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Das Leben ist nie perfekt
Nach zehn Jahren im Modebusiness steht Ivy Clarks Modelkarriere vor dem Aus. Ihre letzte Chance: Ein Fotoshooting für eine Brautmodenkollektion in einem verschlafenen Inselstädtchen in South Carolina. Ivy ist alles andere als begeistert. Zumal die Auftraggeberin ausgerechnet Marilyn Olsen ist. Deren kürzlich verstorbener Ehemann hatte lange Zeit eine Affäre - und war Ivys Vater. Als sich zu allem Übel auch noch herausstellt, dass Marilyns Neffe Davis, der seit Jahren keine Kamera mehr in den Händen gehalten hat, die Fotos schießen soll, ist Ivys Stimmung endgültig im Keller. Warum will Marilyn ausgerechnet sie für den Job? Warum muss Davis der irritierendste Mann sein, dem Ivy je begegnet ist? Und warum scheinen in Greenbrier alle unbedingt hinter Ivys perfektes Äußeres schauen zu wollen? Wissen sie denn nicht, dass da längst nichts mehr ist?
Katie Ganshert war Lehrerin, bis ihr der Durchbruch als Romanautorin gelang. Sie ist verheiratet und hat zwei Kinder. Für »Das Motel der vergessenen Träume« bekam sie in den USA einen Preis für den besten zeitgenössischen christlichen Roman des Jahres verliehen.
Katie Ganshert war Lehrerin, bis ihr der Durchbruch als Romanautorin gelang. Sie ist verheiratet und hat zwei Kinder. Für »Das Motel der vergessenen Träume« bekam sie in den USA einen Preis für den besten zeitgenössischen christlichen Roman des Jahres verliehen.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2014
127 people are currently reading
3449 people want to read
About the author
Katie Ganshert
20 books1,197 followersKatie Ganshert is the Christy Award–winning author of inspirational novels that explore hope, redemption, and the complexity of human relationships.
While she no longer writes contemporary Christian fiction, Katie’s inspirational novels continue to connect with readers who love emotional, thought-provoking stories grounded in faith.
Under the pen name K.E. Ganshert, she now writes clean, high-stakes fiction—fantasy, dystopian, and supernatural romance with all the yummy tension but none of the explicit content.
Explore her full catalog at katieganshert.com.
While she no longer writes contemporary Christian fiction, Katie’s inspirational novels continue to connect with readers who love emotional, thought-provoking stories grounded in faith.
Under the pen name K.E. Ganshert, she now writes clean, high-stakes fiction—fantasy, dystopian, and supernatural romance with all the yummy tension but none of the explicit content.
Explore her full catalog at katieganshert.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
August 5, 2016
Ivy Clark and Davis Knight know the fashion world very well. She is a successful model, he is an admired and sought-after photographer. But at a certain point, something breaks for Davis. Nauseated from the life he is living in New York City and convinced he has to put his dreams aside, he goes back to Greenbrier -the little town where he was born- to take care of some jobs for the local church and help his sister recover from a serious trauma. But after two years his passion for photography, put aside but never forgotten, comes back stronger than before thanks to Ivy, a beautiful girl that has been hiding a heavy pain.
This book is extraordinary. It is not a light read and, if you are not in the mood for it, you might even find it heavy, but it is surely a story not to be missed. We are used to believing that true happiness means having a successful career, important recognitions and being admired by everybody, but in these pages there is a totally different message and somehow, it is a message of hope. Throughout the protagonist’s experience -a young model that at twenty-four feels already old and useless- Ms. Ganshert leads us through a journey made of reflections and interesting revelations, where what really matters is the personal realization, no matter other people’s judgments. Knowing that each person has a special value in God’s eyes is what lets Ivy open her heart to a joy never experienced before, that gives her life new satisfactions and, mostly, new goals.
It is not easy to relate to a character like Ivy Clark. Unless you have experienced the things that scarred this young woman’s life, I would say it is almost impossible to understand the devastation Ivy brings along with her when she arrives in Greenbrier for her father’s funeral. A beautiful woman but apparently empty. Everybody sees what is outside, everybody notices her attractive body but nobody takes the time to look at the wonderful world that is inside that stunning “container”. Everybody except Davis Knight. This photographer (with a very heavy weight on his shoulders and not willing to use his camera again) will show, through a photo shoot for a charity event, Ivy’s real nature and soul. It takes just a few pictures to let Ivy know that her anguished heart is not made of stone, that her pain can turn into strength and that, despite her mistakes, God is always ready to love her and forgive her. No other photographer -nor any man- had ever shown Ivy what Davis is able to tell her and thanks to him, the life of this model, ruined and broken because of the flash that only captured her sexy side, becomes rich and gratifying because Ivy lets herself change and believe in something more significant and lasting than the empty and fickle world in which she lived for more than ten years.
The character I loved the most, though, was Sara, Davis’ sister who is blind because of an accident. Sara, despite her infirmity, is a strong and determined girl. Sure, she has her own moments of discouragement and fear but unlike the other characters -who feel overwhelmed by silly things compared to what Sara experiences every day- she is always able to start over and face life with a big smile on her face and, mostly, she is grateful because she is alive. Sara is undoubtedly the character that affected me the most. Along with little Twila. That little girl was super cute!
Emotional and inspirational, “A Broken Kind of Beautiful” is a beautifully written novel filled with touching and thought-provoking phrases that show us what really matters in our lives. I heartily recommend it!
This book is extraordinary. It is not a light read and, if you are not in the mood for it, you might even find it heavy, but it is surely a story not to be missed. We are used to believing that true happiness means having a successful career, important recognitions and being admired by everybody, but in these pages there is a totally different message and somehow, it is a message of hope. Throughout the protagonist’s experience -a young model that at twenty-four feels already old and useless- Ms. Ganshert leads us through a journey made of reflections and interesting revelations, where what really matters is the personal realization, no matter other people’s judgments. Knowing that each person has a special value in God’s eyes is what lets Ivy open her heart to a joy never experienced before, that gives her life new satisfactions and, mostly, new goals.
It is not easy to relate to a character like Ivy Clark. Unless you have experienced the things that scarred this young woman’s life, I would say it is almost impossible to understand the devastation Ivy brings along with her when she arrives in Greenbrier for her father’s funeral. A beautiful woman but apparently empty. Everybody sees what is outside, everybody notices her attractive body but nobody takes the time to look at the wonderful world that is inside that stunning “container”. Everybody except Davis Knight. This photographer (with a very heavy weight on his shoulders and not willing to use his camera again) will show, through a photo shoot for a charity event, Ivy’s real nature and soul. It takes just a few pictures to let Ivy know that her anguished heart is not made of stone, that her pain can turn into strength and that, despite her mistakes, God is always ready to love her and forgive her. No other photographer -nor any man- had ever shown Ivy what Davis is able to tell her and thanks to him, the life of this model, ruined and broken because of the flash that only captured her sexy side, becomes rich and gratifying because Ivy lets herself change and believe in something more significant and lasting than the empty and fickle world in which she lived for more than ten years.
The character I loved the most, though, was Sara, Davis’ sister who is blind because of an accident. Sara, despite her infirmity, is a strong and determined girl. Sure, she has her own moments of discouragement and fear but unlike the other characters -who feel overwhelmed by silly things compared to what Sara experiences every day- she is always able to start over and face life with a big smile on her face and, mostly, she is grateful because she is alive. Sara is undoubtedly the character that affected me the most. Along with little Twila. That little girl was super cute!
Emotional and inspirational, “A Broken Kind of Beautiful” is a beautifully written novel filled with touching and thought-provoking phrases that show us what really matters in our lives. I heartily recommend it!
