Heart of Steel

Based on a True Story

By: Kevin Miller

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

In the early morning hours of September 13, 1920, a tragic murder takes place at the Pulchalski farmhouse in Southington, Ohio. Twelve-year-old Stanley desperately runs along a dusty country road sent by his frantic mother to fetch the sheriff. An infamous scandal unfolds over the next several weeks, taking Stanley and his siblings on a harrowing journey through a notorious orphanage in Warren Ohio and an incredible attempt to escape. Finding true love is Stanley's only hope to finally come to terms with the torment of his tragic past.

The story is based on true events in the life of Stanley William Miller. It inspires the heart on how a young man’s devotion to his family pushes him beyond impossible odds and testifies to the perseverance of the human spirit. A murder mystery. An infamous scandal. A beautiful love story.

Editorial Reviews

"Heartfelt Story of Tragedy, Hardship, but most of all Love Heart of Steel is one of those books that leaves you an emotional mess after you turn the final page. This heartfelt story is written by the grandson of Stanley Puchalski/Miller and what a story it is. Kevin Miller pulls out all the stops and pulls no punches when telling it like it must have happened. Told with heartfelt love of siblings and their mother, he writes as if he were walking in their footsteps and we are walking with him. I was captivated by the detail and how he set each scene. Raw, gritty and at times a bit bloody, I could not put it down until I reached the very last page. And at that last page, I had tears in my eyes. This is a book for the ages and it leaves one wondering just how many similar stories might be ferreted out if one were to just ask the right questions and look in the right closets. Read Heart of Steel - you won’t be disappointed." (Linda Thompson, The Author Show)

"In this novel based on his family’s history, Miller writes about his grandfather in a dramatic, vivid manner and a shifting third-person perspective. The author offers readers a fast-paced, cinematic tale that covers Stanley’s travails - which include changing his last name to Miller at the age of 13 and working in a Chicago steel mill - rather than a sober, minutiae-filled biography." (Kirkus Reviews)

"One day, author Kevin Miller discovered that his last name wasn’t Miller at all; it was Pulchalski. His grandfather, Stanley Pulchalski, changed his name in an attempt to reinvent himself after a family tragedy. Heart of Steel will take you back to the early morning hours of September 13, 1920, when events were set into motion that would reverberate into the present. At once a murder mystery, family drama, and sweeping romance, this book based on a true story is well worth the read." (MacKenzie Stuart, Early Bird Books)

©2019 Kevin D. Miller (P)2020 Kevin D. Miller

Family life at that time and the courage of a young g man to change his life

Didn’t establish the relationship of the writer to the characters of the story. Rather weak story line

The makings of a mediocre Hallmark movie

The story starts out well, and seems promising as it presents the inciting event which tore a family apart. But then, apart from a few adventurous episodes of reuniting them, it descends quickly into a mundane account of the early years of a young man's life. (To call it a biography would lend it a significance I'm not quite sure it earns). Even as the listener expects more intrigue, it sinks further into a syrupy love story one might expect in a teen romance novel. On the bright side, I realized that my own family history is positively scandalous in comparison to this one. If you're into stories heavy on syrup, and light on excitement, this may be for you.

Just Fantastic!!

The fact that this is a true story makes it all the more beautiful. I was so invested in Stanley that in wanted to jump into this book and fight for him. Awesome story and an awesome performance. ❤

Compelling story, beautifully told

The audio version of “Heart of Steel” by award-winning author Kevin Miller is a revelation. I had read the written version of the book and given it five stars; the narrated version reveals the story, characters, emotions, and the author’s lush prose at an even higher level. The book is based on a true family story full of tragedy and triumph. It paints its setting-the 1920s-with strong detail as found great historical fiction. The narrator is outstanding. Highly recommend this audio book.