Sundown (Sky King Ranch #3) by Susan May Warren | Romantic Suspense Review

Sundown

Sky King Ranch #3

Susan May Warren

Romantic Suspense

He doesn't trust her . . . but he can't let her go it alone

Former Delta Operative Colt Kingston knows when someone is lying. He may not know the truth, but he sure doesn't trust Tae, the mysterious woman his family rescued from an Alaskan blizzard. Behind those beautiful blue eyes, Colt can tell there is a troubled--and smart--woman.

A few of her stories prove true--they found the crashed plane and the dead body inside. Still, her tale of survival seems too incredible to believe . . . until the thugs she claims to be hunting her across Alaska show up and threaten Sky King Ranch. Now Tae must disappear, along with her secrets.

Colt will have to track her down and earn her trust before it's too late. It'll take the entire family to save the world from disaster.

The epic conclusion to Susan May Warren's Sky King Ranch trilogy.

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

How do you like your romantic suspense? Do you like it to slowly build in intensity? Or do you like to dive right into the action? If it's the later then you are in for a real treat. This book (and the whole series) definitely hits the ground running. 

What a trip this series has been. We started in Alaska at the Sky King Ranch and then moved to Africa with the second installment. Sundown brings us back to the ranch in Alaska but quickly moves us to Florida. 

If you've read the first two books you've been introduced to Tae but so much of who she is has been a mystery. Her story has been ongoing in the background throughout the series, but with book three we get to find out all the details. And the details are frightening!

We also get to know the rugged bad boy Colt. We first met him in book two where he was literally getting the snot beat out of him. He returned home to Alaska to recover but trouble followed and recovery had to wait.

This was an intense ending to a fabulous series. In my opinion these are not stand alone books. While each book gives us the story of one of the brothers, there is an underlying story that involves Tae that stretches from book one to book three. It would be such a shame for you to miss the unfolding mystery by skipping the first two books. Treat yourself with all three!

Sky King Ranch Series

Sunrise

Sunburst

Sundown

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

 

Sunburst (Sky King Ranch #2) by Susan May Warren | Contemporary Romance Review

Sunburst

Sky King Ranch #2

Susan May Warren

Contemporary Romance

When former Navy SEAL and lifelong bachelor Ranger Kingston is called upon to take part in a rescue mission to save his brother Colt from terrorists in Nigeria, he is shocked to find among the hostages a woman he could never forget.

Noemi Sutton was attempting to return a young girl to her family in Boko Haram territory when she and the girl found themselves taken hostage, along with several others. And while Ranger Kingston may be able to get the hostages away from their captors, he'll need Noemi's help if he ever hopes to get out of Nigeria alive.

Her solution? Pose as husband and wife. But when her uncle discovers the union, he insists on a traditional Nigerian wedding--which would bind Noemi to a man destined to break her heart. Worse, the trouble they're fleeing has found them--again. It's clear anyone around Noemi is bound to be caught in the cross fire. Including her potential new husband.

She'll need to figure out a way to leave the man she loves if she wants to save his life.

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

Sunburst is a book that I have been looking forward to. I enjoyed the first book in the series, Sunrise, but I really enjoyed this second book. The story shifts from Alaska to Nigeria and from Dodge Kingston to Ranger Kingston. And we get to meet the mysterious Colt Kingston.

Colt has become embroiled in a very dangerous situation and Ranger has come to rescue him. In the middle of this rescue Ranger meets the fascinating Noemi Sutton who is destined to change his life forever. 

Noemi is way more than she seems and I loved her character. She's feisty yet vulnerable and you can't help but be drawn to her. Ranger is more than drawn, he's downright smitten. The story of the two of them and their daring escapes keep the pages flying by. 

If the story of the two of them isn't enough there is still the mysterious ongoing storyline of Tae. It started in book one and is obviously going to continue into book three. Who is she really and what is she doing in the wilds of Alaska? I don't know but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Sky King Ranch Series

Sunrise

Sunburst

Sundown

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

 

Sunrise (Sky King Ranch #1) by Susan May Warren | Contemporary Romance Review

Sunrise

Sky King Ranch #1

Susan May Warren

Contemporary Romance

Coming home was never the plan

After a terrible family fight, pilot Dodge Kingston left home to join the Air Force. A decade later, he's headed back to the destiny that awaits him as heir to Sky King Ranch. But that's not all that's waiting for him at home.

