Into the Fire

Ivy Clark is a beautiful Vogue cover model who's getting "old" approaching 25. Her agent and uncle, Bruce, is not hopeful or helpful, and Ivy is beginning to feel desperate. Ivy's father, via making her mother his mistress, has died and all the uncomfortable memories of his distance and cold detachment from her are resurrected at his funeral back in his home of Greenbrier, South Carolina.

Her step-mom Marilyn forgave her husband for his affair and welcomed Ivy into their home. She was the only one who welcomed Ivy every summer, her dad hiding out or disappearing whenever Ivy came to visit. Marilyn fell in love with the child, but Ivy wouldn't respond. Marilyn's faith rested on God's promise of the work he planned to do with Ivy.

Davis Knight used to be a New York scene photographer in demand until he hung up his camera because of a terrible accident to his younger sister Sarah while she visited him in New York. Sarah and her guide dog live with Aunt Marilyn now, and Davis does penance by working as a custodian in his church back in Greenbrier.

Marilyn owns a bridal shop and has been given the opportunity to feature her gowns in the well-respected and highly acclaimed magazine Southern Brides. She summons Bruce, her brother-in-law, for Ivy's services for the layout and requests her nephew Davis to do the shoot.

Ivy resents having to leave New York. Davis resents having to pick up his banished camera as a favor to his aunt. Two miserable lonely people are forced to work together which ultimately produces the best photo shoot Ivy has ever experienced, and the best photographs Davis has ever taken. And presents all kinds of new problems for them both, neither choosing to directly address them. 

Once again there is the Christian romance formula to fulfill, and Katie Ganshert manages a good job of portraying all kinds of broken people in A Broken Kind of Beautiful while demonstrating the multiple venues in which God applies His ever mysterious ways.Traditional guy who's returned from losing himself in the fast lifestyle, lost young woman still trying to fill that hole in her heart with the fast lifestyle, crash and clash and come to terms with faith, life, and love.

A good romance with bristly, annoying, snarky, and lovable-at-times hero and heroine, both flighty in different ways and running from simple truths they've made complex.

The story ends abruptly with an epilogue after satisfying its goal.

Father, you know Katie's heart and soul. You give her stories and make the way for her to write them. Please continue to bless her heart as she writes for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.