Looking For Lovely, Book Review & Giveaway

I’m only 2 months behind on this review & giveaway. I like to arrive fashionably late to all things, so this post should come as no surprise. And by fashionable, I mean athletic wear that doesn’t go to the gym & a half can of dry shampoo in my hair. Feel me?

Earlier this year, I was selected to come on board the launch team for Looking For Lovely, by Annie F. Downs. Who’s also the author of the fantastic book, Let’s All Be Brave. Annie is an author, speaker, & blogger based in Nashville, Tn. She has a very familiar humor, while maintaining a serious, real presence, that turns the attention & focus back to God.

What I truly love about Annie, isn’t just her ministry to adults, but the fact that she has been obedient to fulfill the call to travel the world, ministering to young(er) women & college students. A target audience that I have always felt gets looked past in the most pivotal & formidable time of their preparation for adulthood. Expected to be adults, with no mentoring or guide. Annie breaks the mold for this demographic.

She is a fun spirit who throws glitter everywhere she goes…. literally. I kid you not on this one! Annie loves music, football, her community of friends & boiled peanuts. If you’d like to know more about her, http://anniefdowns.com will be your go to.

Now that you’re up to spec on the author, let’s discuss her recent book, Looking For Lovely. I only want to skim the surface & provide you the condensed version; the heart of the book & humor associated, will be for you to explore. I highly recommend this book for yourself, but also for a young woman in your life. Especially, with graduation & summer break for college upon us. (Not to mention Mom’s Day, hint hint)

I want to start by mentioning that she chose her friends to write her endorsements, calling them friendorsements, which should tell you the realness of her writing & character. In Annie’s own words she describes her book like this,

“I want you to take every step of your life with excitement for where you are headed. And I want you to feel beautiful & confident as you do.”

BUT HOW?

When the enemy whispers lies that you are not smart enough, pretty enough, or rich enough? Or you are too dumb, too loud, too quiet, too fat, too thin, too much or not enough? What if you don’t have what it takes to be who you really want to be?”

In this book, you’ll see a target of these topics & much more, through the sharing of personal stories, biblical truth, & an example of how others have courageously walked the path God paved for their lives by remembering all God had done, loving what was right in front of them & seeing God in the everyday.

No matter what path we are on, who we are, or how life changes our patterns, we all need to look for lovely, fight to finish, & find beautiful in our every day!

From page one, Annie has a very personal & practical way of walking you through her discovery for lovely, throughout her life journey. Whether it’s touching on the absence, the search, & finally the awakening, she doesn’t leave you feeling this is merely a story about her; she reminds you that in different ways, it’s your story too.

I highly recommend this book, for yourself, for friends & for the younger versions of you, that you know need a blessing. Since the book’s release, I am also thrilled to announce that Annie has launched a 7 session Bible study, of the same name. That info will also be found on Annie’s web address I provided above.

Looking For Lovely is sold anywhere all the awesome books are available, but I will provide you a link to get you started: http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/products/looking-for-lovely Make sure you place a review on sites like Amazon, & other retailers, to give her work some love.

I am so excited to share this with you, I want to give you one. My friends at B&H Publishing have provided me with a copy to pay forward to one of you. In order to be considered, there are a few things to do to enter. Go to a Rafflecopter giveaway & follow the simple instructions for extra entries.

I hope you all enjoy the read as much as I did. Lots of love to you- Be blessed! XO

*My opinion & comments are my own. I am not paid or encouraged for either by the author or B&H Publishing Company. I was provided a book copy by the publisher & the author, for an honest review. To find out more about B&H & their wonderful list of authors & titles, click here: http://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/