Brave Is the New Beautiful by Lee Wolfe Blum

Brave Is the New Beautiful: Finding the Courage to Be the Real You
by Lee Wolfe Blum

 Women of all ages need to read books such as this one. Brave is the new beautiful is eye-opening, inspiring, and encouraging. With all the stories of women who have fought through trials and tragedy, it is also convicting. It puts our personal disappointments in perspective when compared to women's stories of losing a child, health, etc. I love how the author, Lee Wolfe Blum masterfully blended all her thoughts and convictions into a sensible and rock-solid book for women. I appreciated how the author was open with her own story and thoughts. I was humbled and encouraged as I read this book! Basically, it gently tells women to look beyond the surface and the image the media tries so hard to ingrain in us as ''the right image''. We need to realize there is more to ourselves than our outward appearance. Because truly, brave is the new beautiful!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Our culture bombards women with "thinspiration" messages and pressure to "do it all" while wearing the mask of perfection. 

Women are left feeling alone and overwhelmed. How can they stop comparing themselves to others? How can they live out who they really are?

Lee Wolfe Blum offers stories from everyday women who have answered these questions with their lives-and found true beauty in the process. In Brave Is the New Beautiful, Blum weaves reflections from her own journey with inspirational stories from everyday women who chose to take off their masks and live authentically. Through call-to-action questions and ideas, she encourages readers to be brave enough to be who

Let's Be Real: Living Life as an Open and Honest You by Natasha Bure

Let's Be Real: Living Life as an Open and Honest You

by Natasha Bure

foreword by Sadie Robertson

    This is an autobiographical/conversational/inspirational book from YouTube celebrity Natasha Bure. Whether you are already a fan of Natasha or like me, got to know her through this book you will benefit from and enjoy reading this book. I am so excited that famous and admired women and girls are making a stand for being real in this world where people think they have to copy famous people to be happy! In this book, Natasha Bure (who, by the way is Candace Cameron Bure's daughter!) is honest and open and humble. Teenagers especially will grow from reading this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

From singer, model and YouTube celebrity Natasha Bure, the daughter of Candace Cameron Bure, comes a real, honest conversational book that doesn’t hold back. Everywhere she goes and every video she posts has one basic message: this is real, this is life, and we all go through it. Whether it’s acne, boyfriends, faith, stress, or having fun, Natasha’s view is to simply be honest, simply be real, no matter what you face. Natasha’s real and relatable tone paired with personal notes and stories will help readers see that living a “real” life is the best life.

Beauty Begins: Making Peace with Your Reflection by Chris Shook, Megan Shook Alpha

Beauty Begins: Making Peace with Your Reflection

by Chris Shook, Megan Shook Alpha

This book was important to me because I have struggled with self-image for years. This book from mother-daughter team Chris and Megan Shook had such a balanced and Biblical perspective on the subject of beauty. At first I thought it would be just another book on the topic, and I have previously read (and reviewed) excellent and sufficient publications focused on the subject. However, as I read further into the book I realized I could really glean from the words of wisdom within. The only thing I would have liked to have seen more of would be personal accounts/lessons experienced by the authors. On the other hand, this book is wonderful and will definitely help a variety of women of all ages. I loved how the authors pointed back to the Creator, and put our opinions of ourselves in perspective. (this may not make sense here, so read the book). They do a marvelous job explaining the difference between a joyful believer satisfied in Christ and knowing it is the beauty of the heart that matters, and someone who places their hope in this world and the unsatisfactory and temporary pleasures it offers.

I hope to add more to this review later.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

You are, and always have been, beautiful.

“Beauty begins. That’s the point of this book. Our understanding of beauty got started somewhere and somehow, and probably due to someone. Now that may have been a good start, but then again it may not have. But regardless of what your past looks like, we want to offer up this word of hope: it’s never too late to make peace with your reflection.”

We live in a culture that’s obsessed with beauty. Walk by any magazine stand, turn on a television, or visit the local shopping mall, and you’ll be bombarded with the images and ideals that our culture believes are the epitome of what it means to be beautiful. And if you’re like most women, you’ve probably spent countless hours trying to measure up to this standard of beauty whether you realize it or not.

But if you don’t make peace with your reflection, you’ll end up declaring war on yourself.

That’s where mother-daughter team, Chris and Megan Shook, want to help. In Beauty Begins, they explore the origins of beauty (hint, it didn’t start with a fashion magazine) and challenge each of us to trade the pressure of perfection for God's perfect love.

