Judy Gaman was so busy making a name for herself that she barely took the time to meet a stranger, enjoy life, or simply stop to breathe. Immersed in her job as the director of business development for a high-profile medical practice—a job that required her to write health and wellness books and host a nationally syndicated radio show—she spent every day going full speed ahead with no looking … back. That is, until the day she met Lucille Fleming. While writing a book on longevity, Judy interviewed Lucille, an elegant and spirited woman who had just recently turned 100. Lucille had the fashion and style of old Hollywood, but it was all hidden behind the doors of her assisted living center. What began as a quick meeting became a lasting friendship that transformed into an inseparable bond. Lucille brought incredible wisdom and great stories to the table, while Judy provided an avenue for excitement and new opportunities. Together, the two began living life to the fullest, and meeting the most interesting people along the way (including Suzanne Somers). But then Lucille’s life came to an end through unexpected and unfortunate circumstances—and the very first lesson she ever taught Judy proved to be the most important one of all.
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I laughed out loud, I cried great tears, I learned important lessons. This book is a wonderful, touching account of a rare and very special friendship.
From the beginning, Judy Gaman has you falling in love with Lucille, a spunky & glamorous lady who changes her life for the better. Her interview with Lucille, which starts out as research for a book, turns into much more. She made a lifelong friend that she needed to appreciate life. We should enjoy the time we have while we are here. Lucille does just that and brings Judy along for the ride. What a lovely tribute to an impressive lady. Lucille will not be forgotten and this story will tug on your heartstrings. Have some tissue nearby.
I’ve spent the last three hours falling in love with Lucille. Much like the author I was enchanted by her verve, vim and vigor from the moment I met her in these pages. I laughed and cried my way through the book, stopping only to Google the video of Lucille throwing the first pitch at the Rangers game (which was adorable and you should take a minute to do the same).
I desperately wanted a happy ending, for Lucille to live forever, but knew that of course that wouldn’t be the case. And I guess that is the lesson of the book itself, to live in this moment, to love in this moment. To never take our loved ones for granted because today might be all we have. This is an especially timely reminder given the year we have all had.
This memoir is a love letter to Lucille’s luminescence, to a life well lived, to her legacy of love.
I wish there had been photos included in the book, I especially would have loved to have seen the one of her and Suzanne.
This is a lovely memoir of a deep friendship between Lucille, a centenarian, and Judy, the author. I could feel the joy they had in each other’s company and the genuine delight in their Friday lunches and other excursions. Lucille’s charm and zest for life made me smile and the stories of their unique bond were heartwarming.
I was my father’s caregiver for 3 years after he had a massive stroke following a procedure to insert a deep brain stimulator to help with Parkinson’s disease. There was so much in this story that brought back memories of our wonderful adventures together. He taught me so much and was my buddy till the very end of his life on earth. It was truly a blessing to be able to celebrate his final years and honor him and the way he always cared for me.
I believe that there are moments in this story that will touch everyone’s heart and quite possibly take you on your own emotional journey alongside of theirs. I hope that this book inspires everyone to be kind to their elders and appreciate life. Hopefully someday we will be elders and possibly centenarians too.
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Love, Life, and Lucille
By: Judith K. Gaman
REVIEW
TmLove, Life, and Lucille is a beautiful story, and for me, it was like opening a Pandora’s Box of memories.
Judy and Lucille serendipitously meet, and to their surprise and delight, form an actual friendship. Not the friends you text-a real face to face relationship. That is not easy to find. Lucille is a remarkable woman, aged 100 years, still vivacious, and she brought new, positive, energy into Judy’s life. Obviously, these two were destined to meet for reasons beyond our understanding. But, I knew there would be sadness, too, and I can’t abide the heaviness of it.
