Beauty of Grace {Quick Review}

The Beauty of Grace by Dawn Camp

Visit the Author's website HERE

Publisher: Revell

Publishing Date: February 3, 2015

Goodreads Summary: 

In this hectic life, we all need a little peace, a little quiet, and a little beauty. Combining heartfelt stories from some of today's foremost writers and bloggers with stunning photography of God's incredible creation, "The Beauty of Grace" is a haven of calm contemplation amidst the chaos. 
This uplifting collection includes moving stories of cultivating friendship, waiting on God, choosing joy, staying connected, and more from popular writers such as Jessica Turner, Lisa-Jo Baker, Holley Gerth, Ann Voskamp, Bonnie Gray, Tsh Oxenreider, Leeana Tankersley, Emily Freeman, Margaret Feinberg, and many others. Each story is accompanied by an uplifting Scripture verse, and the book includes Dawn's stunning photos. Foreword by Holley Gerth.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Buy a copy today!

My Thoughts:
I could give you just two words: Buy it. I suppose, however, that I will try to drag out my thoughts and form a few paragraphs.

In her first published work, Dawn Camp assembles a mighty committee of amazing female writers. Of the nine authors listed above, I have reviewed seven of the authors on the blog previously, I have Jessica Turner's first book on my nightstand, and I am just waiting on Margaret Feinberg. These are the women whose words affect lives, change lives and here they all are assembled together.

Camp organizes their touching words into seven different chapters (Purpose, The Big Picture, Surrender, Trust, Lessons Learned, Hope and Encouragement, and Worship) and each relates perfectly in a subtle way.

As I was reading through, I found myself becoming annoyed that all of their 'voices' sounded so similiar so 'Christian-blogese'. However, after awhile I found myself noticing their quiet differences and seeing their personalities shine through. This made me fall in love with some of the women even more than I already was.

There were SO many fantastic stories and words of encouragement, that I would hate for you to miss any of them. Please, check out the book for yourself and be encouraged, strengthened, healed, and loved. A few quotes I must highlight:

"We're given these snapshots for a reason, I believe. To learn. To see. To realize that this big world we live in is made up of individual people struggling, trying, growing, living. We are not just a group of anonymous breathing creatures that coexist together, ....We are images of our Creator.."

--'A Man in a Mirror'- Katie Kenny Phillips

"One of the greatest lies we can believe about our life is that if it doesn't have the setting and the scenes of a summer blockbuster then it's not really valuable....Because Mary didn't set out to be Jesus' mother. And Peter was just fishing with his buddies....Those dramatic stories just naturally played out..."

--'On Living a Good Story'- Laura Parker 

"As I headed toward the checkout, I met up with a man with sad eyes and a red, bulbous drinker's nose. He wore a defeated expression. He bowed awkwardly and kindly waved me into the line ahead of him, although I had several things in my cart whereas he only had a case of beer. ...Like those people, I wake up each morning telling myself that today I'll make it a better day; today I'll do better. And then the sun rises in the sky."

--'Good Intentions'- Tina Anderson