This is a dual Book Review is for ‘Your Story Matters... Tell It’ and ‘Claudia Estelle The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple’ – by Linda Bunker

‘Your Story Matters... Tell It’ is a genuine, heartwarming memoir of a friendship between two women that grew into a passionate lifelong commitment and partnership.

Even in the best of circumstances human relationships (gay or straight) are hard work and when there is a strain of secrecy the odds aren’t good. I admire these two women for their love, devotion, and determination to build a successful life together in a period in time where society would have eaten them alive if their secret had been exposed.

Their love, strength, intelligence, compassion, faith and humor allowed them to grow as couple (in secret) while extending love, kindness, generosity to their families, friends and community. Even the local police considered their home as a safe place where they brought community kids that were in danger, abused and neglected in the dark of night to find loving arms, a warm bed, healthy food, laughter and games until proper family, friends or suitable foster accommodations could be agreed upon.

Author Linda Bunker tells her story with candor, assuming the risks of coming out of the closet, detailing historical facts regarding the progression of gay and lesbian rights, in order to leave their legacy of love to the generations of women who will follow.

Linda’s second book titled ‘Claudia and Estelle The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple’ is a companion book to ‘Your Story Matters... Tell It’. As the reviewer I encourage readers to purchase these two as a set because the humorous side of their relationship transcends the hardships and secrecy. Linda’s writing style reminds me of the late Erma Bombeck reminding us to look at our life circumstances from the lighter side. I believe that it was the lighter side of these two women that have brought them to the twilight phase of their journey together still embraced in each other’s loving arms.

Cold Coffee Press endorses this dual set of books ‘Your Story Matters... Tell It’ and ‘Claudia Estelle The Extraordinary Senior Gay Couple’ – by Linda Bunker as the serious memoir and the humorous short story collection of two women enjoying retirement years from a more normal view outside of the closet. (August 2014) http://www.coldcoffeepress.com ( )