We are taken into the world of late 1800s-early 1900s Paris. An American performer named Loïe Fuller pursues her dream of marrying visual art and colour with her dance performances. She hears of a new substance called radium, with luminescent properties she desires to bring her visions of costuming to reality on stage. First, a caveat: I am the author’s cousin. However, my mother was a librarian, and I was an English teacher for 38 years, and what I have to say is in light of those experiences, as well as my knowledge of Liz's research as she wrote this book. In today’s society, almost every women could benefit from the message that Priscilla offers. I think this book would work well as a women’s study guide, although reading it ‘solo’ would certainly be beneficial.

Marie Curie's story is the better known: an immigrant scholar from Poland who transformed chemistry, medicine, and physics with her discoveries of core elements, including radium, and presented the world with the weighty legacy of radioactivity. Uplifting and inspiring for those who have been searching for the answer to seemingly unsolvable skin complaints, Hanna's programme is also suitable for those simply looking to improve their overall health and complexion. It's a recipe for good health and clear skin, from the inside out. There's also the pull of hindsight, as we now know the devastating effects of the radioactive element and it's almost cringe-worthy to experience a time when those were not known.

By encouraging young women to find their true identity in Christ, Shirer focuses on God's Word as a means to make wise decisions. Many of the chapters include lists—list of the names that women should be called by, names that define who they are in God’s sight. Reality: While this book acted more as a reminder for me than learning a lot of new things, I needed that reminder. Priscilla talks about identity: what it is and what it is not, and how we are created uniquely by God to fulfill a specific purpose. The book also touches on other important topics like the importance of boundaries, social media, and knowing God's will. (She also talks very briefly, maybe less than a paragraph, about same-sex attraction, and handles it very well.) Now free from all skin complaints, Hanna is sharing her methods. Hanna's book Radiant features her famous '28 day plan', which has been credited by thousands of people worldwide as instrumental in helping them to heal their skin. Beginning with a juice cleanse, Hanna's plan then moves on to a range of delicious, skin-loving meals including Turmeric and Ginger Chia Pudding, Immunity Ramen, Beet Burgers and even Clean Tiramisu. There are 4 parts to this book each with several chapters. Each part begins with scriptures to read, affirmations to recite, along with an example of God’s eternal truth which women should believe. At the end of each section there are things to think about and ‘takeaways’.

The author of this arresting story runs an online educational platform for kids. She posts science related activities that can be done in the kitchen. She has a master's in bacteriology and has worked as a scientific researcher. It turns out she is also a skilled historical researcher. Beginning with a juice cleanse, Hanna takes you through a range of delicious, skin-loving meals including Turmeric and Ginger Chia Pudding, Immunity Ramen, Beet Burgers and even Clean Tiramisu. She also shows you how to create homemade beauty products, including an Avocado and Honey Facemask and Rosemary and Lemon Salt Scrub, which have gone on to inspire the eponymous skincare range for which she secured funding on BBC 2's Dragons' Den. A uniquely eccentric figure even in the crowded field of Belle Époque Paris, "rather than depending on choreography or exposed flesh," the 5-foot-2 Fuller "incorporated technology into her art to make it new and modern." Ceaselessly pursuing her beautiful stage illusions through luminescence, Fuller also sought patents for her inventions, for "it was Loie's mind, rather than her face or body, that made her shine brighter than the other dancers in Paris." Radiant reads like historical fiction but is in fact non fiction. The story of Marie Curie and her unlikely friendship with dancer Loie Fuller sheds a different light on the scientist. I am sure the author took a few artistic liberties, but judging by the impressive bibliography, they were thoughtfully and respectfully done. Both women faced struggles with the male-dominated society that existed in the late 19th and early 20th century. I especially enjoyed learning more about Marie Curie's life as a scientist, wife, mother and celebrity. Even a century ago women found that their personal life could be used against them by sensational journalism. Marie and Loie both met and were friends with many of the famous lights of their time - from Rodin and Isadora Duncan to Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison.For more than 20 years, Hanna Sillitoe suffered from severe psoriasis, eczema and acne. They dominated her life and shattered her confidence. At times she even resorted to wrapping her skin in clingfilm to stop her clothes rubbing against her raw skin. When her doctor told her the only remaining treatment was chemotherapy, she started researching diet and skin, and ultimately changed her life, cutting out caffeine, alcohol, sugar, dairy and wheat, with dramatic results. tl;dr: This bite-sized book talks about topics and struggles that are universal for young women from a solid and loving ChristIan perspective, focusing on identity. I would recommend this to teen girls, but more mature tweens and also young women in their early twenties might enjoy it too. Hanna Sillitoe’s recipes are world-renowned and are used across the globe after the original online recipe platform, My Goodness Recipes, became an overnight success. Hanna’s Radiant book followed, showcasing a wealth of tips and advice on delicious, nourishing food and drinks, with the sole aim of providing a powerful and life-changing diet for radiant skin. The radiant health diet is easy to follow and uses goodness of nature’s finest fruit and vegetables. Rich in nutrients and minerals, this radiant diet is often recommended for eczema sufferers as a natural alternative to creams and steroids. We hear stories from readers on a daily basis about how the book has transformed lives and these radiant recovery diet stories are simply heartwarming and inspiring. The connection between Marie Curie and Loie Fuller and their support of one another is one of the most intriguing parts of this book. Both were “radiant” in their own way and paved the way for more respect for women in both science and the arts during a time not given to thinking about women as anything other than as wives and mothers. It is a natural fit to connect these two in the book, especially in light of their long, on-going friendship. What better way to enlighten the reading audience about two such brilliant women? Liz’s ability to create dialogue for this book of narrative non-fiction is admirable; she does this with the utmost care and attention to the truth. Although non-fiction is not my favorite genre, I found the the dialogue livened up the material, helped me picture the scenes, and captured my attention in a way much non-fiction does not do for me.

A fresh and lovely dual biography of two extraordinary women who met at the intersection of science and art in the singular landscape of Belle Époque Paris. She teaches young women how to be radiant with the love and joy of Christ and to use their uniqueness to serve God and reflect Him to the world. "Overcomer" and the books it has sparked are great opportunities to reinforce the message of finding our identity in God rather than through our culture.As a fan of historical fiction, my initial reaction when finishing a book is to try to find out how much of it actually happened. The author’s ability to spin together both fictional and nonfictional together in a story can be mesmerizing. Radiant is a beautiful true story, examining the importance of female friendship.