A Broken Kind of Beautiful

A Broken Kind a Beautiful

By Katie Ganshert

Ivy Clark is a professional model, turning heads everywhere she goes since at least the age of fourteen. The people in her life have used her for their own gain, pleasure, or in some cases, to witness their demise. She’s never known love, real love, and wouldn’t recognize it if it invited her into its home, served her sweet tea, and placed her favorite flowers in a vase.

The fashion industry is fickle, and when her career starts to slip, Ivy receives an unusual opportunity to salvage it. But she’ll need the expertise of a photographer who doesn’t take pictures anymore. And it will involve returning to the small town where she was forced to spend summers with a father who never gave her the time of day.

Davis Knight sees Ivy like no one else does. He sees the cracks, the pain, the hollowed hurting eyes behind her perfect visage. He punishes himself for the past and refuses to look hopefully into his own future, allthewhile keeping Ivy at arm’s length.

This story touches on some beautiful themes: unconditional love, true beauty, and learning how to see people through different eyes. The characters are well-drawn, and they linger in the best possible way. Though published three years ago, the book feels very fresh. I think every reader will see shadows of themselves as they read it.

You can learn more about Katie Ganshert here. You can check out her book for sale here.

When you see models on magazine covers, do you ever wonder what their life is like outside the spotlight? Do you wonder if anyone loves them for who they are instead of what they look like? Leave us a comment to be entered into this week's drawing!

Back in the Day . . .

Do you ever wish you lived in the days of the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker? How about the Cobbler, the Haberdasher, and the Milliner?

Speaking of Milliners . . . I just read this great book about a hatmaker. Carla Stewart’s The Hatmaker’s Heart. Stewart is known for her “nostalgic novels.” They generally have to do with a specific moment in time, and when I read her stories, I want to go back. Ok, keeping it real . . .. I’ve never actually lived in the roaring twenties, but when I read Hatmaker, I felt like I was there. And I wished I could wear one of her hats . . . and go back there.

It’s a story about postwar (between the wars) women and explores the paradigm shift whereby women sought after careers and college education in greater numbers than ever before. It examines the plight of women who lost husbands in the war, and tried to find a way to support families on their own. And how they came up against the old guard who promoted their traditions of women at home. 

The Hatmaker’s Heart follows a girl who loves designing and making hats back in the day when nearly every outfit required a different, matching hat. 1920s high fashion in NYC and then London dominates the scenes and provides a colorful backdrop for the drama which unfolds as Nell discovers who she is and learns to stand up for herself in a male-dominated workforce at a time of great change.

Nowadays, hats are for fun, sun, or warmth. What was the last hat you purchased for yourself? Do you like hats? Would you wear one every day if that was in style? Leave us a comment for a chance to win this week’s drawing.

The Hatmaker’s Heart is a quick and fun read. I hope you’ll give it a try.

Review by Jennifer Fromke