Echo Yazzie is a true Alaskan woman--a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR. After her childhood best friend and former flame, Dodge, fled Denali, she settled into life on the Alaskan range. She's made her peace with being left behind--by her mother and by Dodge. And she's strong enough to live without them.

When one of Echo's fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold. What she doesn't know is that there are more than just the regular dangers of the Alaskan forests stalking her . . .

As Dodge sets out to find Echo, he can't ignore the feelings he still has for her. But will he be able to find her in time? And if he does, is there still room for him in her heart?

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

A new series by Susan May Warren always excites me. I know I'm in for a riveting tale with engaging characters. Sunrise  is the first installment of the Sky King Ranch series. It's set in Alaska so we know there's going to be plenty of adventure. 

The main characters are the Kingston family. A widowed father, a set of triplets, Dodge, Ranger, Colt, and a sister Larke.  The death of their beloved mother was hard on everyone but especially Dodge. Through the years he's become estranged from his family and has no plans to rectify that.

Of course God is very good at allowing circumstances to change our paths and that's what happens with Dodge. His father is in an accident and so Dodge finds himself coming home out of obligation to help his father. He has no intention of staying any longer than he has to and he has pre-planned to avoid everyone.

Poor Dodge! Small town life just doesn't work that way. People tend to get in your business whether you want them to or not. And that includes an old flame.

This book has a bit of everything. Adventure, mystery, suspense and of course a complicated romance. The story is primarily focused on Dodge but there's also a secondary story that I imagine will continue through the series. After finishing the first book I'm itching to dive into the second. 

Sky King Ranch Series

Sunrise

Sunburst

Sundown

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
 

The Price of Valor (Global Search and Rescue #3) by Susan May Warren | Contemporary Romance Review

The Price of Valor
Global Search and Rescue #3
Susan May Warren
Contemporary Romance

A high-octane mix of love and adventure

Kidnapped by rebels while serving as a humanitarian aid worker in Chechnya, Signe Kincaid has spent the past decade secreting out valuable information about Russian assets in the US to her CIA handler. Fearing for her daughter after being discovered as an operative, Signe sends her to former Navy SEAL Hamilton Jones for safekeeping. Signe is ready to give her life for her country, and she can hardly expect Ham to rescue her after breaking his heart over and over.

Hamilton Jones has never forgotten the only woman he loved--and he can't believe after all these years she's shown up alive. But can he forgive her for her secrets? And, when Ham discovers the reason Signe has kept her distance, he must choose between love for her and love for the nation he has vowed to protect.

Will he save the many? Or the few? And what is the price of valor?

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

Of the three novels in this series this is the one that I probably looked forward to the most. We were briefly introduced to Hamilton Jones and Signe Kincaid in book one. Then we got a little more to go on in book two. It was pure torture to wait and see what their complete story was. But truthfully it was worth it.

The hints that we received about these two in the previous books didn't hold a candle to the excitement of finally reading their story. We knew almost nothing of Signe but we had gotten some indication of who Hamilton was. But he just became bigger than life in his own volume of the series.

I would never have guessed at the depth of Signe's full story. It's heartbreaking and brave in a mixed-up set of circumstances. I didn't like her at first and was ready to write her off, but by the end I loved her character. Hamilton captured my attention from the beginning. But again I didn't even guess at the complexity of his overall story. 

This is one of Susan May Warren's best series. Each book and character will draw you in, even if you think that you aren't particularly interested in that person. I look forward to getting glimpses of them in future stories. I'm always asked by my friends if they can read a particular book in a series as a stand alone. As for this series . . . don't do it! The stories build to a great crescendo and really need to be read in order to get the full effect. It's so worth reading each book. I hope you'll take the time to treat yourself with this series. 

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Disclosure Statement: I received a copy of this book from Revell to facilitate my review.

 

 

The Way of the Brave (Global Search and Rescue #1) by Susan May Warren | Contemporary Romance Review

The Way of the Brave

Global Search and Rescue #1

Susan May Warren

Contemporary Romance

Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure--and his injuries--has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones's elite rescue team, but he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali.

Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her. As a consultant during a top-secret mission to root out the Taliban, she green-lighted an operation that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she'll be forced to trust her life and the lives of her friends to the most dangerous of heroes--the man she nearly killed.

Her skills and his experience are exactly what's needed to prevent another tragedy--but in order to truly set Orion free from his painful past, Jenny will have to reveal hers. They'll have to put their wounds behind them to survive, but at what cost?

READ AN EXCERPT

Wild Montana Skies (Montana Rescue #1) by Susan May Warren | Contemporary Romance Review

Wild Montana Skies

Montana Rescue #1

Susan May Warren

Contemporary Romance

The last thing Search and Rescue helicopter pilot Kacey Fairing needs upon returning home to Mercy Falls, Montana, is to run into her mistakes. After a devastating crash during her recent military tour in Afghanistan, she is emotionally broken but ready to start putting her life back together. She just wants to reconnect with her teenage daughter and spend the summer working as the new lead pilot of PEAK Rescue in Glacier National Park.

But her mistakes aren't so easily forgotten. Because Ben King is also back in town.

Country music star Ben King abandoned his past when he moved to Nashville thirteen years ago to start his career. He hoped to heal his broken heart, caused by losing the woman he loved. But when his father is injured, Ben is called home to help manage PEAK Rescue during his recovery. He doesn't realize his father has ulterior motives until his old flame, Kacey, walks into his house and back into his heart.

Now, with Mercy Falls in a state of emergency due to flash floods, Kacey and Ben will have to work together to save lives. But when secrets are uncovered and old hurts rise to the surface, will they walk away again? Or can they find a different ending to their country love song?

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

A contemporary romance set in Montana and written by Susan May Warren is my idea of reading heaven. I'm not sure why but I have always loved Montana. Things always seem bigger and better there. And this new series from Susan is living up to that bigger and better tag.

Even though this is a contemporary romance there is still an element of suspense that runs through the plot line. To me that is what made this particular novel so compelling. I think a sweet and sappy love story is a nice change now and then but I will take a tension filled drama hands-down every time.

The two main characters are both broken in their own ways. Each of their stories weaves through the other's life even in ways that they don't understand. As the tale unfolded I found myself eagerly anticipating their ultimate healing, not just from the emotional wounds that they carried but also the spiritual hurts that went even deeper.

If you're looking for an adventure along with your romance you can't go wrong with this one. Susan May Warren is a master storyteller and Wild Montana Skies showcases some of her best talent as a writer. I can't wait for the rest of the series to be published.

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Evergreen by Susan May Warren ~ Christmas Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Evergreen

A Christiansen Winter Novella

Susan May Warren

Contemporary Fiction / Romance

That's the magic of good-bye . . .

IT MAKES WAY FOR SOMETHING NEW.

AN UNEXPECTED HELLO.

An empty nest has Ingrid Christiansen dreading the upcoming holidays, but her husband, John, couldn’t be more excited about this new season of life. He even has a surprise trip abroad planned. He’s sure she’ll love it. What’s more romantic than Christmas in Paris?

Before he can stop her, however, Ingrid agrees to spearhead a major church project. Then their faithful dog, Butterscotch, needs emergency surgery, draining their savings. And then—because disasters strike in threes—an unexpected guest arrives, dredging up old hurts.

As a beautiful blanket of snow transforms the north woods into a winter wonderland, a deep chill settles over John and Ingrid’s marriage. With the holidays fast approaching, their only hope of keeping their love evergreen depends on turning the page on the past and embracing a new chapter of their future.

My Thoughts

Evergreen is everything that we have come to love and expect from Susan May Warren. She takes us to the cozy little town of Deep Haven in northern Minnesota. There we once again meet up with a group of characters that we've come to love like our own family. As we enter the story we find John and Ingrid embarking on a new chapter in their lives. They are beginning to navigate the road of empty nesters.

