Elvis and Ginger: Elvis Presley's Fiancée and Last Love Finally Tells Her Story Kindle Edition

I'd like to give (the young) Ginger the benefit of the doubt. At just 20 she became involved with the man who created a stir that still hasn't stopped swirling. At that age, she still had much to learn and to experience about life. Still living at home with her parents, Ginger obviously wasn't ready to fully embrace adulthood and 1977 was vastly different in so many ways from today. Elvis had been married, divorced, and involved in a long-term relationship with Linda Thompson. He apparently was also involved with other women in between. Prescription drugs, family who were unable to help him see how unhealthy he really was and a few fringe people who only wanted to make a buck added to his already overloaded life.My initial review was titled, "Where Is the Passion?"I've finally finished the book and changed my review from a 1 star to a 4 star. The deciding factor for my change of heart was that as I read further, I realized that Ginger has, in all likelihood, been misunderstood.Her relationship as a 20 yr. old girl, with a famous, wealthy, 42 yr. old man was so much more than that. This was not just any man. He was and remains, the man who started it all. Many call him the king. I never have and won't start now. I thought about how it would have been to be in Ginger's place, but that was an idea I couldn't fully wrap my head around. I also considered my own appreciation of Elvis's music and his legend.When I was just 14 he came to a city near our home. I begged my parents to take me to his concert. They did and it was a defining moment in my life. In 1977 my friends were listening to music that sounded nothing like Elvis's music, but many of them still admired and appreciated him. One of my teachers had seen him in concert several times and she'd even suggested a book about his life for me to read. It was a paperback that I can't recall the name of, but I bought it and read it. I collected a few records and to this day, I've kept my parents old 45's and their Elvis Christmas album. The concert was an amazing thing, because just a few months later, he was gone. I remember standing in the grocery store and looking at all the magazines with his pictures on them. A friend from school was looking at one, and I mentioned that he'd looked so good at the concert. She hadn't known I'd been to see it and was impressed that I'd been so lucky.Ginger doesn't really say that she was a huge fan of his music, but does tell that her parents were and they often listened to his records. She also doesn't mention much about seeing his movies or being familiar with them. By contrast, I'm several yrs. Younger than she and I've always loved his music and some of his movies. King Creole is stunning.Ginger Alden chose to write this book on her own. It must have been a tough decision to do this at all. Had she worked with a professional, I believe that the emotion would have poured out of her soul. That's the one thing that's sorely lacking.There is little to no passion until the end of the book, and even then it feels guarded. It's as though she's still protecting herself, her memories, her family and even Elvis. The truth is, so many others have written books about this man that were, to say the least, disgusting. Ginger takes every precaution to not do that.Some other reviews have bashed her for things like asking Elvis if she could put off joining him for the first couple of days of his August tour. In my view, she was trying to convey her feelings and at the same time show us how truly young and naïve she was. She comes across as very human.Others, like myself, felt that in taking so many lavish gifts from Elvis, the Aldens were just in it for the money. It would be easy to get wrapped up in the life of such a man. The cars, jewelry, clothes and furs are just too numerous to count. (But I'm sure someone will.)She says repeatedly that she and her family felt he was giving them too many things but that if they'd protested too much, he'd have been hurt. I can't say for sure what I'd have done, but I feel that maybe he would have had to get over it.Another point of contention between readers/fans and Ginger is with her inability to grasp his addiction to medication. Some blame her for not taking a stand and helping him get off the meds. She was 20, it was 1977, and he was the so-called King of Rock and