July 6, 2024
Another reread and other Christian Fiction for the week of Christian Fiction reads and I had to reread this book. It is such as wonderful and beautiful book. Ivy who is a model and is empty emotionally. Her father didn't want her. Her Mother was a drunk. So when her father dies her lioneliness is at all time high. No one fights for her and she feels lost. Her Step Mother loves her. Even if Ivy is a product of her husband affair. She doesn't need to be her child to love her. So she gets Ivy back to do a model shoot. There she meets Davis and Sarah. Both want to love her but can she. Can she have feelings for Davis without breaking her heart that is already damage? This story is so beautiful. The story of redemption and learning to forgive yourself and other, but can Ivy do this, is she to far gone? This story pulls on heart. You want Ivy to feel loved and even though her step mother loves her can she finally love her back and trust her. She a wonderful and impactful book and I highly recommend this book. Even when you can't see Christ working, you know he will never forget you and his plans might not be your plans, but is plans for you are always the best for you. Please read this book, you will never forget it and it could change your life forever!!
March 7, 2021
This was fantastic!!! A beautiful love story with redemption and hope and forgiveness. Oh I loved it!
December 14, 2018
Few books move me to tears, but Katie Ganshert managed to do just that with her words in A Broken Kind of Beautiful. Ivy Clark’s story of a glamorous yet broken life grabbed me in a way that I wasn’t expecting. Ivy isn’t a soft, sweet character. She’s been roughened by life and has a defense for every potential hurt or trigger that might come along.
At first I thought this would be the typical “girl returns to small home-town” type story, and though that is the set-up, there is so much more to the story. The author takes what could have been a typical story and created something with emotion and depth. The characterization was nearly flawless; I loved the side characters just as much as Ivy and Davis. These characters were messy, flawed and oh so realistic. The author wrote them in such a way that I felt their pain, anger and confusion, but also felt their joy and healing.
The plot centers more around internal and relational struggles, but always the reader is shown how the characters feel, never simply told in a generic statement. The pacing is spot on, and I was especially pleased that the story didn’t revolve around romance – although the romantic moments were sweet and well-done.
To sum up, I loved this story about Ivy, the woman who is so much more than a pretty face, but just doesn’t know it yet, and the story about Davis, the man who is burdened by self-inflicted guilt, but doesn’t realize he is already forgiven.
I made note of several treasures of sentences, words that I read over & over, words that spoke to me on a personal level at just a time when I needed them. When I get my copy of the book back, I’ll add them here.
At first I thought this would be the typical “girl returns to small home-town” type story, and though that is the set-up, there is so much more to the story. The author takes what could have been a typical story and created something with emotion and depth. The characterization was nearly flawless; I loved the side characters just as much as Ivy and Davis. These characters were messy, flawed and oh so realistic. The author wrote them in such a way that I felt their pain, anger and confusion, but also felt their joy and healing.
The plot centers more around internal and relational struggles, but always the reader is shown how the characters feel, never simply told in a generic statement. The pacing is spot on, and I was especially pleased that the story didn’t revolve around romance – although the romantic moments were sweet and well-done.
To sum up, I loved this story about Ivy, the woman who is so much more than a pretty face, but just doesn’t know it yet, and the story about Davis, the man who is burdened by self-inflicted guilt, but doesn’t realize he is already forgiven.
I made note of several treasures of sentences, words that I read over & over, words that spoke to me on a personal level at just a time when I needed them. When I get my copy of the book back, I’ll add them here.
Read
August 16, 2017DNF
Wasn't totally comfortable with some of the content and crudeness. And the MC was driving me crazy. This was probably still a good book, just not for me. :)
Wasn't totally comfortable with some of the content and crudeness. And the MC was driving me crazy. This was probably still a good book, just not for me. :)
July 23, 2022
Wow! Sometimes a book finds you at the perfect time. I found this one at the library. I’ve never read a book from Katie Ganshert before. Her writing is exquisite. And this particular story touched my heart deeply. For a woman, it can be hard to find your worth in the Lord and not your looks. This is a wonderful story of how to be free from the bondage the world puts on women. Redemption comes from God alone. I highly recommend this book!
February 23, 2014
I was blessed to have an advanced reader copy of this book. I have read both of Katie Ganshert's books prior to this novel and both have been absolutely wonderful.
This one, A Broken Kind Of Beautiful, really impacted me deep, way down deep. What can I say that would adequately tell what this book meant to me and how it made me feel?
Ivy Clark has been a fashion model for 10 years. She has learned that appearance is top; nobody cares about anything else, how she's been hurt and broken. They just want her to look good in her camera shots. However, the fashion industry doesn't want models after a certain age, so 24 year old Ivy goes back to Greenbrier, SC to work with her stepmother in her bridal shop, being her new model. Ivy could never wear a white bridal gown, though, because she's too damaged.
Davis Knight is her photographer, only he doesn't want to photograph Ivy or anyone else. He feels as if his photography has caused too much pain to him and his family. He now works in church maintenance.
But Davis treats Ivy different than she's ever been treated. It's as if he can see past the front she puts on for everyone else and sees all the brokenness inside. Ivy doesn't want his pity, though.
Is it possible that Ivy can truly be cared for by someone who is not looking for something in return? Is it even remotely possible that God might want her?
Katie creates characters in this book that seem as if they are real, live, breathing people in the next room, people you actually know. They are so well written that they do not seem like characters on the page of a book. The reader actually feels their pain and unhappiness.
Marilyn, Ivy's stepmother, is a character whose story figures prominently in this book. Marilyn has trusted God for so long and has borne such hurt and pain, but yet she continues to trust God and walk in faith. Will her heart ever heal? Will she realize the love she's placed in Ivy all these years? Marilyn's part of this story touched me as deepy as Ivy's and Davis's.
When I read the first paragraph, I knew this was not going to be a fluffy, feel good Christian novel. It wasn't. It was at times gritty, heart rending and difficult to read. In fact, there were times I put off picking the book up again because I knew I was going to suffer right along with these characters.
This book deals with serious problems and deep emotional trauma. But throughout the entire book the theme of redemption runs clear. "Fear not. I have called you by name. I have redeemed you." God can redeem even the worst of sinners. He loves us with an everlasting love. Even those who feel like there's nothing in them for anyone to love.
There is healing here and hope and grace and mercy. God is close to those who are broken hearted and He waits lovingly to redeem them.
This book had me weeping, literally, in many places. Then it again caused me to recall how very precious and good our God is to His children.
Ordinarily when I finish a book, I pick up another one right away to begin reading. I'm a book addict. But not this one. It is not a book that the reader can put down and just read something else. I have to ponder on this book, remember scenes from it, reread them. I've dog eared paged, underlined whole passages and made notes in the back of the book. It is not a book I will ever forget.
A Broken Kind Of Beautiful reminds me greatly of Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love. It's a book destined to be a classic in Christian fiction.
Every Christian should read this book. I firmly believe that Katie Ganshert wrote this book under the direction and anointing of the Holy Spirit. If you do not read this book, you are missing a huge blessing.
This one, A Broken Kind Of Beautiful, really impacted me deep, way down deep. What can I say that would adequately tell what this book meant to me and how it made me feel?
Ivy Clark has been a fashion model for 10 years. She has learned that appearance is top; nobody cares about anything else, how she's been hurt and broken. They just want her to look good in her camera shots. However, the fashion industry doesn't want models after a certain age, so 24 year old Ivy goes back to Greenbrier, SC to work with her stepmother in her bridal shop, being her new model. Ivy could never wear a white bridal gown, though, because she's too damaged.
Davis Knight is her photographer, only he doesn't want to photograph Ivy or anyone else. He feels as if his photography has caused too much pain to him and his family. He now works in church maintenance.
But Davis treats Ivy different than she's ever been treated. It's as if he can see past the front she puts on for everyone else and sees all the brokenness inside. Ivy doesn't want his pity, though.
