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A Broken Kind Of Beautiful By Katie Ganshert

          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?

  

This book was unlike any book I have ever read. It was gritty, emotional, captivating, confronting and uplifting. When I first read the description for A Broken Kind Of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert, I was somewhat skeptical. A model in the fashion industry? Not my typical type of book. But I decided to give it a try. And I am so glad I did! I learned a lot about the fashion industry and how damaging it can be to focus only on our outward appearance. In the beginning it was a little hard to relate to Ivy because she had so many walls up! However as the story progressed it was almost painful to see the growing pain in Ivy's life! My heart broke for her in the love she so desperately sought and didn't believe she could ever have. (In so many ways I could relate to her as the book progressed and the real Ivy Clark started to emerge)! This story is definitely not a usual warm, fuzzy, feel good christian novel, it was at times gritty, heart rending and difficult to read. In fact, there were times I put off picking the book up again because I knew I was going to suffer right along with these characters. It's really, A novel that digs through all the inner pains of the heart, but yet shows how great God's love is for us! If your looking for a novel that will powerfully stir your inner emotions, then this one is the one for you! It starts out kind of slow but towards the end I couldn't put it down! I ended up finishing it within a couple hours. 

What I liked: 

Davis Knight, the warm hearted hero with an eye for true beauty. 

Davis' sister Sara's ability to 'see' people. 

The books message about true beauty.

Marilyn's unconditional love even in the face of repeated rejections. 

The part of the book where David and Sara took Ivy crabbing.

My favorite quotes: 

"God gave you a special eye for his beauty. You see things the rest of us don't. You captured it, and then share it with the world." 

"I wanted you to fight for me! Just once, I wanted somebody to fight for me. To chase after me. To not let me push them away." 

"This world was never meant to be comfortable. It was never meant to feel like home. It took darkness to show me the truth. One day I'll open my eyes and I'll see Jesus."

"Gods not in the business of pampering his children. He's in the business of perfecting them."

* I received this book for free from blogging for books for this review. 

 Read the first chapter here

 More info here

Authors Website

I think this song goes perfectly with this book! 

Katie Ganshert

Author Bio:

I’m a slightly-frazzled, ever-inquisitive Midwest gal who’s passionate about Jesus, my family, writing, and all things romance, which is exactly what I write. Stories about flawed, broken characters who find faith and fall in love. When I’m not plotting ways to get my hero and heroine to cross paths, I enjoy watching movies with my hunk of a husband, playing make-believe with my wild-child of a son, hanging out with the crazy but lovable junior high students at my church, and chatting with my girlfriends at Panera®. I could talk books all day and am often spotted around town pushing a stroller, walking my dog, and reading—all at the same time.
- See more at: http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/583#sthash.JqHXQhMX.dpuf

Katie Ganshert

Author Bio:

I’m a slightly-frazzled, ever-inquisitive Midwest gal who’s passionate about Jesus, my family, writing, and all things romance, which is exactly what I write. Stories about flawed, broken characters who find faith and fall in love. When I’m not plotting ways to get my hero and heroine to cross paths, I enjoy watching movies with my hunk of a husband, playing make-believe with my wild-child of a son, hanging out with the crazy but lovable junior high students at my church, and chatting with my girlfriends at Panera®. I could talk books all day and am often spotted around town pushing a stroller, walking my dog, and reading—all at the same time.
- See more at: http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/583#sthash.JqHXQhMX.dpuf

Random

Silenced By Dani Pettrey

                                       Silenced by Dani Pettrey
                                                                 

"God  dosen't promise the way will be easy, far from it, but he promises to carry us through, to give us the courage and grace we need when we need it. He most often dosen't change the circumstances; he changes us. Jake Westin 

A RELAXING DAY ROCK CLIMBING TAKES A DISTURBING TURN when Kayden McKenna'a route brings her face-to-face with a dead climber. Is it a terrible accident or something darker? When the case is handed to overburdened sheriff Landon Granger, he turns to Jake Westin for help. With Jake's past now reveled, he's ready to use his talent for investigation again - but he could never prepare for where the mystery will take him. 
Kayden's climbing expertise soon leads her and Jake to the realization that the death was no accident. And worse, it seems the killer is onto them. When strange things begin happening in Yancy, Jake is terrified that once again his world may put someone he loves in danger. But the truth is far worse than he could ever imagine. 
I love this series! It is fresh, fun, has a strong family bond, realistic characters and is action and adventure packed! Even thought i really enjoy the other McKenna siblings, Kayden is my favorite character and the character with whom I most identify. 
What I liked: 
_ The story starts off well and sucks you in from the beginning. 
_ I really liked the theme of the book, Rock climbing (free climbing) I rever realized some people did it without ropes. 
_ I like how the author set the intro for book five which will be focused on Reef and Kirra 
_I really like how the meet the characters fun page the author has on her blog, Which has the characters Personal Dossier's, Story soundtrack, The pinterest world for Silenced and more  http://www.danipettrey.com/fun/ it really helps to get the feel of the location (Alaska) and the characters worlds. 
_ I also liked the updated on the other McKenna siblings, Especially the two weddings. 
 What I didn't like:
_I never understood why jake's wife was killed or why Angela was so bent on getting back at Jake. I mean wasen't killing his wife and child more than enough revenge?
_ Also in the first half of the book it seemed like the criminal investigation should have tied-in with the second half somehow, but it never really did. 
But all-in-all this was a really good book. Silenced is the forth in the Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey This is Jake and Kayden's story. You could read the books in any order, but to fully understand the characters I would read them in order! This series is an absolute must read!!! Especially if you are a fan of Christian Romantic Suspence. 

* I receved this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. 

All right readers, here’s a question (it’s a tough one): if you have read any of the ALASKAN COURAGE series books, which one was your favorite? If you haven’t, which cover intrigues you the most?

Speaking of Jake and Kayden's world how about a 90-degree free-climb up a rock face to give you a taste of the adventure in Silenced? 

About This Author:

Dani Pettrey

Dani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and the author of the bestselling romantic suspense novels Stranded, Shattered, and Submerged, winner of the 2013 Holt Medallion for First Novel and the Colorado Romance Writers 2013 Award of Excellence. She and her husband have two daughters and reside in the D.C. Metro area. She can be found online at danipettrey.com.

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Tyndale Rewards

I just recently joined Tyndale Rewards, it is awesome! Easily get points for doing short surveys, reviewing products, and joining newsletters,you even get points on your birthday! Then you can redeem your points for free books and bibles!! Sign up here: http://www.tyndalerewards.com/signup/?pc=fqut-f9zn-t5y1-jf9f 

Silenced review coming soon

Whoohoo!! My book came in the mail today! I am soooo excited!! :) can't wait to read it! Review coming soon!