One Call Away: Answering Life's Challenges with Unshakable Faith [Kindle Edition]

Brenda Warner (Author), Jennifer Schuchmann (Contributor)

Book Description

What can you do when your well-laid plans fall apart and life takes an unexpected turn?

Brenda Warner is best known as the outspoken wife of NFL superstar and Dancing with the Stars alum Kurt Warner. But years earlier, she found herself living through any woman’s nightmare: a healthy baby tragically injured in the bathtub; a sudden end to a career she loved; betrayal and divorce; poverty; public humiliation; a deadly natural disaster that destroyed her foundation and shook her to her core. One shattering phone call at a time, Brenda Warner’s life came to resemble little of her dream.

But each time her plans fell apart, Brenda faced a choice: to collapse in the face of tragedy or press forward and survive. She chose to keep going. In the process, she’s learned that the unexpected is only one call away. Her story provides hope and encouragement for anyone facing life’s challenges and shows us that our circumstances don’t tell us who we are, nor are they a measure of God’s love. God has a plan for us, even when our plans fail. Brenda’s life is proof that sometimes the best dreams are not the ones we dream, but the ones that come true when we least expect them.

“Brenda Warner remains a soldier fi ghting for faith and life in the face of unexplainable devastation. The fortitude of this ‘marine mom’ will grab your heart. If you think Kurt Warner’s journey is moving, do not wait to read the story of Brenda.”

—Elizabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of The View and special contributor for Good Morning America, ABC News

“We have all had the phone ring and our lives changed. Brenda Warner’s moving and inspiring memoir reminds us all of the power of family, the miracles and misfortunes of life, and the foundation that faith plays in our all-too-human existences. Unflinching and fearless, she is the woman I want in my corner: safe, smart, and savvy. A heroine for us all.”

 —Jamie Lee Curtis, Author/actress/mother/sister

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brenda Warner is a speaker, philanthropist, and New York Times best-selling author. She is the mother of seven children, a registered nurse, and a Marine. But most of all, she is a storyteller who candidly shares her struggles in hopes that her life experiences can help other women. Brenda is also Vice President of the First Things First Foundation, an organization she co-founded with her husband, NFL player Kurt Warner.

Product Details

• File Size: 2924 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0849947197
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 6, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005ENBB56
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,339 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read August 17, 2011

By cllane2

Format:Paperback

Brenda Warner, wife of famed football player Kurt Warner, shares her own story, first for her children, but also for the rest of us. Her's is a compelling story of both tragedy and triumph, pain and redemption.
Brenda's own summary tells it the best:
"I am a former marine. I have a nursing degree. I've lived on food stamps, and I've lived on millions of dollars. I have been divorced, and I've been married to the man of my dreams. I've watched my seven children grow and succeed beyond my wildest dreams, I've watched one baby suffer permanent brain damage and blindness and two babies dies before they ever lived.
I am not immune to grief, and every day I miss my parents more than I think is possible. I am not a crier or a whiner, and I would rather control my world than be controlled by it. I've been mostly faithful and trustworthy, yet I've been betrayed and I've certainly had times when I let down those I loved. If you are in my inner circle, I will have your back, and I know some, but not all, I let in will have mine. I love babies with tracheotomies, seniors in hospice, and the homeless who ask nothing from me."
Chapter 39

Just because tragedy may be a phone call away, Brenda helps the reader see that it doesn't mean we stop living. God gives joy and redemption. The book is a quick read. I was surprised how fast I flew the the pages. While not a football fan, warner's story intrigued me so much that I had a hard time putting the book down.

This book comes out Sept 6th

I received this book free from Book Sneeze and Thomas Nelson publishers for the purpose of this review.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Answering God's Call August 27, 2011

By Denise McFarland

Format:Paperback

I just finished reading One Call Away by Brenda Warner, wife of Kurt Warner. I got it in the mail yesterday afternoon, started it last night, stayed up until 3am reading it, and finished it this morning. I literally could not put this book down, it was that good. This book is basically a memoir by Brenda Warner of her life from birth till the present day. She details all of the ups and downs that she has gone through in great personal detail, from growing up on a farm with her parents to living life as a millionaire married to a football star. The one constant in her life has been her unshakable faith.

Before reading this book, I really had no idea who Brenda Warner was, yet this book grabbed me from the very first page. Brenda went from being a child who grew up poor to being married to a philandering husband, to being a single mom on food stamps and welfare, counting every penny, to being rich and married to a wonderful and godly man. Her journey was one that was I could so relate to, having gone through many hard times myself. I found it uplifting and encouraging to read of how she held onto her faith even in the darkest moments of her life.

This story was so very encouraging, and I highly recommend it.

Note: I received a copy of this book for free from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Open and Honest August 23, 2011

By Jamie

Format:Paperback

Brenda Warner, wife of football legend Kurt Warner, hasn't always led an easy life. From growing up on a farm in Iowa, spending time as a Marine in Japan, have a special needs child to having her first marriage end in divorce, Brenda's life has been filled with more trials than many will face in a lifetime. Brenda also stood by her man as his football career took many twists and turns eventually landing them in Arizona. Written as a memoir, One Call Away, shares Brenda's story; the highs, the lows and everything in between.
I was impressed with how open Brenda was in this book, from sharing her true feelings to telling stories about getting caught in an "intimate act" with Kurt on her parents couch. Some of these stories are definitely not ones I would share with my friends, much less the millions of people who will read this book! It is amazing to see how God has worked in Brenda's life and in her marriage. This book is definitely encouraging and eye-opening about some of the things the Warners have dealt with, I really enjoyed reading it.
Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson Publishers. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.