Ever After by Vicki Courtney

Little girls often grow up with their heads filled with the stuff of fairy tales: You grow up, Prince Charming finds you (even if it means slaying dragons, defeating witches, and dealing with evil stepmothers, etc.), you marry, and ride off in your shimmering carriage to live happily ever after in your beautiful castle. Right?
 
Reality Check!! Tiny apts.; sky high bills; work demands; the pumpkin that turned into a carriage is actually a 'lemon'; the fairy godmother loses your new address; the sweet babies you envisioned cry, make messes...and turn into teenagers; Prince Charming doesn't always make your dreams come true; and , truth be told, your "princess persona" and crown may slip a notch or 2...sometimes. Vicki Courtney calls this “Fairy Tale Letdown.”
  
Ever After: Life Lessons Learned in My Castle of Chaos  should be required reading for those who need a dose of reality, but I also absolutely recommend it for those who long realized that life isn't a fairy tale...but is so much more exciting. This is written from the perspective of a married woman, but is also a great book for divorced or never-married women; there are topics that appeal to all women.  Courtney's sense of humor shines through the pages as she tells stories from her own life about mistakes made, lessons learned, tears, laughter, and the reminder that God's grace is sufficient for our happy ending and the Prince who awaits us.

I seldom give out 5 stars (I think it diminishes the ratings system when they are given too liberally), but would give this a 4.5 stars. I also read this will have a Bible Study curriculum soon; I expect it will be top-notch!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Shelton Interactive, as part of its Book Review Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. 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."