DAUGHTERS OF THE KING: Finding Victory Through Your God-Given Personal Style

Nearly everything about Hayes's book—built on the premise that she can discern a woman's personality, spiritual gifts, work style and areas for growth by what style of clothing she wears—is questionable. Based on answers to survey questions, Hayes assigns readers to six different "image types," including Jaunty Esprit ("down-to-earth and casual"), Elegant Flamboyant ("a charismatic presence" able to assume authority) and "Sensual Exotic" ("sensuous spirit" with strong organizational skills). Chapters summarize how women of each type live, worship, work, dress and interact with family. Small bits of advice are included, and several fashion-specific paragraphs appear nearly verbatim in each chapter. Curiously, two or three biblical characters are profiled as "sisters" belonging to each image type, but there's often little justification for characterizations built on a scrap of a Bible verse and an active imagination. Much of each chapter focuses on clothing—how each type tends to dress and how women could improve their appearance. But the fashion advice is as shaky as the book's premise, geared more to older women who can't be bothered with following trends. (To wit: shoulder pads are always in style for the Elegant Flamboyant, and the Creative Poetic can wear pistachio green with salmon pink.) The book fails to live up to its premise and offers little of spiritual or stylistic value. (May 11)