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25 January 2012

Teresa Mathews Reviews The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren

The Shadow of Your Smile, by Susan May Warren


The Shadow of Your Smile
Review by Teresa Mathews


4Stars~ ****

This book introduces us to Noelle and Eli Hueston, married couple of 25 years, parents to three children. It seems that Noelle and Eli have grown apart because of a tragic event that forever changed their lives. I would go into detail but since it is the reason behind all of the pain each character has endured I won’t.

Noelle, a 46 year old wife and mother that has finally come to the end of her rope with life, has decided to make a life changing decision but before she can act on it another tragedy or maybe not a tragedy at all, strikes. On a road trip she stops at a coffee shop and while in the restroom a robbery takes place. Hoping she can get out of the store without getting hurt she makes a run for it and takes a nasty fall and as a result she loses her memory. Noelle not only forgets her name, she forgets everything from the last 25 years. She wakes up from a coma and thinks she is still a young beautiful college co-ed. She is SHOCKED to find she has the body of a 46 year old. I have to say this part had me laughing out loud. Noelle is even more shocked to find out she is “supposedly” married to a totally “grumpy old man” who is trying to convince her that she is also a mother. The two young men in her room seem very nice and they are handsome but she cannot remember anything about them. Will Noelle get her memory back? Will she ever remember the good times she had with Eli before her world fell apart?

Eli, the former sheriff of Deep Haven, a beautiful snow covered town in Minnesota, has pretty much given up on his marriage. After “the event” happened, he has lived in guilt for what he thinks was his fault, after all he was the sheriff and it was his job to protect. Eli has tried to find solace in a lot of different things to ease the pain but nothing except the friendship he has with another woman has seemed to work. He knows this is not what he should be doing but again out of guilt of what happened he has taken their friendship further than he should. When Eli gets the call that Noelle was in a town several hours away from home and has had an accident, he rushes to the hospital to be with her. To say he is shocked when Noelle doesn’t remember him would be putting it mildly, but for her not to remember her children was almost more than he could take. Will Eli finally realize the solace his heart has been looking has been right here with his wife the whole time?

There are several secondary characters that Susan does a good job telling their story and how their lives play out. Especially Noelle and Eli’s children, in fact I would love for there to be a sequel based on their oldest son’s story. (Hint Hint)

This is a story that will make you think about “what if”. I’m sure we have all had those moments, especially if something tragic has happened to us, a loved one or a friend. “What if” we could turn back the clock to another time? Would our lives really be better? Shouldn’t we just be grateful for what the Lord has given us? Yes! “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Susan May Warren did an excellent job of making you think while reading this book. Thank you Susan for making me stop to remember how thankful I am for my wonderful husband of almost 25 years (April 11) and my family. I can’t wait to read your next book!


GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment for a drawing later in the week!





24 comments:

  1. A winner of a book! Please enter me.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

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  2. Good luck Linda! Thanks for coming by. :)

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  3. Teresa, what an awesome review, gf! I know everyone will want to read this one now, especially me!

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  4. It's a good book...I didn't want to put it down. I know you'll like it.

    I should let Carlton see this so he'll know what I said about him! :)

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  5. Wow Teresa, that's a great review! Very well done! I like reading your reviews :)

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  6. Teresa!!! I wasn't planning on reading this book, as I have found that contemporary ones often disappoint me, BUT your review has me wanting this one!

    Don't tell Diana I was here reading it either ;)

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  7. Too late, Anne! hehe And I LOVE seeing you here or anywhere on FB that I can! You're a doll, and I think Teresa's been holding out on us. I think she has been writing reviews incognito for years; this review is just too good for a beginner!

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  8. ANNE!! What are you doing here? ;)

    Okay, okay, I'm with Diana and LOVE seeing you around!! :))

    I don't often read contemmporary either for the same reason, Anne.

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  9. Thank you both so much Marian and Anne. :) I hope my head isn't going to swell from all of these sweet words.

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  10. Diana you are so funny, I'm glad I have a friend that can make me laugh, you are a treasure. You know how my mind thinks, when I read your post and saw the word "incognito" I immediately thought of myself with those funny glasses on, the ones with the big nose attached. LOL!

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  11. I really want to read this series. I love contemporary fiction. It was the genre of christian fiction I first starting reading in high school. It has really only been a couple of years that I started reading historical fiction.

    jen.whitney08 at gmail dot com

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  12. Jen, this the first time I have read one of Susan's books, I want to find the rest of them now. She's a very talented author.

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  13. I enjoyed all the books in the Deep Haven series and would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the great review. And I am very thankful for my hubby of 20 years.
    Sharon
    smoore at tcq dot net

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  14. I love the story concept! Thanks for sharing this review with us and telling us more about The Shadow of Your Smile. I have seen it reviewed and promoted lots of places. : )
    Blessings,
    Carrie at turansky dot com

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  15. Glad you came by Sharon and Carrie. Sharon I am with you...I have a wonderful hubby and I can't imagine if something like this would happen to me.

    Carrie it was a wonderful story, Susan did a great job...I didn't want to put it down once I got into it. :)

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  16. I enjoy reading Susan's books; this sounds like another one I'd like to read. Thanks for featuring "The Shadow of Your Smile."

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  17. "The Shadow of Your Smile" is a must read for me! After reading your review Teresa I know that I would love to win this book!

    Thanks for this great review and giveaway!

    Blessings!
    Judy
    judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  18. Pam I enjoyed reading this so much it made me search for more of Susan's books to read.


    Thank you Judy, I know you will like it. :)

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  19. Teresa, the great thing about Susan and her writing gift is that she writes so MANY different types of books. She's a pro at all of them :)

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  21. Anne, I can't wait to discover them all. :)

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  22. I love the cover on this and it sounds like a good story. Thanks for the opportunity to win this!

    ~Barbara Smith

    thatoldgal@gmail.com

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  23. Good luck Barbara! :) I know you will love it.

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  24. Congrats to Pam K. for winning her choice of a SM Warren book of her choice. What a fun week!

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