My Thoughts on "The Fashion Designer" by Nancy Moser

I truly enjoyed this new book by Nancy Moser that offers the early history of the fashion industry and even features a glimpse of the Lane Bryant fashion business. "The Fashion Designer" is a sequel to "The Pattern Artist" and it continues the story of Annie Wood, her new husband Sean Culver, her best friend Maude Nascato, and another friend Edna Holmquist. I haven't read the first book but I didn't feel lost because "The Fashion Designer" has numerous references to the previous story. In this book Annie and Sean are about to become parents and there is also the dilemna of finding the funds to finance Annie's dream of designing clothing for the working woman. Sean's mother would like to use her inheritance to help but her husband has full control of her money and he doesn't consider it a worthy investment. The setting is New York in 1912 and this was the time when women still wore corsets, "expectant women" were limited in their choice of maternity wear and no woman was allowed to vote! We've come a long way baby!

The Fashion Designer touches on the topics of emotional abuse and rape but they are handled in a discreet manner.  Mr. and Mrs. Culver separate, Maude fears the possibility of being unable to conceive and decides that she can never have a husband and Annie experiences moments of doubt. I appreciate that during these times of stress and conflict  these characters display their reliance on God and their faith in the power of prayer. Through it all these friends offer each other hope and encouragement.

I recommend "The Fashion Designer" to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction and Christian romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

My Thoughts on "Made Like Martha" by Katie M. Reid

Reading this book has given me a new appreciation for the story of the two sisters mentioned in Luke 10. Martha was the perfect hostess who wanted everything to be just right for Jesus's visit and she was unhappy that her sister Mary wasn't helping. Mary was just sitting around enjoying the company of their important guest and to top it off, Jesus seemed to defend Mary!

Author Katie B. Reid admits that she is a modern Martha but she now knows that this is okay and she has written this book to help others who possess a type A personality and are "Made Like Martha". Reid has finally realized that "Jesus wasn't telling Martha to stop being who He designed her to be; He was pointing out that she did not have to work herself into a frenzy to be loved. Martha was already adored by Jesus, and His love was a gift to be received, not a prize to be earned."

I love that this book is filled with so many examples about our compulsive need to keep doing when we should be receiving. "Nothing we do or don't do affects His approval. If we are in Christ, then we are approved through his death and resurrection." I also appreciate that there is a Made Like Martha Bible study that has five lessons to correlate with the ten chapters. What a great way to reinforce the encouragement and wisdom that fills the pages of this book!

"Made Like Martha" shows that it is okay to be made like Martha and equally okay to be made like Mary because God created them both and He loved them both. And He feels the same about all of us who are His beloved daughters!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher but a positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.