Is it possible that Ivy can truly be cared for by someone who is not looking for something in return? Is it even remotely possible that God might want her?
Katie creates characters in this book that seem as if they are real, live, breathing people in the next room, people you actually know. They are so well written that they do not seem like characters on the page of a book. The reader actually feels their pain and unhappiness.
Marilyn, Ivy's stepmother, is a character whose story figures prominently in this book. Marilyn has trusted God for so long and has borne such hurt and pain, but yet she continues to trust God and walk in faith. Will her heart ever heal? Will she realize the love she's placed in Ivy all these years? Marilyn's part of this story touched me as deepy as Ivy's and Davis's.
When I read the first paragraph, I knew this was not going to be a fluffy, feel good Christian novel. It wasn't. It was at times gritty, heart rending and difficult to read. In fact, there were times I put off picking the book up again because I knew I was going to suffer right along with these characters.
This book deals with serious problems and deep emotional trauma. But throughout the entire book the theme of redemption runs clear. "Fear not. I have called you by name. I have redeemed you." God can redeem even the worst of sinners. He loves us with an everlasting love. Even those who feel like there's nothing in them for anyone to love.
There is healing here and hope and grace and mercy. God is close to those who are broken hearted and He waits lovingly to redeem them.
This book had me weeping, literally, in many places. Then it again caused me to recall how very precious and good our God is to His children.
Ordinarily when I finish a book, I pick up another one right away to begin reading. I'm a book addict. But not this one. It is not a book that the reader can put down and just read something else. I have to ponder on this book, remember scenes from it, reread them. I've dog eared paged, underlined whole passages and made notes in the back of the book. It is not a book I will ever forget.
A Broken Kind Of Beautiful reminds me greatly of Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love. It's a book destined to be a classic in Christian fiction.
Every Christian should read this book. I firmly believe that Katie Ganshert wrote this book under the direction and anointing of the Holy Spirit. If you do not read this book, you are missing a huge blessing.
June 17, 2023
A Broken Kind of Beautiful was an honest and poignant contemporary read. I felt like I was reading about real people and their life stories. The characters were flawed and authentic, and the character development was touching, sincere, and added spiritual depth and emotional complexity.
Although I didn't like Ivy's antics and struggled to like her character, I liked how the story prodded me to see her as a broken woman - lost and clinging to solutions that only brought temporary fixes - and prompted me to be patient with her as she underwent her transformative journey. In contrast, I loved how the story illustrated God's unconditional love through Marilyn by her pursuit of showing Ivy love, despite Ivy's constant rejection of her. I also liked Davis's character, and how he learned to embrace the redemption from Christ in every area of his life.
All in all, I didn't love every scene or the actions from the main characters (especially in the climax and especially from Ivy), but A Broken Kind of Beautiful was a still a thoughtful, inspiring, and emotional read.
Although I didn't like Ivy's antics and struggled to like her character, I liked how the story prodded me to see her as a broken woman - lost and clinging to solutions that only brought temporary fixes - and prompted me to be patient with her as she underwent her transformative journey. In contrast, I loved how the story illustrated God's unconditional love through Marilyn by her pursuit of showing Ivy love, despite Ivy's constant rejection of her. I also liked Davis's character, and how he learned to embrace the redemption from Christ in every area of his life.
All in all, I didn't love every scene or the actions from the main characters (especially in the climax and especially from Ivy), but A Broken Kind of Beautiful was a still a thoughtful, inspiring, and emotional read.
September 18, 2022
This is a reread for me! I actually listened to it several months ago for the first time. Then this last week read it with my physical copy!
I really love this story. Katie Ganshert has a way of transporting you into the story she’s written with descriptions that make you feel like you’re right there!
I enjoy the love story in this book but what really makes it a 5 star read for me is the faith. It’s so good and has such a way of settling into your heart! An all time fav for sure!
I really love this story. Katie Ganshert has a way of transporting you into the story she’s written with descriptions that make you feel like you’re right there!
I enjoy the love story in this book but what really makes it a 5 star read for me is the faith. It’s so good and has such a way of settling into your heart! An all time fav for sure!
May 28, 2017
I put this book on my to-read list sometime ago but never had the occasion to pick it up. Now, after reading the magnificence that is Life After, I knew I needed to get my hands on all of Katie Ganshert's books. For some reason, I thought A Broken Kind of Beautiful wouldn't be as good as Life After. Maybe something to do with a review that said Life After was her best book yet. I would disagree. I don't think A Broken Kind of Beautiful is better than Life After, just more of the same extremely powerful, amazingly wonderful writing. There is something that is awesome about Katie's writing that makes these books an absolute pleasure to read.
Ivy has never known love. Not from the father who ignored her existence. Not from the mother who was trapped by alcohol and drugs. Certainly not from her uncle who only values Ivy for the money she can make him. And not from the fashion industry that used and idolised her beauty but which is all too quick to overlook her for the newer and younger models. Her last shot as saving her career sees her forced back to the Southern town of Greenbrier to participate in her stepmother's bridal shop promotions. Returning to the town forces Ivy to relive all her past and present hurts, but it might also force her to see the people who care for her and who see beyond the broken and hurting spirit and beautiful face.
This book was absolutely gorgeous. So heartfelt and touching. I loved every minute of it. Ivy is so hurting. She lashes out at everyone around her. I so enjoyed her journey of discovering love and forgiveness and grace, of finding a place to belong. My only complaint? I didn't want the book to end. I didn't want to leave these wonderful characters. And there are so many wonderful character and stories tied into this book. Right alongside Ivy is Davis. He too has been seriously hurt by the fashion world or at least his choices and the consequences they had on his loved ones. He left that world two years ago and never looked back. Until, that is, Ivy is brought into his life and his Aunt asks him to photograph the bridal shoot. He catches glimpses of Ivy's pain, knows there is a lot more going on underneath her cold and calculating exterior, and can't help falling for her, even as he knows he must give her space, show her that she can be loved for more than her physical beauty.
And then there is Marilyn. Ivy's stepmother always longed for a child but was only ever given Ivy, a girl who didn't know how to be loved and certainly didn't know how to love in return. Marilyn has only ever longed to wrap her arms around Ivy. Her patience and love was a beautiful thing to witness. And Sara, Davis's sister, who struggles with her own pain but is a bright, loving and beautiful girl, gets her own love story in this book. There are so many other wonderful characters who bring joy to this book, so many stories and faces that bring the town to life.
I think one of my favourite things about this story was the whole discussion of faith and God's love. It is woven throughout the story, as the characters struggle with accepting God's forgiveness and forgiving themselves. The book also includes one of the most powerful sermons I've ever encountered, a few short sentences spoken in a gentle conversation by a caring friend. And that is true of this whole book. Its message is one of love and caring and friendship and forgiveness, family and friends and community. It is, quite simply, wonderful.
If my endless exaltations are not enough to convince you of how magnificent this book is, then all I ask is that you give it a try and see for yourself. For who can resist heart-pounding romance (that kiss!!!), set against a story of redemption, and characters who ache to finally find a place to belong.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
Ivy has never known love. Not from the father who ignored her existence. Not from the mother who was trapped by alcohol and drugs. Certainly not from her uncle who only values Ivy for the money she can make him. And not from the fashion industry that used and idolised her beauty but which is all too quick to overlook her for the newer and younger models. Her last shot as saving her career sees her forced back to the Southern town of Greenbrier to participate in her stepmother's bridal shop promotions. Returning to the town forces Ivy to relive all her past and present hurts, but it might also force her to see the people who care for her and who see beyond the broken and hurting spirit and beautiful face.
