Category Archives: chick lit

Edition: Beauty

Wednesday Reads Wide51U+Oh04eDL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_In a world where beauty is synonymous with sexy and physical appearance is valued more than a soul’s depth comes a novel that challenges these superficial societal standards. A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert offers the reader insight into the innocence-stealing world of modeling.

Ivy Clark has spent the last ten years of life learning that appearance is everything. At the sweet age of 14 she was whisked away into a life of clothes, cameras, and compromise. Not long after signing with a modeling agent, she was coerced into giving away her innocence. Soon she realized that her beauty and sexuality could control the men in her life.

Now she’s 24-years-old and faces the end of her modeling career. In desperation, she returns to her South Carolina home to model for her stepmother’s bridal wear, a job that daily reminds her innocence lost.   Davis Knight, a former New York Fashion photographer, is tasked with capturing the beauty of each bridal gown. In spite of his success, Davis left the fashion world abruptly, and Ivy cannot figure out his story. She can’t control him with her allure, and she can’t reconcile his disdain for the world of fashion. Her developing relationship with Davis forces Ivy  to face her broken past, including her broken relationship with her father and stepmother. All along God calls her to exchange her ashes for His beauty, but it might be too costly gift for Ivy to accept.

In her third novel, Katie Ganshert manages to gently weave the truth of God’s word into the daily struggles of a woman. Even though Ivy is a high-fashion model — something most women can’t relate to –readers easily identify with Ivy’s feelings of inadequacy. The media constantly reminds women that we are pretty enough, skinny enough, or sexy enough to be valued. Katie pokes holes in those lies through Ivy’s story allowing female readers to learn that God values us and hand-designed us perfectly. He has called us by name and redeemed us – no matter our past.

A Broken Kind of Beautiful is a perfect read for women of any age. In fact, I highly recommended it for teen girls who will be tempted to identify themselves by their outward appearance. This book will serve as a powerful reminder that lasting beauty always comes from the inside out. In the end Ivy teaches us a lesson we can all learn: Love yourself no matter your appearance or past choices.

Note: Katie’s newest book The Art of Losing Yourself debuts in April 21st. I’m currently reading an ARC and cannot wait to tell you all about it. Look for it’s review soon!

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Wednesday Reads: A Reading To-Do List

Wednesday Reads WideEvery so often I go through a book slump. This is the moment when I lose interest in books (yes, it happens, occasionally) and each book I pick up fails to keep my attention. Or it’s the moment when there seems to be absolutely nothing interesting to read.  Since I’m more of a book buyer than borrower, I don’t want to spend my money unless it’s going to be worth it. Lately, I’ve been floating among a few interesting reads here and there. Some I purchased; some I borrowed; some I read; and some bored me and got shelved.

Suddenly, however, there seems to be a plethora of books begging for my attention. Their covers intrigue me and their jacket covers pull me inquisitively into their plots. Here’s a few that I have found appealing and will be adding to my to my Reading To-Do List over the next few weeks.

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The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth

A captivating tale of life, loss, and love…Neva Bradley, a third-generation midwife, is determined to keep the details surrounding her own pregnancy–including the identity of the baby’s father– hidden from her family and co-workers for as long as possible. Her mother, Grace, finds it impossible to let this secret rest. (synopsis from Amazon.com)

 

 

 

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Mercy Snow by Tiffany Baker

In the tiny town of Titan Falls, New Hampshire, the paper mill dictates a quiet, steady rhythm of life. But one day a tragic bus accident sets two families on a course toward destruction, irrevocably altering the lives of everyone in their wake. (synopsis from Amazon.com)

 

 

 

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The Magician’s Lie by Greer Macalister

The  Amazing Arden is a famous female illusionist known best for her illusion to saw a man in half. However, when her husband shows up dead one night after a show, Arden finds herself as the prime suspect.  Now a young policeman who has seen her show must decide if her alibi and story are the truth or simply  illusion at its finest.

 

 

 

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The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna Van Praag

Since her parents’ mysterious deaths many years ago, scientist Cora Sparks has spent her days in the safety of her university lab or at her grandmother Etta’s dress shop. Tucked away on a winding Cambridge street, Etta’s charming tiny store appears quite ordinary to passersby, but the colorfully vibrant racks of beaded silks, delicate laces, and jewel-toned velvets hold bewitching secrets: With just a few stitches from Etta’s needle, these gorgeous gowns have the power to free a woman’s deepest desires. (synopsis from Amazon.com)

 

 

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The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

This is what happens when a socially awkward genetics professor decides he needs a wife. He develops and implements a plan to find the perfect wife with a sixteen page  survey. Along the way he meets bartender Rosie Jarmen, who goes against the every correct answer on the survey. Rosie is on a journey of her own to find her biological father.  The reader finds that soon the wife project and father project intertwine to reveal a quirky and romantic love story where the unexpected is to be expected.

 

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The Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

LIncoln O’Neil has landed a job monitoring inter-office emails making sure to report dirty joke emails between co-workers as well as non-work-related messages that clutter up the office email system. The only problem is he has fallen in love with one of the two female employees who constantly exchange emails about their personal lives. How will he ever go from email stalker to potential boyfriend?

 

 

I can officially declare my recent book slump is over. Now my only problem is deciding which one to read first!

How about a little help?  Which one would you read first?