Poignant, relevant, and relatable, Beauty Begins is for every woman who wants to reclaim what it means to be truly beautiful.

Do you feel beautiful?
 
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Others may tell you that you’re beautiful, but do you believe them? Why not? Don’t let another day go by without believing and knowing that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
It’s time for you to exchange society’s cookie-cutter suggestions for what is beautiful and instead discover and reclaim what true beauty looks like – and the One who created it.
In Beauty Begins, Chris and Megan Shook share with you their own experiences and struggles with appearance and body image, as well as equip you with the wisdom to distinguish what’s artificial beauty and what’s real. Filled with heartfelt encouragement, insightful challenges, and undeniable truth, after reading Beauty Begins, you’ll never look in the mirror the same way again.

My review of cook/beauty book Eat Beautiful by Wendy Rowe

Eat Beautiful: Nourish your skin from the inside out by Wendy Rowe, Sienna Miller

   This a cookbook/beauty book from world renowned beauty and makeup expert Wendy Rowe. It is filled with delicious recipes which will help restore your hair, skin and nails. The antioxidants and vitamins from the natural ingredients in these recipes will make you glow! I loved the aspect this book takes- using cooking to fulfill ones beauty regime. The book also includes many beauty tips and natural homemade hair and skin treatments. I agree with most of the health advice presented in this book. However, I did not like the photos which are on the title page of each section. They are of beautiful, ''healthy'' (I doubt these models used the healthiest techniques before the photoshoots), glowing women who are unfortunately scantily clad. I didn't mind the photos in which the shoulders were shown, and obviously I don't mind legs...but when more is shown...no thanks! Even though I am a woman, this disturbed me. Besides, the models obviously had makeup, fake tans, etc. and didn't look natural despite their glossy wet hair and drops of water on their face.
Apart from the photographs, this book is a great cookbook and beauty help.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

World-renowned beauty and make-up expert Wendy Rowe knows skin inside out. In this refreshing beauty book, Wendy will teach you how to keep your skin healthy and let your inner and outer beauty shine.

Wendy has devised over 70 easy and delicious recipes specifically designed to feed your skin with the nutrients it needs to glow. Each of the recipes correlates to an essential skin-feeding ingredient that will help target specific skin problems and common complaints. From cucumbers, ‘the internal cleanser’, to limes, ‘the natural astringent’ and carrots, ‘the immunity booster’, there are also breakdowns of the vitamins and nutrients each of these familiar ingredients provide.

And not only will there be methods for feeding your skin, there will also be suggestions on how to keep your skin pampered with recipes for homemade masks, scrubs, mists, cleansers and toners, as well as an informative troubleshooting section for confidence-zapping skin problems. Wendy provides specific advice for foods to embrace or avoid depending on your skin.

Split into the four seasons, this stunning book can be dipped in and out of, or followed like a seasonal plan, and will ensure that you achieve beautiful, radiant skin all year round.  

Review of Brave Girls Beautiful You: A 90-day Devotional

Brave Girls: Beautiful You: A 90-Day Devotional

by Jennifer Gerelds/ Thomas Nelson publishers

Sometimes it’s tough being a girl!

Whether you are outgoing or shy, a tomboy or a girly girl, silly or serious, it can be really hard to feel comfortable with yourself. This devotional is filled with stories and thoughts about how God created us to be healthy, strong, and confident—both with our bodies and our minds—because we are daughters of the great heavenly Father.

As a young woman who feels like she all too recently was an insecure little girl/teen, and who has several younger sisters, I was excited when I saw this book available for review from Thomas Nelson publishers. 
Brave Girls: Beautiful You comes from a division of said publishing company, called ''Tommy Nelson''.
As the title explains, this paperback book is meant to be a 90-day devotional. Of course I read it more quickly since I was reviewing it but I think it was very well planned and organized for daily reading. I loved how the book covered a variety of personality types- whether you (or your daughter) are more girly-girl, active/sportsy, or in between you will be able to relate to and learn from this book. 
I found the chapters full of wisdom and depth without being overwhelming or boring. I will point out that this book is directed towards Christian girls but of course will also be beneficial to girls who are not yet believers just as long as they understand that not all the wording or promises in the book are relevant to her. 