This book was absolutely gorgeous. So heartfelt and touching. I loved every minute of it. Ivy is so hurting. She lashes out at everyone around her. I so enjoyed her journey of discovering love and forgiveness and grace, of finding a place to belong. My only complaint? I didn't want the book to end. I didn't want to leave these wonderful characters. And there are so many wonderful character and stories tied into this book. Right alongside Ivy is Davis. He too has been seriously hurt by the fashion world or at least his choices and the consequences they had on his loved ones. He left that world two years ago and never looked back. Until, that is, Ivy is brought into his life and his Aunt asks him to photograph the bridal shoot. He catches glimpses of Ivy's pain, knows there is a lot more going on underneath her cold and calculating exterior, and can't help falling for her, even as he knows he must give her space, show her that she can be loved for more than her physical beauty.
And then there is Marilyn. Ivy's stepmother always longed for a child but was only ever given Ivy, a girl who didn't know how to be loved and certainly didn't know how to love in return. Marilyn has only ever longed to wrap her arms around Ivy. Her patience and love was a beautiful thing to witness. And Sara, Davis's sister, who struggles with her own pain but is a bright, loving and beautiful girl, gets her own love story in this book. There are so many other wonderful characters who bring joy to this book, so many stories and faces that bring the town to life.
I think one of my favourite things about this story was the whole discussion of faith and God's love. It is woven throughout the story, as the characters struggle with accepting God's forgiveness and forgiving themselves. The book also includes one of the most powerful sermons I've ever encountered, a few short sentences spoken in a gentle conversation by a caring friend. And that is true of this whole book. Its message is one of love and caring and friendship and forgiveness, family and friends and community. It is, quite simply, wonderful.
If my endless exaltations are not enough to convince you of how magnificent this book is, then all I ask is that you give it a try and see for yourself. For who can resist heart-pounding romance (that kiss!!!), set against a story of redemption, and characters who ache to finally find a place to belong.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
September 15, 2015
SUMMARY: 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?
REVIEW: This is a emotionally moving and poignantly powerful novel. My heart broke for all that Ivy had been through in her short 25 years. Davis, in turn, faced his demons as well. This is a novel of shattered dreams, second chances, true love, and discovery of God's place in people's lives. The tranquil small town setting of Greenbrier, South Carolina is the perfect background for the characters to slow down and reevaluate their lives. This is a novel that impacted me way down deep as we see how fashion models, in our youth and beauty obssessed culture, come to believe the only value they have is what they can portray in photos and how they will do and be anything to keep at the top of the "game." This is a story whose memory will stay with me for a long time. Powerful truth represented in this story.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Dad used to say that God gift-wrapped His creation for the world. But in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day living, people didn't stop to unwrap the gift."
"But then the hard is what makes us who we are. The hard is usually what God uses to draw us closer."
"God's not in the business of pampering His children. He's in the business of perfecting them.
"It doesn't matter if I forgive you. It doesn't even matter of you forgive you. What matters..is that God already has. Stop wearing your past like a pari of handcuffs."
"God's calling you to be His son, not His slave. He doesn't want you to wear shackles..Not when He's already cut you free."
"somewhere along the line, put his guilt on a pedestal. He turned it into an idol, focusing on his mistakes instead of God."
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?
REVIEW: This is a emotionally moving and poignantly powerful novel. My heart broke for all that Ivy had been through in her short 25 years. Davis, in turn, faced his demons as well. This is a novel of shattered dreams, second chances, true love, and discovery of God's place in people's lives. The tranquil small town setting of Greenbrier, South Carolina is the perfect background for the characters to slow down and reevaluate their lives. This is a novel that impacted me way down deep as we see how fashion models, in our youth and beauty obssessed culture, come to believe the only value they have is what they can portray in photos and how they will do and be anything to keep at the top of the "game." This is a story whose memory will stay with me for a long time. Powerful truth represented in this story.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Dad used to say that God gift-wrapped His creation for the world. But in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day living, people didn't stop to unwrap the gift."
"But then the hard is what makes us who we are. The hard is usually what God uses to draw us closer."
"God's not in the business of pampering His children. He's in the business of perfecting them.
"It doesn't matter if I forgive you. It doesn't even matter of you forgive you. What matters..is that God already has. Stop wearing your past like a pari of handcuffs."
"God's calling you to be His son, not His slave. He doesn't want you to wear shackles..Not when He's already cut you free."
"somewhere along the line, put his guilt on a pedestal. He turned it into an idol, focusing on his mistakes instead of God."
Read
June 4, 2014I never tire of reading redemption stories! And A Broken Kind of Beautiful is an especially lovely one.
Ivy was born out of adultery and raised by a mother struggling with addiction. She's always been beautiful on the outside, but has never been able to convince herself of her inner beauty or worth. When she returns to Greenbrier, South Carolina for a wedding dress shoot she comes into contact with people she knew as a child: her father's wife Marilyn, Davis (cute retired photographer) and his sister Sara. The three of them set about tearing down Ivy's tough exterior and convincing her of the truth of Isaiah 43:1. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
Katie writes thoughtful, emotional women's fiction (with romantic subplots) about flawed heroines opening themselves to faith and love.
A Broken Kind of Beautiful is beautifully written and populated with characters that tugged at my heart from the first page. This story is about The Story—the best story of history—that of God’s redeeming grace and pursuing love. I found it moving, inspiring, and wholly satisfying. Another Katie Ganshert novel for my keeper shelf! Way to go, Katie!
Ivy was born out of adultery and raised by a mother struggling with addiction. She's always been beautiful on the outside, but has never been able to convince herself of her inner beauty or worth. When she returns to Greenbrier, South Carolina for a wedding dress shoot she comes into contact with people she knew as a child: her father's wife Marilyn, Davis (cute retired photographer) and his sister Sara. The three of them set about tearing down Ivy's tough exterior and convincing her of the truth of Isaiah 43:1. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
Katie writes thoughtful, emotional women's fiction (with romantic subplots) about flawed heroines opening themselves to faith and love.
A Broken Kind of Beautiful is beautifully written and populated with characters that tugged at my heart from the first page. This story is about The Story—the best story of history—that of God’s redeeming grace and pursuing love. I found it moving, inspiring, and wholly satisfying. Another Katie Ganshert novel for my keeper shelf! Way to go, Katie!
June 24, 2019
A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Format: Kindle
Timeframe: Current day
Location: Greenbrier, South Carolina and NYC
Characters:
Ivy Clark: Twenty-four year old fashion model
Davis Knight: Ex-fashion photographer
Sara Knight: Davis’s blind sister
Marylin Olsen: Ivy’s step-mother
Bruce Olsen: Ivy’s uncle and modeling agent
Pastor Voss: Davis’s mentor
1 Samuel 16:7 says “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”.
If heard, these would be difficult words for Ivy to swallow. To her there was nothing but her appearance. No heart. Carrying the stigma of illegitimacy, and knowing her father never accepted her, Ivy grew up empty -- just a shell she believed no one truly loved. Why would God love a shell? In one of her most impressionable years, before she was even fourteen, she was whisked off to New York by her uncle who saw potential in the tall beauty and Ivy was thrown into the often cruel world of fashion modeling.
Present day, Ivy is 24 and the father she hated is dead. His opportunity to ever show her love died with him. At the funeral her uncle/agent informed her she’s all but washed up, with little to no future in the only thing she knows. The only thing giving her meaning. Without modeling what is she?
Broken.
"But then the hard is what makes us who we are. The hard is usually what God uses to draw us closer.".
God used her brokenness to show her, through broken people, His love and His desire to make her His own:
- Through Marilyn, Ivy’s infertile step-mother who longed to be a mother to Ivy, and who beyond reason stayed with her unfaithful father.
- Through Sara, a young blind woman who dealt with the accident that caused her blindness.
- Through Davis, Sara’s photographer brother who carries overwhelming guilt for being the cause of that accident. He desperately wanted to show Ivy she was more than a pretty face, that she was worth everything to God.