Roll. And he was almost 22 yrs. older than she. He had doctors and nurses watching over him at all times.At the time of his death, rumors were flying. I remember some of them. They exist today and will live on in infamy. According to some, if Linda Thompson had remained at Graceland, Elvis would be alive and well today. That will never be resolved because as we know, it's all water under the bridge. Ginger evidently felt that Linda was a rival as she mentions things about her in the book that I would never had attributed to Linda.My main issue with Ginger's book was her lack of passion. It seemed as if she and Elvis were a much older couple whose life had become sort of mundane. They did the same things every day; ate the same foods; stayed in and read or watched TV. She only shares one incidence of the two of them being intimate and that too was void of passion. Some have chastised my comment about this, saying I wanted details. Not so. All I wanted was to know that it was a mind blowing experience. Toward the end of her book, she shares with us that she "kissed him full on the lips", as though it was a rare occasion! For any woman who has ever looked upon Elvis and wondered what those lips would be like to kiss, this seems surreal. Ginger could have kissed him passionately every single day!The other thing that really struck me was that while Ginger tells of how Elvis possessed a magnetic personality and could seemingly, magically make things happen, she never describes him the way others who were very close to him have.Lisa, Priscilla, George Kline and a few others have all said that Elvis's presence could be felt before he entered a room. Even Whitney Houston described this once in an interview before her death.I've tried not to compare Ginger's book to Priscilla's "Elvis and Me", or even Ginger to Priscilla. That's not so difficult considering that they're very different people. And though I've never met anyone in the Presley circle, I would guess that Ginger and Linda Thompson were also very different in terms of personality.I've always admired Linda and felt that she should write her own memoirs of her time with Elvis. I still hope that she will. It would add a very different dimension to the story.There is a lot I would like to say about Ginger's book, but will hold off until others read it.The book does not reveal anything significantly new about Elvis Presley. It does give us a small insight into how much he'd changed as a man and even as an entertainer. I've always thought that if he'd lived, Elvis could have been the greatest music producer who ever lived. He had a knack for producing his own music and was a perfectionist. Of all the Elvis "history" I've read, the most interesting to me is his unending love for and appreciation for getting the music right. He refused to stop rehearsing until he knew it was perfect. The same goes for his movies. If his manager had not held him back, he'd have been one of the greatest thespians of his time. He had what it took. It is my opinion that all these things conspired to turn a once lively, lovely man into an insecure person who rarely left his own home outside of singing dates.Another trait that I admire, his desire to give. It's a shame that he gave of himself so much that no one noticed he was running out of "himself".I feel for Ginger, even now, all these years later. What a story she had to tell. I just wish she'd at least sought the help of a pro.Her family, though they seemed to be willing to take whatever expensive gifts Elvis offered, obviously stand by her today.Much has been said of Rosemary and her defensive nature. Especially on Facebook. I feel that she is a loving sister trying to protect her sibling. Maybe she takes it a bit too far, and should consider that all the thoughtless things that people are saying won't change a damn thing. No one can take away the fact that God created this man to be a very lasting impression on the lives of millions of people. In the end, he was just a man. And no one can take away the fact that Ginger Alden was a part of his life.I'm glad I decided to buy the book. I thought for a long time that I'd skip this one. And my first thoughts were not very good. I struggled through the first half of it.If anyone can say for certain that they know the heart of this woman, let them prove it. I can't. I can say that she put forth a good effort. It's her story. And I respect it and her.

