An anthology of wonder and wisdom, including excerpts from works by Madeleine L'Engle, Kay Warren, and others plus original pieces by other women over 40.

I appreciated the varied writing styles and subject matter drawn from daily experiences, both typical and unusual in this anthology written by and for women from age 40 and over. The thread of Christian faith runs through all the essays, whether fun or serious in tone, and mostly those threads are woven seamlessly, but on occasion I felt the pointed relation of subject matter to biblical references was a bit tacked on. I received an advance copy from the publisher and read all the essays in order, but this anthology with its short essays is perfecting for dipping in and out of. Not all essays resonate equally, as is expected in any anthology, but those of us older than some of the writers or the time in life they're writing about can look back with nostalgia to the essays about life changes past. Several writers were familiar to me who aren't as well known as some of the more famous names in this collection like Joanie Eareckson Tada, Ann Voskamp, and Madeleine L'Engle, so don't skip over those unfamiliar names--their writing is excellent! I especially recommend: Luci Shaw, "Rowing into the Wild," Jeanne Murray Walker's "I Renounce Snap Judgments—Again," Leslie Leyland Fields' "I Lay Down My Doubts, I Take Up My Pen," Paula Huston's "The Good Earth," and Gina Oshner's "A Pilgrim in Progress."

In The Wonder Years, Leslie Fields gathers essays from 40 women of faith. Each woman writes poignantly about how her life has changed and grown sweeter over the years. Some speak of loss and heartache, some speak of new courage and new adventures, some of the essays are funny and some bring tears to your eyes. Each one is a precious gem strung onto a necklace of joy.

This book is a beautiful example of women encouraging women to live their best life. Full of God’s grace and the wisdom he gives to each one, the essays fulfill the title’s promises of Faith, Beauty, and Strength. I can’t speak highly enough of this book.

First of all, the list of writers this book includes will blow your mind. You've heard of most of these ladies, and you'll be introduced to a few new ones as well. That's always the beauty of anthology. These women share about everything from beauty to motherhood to grief to old age. No topic goes uncovered really. Tip: my absolute favorite way to read collections like this is one at a time right before bed.

Such a collection of engaging and winsome stories from women at or beyond the age of 40. Each has a different story to tell, some sharing pain and others victory, some that make you laugh and others that bring tears to your eyes. Fields gathered a variety of women to encourage readers who may feel left behind due to their age. Their faith plays a significant role in how they overcame adversity and how they viewed their circumstances. Readers will close the pages feeling encouraged and inspired.

Getting older for women can be traumatic, especially crossing over the big 40. Body parts start to sag. The possibility of having children declines. The nest gets emptier.

Fields has gathered forty essays by a variety of people who share how they dealt with the impact of aging. Some made adjustments for their aging bodies. Some survived changes in marital status. Some dealt with psychological issues like shame or guilt. Some dealt with career changes. All relate their changes in behavior or thinking brought on by the realization that they were getting older.

This book is definitely for women only. Stories about buying a padded bra for the first time or about finally making it past menopause would not be suitable for guys. Many of the essays are from previously published books or magazines. All of the articles are entertaining and are good encouragement for women needing inspiration as they age. Some of the essays are by women in their 80s or 90s and are certainly an encouragement to those us us moving into our final decades.

Some of the articles have a definite Christian flavor but not all of them. I found some of the stories caused me to wonder why there wasn't a greater emphasis on finding our worth in our relationship with Jesus. Really, how do sagging body parts compare to God Who loves us unconditionally?

The essays in this book contain, in general, good encouragement from older and wiser women.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

It seems that when women reach a certain age in their life, they start to feel like their value is decreasing; they are facing the empty nest, (the children are leaving home), they tend to feel like they are limited in what they can do, and there is the fear of aging.

Well, it's time to start looking at life after 40 in a different light! In this book, well-known Christian women from ages 40 to 85 give their wisdom on how to face these worries. With Spiritual wisdom, a sense of humor, these women give some incredible insight into life after 40.

You will read the writings of Lauren F. Winner, Joni Eareckson Tada, Lisa Morgan, Madeleine Engle and Kay Warren.

These women will provide ideas and thoughts about aging and to look at aging with your eyes open to new possibilities and most of all to grow closer to God. Each essay provides a look into God's perspective on the later years of life, reminding us that it's always possible to serve Him with the life experiences we have.

The book is comprised of short essays, that makes it quick to read, you can put it down and pick it back up at without interruption of the book.

It was interesting and it made me chuckle a couple of times. This is a good book for those who are in the 40 and over age, or those who are approaching it. It might even be a good book to do in a group setting with women of this age group.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I had a really hard time getting into this book. It seemed like a good idea, and fans of short stories may really appreciate it. However, none of the stories really grabbed me (and yes, I am in the target age range), and I just couldn't connect.