About the Book:
A Christiansen Family Novel.
Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen’s cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits—and starting to fear she doesn’t have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.
Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior—on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he’s getting from Eden Christiansen isn’t making things any easier. But when Owen’s carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.
Learn more and purchase a copy at Susan’s website.
About the Author:
Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award-winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women’s events about God’s amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors. Visit MyBookTherapy.com to learn more.
Learn more about Susan May Warren at her website.
My Opinion:
A search of my blog will clue you into the fact that I’m a big fan of Susan May Warren’s books so when I had the chance to recieve a copy of It Had to be You I jumped on it because I so enjoy her style of writing and I wanted to see what was going on in the Christiansen family. I was pulled into the story of Owen and Eden, although it’s more about Eden than Owen, but she’s his self-proclaimed cheerleader, care taker and all around door mat for her younger brother – everything else takes a back seat to her brother and his career in the NHL. I felt bad and could also relate to Eden – I know how it feels to be the one who feels they must keep an eye on all things and try so hard to keep the family together or at least one member from failing or falling – I also know the feeling of letting go and just letting God. Eden wants her own life – to become a reporter now just an obit writer, to feel loved and wanted – but she doesn’t want her brother to fail – when an accident happens she realizes she can’t be everything to her brother.
As I said this book pulled me in from the side story of Sam and his daughter Maddy, who desperately needs another heart transplant to the other characters in the Christiansen family – there was a lot of other happenings that made it seem real, like in all our lives, it’s more than just one thing at a time. The mystery of a John Doe patient who Eden and Jace help track down his family so they can help out the patient, leads to more than just closure for his family. Through it all Eden struggles with what God wants from her as does her romantic interest, Jace – that said there is a bit of romance and there is some passionate kissing between Eden and Jace – I was a little put off by this but I skipped it when I could tell it was coming up, it was not a huge part of the story (the passionate kissing – the romance was) so skipping it did not detract from the overall story.
If you’ve read Susan May Warren’s books before then you won’t be disappointed in this one, though it’s a tad bit longer than her others I’ve read but that made it all the more delightful. There is also the series prequel which is the story that started it all – of how John and Ingrid (Owen and Eden’s mom and dad) met and began the Christiansen family, which is a nice touch as I know many readers love the background story of elder characters that helped shape who the younger characters came to be. If you haven’t read any of Susan’s books I highly suggest and recommend the Christiansen family novels (there are only 2 so far) the writing is great and the characters are well rounded and seemingly real.
If you’d like to read what other bloggers had to say visit the Litfuse Landing Page.
Susan May Warren is celebrating the release of her newest Christiansen Family novel, It Had To Be You, with a $100 Visa cash card giveaway and offering readers a free book club kit.
One winner will receive:
- $100 Visa cash card
- Take a Chance on Me and It Had to Be You by Susan May Warren
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 29th. Winner will be announced April 1st on Susan’s blog. Also, visit her website to learn more about the It Had To Be You backstory and Susan’s free book club kit.
GrowingForChrist 