teammate’s families.

From the The Hollowood Reported:

The legendary Navy SEAL, whose account of his four tours of duty in Iraq was adapted into the Clint Eastwood movie, maintained that he wanted the money to go to support struggling military families. After Kyle and a friend were shot and killed in 2013 by a veteran Kyle was helping, The New York Times retold this widely known point of view: “Though his book became a best-seller, he never collected money from it, friends said, donating the proceeds to the families of two friends and fallen SEAL members, Ryan Job and Marc Lee.”

[Now] a quiet dispute festers over who is entitled to that windfall. At the center of the discord is Kyle’s widow, Taya, 40, who is alleged to have ignored her late husband’s wishes and withheld money from the bereaved families he publicly had promised to support.

Neither Lee’s family nor Kelly Job, the widow of Ryan Job, have filed lawsuits, and none is expected. Legal experts say that because Kyle’s promise was verbal and he died without a will, prevailing in a court case would be unlikely. Sources also say Kelly Job, who lives in California with a daughter, and Lee’s mother and two siblings are unwilling to be seen taking legal action against a celebrated widow. (Both families declined comment.) But the Lees and Jobs are said to be upset that they haven’t received even a small share of the proceeds from Sniper after Kyle died. They maintain, according to sources close to the families, that Kyle’s wishes are not being fulfilled. In fact, before he was killed, Kyle donated about $56,000 to the Lee and Job families as well as to a charity supporting veterans. At a memorial service for Kyle in Dallas footage of which is shown at the end of Sniper), Lee’s mother, Debbie, president of the nonprofit America’s Mighty Warriors — whom Kyle describes in the book as “almost a surrogate mother to the other members of our platoon”— recalled the moment she learned of Kyle’s largesse. “I was speechless, overwhelmed and in tears,” Lee told the audience of 7,000 mourners. “Chris didn’t publish that book for an income or to be famous. He hated the spotlight. Chris did that for his teammates.”

From Business Insider

While there have been conflicting reports about Chris Kyle donating funds collected from his book, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, to veteran’s charities, "friends" have apparently been quoted saying that he never personally collected any of the generated book proceeds. It seems that he had plans to distribute them to the families of Ryan Job and Marc Lee. However, the THR report cites that the Kyle family has currently cleared $6 million from the overall American Sniper franchise, with certainly more pieces of the pie to come, and legal experts have told the trade that Chris Kyle’s passing means that the entirety of his assets, estate and intellectual property pass to Taya - regardless of whatever informal promises Chris may have made.

The only legal standing in the disagreement centers on a house Taya accepted from J. Kyle Bass, the co-owner of Craft International, an LLC that Chris Kyle co-founded.
The gift was apparently conditional upon the donation of the proceeds to the Job and Lee families. Additionally, a separate legal battle between Taya and Craft over 85% of the LLC’s $2.96 million would cause them to dig up a clause agreed to by Chris during an apparent rocky time in the marriage stating that he did not want Taya involved with Craft in the event of a divorce or his death.This would culminate in late 2014 with a possibly legal precedence-setting deal which included the agreement that Craft would stop using Chris’ name and image; essentially codifying Taya’s ownership of the money-making "Chris Kyle IP."

The idea that Kyle had intended to donate an unknown amount of the proceeds from his original book to the surviving families of Job and Lee is hardly in dispute. However, Kyle had published the book as a lucky survivor of brutal conflicts which would tragically see their lives claimed.

Kyle left behind a wife and two young children, whose welfare we have to assume he would see as the most integral of priorities. He certainly didn’t plan on dying and his apparent intended beneficence to the Job and Lee families had to be exercised under the idea that he would be alive to take care of his own family first. That has to be considered, regardless of how much the Kyle family will bank and the talk of "greed" that will inevitably start to proliferate.

Do proceeds from the ever-growing pot of money from American Sniper HAVE TO go to those families? No, by most accounts. Not legally. However, it would be an honorable gesture to ensure that they at least get SOMETHING reasonable; especially given the amounts in play. Such an idea seems to fall in line with what Kyle would have wanted, despite the money involved being ridiculously more than he could have possibly dreamed.

