Varina Denman
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Grant Writer ~ Author ~ Editor
Varina Denman
_____________________________________
Grant Writer ~ Author ~ Editor
LOOKING GLASS LIES
A poignant and relatable novel, Looking Glass Lies captures the war women wage against themselves, and the struggle to see beauty reflected in a mirror not distorted by society’s unrelenting expectations.
For most of her adult life, Cecily Ross has compared herself to other women—and come up short. After a painful divorce from her emotionally abusive husband, Cecily returns to her hometown of Canyon, Texas, looking to heal.
But coming home isn’t what she expects. In a town as small as Canyon, her pain is difficult to escape—especially with her model-perfect ex–sister-in-law working at the town’s popular coffee-shop hangout. With help from her father, a support group, and an old friend who guides her to see her own strengths, Cecily may have a shot at overcoming her insecurities and learning to love again.
The true test comes when tragedy strikes, opening Cecily’s eyes to the harmfulness of her distorted views on beauty—and giving her the perfect opportunity to find peace at last.
Thank you for pausing here to learn about Looking Glass Lies. I’m the author, Varina Denman, and that’s me on the right. Or at least my wrist. I wanted to show you the #forNina hashtag because it’s the reason behind my writing the book in the first place. You see, Looking Glass Lies isn’t just a story about a divorced woman with low self-esteem; it’s a statement to all women everywhere.
Even though we can’t control the negative influences of our society and the media, we can choose what our reaction is going to be. Looking Glass Lies, along with the #forNina hashtag, is a declaration that ALL WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL.
I’d love you to read my book, but more importantly, I hope you think about the broader meaning behind it’s pages and refuse to believe the lies you hear when you look in the mirror. Because you, my friend, are lovely.
Praise for Looking Glass Lies
“Denman’s latest is powerful and a novel that should be required reading for adults. Every woman, regardless of outward appearance, struggles with body image or self-esteem issues. This book reaches the heart and dares to go beneath the surface to explore the reasons why, yet doesn’t offer trite platitude answers. Hope is revealed, but in a subtle way.” Melissa Parcel, RT Book Reviews Top Pick
“What if we learned from a character and became victorious in our own life? That is exactly what Denman does in Looking Glass Lies. She doesn’t just write a great story, she gives readers hope that we could look at ourselves differently and see that beauty is who we are, not how we look. Looking Glass Lies is for every woman.” Andi Tubbs, Goodreads Reviewer
“Only three times in my life has a book left me speechless. Looking Glass Lies was the third. Denman puts into words the emotional roller coaster women go through because of shame, insecurity, and the words and actions of others.” Vanessa M., GoodReads Reviewer