Anna Weaver Hurtt, Inspirational Author
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Review and Giveaway:  "The Art of Losing Yourself" by Katie Ganshert

11/25/2015

4 Comments

 
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Book Blurb:

Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They’re the perfect-looking couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside, she’s a woman who has it all together.  But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure anymore.
 
Until Carmen’s sister—seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher—steps in and changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders, which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole?    

My Review:

Wow...

What an emotional, heartbreaking, excruciatingly beautiful story.

Two stories are told in this book: Carmen and Gracie, two sisters who couldn't be more different if they tried. These two characters were amazing to read about, both of them deep and wounded and craving love. It was so fun to tag along in their lives. I loved their independent and unique points of view and the beautiful restorations they receive in this book.

Just from reading the back cover, I knew this story was going to be an emotional roller coaster and it didn't disappoint. I laughed, I cried, my heart squeezed for these characters, and soared with joy for them.

This is one of those books where you need a few hours, or maybe a few days, to recover from, but not in a bad way. More of a "Holy cow, I can't believe these people aren't real and sitting in my living room" kind of way. I am a huge fan of Katie's writing and, in my opinion, this is her best book yet.

5 stars for a truly magnificent masterpiece!

(I received a copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.)

Giveaway Time!

To enter to win this awesome book, just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below. And don't forget to comment on my "Happy Thanksgiving" post to for an extra entry!
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Review:  "An October Bride" by  Katie Ganshert

2/24/2015

0 Comments

 
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Book Description:

What if the only way you could make your father’s last wish come true . . . was to marry the man of your dreams?

Emma Tate has just moved on from one fiancé, so when she announces a sudden engagement to her lifelong buddy Jake Sawyer, every busybody in Mayfair goes into high alert. Of course, no one but Jake and Emma know the real reason they’re getting married—so Emma’s dying father will have a chance to walk her down the aisle.

But while Jake and Emma move forward with their plan—and frantically plan an October wedding—it becomes clear that their agreement has a few complications . . . the biggest being their true feelings for each other.

With dubious friends, deliriously thrilled parents, and a town that won’t keep its nose out of their business, Emma and Jake will have a lot to contend with if they’re going to pull this off. The real question is: Who wants this wedding more, Emma’s dad . . . or Emma?

My Review:

I loved this sweet, little novella. I'm always impressed when writers can pack the intensity of a full-length novel into a condensed novella, and this is a great example of that!

My heart went out to the main character, Emma. I found her motivation to be believable. The emotions she wrestled with were authentic and real, too. Her romance with Jake was exquisitely sweet, too.

This book was a perfect blend of sweet, funny, and thought-provoking. I truly enjoyed it and its message.

(I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.)



My Rating: 5 stars!

Amazon Link:

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A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert - Review and Giveaway!

7/2/2014

10 Comments

 
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Book Blurb:


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?



My Thoughts:


Wow. Just wow. This was such a beautiful story. Ivy, the heroine, doesn't fit the usual "Christian romance heroine" mold, and I think the story is all the better because of it. All of the characters are soooooo good, you can't help but get drawn in, rooting for them all the way. I don't usually cry when I'm reading, but this book made me cry, which made me appreciate the author's skill even more, because I realized I was crying for imaginary people! :-P Just do yourself a favor and read it. You won't regret it.

Author Info:


Please visit Katie Ganshert's website for more about her and her books. Her website is www.katieganshert.com and you can find her on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/AuthorKatieGanshert.

The giveaway is open until 7/12. In order to be entered in the giveaway, please fill out the Giveaway Tools form below. Good luck and happy reading!
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    Author

    Inspirational author. Newbie Air Force wife. Jesus Follower. Recovering musician. Dachshund mama. Coffee addict. Book reviewer/giveaway-er.

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