Facelift

Leanna Ellis

Kaye Redmond stages houses for resale, so masking trouble spots with strategic decor comes naturally.  She does it in her personal life as well--her can-do attitude and ready smile disguising the emotional wear-and-tear of a failed marriage and raising a teenage daughter alone.  But when her former mother-in-law comes back around, desperate for a place to stay while recovering from a botched facelift, Kaye begins to realize that there's a much more authentic way to brighten one's countenance: look to God and His plan for her life.

My Take:

If you are familiar with my review style, you will probably know that I am a big believer in appreciating a book for what it is intended to be.  Facelift is intended to be a sweet, inspiring little story, and it is, its not a life changer, just an enjoyable little page turner.  It is predictable, but the ending is fulfilling nonetheless.  The reader is privileged to meet a strong, woman who is someone you can look up to and relate to, even though she is in complete denial about her awful ex husband.  I really enjoyed her character, as she navigated her way through the trials of learning to feel good about herself, despite the wear and tear years and stress have forced her to endure.  I think this is a book women of all ages can really enjoy, but I definitely see it appealing to more middle aged women, because they will be able to relate all the more.  I felt as though the other characters in the book were well fleshed out, although some of the antagonists were a bit one dimensional, it didn't really matter, because the story wasn't about them or their (lack of) personal growth.   The writing was sharp and funny, with a lot of now pop culture references to make you laugh. (hopefully those references won't make the book feel dated in a decade or so)  Lastly, I felt that the Christian references were sincere and natural.  When questions arose about death and the meaning of life, the author gave us more than just the standard cookie cutter answers, which I think can sometimes trivialize or invalidate the asker's feelings.  I really think this book is a standout for its genre, but I'd have to say that I wouldn't want to pay full price on it either, with this in mind, I think I'll give it a rating of a 2 Borders with a Coupon.  However if Christian chic-lit is not your thing, skip it.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated  PG, for some sexual references, i.e. a man running off with another women, parents discussing abstinence and the appearance of a compromising situation (which turns out isn't what it seemed to be anyway)

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

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