I wasn’t sure how I would like this book but this book had me laughing and crying. I truly wish we could of seen the love between them and where they would be today of Elvis hadn’t died. Ginger was perfect for Elvis because she challenged him and she told him no when everyone was telling him yes. Such a great book I recommend it to anyone who is a genuine Elvis fan.

I am so thankful to Ginger for this book. I was not really an Elvis fan because I was too young to know of him, when he passed. I heard my parents talking about him and always knew that he was some great musician, who died unexpectedly. I was eleven when he passed. However, after seeing the new movie 'Elvis,' I was in awe and perceived him quite differently and wanted to know more. I hurriedly purchased a book by Priscilla, while at the same time researching and googling him and then I saw that Ginger was the last person to spend his last intimate days with him and I was like 'Bingo.' And Wow!!! She gave us a close-up and personal look into his life. She gives details about their relationship and through her you get to know who or what he was really like. The book is well put together and very insightful. I could not put it down. If Ginger reads my review, I want her to know that God put her in Elvis life at the right time, so that someone who truly loved him could share him with his fans and the world. I am so thankful for this book and Ginger.

I just finished reading Gingers book, that I completely enjoyed. I feel like she is getting a bad rap from so many that are un-deserved. A lot of he said she said. Well it was Gingers story to write, and unlike many she waited till she was ready to write it, raising her son first, which is how it should have been. It couldn't have been an easy life for someone so young, being cooped up inside all the time, but she did it because she loved the man. And lets face it he was basically a prisoner in his own home, could not go out like the rest of us. Needing to have stores shut down just so he could go shop, movie theatres and etc. sure he got to go that way, but it was the only way, and he was a people person, that showed with his concerts, so it had to be sad that that was the only way he could go out and do the things that we all take for granted. I also read where a lot of people say he was not happy with Ginger, well every picture of them, he is always holding her hand, and looks very happy to me. And many have made cruel remarks of what could she have to say as she was only with him a short while, well, the way I look at it, it's not the quantity of time you spend with someone, but the quality of it while you are with them. Many can say they were with him for yrs. but how much time did they spend with the man, while he would be upstairs, the others were downstairs doing their own thing, till they was needed. So that goes to show they were their not for Elvis, but because they were getting paid for it, yet call themselves close friends. Sure Ginger may have left at times, but come on folks we all need a break even from those we love at times. And to say the Aldens were using him is nonsense, it doesn't look like any of the others that were given things by Elvis, refused them, and that's what gave him joy, and made him happy to be able to do so. And it sure seemed like he was close to the Alden Family, going to their house whenever the mood hit him, and just being able to relax and be a normal person for a change. And I am sure it made him feel good being a part of a family, as he lost his Mother, and Vernon had his own life going on, along with everyone else on his Payroll, and that should make everyone happy that he had them to turn to. Oh I know a lot are going to say well you don't know the Aldens, well, I do, I met them many yrs. ago, and was welcomed into their home, as if we had always known one another, and we kept up off and on. And not once have I ever heard any of them say anything but good about Elvis, you could tell they all loved him as well as Ginger. And many have made comments about she shouldn't have said this or that, she only told how things were and I seen nothing out of line. What about when Linda did a Interview telling how Elvis had passed out face down in a bowl of soup, that was not necessary, imagine how would have felt, knowing that at sometime his daughter and grandkids would hear that? It seems like everyone is missing the point here, its about the books, not rather you like this Author or another one, its not a popularity contest. It seems like most are making the comments on how they feel about the person, more-so then the actual book. I don't personally know Shirley , but I gave her a 5 star also, cause I did enjoy the book, except for some of the parts, mainly the Aldens. And I have given Ginger a 5 Star, not because I know them, but I feel she deserves it, she did a great job, and it could not have been easy for her, and I commend her for sharing that part of her life with us. I have bought and read many books on Elvis, and now that I have read Gingers don't feel the need get any others, as hers was about the final months of his life, and now he is gone, so I need to know no more. Thank You, Ginger for waiting till the right time, and taking your time on a book that was well written, as hard as it had to have been, and re-living the day you found Elvis, that had to be heart-breaking. But it needed to be told. I wish you nothing but the best for you, and all your family, that I am proud to know.

This book really made me feel like I was there at Graceland, experiencing the secret life of Elvis behind closed doors. I was sad when it ended. Great book!

Although I guessed that this book would be an attempt by Ginger Alden to justify her strange behaviour recorded by many Elvis friends and employees, particularly at the end of his life, I was astonished to read that she claims to recall dialogue verbatim after 37 years!! Sorry, NO-ONE can do that. She only spent nine months off and on with Elvis, yet can apparently also recall every single thing they did together which again is only possible if a detailed diary is kept, which she never mentions doing. She says that after Elvis died she made 'notes' of their time together which indicates that she hoped to use them some time in the future when she needed the money! During the last year of Elvis' life he suffered terribly from several medical conditions, was also depressed and disillusioned. His nurse Marion Cocke describes his condition in her book. He would be very unhappy at yet another attempt to expose his private life to the public gaze. Nothing in this book convinces me that she loved Elvis - just repeatedly saying it does not make it so and if she really loved him she would not wish to be another to invade his privacy at a low point in his life. She just provides the voyeurs and jealous media with yet more fodder to exploit a man who deserves our respect for his talent and achievements. R.I.P. Elvis.

