Age before Beauty (Sister-to-Sister, Book 2) [Paperback]

Virginia Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009

Desperate to stay home with her baby, Allie Harrod launches a new career. Sure, she dropped out of Girl Scouts because she was lousy at cookie sales, but makeup is different, right? She'll do anything to make enough money to cover her share of the household bills, but how can she focus on her business when her list of problems is growing? None of her pre-baby clothes fit, her checking account is dwindling, and her mother-in-law has decided to move in! To top it off, her husband's attractive coworker suddenly needs his help every weekend. Middle sister Joan insists that God has the answers to all her problems, but Allie isn't so sure. Can she really trust him? A lighthearted contemporary tale of family, faith, and fun, Age before Beauty is the second book in the Sister-to-Sister series from well-reviewed author Virginia Smith.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

What will she give up to have it all? Allie Harrod is ready for a new career. She doesn't want to go back to full time work and risk missing her baby's first smile. But she does want to contribute to the family income, and a home-based business seems like the perfect solution. Sure, she dropped out of Girl Scouts because she was lousy at cookie sales, but selling makeup is different, right? Still, the challenges Allie faces seem to be rising as fast as her credit card balance. None of her clothes fit, her mother-in-law is driving her batty, and her husband only leaves the couch to go help his beautiful--and single--coworker with her home repairs. What's a working girl to do? A lighthearted story of family and finding focus, Age before Beauty is the second book in the Sister-to-Sister series. "A fun and touching story of motherhood, marriage, and sisterhood."--Sharon K. Souza, author of Lying on Sunday and Every Good & Perfect Gift "Smith entertains and enlightens through down-home characters you can welcome into your heart like family."--Ann H. Gabhart, author of The Outsider "Smith strikes a beautiful balance between humor and poignancy in her tale of one woman's struggle to be all: wife, mother, sister, and daughter."--Tamara Leigh, award-winning author of Splitting Harriet and Faking Grace Virginia Smith is the author of eight novels, including Stuck in the Middle. In 2008 she was named Writer of the Year at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. She and her husband, Ted, divide their time between Kentucky and Utah, and escape as often as they can for diving trips to the Caribbean. Learn more about Ginny and her books at www.VirginiaSmith.org.

About the Author

Virginia Smith is a freelance writer, a speaker, and the contemporary worship leader for Voice of Joy Ministries in central Kentucky. She is the author of Just As I Am and Stuck in the Middle, and her articles have appeared in a variety of Christian magazines. She is a member of the Christian Writers Fellowship International and the American Christian Fiction Writers and splits her time between Lexington, Kentucky, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Revell (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800732332
• ISBN-13: 978-0800732332
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,459 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Virginia Smith is a writer of humorous novels, a speaker, and an avid scuba diver. She launched her career as a novelist with the release Just As I Am in 2006, and has been cranking out God-honoring fiction ever since. She and her husband, Ted, divide their time between Kentucky and Utah, and escape as often as they can for diving trips to the Caribbean. www.VirginiaSmith.org

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spunky characters make Ginny Smith's books worth reading, February 28, 2009

By 

Jill Hart "cwahmjill" (CWAHM.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Age before Beauty (Sister-to-Sister, Book 2) (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1), and have been patiently (ok, not so patiently) awaiting the release of book two, Age Before Beauty. It was definitely worth the wait. It follows the oldest sister in the Sanderson family, Allie Harrod. She's desperate to stay home with her new baby - so desperate, in fact, that she's willing to become a work-at-home mom (WAHM) if that's what it takes.

It's not often I find a great WAHM character, so I was especially excited about Allie. She's smart, spunky and hilarious. She goes through so many of the same feelings I've felt along the way to becoming a work-at-home mom and it was fun to follow along on her journey. She knows it can be done and goes for it with her whole heart. What a fun read!

Jill Hart
RadiantLit.com

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real people in a great story., February 15, 2009

By 

Holly M. Magnuson "Holly" (Covina, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Age before Beauty (Sister-to-Sister, Book 2) (Paperback)

In my humble opinion, every woman that is pregnant should read this book. It will prepare you for many of the feelings you will feel after that little one is born. Every woman who has just had a baby should read this book. It will remind you that you're not the only one calling the doctor every other day because you think your baby has some strange disease. All women should really read this book. It will bring back bittersweet memories of those early baby days.

Virginia Smith did an excellent job of weaving fundamental truths about motherhood, marriage, and what it means to be a godly woman and wife into a very entertaining story. This story provided chuckles, tears, and food for thought.

Since this is really the first book I've read of this genre I really can't compare Virginia Smith to another author. I will say that her writing style is easy to read and she moves the story along at a good pace. This is a book two of a series, but I didn't feel lost having not read book one.

Excellent story and I look forward to reading more by Virginia Smith.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Age Before Beauty, February 23, 2009

By 

Ginger Cheryl Tate - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Age before Beauty (Sister-to-Sister, Book 2) (Paperback)

Age before Beauty is an entertaining novel that once you start it, you cannot put it down until you've completed the book. The main character, Allie, has just had her first child and realizes how much she would love to be a stay-at-home mom. Finding what she considers to be the perfect home business, she starts her new career only to realize she is in debt and not making the money she had expected.

As growing finances are causing stress, her mother in-law shows up at their door unannounced. Come to find out, her in-laws are having marital problems and the mother in-law decides to stay with Allie and her husband for an undisclosed time.

Allie is faced with many decisions: Should she tell her husband her business is failing? How should she handle the mother in-law she never liked? Why was her husband spending so much time helping another woman repair her home? And most important, what was her relationship with God.
I highly recommend this book as you walk with Allie as she tries to struggle to be the perfect wife, mother, sister, and daughter.