[Stevie Holcomb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stepped into this one not knowing a darn thing about this woman, her husband, the book, the movie, the previous story...

Let's just say that I do feel for her loss of her husband, a man she said in the book that she clearly loved and cherished, and he her. It was outright horrible what happened to him, and I appreciate every person in our military.

However, that said, I think fame got to her head. Why this book was written (and perhaps it was me going into it without reading her husband's book) I don't know...I suppose for those who wanted more of the story, but not knowing anything else, I went into it blind. It talked about lots of stuff that her husband's story did, but didn't explain them, and so if you didn't know anything about that, about his service in Iraq, about the Jesse Ventura case, her husband's affair (if that's what it was), etc., it's hard to follow. She doesn't explain it for people new to her story, and sure -- it's probable that most are informed about it and are reading it as a sequel - but even the best sequels are written for those who didn't read the first one, as a separate entity. But the thing is, the book as itself really isn't that riveting a read. It's not like I don't understand her suffering, I DO, but really...it's not even written well and why did we need more? Why did we need her side of the same story?

Now, I research her, and I'm reading all kinds of stuff on the Internet about her that if I had known, I wouldn't have chosen to listen to her book -- she's a correspondent on Fox News? How did that happen? -- as well the promises her husband made to not make a profit off of American Sniper and to give proceeds to his fallen friends' families, which apparently hasn't happened, plus the lawsuit that can't happen on that, other lawsuits she has brought forth after her husband's death, the bankruptcy of his company (and the investor there, how he made his money, and bought them a house to live in rent-free, and her exploitation of that), the fact that her husband thought they may divorce (and the book is VERY lovey dovey), then I read that when he died they had separated and were preparing to divorce, and he created clauses in his business practices if that was a possibility...now, I don't know what to believe. I do wish I had researched before picking this audiobook up at the library blind as I did. SURE, not everything on the Internet is real and true, but there is a lot here that is raising my eyebrows...and shackles.

In the end, I believe she has received a bit of a short end of the stick here. I feel for her loss, and commend and thank her husband for his service, yet...It's as if he wrote a book, so she had to. He got famous, so she had to. Still, something isn't sitting right with me on her anymore. Of course I realize that if that is a way for her to make money for her family, and it will sell, kudos to her -- but riding in on someone else's coattails -- especially as a woman -- isn't appealing to me. Plus her outspoken self after his death seems to be a completely different person than she depicted herself to be in this book. I wish I could take the time back that I spent on this book.

[Deacon Tom F. (Recovering from a big heart attack) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful

“American wife…” is a very special and unique book. The book is full of emotional incidents.

Beyond the title, the book has a lot of experiences that Taya Kyle had with the loss of her husband.

It really is on a broader scale the story of how she deals with murder of her husband.

It’s an emotional journey but in the end it’s a story of of her strength.

I hope take the time to enjoy it.

I highly I recommend. It’s a very very, very good book

[Carol Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, touching, and down to earth -- the perfect tribute to a fallen hero.

The first sentence was something I posted two years ago, but I didn't actually read the whole book. This time I went back and read the entire thing word for word. This is a strong book, about a strong woman. The most powerful and moving sections are all about grief and letting go. The early chapters are less than compelling, in that Chris Kyle may not come across as charming and lovable to a lot of people. The irony is that Taya Kyle does a much better job describing how she missed Chris when he was gone than she does describing how wonderful it was to have him around. Still the sections on grief and loss are very powerful.

[Erin Buerk · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give zero stars for this book, I probably would. I certainly don't mean the subject matter or her views- those don't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I found her husband's book fascinating and could not put it down. I was very disappointed in the quality of writing in this book. It was like reading a 7th grader's personal diary about a compelling event. I wish it was better.

[Bobbie Rathjens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Taya is a strong woman and I'm better for reading her side of the story. God bless Taya, and thanks for sharing your story.

