A Broken Kind of Beautiful... a book review

ISBN: 978-1-60142-590-4

Fiction / Christian / Romance

Publish date: April 15, 2014

WaterBrook Press

Publisher's Description:


Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong 
Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four year old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she’s learned a sacred truth—appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows—so when it starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white.

If only her tenuous future didn’t rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her mysterious new photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the façade she works so hard to maintain. He, along with a cast of other characters, challenges everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty and worth. Is it possible that God sees her—a woman stained and broken by the world—yet wants her still?

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Katie Ganshert has written a story that so many women can relate to... me included.  If people (and God) knew the real me, who would like/love me?  There is at least one character that you will be able to relate to.... Ivy - broken and beautiful, Davis - cannot forgive himself, Sara - realizing a new dream, and many more.

Read Chapter 1 HERE.

For more information on this wonderful, gifted writer, slide on over to her own website.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.... a solid A+

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.


Blessings,


     Ellen

Burning Sky... a book review

 

Burning Sky

 

by Lori Benton

 

WaterBrook Press

 

Available: August 2013

 

ISBN: 978-0-307-73147-0

 

Historical Fiction / Christian

Set in the late 1700s, the settlements of New York are battling Indian raids and turmoil as part of the American Revolution.  At the age of 14, Wilhelmina was abducted by the Indians and was adopted by an Indian mother and renamed Burning Sky. In time, she embraced the life of the people; marrying a warrior and having two daughters.  After the deaths of her husband and children and the relocation of the Indian tribe, she decides to return to her true family.  When she returns to the family homestead, she is met with more questions than answers, and no parents to welcome her home.  Although she is a white woman, the townspeople do not embrace her return.  Caught between two worlds, Wilhelmina does not know where she truly fits in.  As she fights to keep her family's land, will she be able to open her heart to love again?

Burning Sky is a wonderful book of loss and redeeming love.  Set in a time period when turmoil was everywhere, Lori Benton has written a story that many freed white captives had faced when returning home.  Were they Indian? White? Both?  The story of Burning Sky came to end too quickly.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

A

I received a complimentary copy of Burning Sky from WaterBrook Press for my honest review.

Blessings,

     Ellen

Wishing on Willows... a book review

 

by Katie Ganshert

Available NOW

WaterBrook Press

ISBN: 9780307730404

Fiction / Christian / Romance

 

As the sole owner of Willow Tree Cafe, Robin has poured her heart and soul into the business.  After the death of her husband, Micah, she renovates an old storefront with blood, sweat, tears, as their long-awaited child grows within her.

 

After four years of running the cafe, the town hires McKay Corporation to build condominiums on the site of her beloved store.  Robin digs in her heels and refuses to sell to the builder; if she sells, then One Life Ministry would lose its space, too.  As she wrestles with losing her cafe and her memories of her late husband, Robin becomes attracted to Ian - the developer working with the town mayor who is trying to "force" her out.... of course, for the good of the town of Peaks.

 

Read Chapter One

 

Katie Ganshert has written a moving novel about loss, grief, and recovery.  We all live through painful seasons in life: death of a loved one, a job loss, a broken marriage, depression.  Wishing on Willows invites us into Robin's story of healing in God's timing and His direction and reminds us how God is with us... all the time!

 

For more information on the book, click HERE

and

remember to listen to the author's podcast.

 

My rating: A

4.5 out of 5 stars

 

I received a complimentary copy of Wishing on Willows for my honest review from their Blogging for Books review program.

 

Blessings,

   

    Ellen