This is one of those books that just arrived on my doorstep. In spite of the fact that I’ve never been a whiskey drinker, something about it really drew me in, and as I began reading Pure Heart: A Tale of Grace, Grit, and Whiskey by Troy Ball, and I was not disappointed.
When I found out shortly after starting the book that Troy Ball is a woman, I was even more interested. This book is about her life: caring for two sons with special needs, being an entrepreneur at heart but having to put that aside for years when her sons needed all her attention, working with her husband, and finally learning about and launching a premium whiskey brand on her own.
All aspects of her life captivated me, from the ups and downs of marriage, the joys and challenges of parenting, her strong personal drive to succeed, and most unexpectedly, the process of brewing whiskey — more specifically moonshine. The efforts to brand it, bottle it, and sell it were equally as fascinating.
There are times when we want to give up. There are times when we wonder if we can handle what we’ve been given. Sometimes we need proof of what we can really do, personally and professionally. As one who doesn’t always push herself, I was inspired by this woman who never gave up. She didn’t give up on trying everything she could to make her boys’ lives better and healthier, even when it meant giving up her dreams — her dream job, her dream house. She didn’t give up on reaching her own business goals, even when they had to be put on hold for many years as she tended to her family.