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Review of Backwards Beauty: How to Feel Ugly in 10 Simple Steps by Jessie Minassian

Backwards Beauty: How to Feel Ugly in 10 Simple Steps

by Jessie Minassian This new book from Jessie Minassian is again written specifically for teenage girls. With love and understanding, the author writes from the perspective of a woman who has experienced exactly what most younger girls go through, especially at the pre-teen and teenage years! It goes without saying that the wisdom in the pages of this book is also essential for women of all ages! Because we may have survived the turbulent teenage period of our lives but not have mastered our female emotions or won the victory over the struggle with beauty! Clearly and Biblically, the author tackles many important facts and topics in the subject of ''beauty.'' Interestingly, as the title suggests, she begins each chapter with a tip on ''how to feel ugly'' which is sure to capture the reader's attention. I was able to relate to every chapter included in this life-changing book and highly, highly recommend it for all young (and old!) girls!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Enough Already: winning your ugly struggle with beauty by Barbara Roose

Enough Already: Winning your ugly struggle with beauty by Barbara Roose
(Abingdon, March 2015)

   As a young lady I always appreciate books like this one! I wish I had read it when I was a teenager, struggling with understanding who I really was in God's eyes! Through this book, Barbara Roose tactfully and kindly deals with the subject of beauty. I enjoyed her loving, enthusiastic personality which resonated through the pages of text.
This book would be perfect for a women's book study because it includes group discussion questions, quizzes and such for each chapter.
One thing I appreciated about this author is that she uses Biblical wisdom as the foundation for every topic; this isn't just a book full of some woman's advice.
Wisely, Enough Already doesn't just cover the topic of outward appearance but also addresses the root of our problems and insecurities- the heart. I loved the practical approach many of the chapters had which will help the reader deal with friendships and relationships in life.
Something I did not like about the book was the chapter on aspects of a woman's body. The author attempted to be humorous and upbeat about it but it wasn't in keeping with the deepness and wisdom of the earlier chapters of the book. It also wasn't an incredibly necessary chapter in the book.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Recognize your own outer and inner beauty as defined by God, not the media or others.

Most women know that God loves them, but might he love them more if they finally lost that last ten pounds, or got their hair to lay right, or finally found a pair of jeans that looked good and let them breathe? Well, maybe God doesn't care about jeans, but women do, and all the talk about inner beauty hasn't kept all of us from staring into a mirror and taking an inventory that never quite measures up. Enough Already will:

-Elevate the soul-freeing, spiritual truth that God is the Creator of beauty and that women are called to appreciate and care for themselves as his own.

-Enable women to accept God-given beauty so that when they look in the mirror they see his handiwork, not their flaws.

-Equip women to win the ugly struggle with beauty once and for all.

Your Beautiful Heart by Lauren Scruggs

Your Beautiful Heart: 31 Reflections on Love, Faith, Friendship, and Becoming a Girl Who Shines 

by Lauren Scruggs with Lisa Velthouse

A book always has more power when the author who creates it has a story. Lauren Scruggs certainly has one. Former fashion model, and proclaimed beauty from a young age, Lauren was tragically hit by a plane propeller in 2011. As a result, she underwent surgeries and a painful recovery. She lost most of her left arm and left eye. I cannot imagine the pain she must have suffered, both physically and emotionally. I have not read her first book, Still Lolo, but I assume it covers that journey. This her second book is specifically designed as a 31-day devotional for women. 

It is not an autobiography, as I first assumed (not knowing about her first book Still Lolo), but does draw from various lessons she has learnt throughout her life, including her accident and recovery. 

Women will be pleased to find that Lauren doesn't draw attention to herself in this book. She is all about God's glory and helping you, the reader. 

Each chapter begins with a real-life story to help you engage and open up your heart to the lessons which follow. I appreciated this stable, organized method of presenting the devotions. There is also lovely graphic design throughout the book of inspirational phrases and words. 

I do recommend this book for Christian women. I would not endorse it for non-believers because the author includes promises and encouragement meant for believers. 

On a critical note, I think this book is too encouraging for more hard-hearted women such as myself. Lauren Scruggs and Lisa Velthouse repeatedly assure the reader that no sinner is too sinful for God and such which is true, but some of us need to hear more about how we need to repent! You will know what I mean if you read the book. Therefore, I recommend this book for women going through a healing time! Women who have been through and who are in the valley of the shadow of death.

I do love how the author points out that beauty is not what matters; it is most definitely the heart! As you can imagine, she puts this cliche phrase in a whole new meaning. Like I mentioned at first, knowing that the author went through such a hard trial makes her advice much more potent. 

 Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this honest review. 

Lauren and Jason's wedding, after the accident

Photo credit: Photo credits: Lindsey Brittain and Kat Harris.