[Myrn🩶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwrenching and inspirational. Taya is a strong woman.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched the depths of my soul. It was gut wrenching, it was beautiful. It made me smile, it challenged me. Taya talks about her life in such a genuine and raw manner-I felt like I was talking with her face to face at times; at other times, I felt like I was with her in her moments of faith, joy, and sorrow. As a military spouse, the book struck close to home for me as it forced me to look at my own life and my own fears I hold in the very back of my mind for my husband. I think Taya has set the stage to bring about more conversations and education about issues faced by many military/first responder families. She provides an open and honest account of her life with Chris, both in the physical world and beyond. She sends the message that the pain and loss never goes away, but a time will come where you can function and find joy and blessings. She shows that there is hope, even in the darkest of times.

Her story deeply impacted my heart. Her strength as a woman is inspirational. Her book is a gem.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't read this before bed. You'll never sleep and your pillow will be soaked with tears! What and amazing woman and an amazing family! My heart shattered all over again when I read this.

[Westminster Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Wife is the remarkable story from Taya Kyle’s perspective of the shocking death of her husband Chris Kyle, also known as American Sniper. Her story covers the time period after Chris’ death and the raw emotions of grief, depression, and the desperate struggle to maintain her memory of Chris. I really appreciated her vulnerable spirit, her willingness to share the struggles she perseveres, and her testament to the power of prayer, faith, family and friends. My favorite quote is simple but true – “You don’t know what the future holds.” P. 312. She teaches us to never take things for granted and to appreciate the blessings we have today, no matter how small.

Find American Wife at the Westminster Public Library!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taya Kyle is an inspiration. In this memoir, she gives a personal account of what it was like to be the wife of Navy SEAL, Chris Kyle. From their happiest moments to the despair following his death, Taya does not hold back and always keeps her faith. In fact, one of the bits of advice she offers at the end of the book is this: God promises beauty through ashes. Give it time and you will see it.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taya Kyle is a hero in her own right. Such a heart breaking and harrowing story.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember watching the trailer of the movie, American Sniper. Although I was not familiar with the true story of Chris, the intense scenes promoted me to watch the movie. Needless to say I was very impressed and engrossed with the plot, it was heartbreaking and memorable simultaneously. There were so many emotional scenes that made me deeply sympathetic about all what transpired. Upon reading this book, I had no expectations other than reading an amazing book about faith,told in Kyle perspective.

Honestly this book was raw and authentic, not only did I discover new things about Chris that the movie did not show, but I got to know his wife story as well. I liked how the book remained consistent, it did not elaborate so much on the author life but it introduced readers to what kind of person Kyle was. Kyle was a humorous, lively man that loved his wife with all of his heart and soul. The trials they had to go was like any other typical marriage but I liked how they managed to endure all the rough paths.

Towards the end, it got a little bit religious but it did not take away the beauty of the novel.

Highly recommended for people that have or have not seen the movie, American Sniper.

[Sharon King · Rating 5 out of 5]

How fitting that I finished reading this book on Memorial Day. I also read the book by Chris Kyle, American Soldier which had a lot of technical stuff about war, but Taya's account is heart wrenching. I can't imagine how she got through those first days, the funeral, and on top of dealing with that, the lawsuit with Ventura and the lawsuit in protecting Chris' name and logo's from her "supposed" friends. I really don't know how she functioned and got out of bed in the morning to face another day. Too much for one person to handle, yet she did. I admire her strength, honesty, and faith. Her tragic circumstances God is using for good. She is dedicated to Veteran families and to carrying on Chris Kyle's integrity, patriotism, legacy, and faith. Their children have wonderful parents who have modeled what love looks like in the midst of country, family and faith. Taya, Chris would be very proud - you are to be commended. "Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them." Psalm 126: 5-6

[Matt Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing account of life with someone in the military. Laughed, cringed and cried as Taya described her life with the American Sniper, Chris Kyle. Her very detailed account of the day of his passing and the subsequent events until his funeral is as heart wrenching as it gets. Her strength as a person and a mother shines through above all else. The book will lead to conversations in America around military families as the American Sniper Movie did. Worth a read.

