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 to supporting veterans and their families. Their
love had deepened, and, most special of all, 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 together 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 his shocking death when grief threatened to overwhelm
her. Then there were wearying battles to protect her husband's legacy
and reputation.
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 now are 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.
