My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Summary
Former pageant queen Stella Varland doesn't trust beauty anymore. With her heart stripped bare after her divorce, Stella is a much subdued version of her old self and is trying to discover who she really is. She keeps her passion for her secret art to herself and focuses on her interior design work. But if she doesn't get another job soon, she'll be stuck living with her parents.
Contractor Chase Taylor is determined to live a life of no regrets after losing his fiancee in a car crash. Now he lives life at full speed, striving to see how much he can accomplish. When he returns home to Bayou Bend to renovate the town's old theater, he is shocked to learn former flame Stella is the designer for the project.
Forced to work together, Chase and Stella battle their chemistry and their pasts as they struggle to compromise and come together on a vision for the theater. Their wills clash as they attempt to hide their brokenness and their unresolved feelings for each other. A near catastrophe, a fire, and a small-town gossip mill finally force both Stella and Chase to realize they have a choice - to hold on to the shards of their pasts, or surrender their fragmented pieces to the One who makes a beautiful masterpiece from the broken.
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Review
This was a wonderful story about two people who feel broken from choices and actions from their past and have to learn to let God take their brokenness and make a beautiful life masterpiece.
I liked how Chase and Stella reconnected over a project that they both had an invested interest in which forced them to work together. I think it helped them to connect in ways they wouldn't have otherwise. And I liked how Chase pushed and nudged Stella out of her self-imposed shell.
I felt for Stella as she struggles with anxiety and trying to put her life back together after her divorce. She's trying to find out who she is other than the beauty queen she'd been for most of her life. I like how, with Chase and her family's help, she grows more confident and secure.
The supporting characters in this book were great. Chase and Stella both had families that helped them out. Then there was Dixie - loved her! I also loved the analogy of the upside down umbrella and stomping in the rain puddles. You'll understand once you read it. :)
*Thanks to Zondervan and BookLook Bloggers for the complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.*
http://booklookbloggers.com/blogger/resources/9780310338475
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About the Author
Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana with her young daughter and has a heart for sharing the amazing news of God's grace through her novels. A freelance journalist, Betsy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not reading, writing, or singing along to a Disney soundtrack with her daughter, Betsy enjoys inspirational speaking and teaching on the craft of writing. Visit her website at www.betsystamant.com Facebook: Betsy St.Amant Twitter: @betsystamant
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