Eleven years ago, the man who was like a second father to my husband died. He was 75 years old. Five months prior to this, he was placed in the hospital full time. Plus, hospice care. I felt “obligated” to visit, even though I didn’t know him as well as my husband. For the first month, we sat in relative silence. For the second month, random conversations about nothing. Then, he started to talk to me, I halfway listened, until, one day, I actually listened. Real conversations about meaningful things happened. I no longer dreaded each visit. He told me about Vietnam, his career as a newspaper editor, two crazy ex-wives, really bad jokes, his amazing chili recipe and named me power of attorney. I could feel time running out, until a Sunday morning phone call shattered the hourglass. I knew too little much too late.
Don’t dismiss and ignore the elderly in your life because you will regret it. Take what they offer you with grace and compassion. Become true friends, like Lucille and Judy. This book will inspire you and break your heart at the same time. I mean that in a good way.
Judy Gaman got the opportunity to connect and befriend Lucille, a centenarian, to write Love Life and Lucille. We can all learn from those older than us and Judy shares Lucilles wisdom, stories, and love with us. Everything happens for a reason and live life to the fullest are two big messages that shoot out here. I would highly recommend this book!
One thing I was determined to do for 2020, was read more non fiction. And, let me tell ya. All the ones I’ve read so far have been awesome! This one by Judy Gaman is no different. I loved this book from the start and by the end of the book, I was sitting there wanting more. That’s awesome, if you ask me! A book that will completely engulf you, keep you hooked until the last page……that’s the best kind!
This book keeps the reader laughing, tell them stories of faith and hope, between two friends. I have a sister, who is not my biological sister. She’s my absolute best friend. She is my person. The one I turn to, the one I create memories with. This book, the deeply rooted friendship that Judy and Lucille share, is exactly what I love and want. I have that with my sister. This book of memories between friends is what this world, especially during these trying times, need more of,to restore the peace.
If you want a book that will teach you about life, give you hope, make you laugh, keep you turning the pages, then definitely grab this one up. Gaman creates vivid stories that will keep you thinking, threads humor into and turns out a book that should be on every reader’s shelf! I definitely recommend this and can’t wait to read more like it! Great job, Gaman! Great job!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Author/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
This was a fabulous book the first for me by this author it’s a memoir part tribute… and I absolutely fell in love with Lucille and Judy it’s like I was there during their life in the story…
Definitely would recommend this book to all because it’s such a warm heart touching story..
Judi Garman, parents being divorced she never really had that close relation with her mom because her mom was always working and never had time…
Not the lifestyle she wanted to have she wanted a life for her children to have stories to tell their children. in this story she meets Lucille who is 102 they develop a friendship like I’ve never heard before it is wonderful each Friday they do something completely different…. they talk about things from the past when Lucille was just a child how she came to live in the United States… they went on many trips the things they did together are just absolutely amazing this was a wonderful book and I truly loved it.
The Friday get-togethers was my
Favorite… what a wonderful tribute memoir book..
Love, Life, & Lucille by Judy Gaman is a beautifully written memoir and tribute that brought a smile to my face and to my heart. Judy Gaman had a full plate as an author of health and wellness books and the host of a nationally syndicated radio show but she never could slow down to enjoy life until she met Lucille. When Judy interviewed Lucille, for a book on longevity, the bright and charismatic centenarian was a store of amazing stories and undeniable wisdom. A beautiful and lasting friendship was forged that day and both Judy and Lucille began to live life to the fullest. I absolutely loved this beautiful memoir. I felt as if I were transported through the pages, enjoying life with Judy and Lucille. I had a lot of laughter and a few tears as I was reading the escapades of these two inseparable friends. I could imagine Lucille in her beautiful red gown and batting her false eyelashes as she was set to meet Suzanne Somers. The joy and laughter that Judy and Lucille shared had me reflecting on my own life and what I needed to do in order to have that much peace and happiness. I highly recommend this book to everyone who is seeking to live life to the fullest instead of just existing.