Redeemable.
**********************************************
I found myself underlining often in this book, and struggling to hold back tears while reading it on a train full of people. A wealth of emotions to control and no privacy. So I let them fall.
Because I tend toward historical fiction and not contemporary romances, I was unfamiliar with Katie Ganshert. A few friends gave A Broken Kind of Beautiful glowing reviews which made me pick it up.
I’m so glad I did.
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Format: Kindle
Timeframe: Current day
Location: Greenbrier, South Carolina and NYC
Characters:
Ivy Clark: Twenty-four year old fashion model
Davis Knight: Ex-fashion photographer
Sara Knight: Davis’s blind sister
Marylin Olsen: Ivy’s step-mother
Bruce Olsen: Ivy’s uncle and modeling agent
Pastor Voss: Davis’s mentor
1 Samuel 16:7 says “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”.
If heard, these would be difficult words for Ivy to swallow. To her there was nothing but her appearance. No heart. Carrying the stigma of illegitimacy, and knowing her father never accepted her, Ivy grew up empty -- just a shell she believed no one truly loved. Why would God love a shell? In one of her most impressionable years, before she was even fourteen, she was whisked off to New York by her uncle who saw potential in the tall beauty and Ivy was thrown into the often cruel world of fashion modeling.
Present day, Ivy is 24 and the father she hated is dead. His opportunity to ever show her love died with him. At the funeral her uncle/agent informed her she’s all but washed up, with little to no future in the only thing she knows. The only thing giving her meaning. Without modeling what is she?
Broken.
"But then the hard is what makes us who we are. The hard is usually what God uses to draw us closer.".
God used her brokenness to show her, through broken people, His love and His desire to make her His own:
- Through Marilyn, Ivy’s infertile step-mother who longed to be a mother to Ivy, and who beyond reason stayed with her unfaithful father.
- Through Sara, a young blind woman who dealt with the accident that caused her blindness.
- Through Davis, Sara’s photographer brother who carries overwhelming guilt for being the cause of that accident. He desperately wanted to show Ivy she was more than a pretty face, that she was worth everything to God.
Redeemable.
**********************************************
I found myself underlining often in this book, and struggling to hold back tears while reading it on a train full of people. A wealth of emotions to control and no privacy. So I let them fall.
Because I tend toward historical fiction and not contemporary romances, I was unfamiliar with Katie Ganshert. A few friends gave A Broken Kind of Beautiful glowing reviews which made me pick it up.
I’m so glad I did.
September 14, 2015
It's not easy giving 5 stars to a book. Five stars means that a book made me fall in love with the characters, experience all the same emotions, and in the end I have to take a moment to breathe and think about what I just experienced. This book did that for me! I am new to Christian romance and I figured this book would not be too realistic. I thought everybody would be in church, everyone knows God, church jargon and scriptures everywhere. It was not what I expected and I appreciate the realness (fighting temptation, having bad people do bad things etc). I loved the book as well for the reminder that Christ redeems and we are all a broken kind of beautiful.
July 24, 2024
A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert is a book that I had the honor of winning in a Goodreads giveaway. It is about a 24-year-old woman named Ivy Clark. Ivy is a high-fashion model at the tail end of a career that has lasted ten years. The realization that she may be getting too old to be a model for much longer. The book starts with Ivy on the outs of a lasting contract that has kept her employed.
This book starts a bit slow in setting the scene, and for about the first third of the book, I felt that it was hard to visualize the location and atmosphere of the book. I distinctly remember several times towards the beginning of the book where characters were talked about, but I couldn't picture what they looked like or what the room they were in was like, aside from a generic idea. The story was still enjoyable as the storytelling is primarily around Ivy and her world falling apart around her. Luckily, the rest of the book gets much more descriptive, as I like to visualize the story's world.
As someone who isn't usually much for Christian Fiction novels, I can admit that I probably wouldn't have gone for this book initially if I had known that it fell into that genre. Luckily, I didn't realize that because it was not detracting from the story. Katie did a wonderful job of sneaking a lot of it in without shoving it in your face. Regardless of your beliefs, the underlying message is helpful to anyone. We should all look for forgiveness, redemption, and love.
Despite a slow start, the book is enjoyable to read. Katie does a fantastic job of creating realistic characters that have practical problems. She wrote about many complex issues in this book, and there were times when my heart just broke for some of the characters, and I would have a tear or two drops from my eye. As you read, you can connect with the characters and feel their pain and frustration at life and themselves. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the message that it brought forth, bringing us all a little deeper into fashion, photography, and what it feels like to be "broken."
I recommend this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars. Great job, Katie Ganshert. I will look into your previous novels: Wildflowers from Winter and Wishing on Willows.
This book starts a bit slow in setting the scene, and for about the first third of the book, I felt that it was hard to visualize the location and atmosphere of the book. I distinctly remember several times towards the beginning of the book where characters were talked about, but I couldn't picture what they looked like or what the room they were in was like, aside from a generic idea. The story was still enjoyable as the storytelling is primarily around Ivy and her world falling apart around her. Luckily, the rest of the book gets much more descriptive, as I like to visualize the story's world.
As someone who isn't usually much for Christian Fiction novels, I can admit that I probably wouldn't have gone for this book initially if I had known that it fell into that genre. Luckily, I didn't realize that because it was not detracting from the story. Katie did a wonderful job of sneaking a lot of it in without shoving it in your face. Regardless of your beliefs, the underlying message is helpful to anyone. We should all look for forgiveness, redemption, and love.
Despite a slow start, the book is enjoyable to read. Katie does a fantastic job of creating realistic characters that have practical problems. She wrote about many complex issues in this book, and there were times when my heart just broke for some of the characters, and I would have a tear or two drops from my eye. As you read, you can connect with the characters and feel their pain and frustration at life and themselves. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the message that it brought forth, bringing us all a little deeper into fashion, photography, and what it feels like to be "broken."
I recommend this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars. Great job, Katie Ganshert. I will look into your previous novels: Wildflowers from Winter and Wishing on Willows.
December 25, 2014
I started reading A BROKEN KIND OF BEAUTIFUL and in the first couple of pages, I was hooked. It's a page turner with realistic characters and a compelling storyline. The characters are broken yet throughout the story, each takes a turn toward restoration.
I loved this dialogue between Pastor Voss and photographer Davis Knight on page 123:
[Pastor Voss to Davis]"Don't mistake love for need. Everybody needs to hold on to something. Sounds like that gal's holding on to the wrong things."
Davis scratched his jaw. "I just can't imagine her accepting anything we might have to offer."
"That's the great thing about God, Davis. Her acceptance isn't up to you or me. All we can do is show His love, share His truth, and let Jesus take care of the rest."
Every reader will find their own truth from the pages of this novel. Author Katie Ganshert has done a remarkable job with this story. I highly recommend it.
I loved this dialogue between Pastor Voss and photographer Davis Knight on page 123:
[Pastor Voss to Davis]"Don't mistake love for need. Everybody needs to hold on to something. Sounds like that gal's holding on to the wrong things."
Davis scratched his jaw. "I just can't imagine her accepting anything we might have to offer."
"That's the great thing about God, Davis. Her acceptance isn't up to you or me. All we can do is show His love, share His truth, and let Jesus take care of the rest."
Every reader will find their own truth from the pages of this novel. Author Katie Ganshert has done a remarkable job with this story. I highly recommend it.
April 15, 2014
There are many reasons why, as a reader, I should not have cared for Ivy. Reasons I would agree with and could say she is not the easiest heroine to cuddle up with on a rainy day. But, to know Ivy, to read about her life, is truly to love her.
