God, the Mafia, My Dad, and Me: A True Story of Secrets and Survival

by Lori Lee Peters

In 1974, Lori Lee Peters was an impressionable thirteen-year-old growing up in the suburban town of Lodi, California. The wider world-from which her parents sheltered her and her sisters-fascinated Lori. She was curious about everything, informed about little, and dependent on friends to fill gaps with the knowledge she craved. Religion was a topic rarely discussed in her household. So when friends shared their beliefs about God as fact, Lori thought her days on Earth were numbered. She carried this news with her for decades as a deadly secret she couldn't share with her family. Little did she know that her father-her hero-had a secret of his own. In God, the Mafia, My Dad, and Me, Lori shares a tale of enduring love, unwavering courage, and the unbreakable bond between a father and daughter. These are the true stories of Lori and her father, Lou Peters, a former combat Marine who attracted the attention of the Bonnano crime family and was thrust into a spotlight he never imagined for himself. You'll learn about the strength required to protect those you love in battles no one else sees-not even the family you're protecting. Equal parts beautiful and tragic, this gripping memoir reveals the inexplicable ties that bind, the hope that's always possible, and the overwhelming power of love.

206 pages, Hardcover

Published October 18, 2021

Reviews

[Readers Choice]

Lori Lee Peters has mentioned her dad Lou Peters in this book. He went undercover as a Cadillac car dealer in Lodi, California to bring down the Joe Bonanno Sr. crime family. Joe Bonanno Sr. was the head of the mafia in the United States.

Joe's sons came to Lou's office for a car dealership offer. They wanted Lou to be the front man for the money laundering operation for the Mafia. Lou visited his friend, Police Chief Marc Yates. He told him about his meeting with Bill Bonanno and Joe Bonanno Jr.. They wanted to buy his Cadillac dealership for two million dollars.

Read this story to know what actions Lou would take and what impact would be on his family. Not everyone has the guts to be Lou Peters. Hats off to this hero for his bravery. The way he had put his country ahead of himself is truly appreciated.

I am grateful to Lori Lee Peters for sharing her journey with us. It's a book worth reading. The narration is strong and I read this book in a single sitting. I strongly recommend this book to my fellow readers.

[bookhaven__]

I love reading true stories. Recently I got my hands on Lori Lee Peters' book "God, the Mafia, My Dad, and Me". It is a story of a courageous father, Lou Peters, who risked his own life to do the right thing.

Lori Peters has a loving family. Her love for her father Lou could be seen in the way Lori was a daddy's girl since childhood. One day, at school Lori's friends told her about the Second coming and how God would take everyone to heaven. Lori kept this secret to herself. She wanted to live her life, get married and have kids.

She survived day by day thinking that God might come soon. Lori's life took a turn from the point when his father received an offer from the head of the mafia. Working with the mafia is too dangerous. For the safety of his family, Lou took a legal separation from his wife and daughters. He wasn't worried about his own life as he wanted to do something worthy for others.

This story touched my heart. Lou is truly a hero and an inspiration for others to be courageous in life. The father-daughter relationship could be felt by the readers in this story. This book is written in a smooth language. I am glad to read it.

[_sassy_39]

"God, the Mafia, My Dad, and Me: A True Story of Secrets and Survival" is a story by Lori Lee Peters. In this story, we meet thirteen-year-old Lori Peters growing up in the suburban town of Lodi, California. Lori loves her dad Lou Peters a lot. Her dad was mostly busy at his office with his dealerships.

One day, he received an offer of two million for a car dealership from Joe Bonanno Sr. Joe is the head of the mafia for the whole United States. To work with Joe's sons, Lou Peters took a separation from his wife and daughter. Read this story to find out will Lou be safe or is there any danger involved.

The story is gripping. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't keep the book aside until I finished reading it. The writing style of the author is easy to understand. This story is based on true events and I was shocked to read the ending of it. Looking forward to reading more books by the author in the near future.

[William McClain]

Peters has a tale to tell and does so with courage and openness. Her experiences, along with those of her father, cover multiple topics—coming of age in the 70's, challenging the stigma that many still attach to mental illness, standing up to wrong—all addressed with straightforward honesty.

[Omayra]

I usually don't read memoirs, but this one was recommended by a friend who is a writer and she highly recommended it. I am glad I bought the hard copy. I had to travel for 6 hours flight, and my iPad had no batteries. I read half the book in my travels, which is fantastic, and I finished the other half on a rainy afternoon. I don't like to give spoilers, so I will say that I was impressed with the story and will recommend it to all lovers of memoirs.

[Teresa]

I might be biased, as I know the author, we went to high school together. So many things, people and places she wrote about took me down memory lane. I couldn't put it down. Listened to the audio book in one day, it's 4 ish hours.
Thank you, Lori for sharing your journey. Funny how you never know what someone else is going through and just assume that they have the perfect life because that's what it looks like on the outside. Glad you got clarity and peace. ❤️ And your dad is a hero!