Love, Life, & Lucille by Judy Gamen is a book that could not have come at a more appropriate time. When there is so much negativity, it was very refreshing to read about Lucille, a lovely woman 100+ years young! Her relationship with Judy was so uplifting, memorable, and positive! I just couldn’t put it down! We can each only hope to live such a long and fulfilling life as Lucille and this beautifully written novel is a wonderful tribute to the friendship that developed between Judy and Lucille. Full of wisdom and lessons only gained by a long full life, the story of this amazing centenarian will leave you hopeful and inspired.
Thank you Judy Gamen and Suzy Approved Book Tours for inviting me into Lucille’s world and reminding us all that it is never too late to truly enjoy all the joys and blessings life has to offer!
#lovelifeandlucille
LOVE LIFE AND LUCILLE is an incredibly unique book that was such a delight to read. It is a story of Judy Gaman and Lucille a centenarian – a memoir and a tribute to her life and their friendship.
Judy Gaman is a brilliant woman who has done it all – she is an award-winning author, speaker, and radio/podcast host, a CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas, a luxury medical practice in the Dallas. She is a gifted and master storyteller that brings to life within these pages stories about Lucille Fleming that inspire, motivate and warms the heart.
The writing is so heartfelt, truly a joy – right from how Judy and Lucille fostered their lasting friendship to the stories of their adventures together as they live their lives to the fullest!
This is a must read for those of us whose lives are just passing as by. I loved being part of Judy and Lucille’s world. It made me look at my own relationships with my mother and children.
What a beautiful memoir and I am so grateful to have had the chance to experience this captivating book.
I totally get the constant crazy going on in life. Being a single mom, working, teaching my son, getting errands done that constantly pop up. Life is always go go go at my house. I never really take the time to slow down and enjoy the small things.
What a sweet lady, Miss Lucille Fleming. What a magical birthday, 100 years young! I can’t even imagine having another 59+ years to go. And Lucille makes it all look elegant, easy and just plain magical.
The bond that these two have made, the stories that they share and each is really making the other’s life that much more fulfilling.
You will need some tissues for this journey but they will be well worth it. Such a sweet story and such an hour to Lucille that Judy came into her life and documented it in such an amazing way.
Love, Life, and Lucille was such an interesting and captivating book. I really enjoyed it.
I have very little family and having lost my parents when they were in their 50’s, I was enthralled by Lucille and the fact that she was 100 years old. But make no mistake about it , she was really 100 years young. I loved her stories and I envisioned my ancestors living through those times.
Part of the story is Judith (Judy) story. Judy meant to get Lucille’s story and write a book about it. She found so much more , family and a close relationship. .
This book is well written and absolutely a beautiful read. I highly recommend it.
I don’t think that Lucille would have lived to 104 without Judy’s undying devotion to her. It seemed over the top, but to Lucille, it was perfect. These two had such joie de vivre. I miss them now that I finished reading the book! May we all be so blessed to have a younger best friend to wine and dine us, and to love and hold us until we take our very last breath.
Judy Gaman, author of “Love, Life, and Lucille” has written a memorable, delightful, entertaining biography and memoir that tug at your heartstrings. Judy is a workaholic, and has a wonderful second marriage with a family similar to “The Brady Bunch”, Yours, Mine, and Ours”. Judy is the head of a business aspect of medical practice, has a radio program and writes,
This book is a dedication of love to a special friend, that was a centenarian, Lucille. Lucille was a vibrant, colorful, cheerful, and dramatic influence on many people, especially Judy. Judy learned many lessons in dealing with life from her senior friend. There was no age discrimination, and for a few years, there were some wonderful memories that were made.
In this book, Judy mentions the ups and downs of life, good and bad, and good health and illness. Together, no matter what setbacks, the two set out to live life. They shared their outings in restaurants and on television, and radio. I love when the author vividly describes the food, waffles with ice-cream, or blueberries and whipped cream.
I would highly recommend this intriguing and thought-provoking novel for readers to enjoy.