Fascinating read! I had read/heard a lot of mixed reviews on this book & it's taken me some time to come around to purchasing it. Lots of negative things said about Ginger & her family in the past but I thought that Gingers' family didn't come across quite so 'wicked' as I was expecting. Certainly I think they tried to get something out of Elvis' Estate, for sure, that was never going to be good for them. But I was surprized, enthralled & eager to read her story the more I got into the book. She was very young & naive when she entered Elvis' world & yet still seemed to hold on to her Southern beliefs & values. Writing her story much later in her life has enabled her to process her life with Elvis & dealing with his tragic death more maturely had she wrote it soon after Elvis' passing I don't think would have worked for her or us! Lovely to read of their shared time together & sounding like two people very much in love & enjoying life. It's long been reported how lonely, isolated & reclusive Elvis' life became towards the end, (but once he became famous his life became that anyway!) along with his 'drug induced' states, we should all take a little responsibilty for giving him this enormous image to live up to, but reading Gingers' story is far from that! So getting, yet another, perspective on Elvis' last few months from a young woman, who obviously adored & loved him very much, was an appreciating read. She stayed out of the spotlight for so long & managed to pick herself up & carry on with her life, getting married & having children, not even telling her boys anything about Elvis or her life with him! So she didn't exactly jump on the band wagon in any rush to tell her story! I think she's told it with compassion, respect & an element of loyalty. The world knows Elvis' struggle with prescription drugs but instead of focusing on that or the weight gain (take a look at the likes of Sinatra at the end of his life, or Elton John, not exactly skinny!!) we should all thank God for giving us this amazing man who had a voice like no other, charisma, was humble & generous to many, who changed the world in not only music but gave many others the chance to see they can make it too, whatever & wherever you start out in life!

I'm a huge Elvis fan. Have read quite a few books about him. Thought I would give this one a try. Didn't really think that a book could be written by someone who dated Elvis for only nine months, so wasn't really expecting a lot. But I was very surprised by the amount of detail that went into this book. I'm not sure how the writer did remember such details without keeping a detailed journal. Nothing was said that she kept a journal and to be honest I dont think she would have had time to write one. Being with Elvis must have been a non stop rollercoaster of a ride with not much time even to take a breath. It is written from her perspective, the highs and lows of being in a relationship with this complicated man, the intimate conversations they had. The poems her wrote for her. Even after all this I still feel she didn't know Elvis and the actual amount of medication he was taking. Whether it was because she was young and maybe a bit naive or did Elvis hide it from her. Or did she know but chose not to put it in this book - We will never know. An interesting read with a very sad ending as we all well know.

Interesting and, probably, “hygiened” account of the months that Ginger Alden spent with Elvis. Appears to be written first hand by Ginger as the narrative is simply constructed and, clearly, not the work of a professional writer. The account makes repeated references to Elvis, allegedly, promising to buy a house for Gingers mother which comes across as an attempt to justify the legal action taken after Elvis’ death by Gingers family. Ginger mentions Elvis taking sleeping medication, but there is little other indication that Elvis was taking other drugs, which he obviously was, and there is either a reluctance by the author to mention the severity of the addiction or, at the very least, a naivety. Worth a read.

Having recently visited Gracelands, I wanted to know more so downloaded this ebook. It was written in a very simplistic way with good descriptions which were accurate having been there myself. It was interesting to read the kind of life Elvis had to live for the price of fame; and the life Ginger had to live for the price of love. It's a shame that she was treated the way that she was after his death. The personal photos at the end of the ebook were an unexpected bonus.