Characterization through this book was in a word: stellar. Davis is a rugged, tormented kind of hero. Wearing the weight of the world on his shoulders and yet holding a love for Ivy he cannot allow himself to express or explore. A hero who denies himself for the best of the heroine becomes a character every girl dreams after.
When characters are this complex, you can’t rush where they start the book to where they end it. Every moment must be believable and every moment was. The writing is rich and textured, layered with meaning and emotions, beauty and depth. The title is truly perfect for the book. Beauty is fleeting. Loveliness is here but a moment, the heart, the soul of a person, pure or rotten is lasting.
Ivy’s transformation is like the unfolding of a beautiful flower. But I think it was the power behind Davis’s forgiveness and heart transformation that tugged at my emotions the most.
Two thumbs up beginning to end. A truly beautiful story.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the author for my copy to review.
Characterization through this book was in a word: stellar. Davis is a rugged, tormented kind of hero. Wearing the weight of the world on his shoulders and yet holding a love for Ivy he cannot allow himself to express or explore. A hero who denies himself for the best of the heroine becomes a character every girl dreams after.
When characters are this complex, you can’t rush where they start the book to where they end it. Every moment must be believable and every moment was. The writing is rich and textured, layered with meaning and emotions, beauty and depth. The title is truly perfect for the book. Beauty is fleeting. Loveliness is here but a moment, the heart, the soul of a person, pure or rotten is lasting.
Ivy’s transformation is like the unfolding of a beautiful flower. But I think it was the power behind Davis’s forgiveness and heart transformation that tugged at my emotions the most.
Two thumbs up beginning to end. A truly beautiful story.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the author for my copy to review.
April 14, 2014
Wow this was such a beautiful and heart-wrenching novel! How Katie could finish writing A Broken Kind of Beautiful is beyond me because I barely could finish it with the tears rolling down my face!
In the beginning it was a little hard to relate to Ivy because there were so many walls that she had up! However as the story progressed it was almost devastating to see the growing pain in Ivy's life! My heart broke for her in the love that she so desperately sought and didn't believe she could ever have (in many ways I could relate to her once she started opening up)!
It was amazing to see Ivy transform as the ending came near! I was so humbled by the message that Ivy as well as Davis received because I felt I needed it too! Also just to see them grow into the people God made them to be was awesome too!
This story is definitely not a warm, fuzzy kind of novel! It's really a novel that digs through all the inner pains of the heart, but yet shows how great God's love is for us! There is such a beautiful message weaved throughout that it will leave you breathless and blessed!
I give A Broken Kind of Beautiful a 4.5 out of 5 stars! (Don't miss this one!)
In the beginning it was a little hard to relate to Ivy because there were so many walls that she had up! However as the story progressed it was almost devastating to see the growing pain in Ivy's life! My heart broke for her in the love that she so desperately sought and didn't believe she could ever have (in many ways I could relate to her once she started opening up)!
It was amazing to see Ivy transform as the ending came near! I was so humbled by the message that Ivy as well as Davis received because I felt I needed it too! Also just to see them grow into the people God made them to be was awesome too!
This story is definitely not a warm, fuzzy kind of novel! It's really a novel that digs through all the inner pains of the heart, but yet shows how great God's love is for us! There is such a beautiful message weaved throughout that it will leave you breathless and blessed!
I give A Broken Kind of Beautiful a 4.5 out of 5 stars! (Don't miss this one!)
December 31, 2018
I read A Broken Kind of Beautiful back in 2014, and "re-reading" a favorite read via an audio book is one of my favorite things to do. The audio version of this gem of a novel did not disappoint. I'm picky about my narrators, but Stacey Glemboski does an excellent job. Her accents for each character are almost always spot on. I think it can be hard to get a southern accent just right (I've heard some atrocious ones), but Glemboski sounds authentic. She also does a great job with the male character voices as well, especially book-boyfriend-worthy Davis Knight. Her inflection and tones for all of the characters just made me remember how much I loved this story, and truly sometimes it felt like I was hearing the story for the first time all over again. If you enjoy audio books, this one is well worth your time. If you've read A Broken Kind of Beautiful already and fancy experiencing this story in a fresh way, I highly recommend the audio book.
Feel free to check out my initial review of the print version from 2014 here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Feel free to check out my initial review of the print version from 2014 here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 28, 2014
Katie Ganshert never fails to draw me into her novels with believable characters, rich setting, and swoon-worthy romance.
I loved A Broken Kind of Beautiful. I wanted to wrap my arms around broken yet compassionate Ivy Clark and soothe her aching heart. But Marilyn—her step-mother—did it better. What a strong, wonderful woman. And what can I say about the hero—Davis Knight? Well, everything. A tender-hearted man carrying more guilt than anyone should, Davis is a perfect picture of a strong, determined yet flawed hero.
I read this story in one sitting. I laughed. My heart pitter-pattered. I held my breath and cried. I expected nothing less with a Ganshert novel.
I recommend this book to everyone and especially women and young adults who might be struggling with worth, rejection, and what the world says beauty is. You’re guaranteed to come away with a new perspective and a heart full of truth.
I loved A Broken Kind of Beautiful. I wanted to wrap my arms around broken yet compassionate Ivy Clark and soothe her aching heart. But Marilyn—her step-mother—did it better. What a strong, wonderful woman. And what can I say about the hero—Davis Knight? Well, everything. A tender-hearted man carrying more guilt than anyone should, Davis is a perfect picture of a strong, determined yet flawed hero.
I read this story in one sitting. I laughed. My heart pitter-pattered. I held my breath and cried. I expected nothing less with a Ganshert novel.
I recommend this book to everyone and especially women and young adults who might be struggling with worth, rejection, and what the world says beauty is. You’re guaranteed to come away with a new perspective and a heart full of truth.
June 21, 2017
Every time I read a Katie Ganshert novel, I wish I owned stock in Kleenex. I also despair of ever being a good writer myself, because she continually raises the emotional, spiritual, and lyrical bar. She’s the kid who wrecks the curve. All us other writer-kids hate her. And envy her. And not-so-subtly peek over her shoulder to try to copy her. :-)
October 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, which i thought i wouldn't because i typically don't like contemporary books but sometimes I have exceptions and this was one. I really loved all the characters and how they each had a story, struggles, and life of their own. I wanna say that Marilyn amazed me, the way that she chose to forgive and give her hurt to the Lord and just let go of the pain done to her. Like I said I enjoyed this book but the only thing I would say is that I feel like the characters realization of their love for each other was a little rushed, like they didn't really mention much about like-ing each other much before that, idk I feel that they could have brought the possibility up more frequent because it just seemed almost random. But still it was a great book, I cried(of course, I cry very easily). But with that all that aside I would definitely recommend👍🏻 It definitely helped change my point of view on some things.
* Completely clean
* Sweet romance
* Story line strongly rooted in the Lord
* Completely clean
* Sweet romance
* Story line strongly rooted in the Lord
October 28, 2019
I think very few books can be summed up in one word, but I think this one might be one of them: redemption.
God's redemption was woven throughout every fibre of this story. Even when Ivy was at her very lowest, when she literally thought she was nothing more than a beautiful face, I liked her . . . wanted what was best for her . . . ached for her to find God's grace. I also appreciated how even believers like Sara, Davis, and Marilyn were able to find redemption in their own lives, as they sought to minister to Ivy in her brokenness.
4.75 stars
God's redemption was woven throughout every fibre of this story. Even when Ivy was at her very lowest, when she literally thought she was nothing more than a beautiful face, I liked her . . . wanted what was best for her . . . ached for her to find God's grace. I also appreciated how even believers like Sara, Davis, and Marilyn were able to find redemption in their own lives, as they sought to minister to Ivy in her brokenness.
