The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert - Review and Giveaway

Overview: Just like in my dream, I was drowning and nobody even noticed.

Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They’re the perfect-looking couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside, she’s a woman who has it all together. But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure anymore.

Until Carmen’s sister—seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher—steps in and changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders, which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole?

WaterBrook Press | Apr 21, 2015 | 320 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | ISBN 9781601425928

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My Review: I'll admit, I was leary about starting this book after I read the description. I knew it was going to be heart-wrenching and poignant because that's the kind of stories that Katie Ganshert writes. I kept putting it off and putting it off and finally I just broke down and decided to read it. Let me tell you, I am SO glad I did! I devoured this book. I was reading while I cooked dinner, and I intended to read for just another hour after my evening run, and ended up finishing it after midnight. I couldn't put it down!

The story was, of course, heart-wrenching. Katie Ganshert captures the emotions of loss and disappointment in poignant detail. This is definitely not a light read, but the author does a fantastic job of keeping the plot engaging. At one point in the story, I had tears rolling unchecked down my face.

I loved reading the story through Carmen and Gracie's eyes. My soul, Carmen's story tugged at my heartstrings. I cannot imagine the amount of pain, sorrow, confusion, and heart ache this woman had to go through. I can well imagine her doubt, depression, and coldness. Gracie is a girl after my own heart. Growing up in a similar situation, I was easily able to relate to her feelings, fears, and understand her rebellious nature. At one point in the story, the author mentions that Gracie picks at her cuticals around her fingers and I thought, that is me in book format! The men in the story were swoon worthy for sure. As I was reading, I thought WOW, these guys are definitely a picture of God's love for us. Ben is a totally and completely devoted husband. He loves Carmen and his actions prove it. Elias is sweet, caring, kind and compassionate. Neither woman makes it easy on them, but they are there for them anyways.

The message of the story brought me to tears and humbled me. With all that Carmen's gone through, she begins to doubt the sovereingnty of God. She questions his Will and doubts his goodness. Who can blame her? We've all gone through periods in our Christian walk where we have questioned God for what's happened to us. Gracie knows of God, but doesn't have a relationship with Him. She feels alone and abandoned, and pushes everyone away who might try to get close because she doesn't want to be let down or let them down. As the book progresses, though, we see God working in each of their lives. I love how, at the end, the author doesn't make the jump from not believing God and doubting His goodness to everything is perfect and happy. The ending is as natural as the progression of the story. Sometimes, we have to completely surrender to be whole. "Losing yourself" to be found is hard, but sometimes, that's the point. It makes your belief and faith that much stronger.

Overall, as you can tell, I highly recommend this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Katie Ganshert's awesome stories!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author: Christy Award finalist, Katie Ganshert is the author of Wildflowers from Winter and Wishing on Willows. She lives in Iowa with her handsome husband, their dinosaur-loving son, and their goofy black lab, Bubba. When she’s not busy writing or playing or reading or snuggling, she is obsessing over the paperwork and the waiting that comes with adoption, which she and her husband hope to complete sometime before they are fifty.

Connect with Katie: Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | Website

GIVEAWAY TIME: To win, answer the following question in a comment below: Have you read any of Katie's books before? If so, which one? Please leave your email address in a non-spam format (name (at) domain (dot) com) Giveaway ends 6/17.