Strong, Brave, Loved: Empowering Reminders of Who You Really Are {A Book Review}

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own. 

Bestselling author Holley Gerth feels like your best friend, your supportive sister, and your biggest cheerleader. She understands that you want to be a woman who looks life in the face and says, "You can't beat me." A woman who knows love is a risk and reaches out anyway. A woman who understands kindness takes real courage. Who doesn't fake it or try to hide her scars. Who fights to believe she is who God says she is and helps others do the same.

Strong, Brave, Loved offers 60 short devotions to empower you to be that kind of woman. It's simple, personal, and practical, with room for you to journal your own responses and reflections. With these concise and compassionate devotions, Holley leads you on a journey of discovery as you learn to live in freedom, hope, and holy courage.

 Holley Gerth is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, certified life coach, and speaker. She loves connecting with the hearts of women through her popular blog and books like You're Already Amazing and Fiercehearted. She's also cofounder of (in)courage and a partner with DaySpring. Holley lives with her husband, Mark, in the South. Connect with her at www.holleygerth.com.

When it comes to nonfiction, Holley Gerth is by far one of my absolute favorite authors. I am always recommending her books to others, as I have so loved reading them myself. As such, anytime she has a new book or devotion out, it automatically goes onto my TBR. Strong Brave Loved was no exception, I couldn't wait to check it out.

Strong Brave Loved is a devotional/devotional journal that encourages women to 'live as a woman of confidence and victory'. Those already familiar with Holley Gerth will once again recognize her fantastic writing style that always makes me think of a conversation with a friend. Truly, when I think of her books, I cannot help but envision two women sitting down to enjoy coffee and conversation. To me, that is what reading her books feels like- comforting, encouraging, uplifting. She doesn't come at us like she's preaching about how we are doing it wrong, but rather weaves personal stories and struggles with biblical references for devotions that are both entertaining but also really very much needed. Each book she writes I find myself thinking could have been written just for me, dealing with topics that so many of us women face. We certainly see that in Strong Brave Loved as well.

Now, I will say that as of the writing of this review, I have not read this devotional cover to cover. I plan to take my time in reading it through and really taking it in to get the most out of it. I have however read enough to get a good feel about the style and the content to share my opinions so far. This devotional features 60 devotions. You can choose to do one a day, one a week, or however it best fits into your schedule- there is no right or wrong with this particular devotional. Each devotion begins with scripture, offers a short 2-page devotion, a prayer and a journaling prompt plus writing space. It then closes out with a quote from her previous book Fiercehearted. To me, journaling really helps me to sort out my thoughts, though with typical devotions, I'm not always sure where to begin. These journaling prompts are perfect for that. I will say that the space for journaling is rather small--- and as I tend to be wordy (clearly), I certainly would have appreciated more room to write, BUT for many it will be sufficient and for those of us who need more room, we could certainly work in a separate journal.

Strong Brave Loved offers many of the same messages as Fiercehearted, which as I said, is quoted throughout. That makes this the perfect way to truly dig deeper into that book and apply it to your life in a more meaningful way. However, it's not necessary to have read it to benefit from this devotion. It stands on its own perfectly the way it is as well.

If you are looking for a great devotional journal, Strong Brave Loved is certainly one I would recommend. You truly cannot go wrong with Holley Gerth!