Book Review- Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs

I am excited to be reviewing books for Lifeway, for my first selection I chose Looking for Lovely.

Annie released her lastest book spring. 2016  I had seen this cover many times as I scrolled through my social media accounts so I thought I would check it out.

As a reviewer I am honest.  When people ask me to be a reference for them on their resume I tell them straight out that I am honest and I answer the questions truthfully to the best of my ability - positive or negative.  

The same holds true with book reviews.  As an author - giving an honest review is a little awkward but I will do my best.
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 I will start with an admission - I did not underline one sentence in this book.  I like to underline, I have a selection of colours that I use to highlight and I never felt the need to grab one as I read through this book.  

To be honest, I had a hard time trying to understand the analogies throughout the book.  Let me explain that a little, I understand what she is trying to get across but I am wondering why she shared them in this book.  I believe that instances happen in our lives that are evidence of a loving Father reaching out to us.  These moments are a unique gift.  I don't see them as something for a general audience.  I could see a chapter helping your reader learn how to take notice of these moments in our lives but each chapter is another example for Annie.  I just didn't get it.  

Annie shares a lot from her personal daily experiences which I found difficult to relate to, Annie is single.  Which is all good - but her experiences of texting friends and going out for supper, flaying around the world or just choosing to randomly do something does not happen in a family setting.  I have to plan and schedule, I just can't leave on a whim to go out for supper - I would have issues with child abandonment and a starving husband when he arrived home from work. :)

Looking for Lovely follows the basic format - Bible verse, personal story, application.  Personally, I seek a little more depth, but for those who are exploring their new faith this is a good place to start.

I was about 60% finished and I chose put the book aside for a couple of weeks.  Then early one Saturday morning while my family slept I thought I would give it another try.  Cup of coffee in hand, curled up in a blanket in my favorite chair I was pleasantly surprised to read that she definitely saved the best for last.  The last few chapters are where she is real and raw.

I am thankful that I picked it up again and finished it.  I have now passed Looking for Lovely on to a friend, I am interested to hear her review.  We are all at different places on our journey.  Books speak to us in different ways and in different seasons.  

​Have you read Looking for Lovely?  What is your honest review?