[Julie Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real & raw testimony of faith, free will, conflicts & acceptance, even when you are mad at God. Felt like I sat down for a long, informal & sincere catch-up with a struggling girlfriend. "... God has a plan for us. More importantly, I had to accept His plan is the best plan. Even if I didn't like it. Maybe it is less about the best plan for an individual & more about others - the ripple effect of life & faith." Looking forward to seeing how Taya's journey continues.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. She was so honest and really put herself out there while writing this book. She showed the struggles of military families also. I have said and thought some of the things that she expressed in her book. Her husband was a true hero and I appreciate her sharing her story so openly.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

bought this book this evening and started reading. I laid the book I was reading to the side for now.

[pianogal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda sad, but good closure to the Kyle trilogy.

Also, I like to punch Jesse Ventura in the face, but then he'd probably sue me. Jerk.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, outstanding, beautifully written. Absolutely loved it.

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting, Inspiring, Moving & Raw! A Powerful Read! I Loved It!

[Molly Heatherly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir by Taya Kyle was very open, honest and captured the emotions before, during and after the death of her husband, Chris. Taya wrote very openly about the challenges military spouses and families face when their husband or wife are deployed. She also let readers know that her marriage was not perfect and like many married couples she and Chris had ups and downs. Instead of choosing to end their marriage, they sought outside help to fix the issues they were having and made their marriage stronger because of it. Taya Kyle is someone women could relate to because she is strong, courageous, independent and was never afraid to accept help from others; especially in the aftermath of her husband's tragic death. The Kyle's never let fame or fortune change who they were as individuals or as a family and that is very admirable.
I too am a military spouse and I could relate to many aspects of this story. Kyle chose to get out of the military because he saw how difficult it was on his wife and children. My husband has chosen certain jobs that have not been as career progressive in order to be a husband and father. Choices my husband, like Chris Kyle will never regret. This story is well worth the read and emotions that come with it. It is insightful to see how Taya has chosen to continue to honor her husband and his legacy even after his death to make sure he is never forgotten. Taya Kyle is a true American!

[Amber Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been waiting for me to read for a very long time. Why? Fear. I knew I had a lot of similarities with Taya because of being married to military man who went to war several times and dealt with ptsd. I knew what happened to Chris Kyle and when my hubby drug me to American Sniper I cried through most of it, knowing the ending. So I was afraid of the emotions this book might bring me. I finally got up the courage! And like most things we fear in life, it wasn’t as sad or painful as I thought it would be. I enjoyed the audiobook and the fact that Taya narrated it. I think it was more meaningful that way. I really enjoyed the first half of the book. The death wasn’t as terrible to get through as I had thought. I shed some tears but the movie affected me way more. Maybe because I steeled myself against it? Maybe because quite a bit of time has passed? Maybe it’s the author’s matter of fact way of discussing it? The book does get a bit bogged down by the court trials she had to go through but otherwise, a very good story. I really enjoyed the very last part, her “life lessons”. It made me think of the things I should do to be a better wife, sister, daughter, friend. Thank you for sharing your story Taya!

[Darneisha Duby · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was gifted this book in 2017 when I started dating my husband. I knew nothing about the military life and he felt that giving me this book would give me a perspective of what it’s like being a military wife. I didn’t read it until now (2024). We’ve been doing this military life since the time we met. Although I can relate to her on a few matters and empathize with her on her tragic loss. I just can’t get over the comments that were mentioned in this book. Such as…

Page 265- “Parents’ back to school night… I went to one recently. Pretty much your routine, suburban middle-class experience”

Page 326- “Real families and real sacrifices live in the fabric of the Red, White, and Blue; stand for the national anthem.


These comments left a bad taste in my mouth. What is even considered a “real” family.

I’ll be gifting this book to other military spouses who think this way- closed-minded!

[Amanda P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book I cried most of the way through.
Taya Kyle is an amazing woman and someone that I am genially in awe of. While not perfect, she conducts herself with grace and dignity during some of the most difficult times anyone could face.
This book was not salacious, like some have said. Instead it is her life (and journey) told in her words. You’ve got to give the woman credit for putting it all out there (and she does) after everything she’s been through.
I can’t wait to see what this amazing woman accomplishes in the years to come. I’m sure that her husband, Chris Kyle, is smiling down on her with pride from heaven at this very moment.