Better All the Time

~From the back of the book~
Seraphina Darling has always struggled to stand out. With her weight issues at the forefront of her mind, Sephy prefers to place herself comfortably in the background. But when Sephy’s best friend and older brother announce their engagement, she vows to make a permanent change in her appearance and her life.

Meanwhile her younger sister, Amy, lands her dream job: coordinating the restoration of the community theater’s arts programs. As the deadline for the project’s completion approaches, Amy continues to run herself ragged, struggling to delegate and trust anyone but herself.

As the Darling sisters move through tragedy and triumph, between shadows and the limelight, each must find a path into the freedom of who God intended her to be.



~My Thoughts~
I usually don't like to come in on a series, but this book pleasantly surprised me. The author catches the reader up for the most part so you don't feel as if you are lost. After getting some background during the first few chapters I started getting hooked! The characters are so lovable and realistic! The whole book is very down to earth from the characters to the settings.
Sephy was probably my favorite as she seemed to be the caretaker. She is always putting others before herself and she is admirable. Her battle with weight loss was very inspiring.
Amy is a workaholic who always forgets to take care of herself. She lets her determination and impatience come before anything, but is still very likable and understandable.
Both of these main characters as well as others you will meet in this story are all relatable, lovable, and admirable in their own way. I plan on reading the first book and am looking forward to the one after this!
The Darling family are a very typical family and it's nice to occasionally read a book that is not hyped up by suspense or fantasy (even though I love those kinds as well), but more down to earth situations that the majority of us go through.
There are a lot of wonderful lessons that come through these pages about loving and caring, not only for yourself but for others as well. I highly recommend it!


Check it out on the following::   Kindle   Paperback   Nook 

::Product Details::

• Series: The Darlings (Book 2)
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (March 20, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414388152
• ISBN-13: 978-1414388151

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

It Was Me All Along ~ Book Review

📖About the book📖

A heartbreakingly honest, endearing memoir of incredible weight loss by a young food blogger who battles body image issues and overcomes food addiction to find self-acceptance.

All her life, Andie Mitchell had eaten lustily and mindlessly. Food was her babysitter, her best friend, her confidant, and it provided a refuge from her fractured family. But when she stepped on the scale on her twentieth birthday and it registered a shocking 268 pounds, she knew she had to change the way she thought about food and herself; that her life was at stake.
It Was Me All Along takes Andie from working class Boston to the romantic streets of Rome, from morbidly obese to half her size, from seeking comfort in anything that came cream-filled and two-to-a-pack to finding balance in exquisite (but modest) bowls of handmade pasta. This story is about much more than a woman who loves food and abhors her body. It is about someone who made changes when her situation seemed too far gone and how she discovered balance in an off-kilter world. More than anything, though, it is the story of her finding beauty in acceptance and learning to love all parts of herself.



📖My Thoughts📖

This is a very raw, in your face, uplifting memoir. I am so happy I got the chance to review it.
It is unusual to find such an honest book. Andrea takes us through her weight loss journey from beginning to end. You get the good and the bad, happy and sad, and everything in between. A book that doesn't just talk about diets or losing weight but rather delves into the more complex areas of it.
And it shows readers, who may also be on the weight loss path, there is definitely hope if you just stick with it. Set realistic goals, take baby steps, want to change, and realize it isn't going to be easy nor instant.
I love that the author takes us from her early childhood, through parental issues, through relationships, and is just real about it all. It makes her much more relatable and you feel as if you are right there with her. This is definitely an intense book. While I loved it, I did find myself irritated during some points. I felt as if Andie had a lot handed to her and often took those things for granted. Such as plastic surgery, business opportunities, etc. When those things were brought up throughout the book there seemed to be little emotion from the author. However, it didn't irritate me enough to distract from my enjoyment of the book overall.
Eating disorders are a very real issue, especially in this day and age when so much is put on body image. Honest memoirs like this are great for those who struggle because it can bring hope, and possibly even change.
I give this book a five star rating and highly recommend it.


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::Product Details::
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Publication date: January 6, 2015
Language: English
Book length: 240
ISBN-10: 0770433243
ISBN-13: 978-0770433246



Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book, as a Blogging for Books member, in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions expressed are solely ny own.