Age before Beauty: A Novel

Desperate to stay home with her baby, Allie Harrod launches a new career. Sure, she dropped out of Girl Scouts because she was lousy at cookie sales, but makeup is different, right? She’ll do anything to make enough money to cover her share of the household bills, but how can she focus on her business when her list of problems is growing? None of her pre-baby clothes fit, her checking account is dwindling, and her mother-in-law has decided to move in! To top it off, her husband’s attractive coworker suddenly needs his help every weekend. Middle sister Joan insists that God has the answers to all her problems, but Allie isn’t so sure. Can she really trust him?

A lighthearted contemporary tale of family, faith, and fun, Age before Beauty is the second book in the Sister-to-Sister series from well-reviewed author Virginia Smith.

From the Back Cover

What will she give up to have it all?

Allie Harrod is ready for a new career. She doesn’t want to go back to full time work and risk missing her baby’s first smile. But she does want to contribute to the family income, and a home-based business seems like the perfect solution. Sure, she dropped out of Girl Scouts because she was lousy at cookie sales, but selling makeup is different, right?

Still, the challenges Allie faces seem to be rising as fast as her credit card balance. None of her clothes fit, her mother-in-law is driving her batty, and her husband only leaves the couch to go help his beautiful--and single--coworker with her home repairs. What’s a working girl to do?

A lighthearted story of family and finding focus, Age before Beauty is the second book in the Sister-to-Sister series.


"A fun and touching story of motherhood, marriage, and sisterhood."--Sharon K. Souza, author of Lying on Sunday and Every Good & Perfect Gift

"Smith entertains and enlightens through down-home characters you can welcome into your heart like family."--Ann H. Gabhart, author of The Outsider

"Smith strikes a beautiful balance between humor and poignancy in her tale of one woman’s struggle to be all: wife, mother, sister, and daughter."--Tamara Leigh, award-winning author of Splitting Harriet and Faking Grace


Virginia Smith is the author of eight novels, including Stuck in the Middle. In 2008 she was named Writer of the Year at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. She and her husband, Ted, divide their time between Kentucky and Utah, and escape as often as they can for diving trips to the Caribbean. Learn more about Ginny and her books at www.VirginiaSmith.org.