To say that John is thrilled with the prospect of some longed for alone time with Ingrid is an understatement. For years he's looked forward to this point in their life and has envisioned being able to pursue things that weren't possible with all the kids at home. Unfortunately Ingrid doesn't feel the same. In fact she feels rather lost and empty. Her life centered around her children but now that they have moved on to lives of their own she's left with a deep sense of grief. The impending holidays just magnify her emptiness.

When an unexpected opportunity to nurture a troubled teenager presents itself, Ingrid is thrilled and feels as if she has a purpose again. John on the other hand seems resentful. But there are underlying circumstances that begin to surface that shed light onto the growing distance between John and Ingrid. 

Evergreen is filled with flawed characters in need of God's grace. Through them we get to explore what it means to love and to be loved. We learn about giving unselfishly of ourselves to those who may not seem like they deserve it. Above all we are reminded that grace and forgiveness are the best gifts we can give to ourselves and others.

If you have a book lover on your Christmas gift list, pick this one up. It is the perfect holiday read. It is a novella so it can be consumed in one lovely evening in front of the fire. 

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Book Review ~ You Don’t Know Me by Susan May Warren @SusanMayWarren

You Don’t Know Me

Susan May Warren

Deep Haven Series

Fiction/Romance

Buy it on Amazon! 

Back of the book:

The secret she’s kept to protect her family could be the very thing that tears them apart.

To all who know her, Annalise Decker is a model wife and mother. She’s a permanent member of the PTA, never misses a sporting event, and is constantly campaigning for her husband’s mayoral race.

No one knows that Annalise was once Deidre O’Reilly, a troubled young woman whose testimony put a dangerous criminal behind bars. Relocated through the Witness Security Program to the quaint harbor town of Deep Haven, Deidre received a new identity and a fresh start, which began when she fell in love with local real estate agent Nathan Decker.

Twenty years later, Annalise couldn’t be more unprepared for her past to find her. When Agent Frank Harrison arrives with news that the man she testified against is out on parole and bent on revenge. Annalise must face the consequences of her secrets. Will she run again, or will she find the courage to trust those she loves most with both her past and her future?

About the author:

Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning novelist of over thirty novels. A five-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.

A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!

Find out more about Susan May at susanmaywarren.com

My thoughts:

The Witness Protection Program has always fascinated me. What would it be like to leave everything and everyone behind and start a new life? How hard would it be to become virtually dead to all your loved ones? That is the premise behind You Don’t Know Me.

Annalise has already given everything up to save herself and many others. She has been relocated to Deep Haven, which is one of those towns to rival the likes of Mitford or Avonlea. In fact I would love to live there among its wonderful residents if it weren’t for the bitterly cold winters.

This story really begins twenty years after Annalise’s relocation. She’s happily married raising three teenagers. Her life takes a completely unexpected turn when her “Uncle” Frank shows up. The prospect of having to relocate again is overwhelming. Through Annalise’s story you realize that no one is an island unto themselves. Our actions always cause a ripple effect that reaches far wider than we ever anticipate.

I was totally engrossed in the story. Just thinking of the logistics of this situation has kept me pondering the book for days. Susan has once again written a gut wrenching story about one of the most difficult situations imaginable. What I enjoy most is that she always includes eternal hope in her stories.

The Deep Haven series can be read as stand-alone books. There is a story line that runs throughout, but the main story in each individual book is distinct. I love this series and think that you will too.

Follow the blog tour:

 “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Win a $200 Weekend Getaway from @SusanMayWarren! RSVP

Welcome to the campaign launch for Susan May Warren’s latest offering in her beloved Deep Haven series, You Don’t Know Me. Susan is celebrating with a $200 Weekend Getaway Giveaway and hosting a fun video Author Chat Party!

 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to catch up with a loved one and “Get to Know” your spouse, friend, sister, mom…whomever!)
• The entire set of Deep Haven Books

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 22nd. Winner will be announced at the ”You Don’t Know Me” Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/23. Connect with Susan for an evening of book chat, Deep Haven trivia, and a live video chat! There will also be info about Susan’s BookShout read-along and a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!

