In My Sister’s Shoes: Essays of Inspiration and Encouragement for Women. Walk into any bookstore or check out any online bookseller and you can easily become overwhelmed by the proliferation of inspirational books they have to offer. Just when you think you have heard it all and everything offered is tainted with an element of staleness, a fresh new voice comes along and hits you in a place every book before had overlooked. In My Sister’s Shoes is such a work, it picks you up from a place that’s new and familiar at the same time.

The book is a collection of forty-five essays which cover topics relevant to women everywhere from relationships, self-esteem, faith and life-management. The primary message is “no matter what you are going through, someone else has been there before you and survived and you will too and no matter what bad decisions you have made in the past, you must choose to move forward.” The common theme which runs through the collection is we all go through wilderness experiences as part of our growth process and with growth comes the ability to make better decisions.

Reading the book feels more like sitting down at your kitchen table with your best friend to enjoy a cup coffee. Ms. Anderson-Blair speaks in the voice of the big sister/best friend. As you read, you will find yourself talking back to her and not feel silly because the book is more like a conversation than a book. No matter where you are on life’s path, you will find something that encourages you and at times you will laugh out loud and at times you will fight back tears.