4.75 stars
January 13, 2021
Love this message!! All of us have felt so broken that not even God Himself could love us and put us back together. Nothing could be further from the truth, we are loved more than we will ever be able to understand and nothing can separate us from that love. Whatever it is that has broken us He can turn around into something so beautiful that we'll know it could only be Him. He loves us too much to leave us broken.
February 14, 2020
I don't cry while reading many books but this one definitely made me tear up!
September 28, 2022
What a beautiful story of redemption from past mistakes and bad decisions made in a selfish, empty world. There were so many conversations between characters about God that touched my heart and soul. I felt like I needed more with the ending and throughout the story to make it 5 stars but it was still really really good. Highly recommend!
September 13, 2016
Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m that person that …occasionally…..runs a little late. When arriving at parties it’s socially acceptable to be “fashionably late”, which I often am. However sometimes you might miss the best part of the party if you are too late. I have to say that I’m “late” in joining the party on those who have read and enjoyed A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert, and after reading this book, I feel like -wow- I wish I would have read this one earlier, it’s filled with great characters, an interesting storyline and so much- “wow, that’s so true” dialogue. So now that I am fashionably late to discovering this book, it does not diminish it’s enjoyment or impact for me, this was a good one.
The characters are as the book title suggest Broken and Beautiful- Ivy, an aging out supermodel - mind you she’s about to hit the ripe old age of 25- is a heroine unlike most you find in this genre, but there is something about her that you just really care about what happens to her. Her back story is a bit heartbreaking as the novel opens and she is at her estranged father’s funeral. She is a young woman who just never quite felt loved and so with her beautiful outside she would seek it out in all the wrong places leading to relationships with men that meant nothing. Her walls were way up and no one ever really knew the real Ivy. In a last ditch effort to try and revive her career, her agent and uncle, get’s her a shoot with her Stepmother Marilyn who happens to own a lovely little Bridal shop in Greenbrier South Carolina called Something New, which is a far cry from her usual stomping grounds in New York City. She is desperate though and out of work ,so off she goes to this job with her walls of armor up high and strong against anyone trying to get in. Next, we meet Davis Knight a former up and coming fashion photographer who had all the makings of skyrocketing to the top of the fashion industry, but left his big job in New York because of an accident to his sister that has filled him with guilt and a feeling that he should never pick up a camera again. However ,he does serve as the fashion photographer for Ivy’s shoot as the proceeds are going to go to directly help his sister with an art program for her at a local college. He rediscovers his love for photography and his amazing talent shows through his work producing the best pictures Ivy has ever taken. In all of this a relationship starts to brew between the two, although not in the normal way that Ivy is used to having with a man.
There are so many aspects to this novel that I absolutely loved- the power of forgiveness being one and the idea that God’s forgiveness covers it all and all guilt can be laid down right at the foot of the cross. The pacing to this novel was flawless as we see the character of Ivy develop and grow- her journey from the beginning of the book to the end was one that pulled the reader in and by the end the tears were flowing. I also loved the fact that the “hero” of the book had his issues to sort through as well. In a manner of speaking, “Miss Abandoned" meets “Mr Guilt-ridden�� and because of who God is in their lives, they can find the love and the forgiveness they need through God to heal. And for those of you that are “fashionably late” like me to discovering this book- I truly hope that you will enjoy this as much as I did. This one goes on the favorites shelf and I look forward to reading more great books like this one from Katie Ganshert.
5 stars
I was graciously given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The characters are as the book title suggest Broken and Beautiful- Ivy, an aging out supermodel - mind you she’s about to hit the ripe old age of 25- is a heroine unlike most you find in this genre, but there is something about her that you just really care about what happens to her. Her back story is a bit heartbreaking as the novel opens and she is at her estranged father’s funeral. She is a young woman who just never quite felt loved and so with her beautiful outside she would seek it out in all the wrong places leading to relationships with men that meant nothing. Her walls were way up and no one ever really knew the real Ivy. In a last ditch effort to try and revive her career, her agent and uncle, get’s her a shoot with her Stepmother Marilyn who happens to own a lovely little Bridal shop in Greenbrier South Carolina called Something New, which is a far cry from her usual stomping grounds in New York City. She is desperate though and out of work ,so off she goes to this job with her walls of armor up high and strong against anyone trying to get in. Next, we meet Davis Knight a former up and coming fashion photographer who had all the makings of skyrocketing to the top of the fashion industry, but left his big job in New York because of an accident to his sister that has filled him with guilt and a feeling that he should never pick up a camera again. However ,he does serve as the fashion photographer for Ivy’s shoot as the proceeds are going to go to directly help his sister with an art program for her at a local college. He rediscovers his love for photography and his amazing talent shows through his work producing the best pictures Ivy has ever taken. In all of this a relationship starts to brew between the two, although not in the normal way that Ivy is used to having with a man.
There are so many aspects to this novel that I absolutely loved- the power of forgiveness being one and the idea that God’s forgiveness covers it all and all guilt can be laid down right at the foot of the cross. The pacing to this novel was flawless as we see the character of Ivy develop and grow- her journey from the beginning of the book to the end was one that pulled the reader in and by the end the tears were flowing. I also loved the fact that the “hero” of the book had his issues to sort through as well. In a manner of speaking, “Miss Abandoned" meets “Mr Guilt-ridden�� and because of who God is in their lives, they can find the love and the forgiveness they need through God to heal. And for those of you that are “fashionably late” like me to discovering this book- I truly hope that you will enjoy this as much as I did. This one goes on the favorites shelf and I look forward to reading more great books like this one from Katie Ganshert.
5 stars
I was graciously given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 15, 2017
By Andrea Renee Cox
After reading Katie Ganshert’s first two novels, I’ve come to expect brilliance in the form of broken characters struggling to discover a way to live life again. What took me by surprise in A Broken Kind of Beautiful was the new depth Katie found. Her characters weren’t only broken; they’d been completely shattered like a dropped snow globe. Ivy Clark in particular was lost and desperate for everything that was wrong for her. The journey she had to take to climb out of the dark, cold cave was beautifully written and so true to life. Figuring out that you’re broken and alone is sometimes the hardest, most frightening process, and Katie captured that with such raw vulnerability that I often found myself either breathless or in tears. Not many books have moved me so powerfully lately, but that might be because I could identify so much with the tagline of the book: “Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong.” My own situation isn’t nearly as bad as all that, but I did discover something along the way that changed my perspective on my life.
Even though figuring out how broken and alone you are is so difficult, once you discover the God who can mend you and breathe new life into you… there’s no other feeling in the world like it, and there aren’t enough words for me to describe the freeing joy that comes with it. There’s not a safer, more comforting place to be than in God’s arms. He’s big enough and loving enough to take every shattered person and heal them until they’re better than they were before. He loves us so much. If you haven’t yet discovered His love, I hope you’ll dive into His Word and find Him. He’s calling you now. Won’t you answer Him?
“It took darkness to show me truth.” Sara’s words from chapter twenty-two couldn’t be more true. As sinners, we live in darkness. It isn’t until we realize how big we’ve messed up that we can appreciate and find the truth of God’s love and sacrifice. It’s books like A Broken Kind of Beautiful that remind me just how huge Jesus’s dying on the cross was. He freely forgives our worst mistakes when we ask Him. He mops up and erases our biggest messes. His forgiveness and grace overwhelm me because I know I don’t deserve them; no one does. That’s why they’re free gifts. There’s nothing we can do to earn them. But if we ask for them with honest, humbled hearts, God gives them to us, adopting us into His family and assuring us eternal life on the other side of this mortal one we’re living now. It is my prayer that you will discover the beauty in His gift. It’s quite amazing to behold.
About the book: A Broken Kind of Beautiful tells the story of Ivy Clark, an out-of-work fashion model who must go back home to a small town that holds her haunting past, and Davis Knight, a man who set aside his dream of being a fashion photographer to live a quiet life in that same small town. When they join forces to create multiple advertisements for a relative’s wedding dress boutique, will they help each other heal from their broken pasts? Or will they continue to live with the shards of mistakes and regrets poking them at every decision? Will God’s truth reveal that each of them is a broken kind of beautiful?
