In this true story, Courtney Westlake shares her family’s courageous, inspiring journey of a child born with special needs and how that child can teach us all how to see the world and the people in it as their own beautiful.

I didn't mean to but I absolutely flew through this book. It is a very quick read but enjoyable from the start. From page one I felt like I was learning something, seeing something in the world with new eyes. There were multiple times I stopped and read a line over and over because I just wanted it to sink into my bones. In many ways I probably don't hit the marketing target audience. I'm not married, don't have children, and not Christian. However, that doesn’t matter because the message of this book is for everyone.

This book holds truth for all people, to make us all better as individuals and more loving toward others. I absolutely loved this one quote, which I've now posted on my computer and bathroom mirror as a reminder. "Beautiful is a way of being and a way of living, each and every day, perhaps each and every moment. Beautiful is joy radiating from your soul. Beautiful can be found everywhere, when we take the time to see it, when we want to see it." I'm so glad I got to read this book. I highly recommend it to anyone in particular but it will definitely resonate with those who have personal connections to Christianity, motherhood, and the special needs community.

A Different Beautiful by Courtney Westlake is a heartwarming story of one family's brave and marvelous journey with a special needs child. In this moving book, the author gives an impassioned appeal to readers to understand that beauty is found when we see not through our eyes but through our hearts. Brenna was born with a rare skin disease and Westlake shares her perspectives and the wisdom she has come to understand through her experiences in caring for and in raising Brenna. Woven throughout the book are other individual and families' life stories in dealing with physical challenges, giving unique perspectives on what true beauty is. The author reflects on celebrating the positive, focusing on the hearts of others, recognizing faith and hope come from trusting in God's greatness and sharing our differences. All this in hopes of the reader beginning to understand that difference is something to embrace and beauty comes in all forms. And just perhaps being able to touch another's life to change circumstances, their future or perhaps even change another's heart toward Jesus. A powerful, inspirational and challenging story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

A Different Beautiful
Discovering and Celebrating Beauty in Places You Never Expected

by Courtney Westlake
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Shiloh Run Press

Christian, Nonfiction (Adult)
Pub Date 01 Aug 2016
I was given a copy of A Different Beautiful through the publisher and their partnership with Netgalley through the publisher and their partnership with Netgalley in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:
This is the story of one families struggle and triumphs in dealing with their daughter Breanna's rare life threatening skin condition. In A Different Beautiful Courtney Westlake talks about not only the struggles of having a child with a rare condition but she also points out the joys and the triumphs how she and her husband and Son and Daugher have learned to celebrate the small victories.
If you are looking for a book that is both encouraging and uplifting as well as honest then A Different Beautiful is definitely a book you should read.
I give A Different Beautiful Five out of five stars
Happy Reading

A good read and stralight forward. The books chapters showing the progression of understanding rather than chronological, it is a good source for understanding both the progression of how to deal or understand unexpected changes in our lives and hopefully to the acceptance and appreciation for those challenges. I appreciated the insight into how she has been treated and would like bad manners or rude comments. Most people know what not to say but not what to say. A pleasant read though not as new or novel of ideas as I hoped, still a fresh and positive context for the application of good manners, kindness and an appreciation of differences.

A Different Beautiful – Courtney Westlake

What a beautiful story! Courtney’s daughter is born with a life-threatening skin disease. They had no idea until after she was born that their beautiful Brenna had this disease. They basically have to surrender their daughter to the Lord. Thankfully, Brenna lives and flourishes despite her challenges.
Brenna’s family learns to celebrate what beauty really is because of all the struggles she faces. I never knew such a disease existed.
Keep the tissue handy because, even though this is a beautiful story, it will tear you up if you are like me!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Courtney Westlake's water broke earlier than she had planned, and she awaited expectantly for the precious daughter that she and her husband, Evan, would soon hold in their arms and gaze in her eyes. It didn't work out that way though. Brenna was wiped and confusion and worry showed on the faces of all the doctors and nurses in the delivery room. The loving mother's heart cried out, "Where's my baby? When can I see her, hold her, kiss her tiny face?" Instead of placing her sweet daughter in her aching arms, a neonatologist was summoned immediately. Something was wrong. Something was wrong. Something was wrong with Brenna. Brenna was facing a fight. She just entered the world and she was in pain and she had to fight, because the medical staff told her that babies born with harlequin ichthyosis rarely survived more than a few days. They could keep her painfree until she passed. That's when the heaviest decision fell on their shoulders. Were they going to let Brenna just go? She'd just arrived and they longed for this daughter.
Brenna's young mother, Courtney Westlake, walks us through the struggle for Brenna's life and then the joy the beautiful little girl brings to their home. Brenna is blessed with the most compassionate brother and parents that God could have given her to. I love the personal stories and the brutal honesty expressed in this book. I did wish there were photographs. I looked on Courtney's blog and looked at Brenna and smiled with tears in my eyes and whispered, "She is beautiful. She is precious." Honestly, from the description in the book of her birth, I thought she would look frightening. But she does not. Her smile is infectious. I did think that more scripture would have been helpful to accompany the stories and opinions. What a lovely book, what an inspiring family!
I rated this book 4 stars and highly recommend it.
I received an ARC copy of this book from netgalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
As I finished the book, I thought of the song, "How Beautiful" by Twila Paris.
How beautiful the hands that served
the wine and the bread
and the sons of the earth.
How beautiful the feet that walked
the long dusty roads
and the hills to the cross.
How beautiful
how beautiful
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
How beautiful the heart that bled
that took all my sin
and bore it instead.
How beautiful the tender eyes
that chose to forgive
and never despise.
How beautiful
how beautiful
how beautiful is the body of Christ.
And as He laid down His life
we offer this sacrifice
that we will live just as he died:
willing to pay the price
willing to pay the price.
How beautiful the radiant Bride
who waits for her Groom
with His light in her eyes.
How beautiful when humble hearts give
the fruit of pure lives
so…

This book is wonderful. Just a beautiful book about how sometimes life doesn't go the way we expect, and yet God can use the unexpected for His glory./

Loved it! Just finished reading this book. It made me cry as a parent (remembering those feelings of a baby in the NICU), laugh (as a fellow toddler mom dealing with toddler antics), and smile (reading of stories of Brenna). I hope many have the opportunity to read this book, and take its teachings to heart. Our world needs more grace, love, and communities that support each other. (Posted on Amazon review back when first read. Forgot to post on netgalley too.)

A Different Beautiful is a compelling, well-written account of the life of a special little girl with a painful, life threatening skin condition and how her family has learned to see beautiful in a richer, joyful way. I expected this book to give insight in helping our own families accept differences in others and it does that well. The author also discusses the danger of being easily offended and angry especially about the way people respond to disability or differences, and the peace found in choosing a gracious response. Teaching little eyes who are watching to do the same rather than being offended and feeling like a victim. The emotional story of love and acceptance is a worthwhile read for anyone who wants to know how to better interact with people and choose to see beautiful.