Guest Review of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Susan May Warren

Baby, It's Cold Outside cover, Summerside Press

"Baby, It's Cold Outside" 

By: Susan May Warren 
Summerside Press, 2011


Reviewed by: Julie Lippo 

I had never read a book by Susan May Warren before.  I read it on Nook color. Before I received the book I had attended a chat party hosted by Author Susan May Warren and was intrigued by the storyline. 

Susan May Warren's book "Baby It's Cold Outside", is a book that I really can relate to. I grew up in Northern Minnesota where blizzards are very common. In the book it talks about having a storm shelter, which I had never heard of. We did have something similar in the 1970's - we would put a "helping hand" poster/picture on our window letting children know that this was a safe house if they needed help just the same as having a Storm Shelter. Children walking to and from school could find shelter if there was a blizzard or other people if the temperatures were extremely cold and needed to come in out of the dangerous weather.


In this story Dottie's home becomes the Shelter from The Storm where four others have managed to come in out of the blizzard. Will Dottie believe in Christmas again, will she learn to let go of the past? Will Violet learn the true meaning of why Jake is really there to see her? Will Gordon who is Dottie's neighbor finally tell her the truth? And Arnie, the little boy who comes in from the storm, learns something as well. Will all of them learn to believe in miracles, love, and to learn to let go of the past? Will these broken hearted strangers learn to trust and love again and to believe in the spirt of Christmas?  Find out in Baby It's Cold Outside!! 

Susan has written a story that is so vivid I felt like I was in Dottie's home with all of them and feeling God's love all around me from His loving arms and with Jake, Gordon, Violet, Arnie as well as Dottie herself. Susan truly has a gift from God to bring us such a heartwarming story!! This is an author that you will not want to miss reading. I am so glad that I found her.


Thanks for the guest post, Julie!  This book is available as a paperback or Kindle through Amazon and paperback through Christian Book Distributors as well as other vendors. 


GIVEAWAY: We are giving away a copy of one of Susan's books this week. Leave a comment to enter in the drawing. 

Heiress by Susan Mary Warren

Heiress (Daughters of Fortune)

By Susan May Warren

(Summerside Press, 2011)

 41/2 stars~

Available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

Review by Diana L. Flowers

Powerfully Moving Story!

Susan May Warren pens a powerfully moving story that takes place during the Gilded Age of America, a time of the elite set; of riches and glamorous cotillions, motorcars and yachts, and forbidden passions and discontentment. It is the story of two sisters, Esme and Jinx Price, daughters of the wealthy newpapaper magnate, August Price, who are as different as night and day. Esme wishes only to follow in her father's footsteps, to become a famous female journalist, whereas her younger sister, Jinx, wants only to be a member of the elite society, possessing great riches and status, to the point of wanting her own sister's fiance, the wealthy Foster Worth. 

Broken-hearted Esme's journey takes her to Montana, a far cry from what she was use to in New York; a mining town with vigilantes, gamblers, and a saloon-turned-headquarters for her newspaper. She has no desire to ever marry, but meets the handsome Daughtry Hoyt, wealthy son of the owner of Silverthread Mines. Will she find love again and what terrible tragedy draws her back to her opulent home in New York City?  Does she learn to commit her ways to the Lord and finally find peace?

Jinx seems to have everything her heart could ever desire; a wealthy husband, jewels, the best parties, but her life is just a facade. One foolish night threatens to ruin her life forever, and her best laid plans for her future come crumbling in on her. Is there something deeper that money can't buy, and does Jinx find it? Will love's elusive dream ever find her again?

This is the second series I have read by Susan May Warren, and all I can say is NOW I see why she wins so many awards for her writing. I was a little nervous starting into this book, because Ms. Warren does not sugarcoat her characters or her storyline at all. Her characters are human and sinful, and not knowing God they do some pretty awful things, but you find yourself loving them anyway. The storyline drew me in, and I found myself not being able to put this book down after I got into it, except out of necessity. This novel was heartbreakingly realistic....edgy to be sure, but oh, what a satisfying conclusion! 

Susan May Warren, you are one master storyteller! 


GIVEAWAY:  We are giving away a copy of one of Susan's books this week - your choice of book and format (ebook, paperback)! This book is also available for purchase through other outlets such as Christian Book Distributors (See all Susan May Warren's books on CBD).