Thank you to Blogging for Books, who provided this book to me for free in exchange for my honest review.
After reading Katie Ganshert’s first two novels, I’ve come to expect brilliance in the form of broken characters struggling to discover a way to live life again. What took me by surprise in A Broken Kind of Beautiful was the new depth Katie found. Her characters weren’t only broken; they’d been completely shattered like a dropped snow globe. Ivy Clark in particular was lost and desperate for everything that was wrong for her. The journey she had to take to climb out of the dark, cold cave was beautifully written and so true to life. Figuring out that you’re broken and alone is sometimes the hardest, most frightening process, and Katie captured that with such raw vulnerability that I often found myself either breathless or in tears. Not many books have moved me so powerfully lately, but that might be because I could identify so much with the tagline of the book: “Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong.” My own situation isn’t nearly as bad as all that, but I did discover something along the way that changed my perspective on my life.
Even though figuring out how broken and alone you are is so difficult, once you discover the God who can mend you and breathe new life into you… there’s no other feeling in the world like it, and there aren’t enough words for me to describe the freeing joy that comes with it. There’s not a safer, more comforting place to be than in God’s arms. He’s big enough and loving enough to take every shattered person and heal them until they’re better than they were before. He loves us so much. If you haven’t yet discovered His love, I hope you’ll dive into His Word and find Him. He’s calling you now. Won’t you answer Him?
“It took darkness to show me truth.” Sara’s words from chapter twenty-two couldn’t be more true. As sinners, we live in darkness. It isn’t until we realize how big we’ve messed up that we can appreciate and find the truth of God’s love and sacrifice. It’s books like A Broken Kind of Beautiful that remind me just how huge Jesus’s dying on the cross was. He freely forgives our worst mistakes when we ask Him. He mops up and erases our biggest messes. His forgiveness and grace overwhelm me because I know I don’t deserve them; no one does. That’s why they’re free gifts. There’s nothing we can do to earn them. But if we ask for them with honest, humbled hearts, God gives them to us, adopting us into His family and assuring us eternal life on the other side of this mortal one we’re living now. It is my prayer that you will discover the beauty in His gift. It’s quite amazing to behold.
About the book: A Broken Kind of Beautiful tells the story of Ivy Clark, an out-of-work fashion model who must go back home to a small town that holds her haunting past, and Davis Knight, a man who set aside his dream of being a fashion photographer to live a quiet life in that same small town. When they join forces to create multiple advertisements for a relative’s wedding dress boutique, will they help each other heal from their broken pasts? Or will they continue to live with the shards of mistakes and regrets poking them at every decision? Will God’s truth reveal that each of them is a broken kind of beautiful?
Thank you to Blogging for Books, who provided this book to me for free in exchange for my honest review.
January 24, 2016
“Ivy blinked at the card, then got to work opening it up. Inside, she found a short note written in a childlike scrawl. ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1 God wrote these words for you, Ivy. Love, Sara.’”
Katie Ganshert’s latest novel centers on the spiritual journey of cover girl Ivy Clark. Ivy belongs to “a world that took and took so subtly and connivingly that a person didn’t notice until there was nothing left to give.”
“Men dressed in Armani, women clad in the latest and greatest fashion trends, all standing in small cliques, holding drinks and hiding personal agendas behind pretense and gossip. She understood the rules and subtle nuances. She’d played the game since she was fourteen.”
But now at the age of twenty-five, Ivy finds herself washed up and scrambling for a job . . . any job. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to get her modeling career back on track—even if that means hurting the only people willing to show her kindness—her long-suffering stepmother Marilyn, her new friend Sara, and Davis Knight, the talented photographer who sees past her cold, beautiful shell to the vulnerable person inside.
Like the woman at the well, Ivy uses men to medicate her hurting spirit. Though Ivy acknowledges this in words, it’s quite another thing for her to finally see the ugliness in her own heart. As God rips away her facade, Ivy’s anguish is painful to read. But her epiphany is so satisfying that it’s well worth the journey.
I was surprised at how deeply this story hooked me. The more I read, the more I wanted the sweet girl to be pretty & resented the mean girl’s beauty. And I began to feel again that sick self-consciousness over my acne-scarred face that stunted my spiritual growth when I was young. That’s when I knew the author had done her job well!
In our youth and beauty obsessed culture, this is a story that resonates with the powerful truth that God “sees not as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
I know that once I “release” A Broken Kind of Beautiful to my students, I won’t see the book again for a very long time! My high school girls are going to love it!
What I liked best . . .
Marilyn’s faithfulness & unconditional love in the face of repeated rejections
Davis Knight, the kindhearted hero with an eye for true beauty
His sweet sister Sara
The sea turtle story
Ivy’s friendship with Twila, a tiny cancer patient with a big heart
My favorite quotes . . .
“God’s not in the business of pampering His children. He’s in the business of perfecting them.”
“This world was never meant to be comfortable. It was never meant to feel like home. It took darkness to show me the truth. One day I’ll open my eyes and I’ll see Jesus.”
“God gave you a special eye for His beauty. You see things the rest of us don’t. You capture it, and then share it with the world.”
September 29, 2014
A Broken Kind of Beautiful is a rich testimony of God's everlasting, redeeming love. And it might just be a wake up call to many readers. Because Ivy is the kind of woman we like to judge. She's not particularly nice. In fact she's shallow, self-centered and uses her body as a weapon. Not an easy person to warm up too if you only look at the surface. Doesn't sound like a sympathetic heroine, right? Wrong!
Ganshert gives us glimpses into the reasons behind Ivy's brokenness from the very first time we meet her. And through the course of the book the author continues to peel away layer after layer of Ivy's protective façade, slowly revealing the lost child within.
Luckily Davis has a gift for looking beneath the glitz, glamour and games Ivy plays and what he sees is a desperate emptiness. An unsettled relationship develops between the two. Friends sometimes, wary adversaries most of the time. But though Davis is firm in his Christian convictions, he isn't perfect. He can't let go of past mistakes. There's a powerful scene about forgiveness that left me reeling. A huge 'aha' moment. I don't want to post spoilers so I won't say more but it's on page 240. Check it out when you're reading. (but don't skip ahead!)
A Broken Kind of Beautiful is so much more than just a love story between a man and a woman. It is also the redeeming love story of a Father and His beloved child. Honestly, I just wept through the last quarter of the book.
Ganshert has created a compelling story that would make an excellent read for a book club group. There is so much scope for discussion -- both literary and inspirational. A stunning novel that will challenge as much as entertain.
Ganshert gives us glimpses into the reasons behind Ivy's brokenness from the very first time we meet her. And through the course of the book the author continues to peel away layer after layer of Ivy's protective façade, slowly revealing the lost child within.
Luckily Davis has a gift for looking beneath the glitz, glamour and games Ivy plays and what he sees is a desperate emptiness. An unsettled relationship develops between the two. Friends sometimes, wary adversaries most of the time. But though Davis is firm in his Christian convictions, he isn't perfect. He can't let go of past mistakes. There's a powerful scene about forgiveness that left me reeling. A huge 'aha' moment. I don't want to post spoilers so I won't say more but it's on page 240. Check it out when you're reading. (but don't skip ahead!)
A Broken Kind of Beautiful is so much more than just a love story between a man and a woman. It is also the redeeming love story of a Father and His beloved child. Honestly, I just wept through the last quarter of the book.
Ganshert has created a compelling story that would make an excellent read for a book club group. There is so much scope for discussion -- both literary and inspirational. A stunning novel that will challenge as much as entertain.
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