The Sparkle Effect by Kristen Dalton Wolfe

Perhaps you've met a woman who just sparkles. She has a radiance and joy on the inside that shines out. Wolfe says it is the sparkle that comes when a woman has experienced Jesus as an identity transformer. She is a woman who is becoming who God created her to be.

Wolfe helps us understand how that sparkle comes to be. She covers each of 31 qualities in as many chapters. These are qualities of a woman who sparkles. She should know. She was Miss USA in 2009.

Some of the qualities she covers are ones I expected, such as makeup and clothing. But there were several qualities that surprised me. Finding your dream was one. She suggests God will give you a vision of what he wants you to accomplish. She even includes a number of questions to help readers discover their passions and ultimately their dream. Another was having a childlike wonder, something we often lose as we grow older. Other surprising qualities included resilience, confidence, focus, humility, and wisdom. My favorite was being God-centered. Even the chapter on clothing emphasized dressing to express your essence rather than to make an impression.

I am impressed with level of insight and maturity Wolfe evidences in this book. I thought maybe this book would reflect the shallow thoughts of a beauty queen. I was happily surprised to find the author is a thoughtful, well read committed Christian who is more concerned about our inner spiritual condition than outward appearance. And she is practical. She includes great questions for reflection and suggestions for action. She also provides a prayer at the end of each chapter as well as Scripture passages relating to the topic.

I recommend this book to teens and career age women who desire to sparkle with inner beauty, expressing their true identity in Christ. You'll find good inspiration and a practical strategy for transforming growth. This is a book you can read time and again along your journey.

Food for thought: “There is nothing more sparkle-infusing than spending time with God and basking in His love.” (Loc 1794/3835)

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Kristen Dalton Wolfe is a former Miss USA and the founder of SheIsMore.com, an inspirational online magazine that impacts more than 400,000 readers every month. She is a television host, personal coach, motivational speaker, and appears in global advertising campaigns. She and her husband live in Los Angeles with their daughter. You can find out more at http://sheismore.com/.

FaithWords, 320 pages.

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