Review: Simply Amazing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 11, 2014
** I received a free ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review **Here is another amazingly beautiful, eye opening book from Rene D. Schultz. If you've read any of her other books, you'll know exactly what I mean. Rene is one of those rare talents who will keep you on the edge of your seat with every flip of the page and at the same time open your eyes to some seriously important issues. In Bishop Street it was adoption, and cruelty, and friendship, and survival. In Done Deal it was terminal illness, and pharmaceuticals, and family, and hope. In Broken Image it's society's warped perception of beauty, and self esteem, and peer pressure, child neglect, and the power of friendship.Mercedes. Poor sweet Mercedes was raised in a home with very little love. What love she did have left with her father when he moved out, leaving her to be raised by a psychologically and verbally abusive mother. As a result, Mercedes has some serious self esteem issues. She can't help but be bitter at the fact that the world seems to cater to women who are society's idea of beautiful and she definitely doesn't fit that bill. And it doesn't help her confidence at all to know that among her small close knit group of friends, she's the only one who isn't beautiful. When her friends start pressuring her to make small changes to "enhance" her image, she does resist. At first. But eventually they break through her resistance. What's a little nip here or a little tuck there in the grand scheme of things?I really struggled with Mercedes' character. Instantly you sympathize and want to shelter her because of her childhood. As a mother, I felt and overwhelming urge to hug her. When it came to her decision making, I stopped being so sympathetic. I just wanted to shake her and yell at her. "How can you not see all the beauty in your life?!"Be prepared for some tears, some head shaking, inward groaning, smiles and even cheers. This book will run you through the entire gamut of emotions.Thank you to Rene Schultz for allowing me to see this issue from a "first hand perspective". There isn't a woman alive who hasn't been touched by this in some shape or form but this book really opens your eyes and allows you to look at it in a whole new light. The media does a great disservice to women everywhere when they have to feel less than beautiful because they aren't a certain size, or shape, or skin tone.This book is absolutely wonderful and I will recommend it to everyone I know!