So grab your copy of You Don’t Know Me and join Susan on the evening of the October 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the books – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren

The Shadow of Your Smile

Deep Haven

Susan May Warren

Book description:

A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the quaint town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can’t quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston’s marriage. After twenty-five years, they’re contemplating divorce . . . just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. But then an accident erases part of Noelle's memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn’t remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped their family apart. What’s more, Noelle is shocked that her life has turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. As she tries to regain her memory and slowly steps into her role as a wife and mother, Eli helps her readjust to daily life with sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can’t remember? Will their secrets destroy them . . . or has erasing the past given them a chance for a future? Read the story behind the story here.

More about Susan:

Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of thirty novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.
A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you! She is also the founder of My Book Therapy, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. You can find her online at:SusanMayWarren.com

My thoughts:

I do believe I have already found a book for my 2012 top ten list and it is only two weeks into the New Year. Granted I am a Susan May Warren fan, but even for her this book rises to a new level.

In the Note from the Author, Susan poses the following: “Ever look back on your life and think: What happened? What if you could reset your life? Would you do the same things? And, what parts of your life would you keep…or cut out?” These questions are what make up the storyline and they are also what you will continue to think about long after you have finished the story.

At the beginning of the story Noelle has an accident that wipes out her memory of the past 25 years. She is a married mother of three grown children but her last memory is of being single and in college. At one point in the story she looks at her husband Eli, whom she does not remember, and says, “Do I still paint?” This is not only a shock to her but to her whole family. It makes you stop and think, am I who I planned to be and what changed those plans? Let me just say there have been some deep discussions between my husband and I because of this book.

The characters in this work are well developed. You feel like they could be your neighbors or maybe even at times yourself. There are a couple of other storylines going on that add to the depth of the novel. Several of the background characters are from previous Deep Haven novels. For those that have read the other books in this series you will enjoy getting a peak into what is going on around Deep Haven. For those of you that have not read the previous novels this is easily read as a stand-alone.

I cannot recommend this book enough! Carve out a portion of time and begin a journey into the life of the Hueston family and of yourself.



“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Come Back to Deep Haven and Win a $200 Visa Card from @SusanMayWarren!

Sometimes love requires a little forgetting ... Come back to Deep Haven and find out what's been happening in your favorite quaint hamlet. If you're new to the Deep Haven series - this is the perfect book to start with - each book in the series is a stand alone story.


Susan is celebrating the release of The Shadow of Your Smile by giving away a prize pack worth over $200 from 1/9-1/28.





One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to rekindle a little romance, treat yourself to a spa day, snap up those shoes you’ve been eyeing, or purchase a few great books!)

• The entire set of Deep Haven Books 

The winner will be announced on 1/30/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles! Just click one of the icons below to enter and tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

 

Enjoy the Ride! by Susan May Warren

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!



Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from some of today's most beloved writer's (Tricia Goyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, Sibella Giorello and more)! Please follow the series through Christmas day as each contributor shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.


AND just for fun ... there's also a giveaway! Fill out this simple {form} and enter for a chance to win a beautiful pearl necklace and earring set ($450 value). Contest runs 12/14 - 12/25 and the winner will on 1/1. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents. You may enter once per day.


If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

Enjoy the Ride!

Susan May Warren

We sit poised on the top of a cliff, a near drop off before us, that falls to a rushing river. In the middle, a bridge of snow and ice hints at our destination. My husband guns the snowmobile engine. “Ready?”


Ready? For a face plant into a tree, maybe reconstructive surgery? To feel my stomach ripped from my body as we plummet down the mountain? Let’s do it!


We live on five acres of woods in northern Minnesota that butts up to a national forest. Hence, our backyard is about a hundred thousand acres. Aside from harboring deer, lynx, fox, cougar and bear, it also makes excellent snowmobile terrain. And not long ago, Mrs. Claus gave her Santa a snowmobile for two.


I love snowmobiling. Flying over the snow, catching air over drifts. I love to drive, to be at the helm of the beast as I weave around trees and over hill and dale, my husband sitting behind me. I also love riding behind my husband as he drives, feeling those powerful arms as he’s muscling the snowmobile into the wilds. We follow unknown trails, driven by a Magellan spirit, hoping that we have enough gas to get us back to civilization. I love hanging on, simply trusting him, knowing that wherever he’s taking me, he’s going first.


But there are times, when I see where he’s taking me, and I just have to bury my head in his back. Like straight down a cliff.