Review - Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland

Review of Love Finds You in Annapolis,Maryland

By Roseanna M. White

Summerside Press (December 2011)

Roseanna has written a beautiful book.  Her voice is fresh and lovely.  She lends authenticity to the story with her own history of having attended college in historic Annapolis.  Her love for the city is evident in her descriptions.  The story is set during the time Annapolis was the nation’s capital during a short time in 1783-84. Roseanna is a member of Colonial American Christian Writers, a group which I founded, and Roseanna also contributes to Colonial Quills, our group blog.  It was so fun seeing some of the topics we researched together as a group showing up in the book!  That was one of the neatest things about this novel, on a personal level.  We appreciate her acknowledgement of the group, as well! 

The premise for this book is not a typical romance nor even for historical romances.  So if the reader is expecting a cookie cutter romance this is not going to be their book. This is not a “let me settle in for my light romance” read.  Both the hero, Emerson Fielding,  and the heroine, Lark,  are flawed people who have a very significant parting right near the beginning.  This is a Christian fiction and both of these characters have the strongest character arcs I have seen since I can ever remember.  I suspect that is one of the many reasons RT gave this book their top amount of stars and selected it as the December Top Inspirational Pick.  There is profound change in Lark and Emerson, particularly as God leads them to be the persons they were meant to be and not who they had been at home in Virginia.
 

One thing unique about this book is that the life issues of the young woman are portrayed with such authentic emotion as are Lark’s interpretation of her former fiance’s actions. Because Ms. White is still in her twenties, I believe she is well able to capture with a freshness and vivacity and authenticity the angst of this age group.  Granted, Roseanna married young and has little children, but it is clear when reading this book that she offers a unique and fresh author’s voice, and a way of characterization that is more in line with how a young person would indeed react. 

If you are going to read this book, don’t pick it up until you have several nights open in a row.  You will want to know what happens and won’t want to set this one aside and come back to it.

Bibliotherapy: The hero is a RevolutionaryWar of veteran with PTSD.  The heroine has been “acting” out a role rather than displaying who God intended her to be.  She has been dishonest with herself and with others in revealing who and what she is.  Forgiveness and mercy and restoration of relationship are main themes.


Giveaway:  Pick either LFY in Annapolis, Maryland OR either of Roseanna's other two books in e-book format.  Great for those new Kindles people got for Christmas!!!

Introducing: Reviews by Teresa Mathews - Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio by Serena B. Miller

Love Finds You In Sugarcreek, Ohio

By Serena B. Miller

5 Stars *****

Beautiful Amish Story With A Twist!

Review by Teresa Mathews

Serena weaves a beautiful story of Rachel Troyer, a policewoman and Joe Matthews, a mysterious drifter. Joe arrives in town with his young son Bobby after his van breaks down. Not having enough money for the repair since someone has stolen his wallet, he needs to find a job and a place to stay. Joe is led to a small Inn that is run by Rachel’s three elderly aunts, who happen to be Amish. Rachel has her suspicions that Joe is running from something, and she wants to find out what before her trusting aunts are possibly harmed.

 Rachel’s aunts feel God has led Joe and Bobby to them for a reason, so they offer Joe a job as handyman to help fix up the Inn. The longer Joe stays the more he begins to love the peaceful and quiet life of the Amish, going so far as to think he might make his stay permanent. Rachel slowly warms up to Joe, seeing what her aunts have seen in Joe all along. Although she still has some doubts, when she finally figures out about his past, she understands the reason behind his secretive ways.

 When someone finds out about Joe’s secret and betrays him, he knows he has to leave but before he does he severs ties with Rachel, thinking she is the betrayer. But in spite of that, she helps him leave town by giving him her car and some money. After much prayer he realizes he must face his past and go back and claim his future with Rachel and her Amish family. But there is someone who doesn’t want that to happen. When terrible things start to happen to the people he cares for, he knows his past has caught up him.

 This is a wonderful story that blends the lives of the Amish and “Englishers” and keeps you turning the pages in anticipation. I truly did not want to put it down. I have always loved a good Amish read and this one did not disappoint. Serena did a marvelous job, this is one is definitely a must-read for all.

Bio: Teresa Mathews is a Christian mom from South Carolina who loves to read Christian books. We are so pleased that she has decided to join us as a contributor on Overcoming Through Time - With God's Help after the new year.  Welcome, Teresa, from Diana and Carrie!!!

GIVEAWAY:  We are giving away two of Serena's books this week.  Reader's choice and format.  Leave a comment and your email address.  Thanks for stopping by!