However, my heart cheers, despite the terror as we gun it down the hill, over the river, up the opposite side. And, if we hadn’t let ourselves go, we would have never discovered the beauty of a winter river, a hidden jewel buried deep in the forest. Nor the exhilaration of facing the challenge together.


Further on, we find an enchanted forest of towering white pine. Catch a view of Lake Superior, discover an old cabin in the woods.


It occurs to me that snowmobiling is much like my spiritual life. Occasionally, I drive, and it’s me setting our course, weaving through the trees, getting us hopelessly lost. But when God takes the “wheel” and I hang on, trusting Him for the speed and destination, I see the scenery. I trust him to keep me safe. I trust him to bring me home, where there is an eternal supply of hot chocolate.


As Christmas season becomes more hectic, what if I let God drive?  Maybe everything doesn’t have to be perfect, and maybe I don’t have to control every tradition, every holiday nuance. What if I just held on for the ride?

I’ll bet I’ll still get there, and I might even enjoy the scenery along the way.

How have you let go, and “enjoyed” the scenery of this hectic, exhilarating Christmas season?

Merry Christmas!

***

Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of thirty novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press.  A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.  A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!.  She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Heiress by Susan May Warren

Heiress

Chronicles of an American Empire Series #1

Susan May Warren

They can buy anything they want—fame, power, beauty, even loyalty. But they can’t buy love. The beautiful and wealthy heiress daughters of August Price can buy everything their hearts desire. But what if their desire is to be loved, without an enormous price tag attached? 

When one sister betrays another for the sake of love, will she find happiness? And what happens when the other sets out across the still untamed frontier to find it—will she discover she’s left it behind in the glamorous world of the New York gilded society? What price will each woman pay for being an heiress?

Set in the opulent world of the Gilded Age, two women discover that being an heiress just might cost them everything they love.

My thoughts

I am a big Susan May Warren fan. In fact she wrote one of my all-time favorite Christmas stories, The Great Christmas Bowl. I’ve read several of her contemporary fiction works and thoroughly enjoyed them. When I received Heiress and realized that it was a historical fiction story I wondered how she would do in this genre. Well, Ms. Warren you have just proven that you can write with the best of them!

Esme and Jinx Price are two very privileged daughters of newspaper mogul August Price. Esme is expected to make a good marriage to propel the family upwards on the social ladder. The problem is that Esme doesn’t want that life. Jinx on the other hand wants what she can’t have, which is namely whatever her sister has.

The story takes many twists and turns and leaves you wondering just how anything is ever going to work out. Years pass and things seem to go from bad to worse. But just when you think all is lost, Providence happens.

This is a great story about love lost and love gained. The author’s note in the back of the book will provoke thought on what happiness is and to what lengths are you willing to go to obtain it. The questions for discussion would be great for your book club.

Last but not least…my favorite part of the book is that it is book one in the series. That means there are more to come! I cannot wait to find out what happens next in the lives of Esme and Jinx’s families.

*I received a copy of this book for my participation in this book tour from Litfuse . This review is my own and may differ from others. No other compensation was received.

My Foolish Heart (Deep Haven #4) by Susan May Warren

 

My Foolish Heart

Deep Haven #4

Susan May Warren

Contemporary Fiction

 

My thoughts on My Foolish Heart:

On this fourth trip to Deep Haven we hear Issy, Caleb, Lucy and Seb’s stories. Issy is paralyzed by fear from a past event that has shrunk her world into two small blocks. Caleb is an injured Iraqi war veteran trying to put his life back together. Lucy is busy trying to hold on to a legacy from three past generations and Seb is returning home to find what he has lost.

Once again Ms. Warren has written a beautiful story that instantly draws you in to the lives of these characters. Deep Haven is a place that represents where we all want to be, a place where we are known and loved for who we are and not just what we can do.

My Foolish Heart would make a wonderful book for your book club. It has very thought provoking questions in the back. I have read book one in this series, but not the other two (Yet!) In my opinion even though this is book four in the series, it can easily be a stand-alone. The characters from the preceding books are there, but they are in the background and it is not necessary to know their whole story to enjoy this one. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse and Tyndale House Publishers for my honest review!