Monday, September 23, 2019

The Wonder of You and Always on My Mind by Susan May Warren Book Reviews

ABOUT THE BOOK (413 pages):  Mortified after her semester abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn’t brave enough for the adventures she’s dreamed of. The last thing she expects is for the man who broke her heart to cross the Atlantic and beg forgiveness. Heir to a European hotel dynasty, Roark St. John has trekked from one exotic locale to another, haunted by tragedy and the expectations that accompany his last name. Amelia is the first woman to give him a reason to stop running. He’ll do anything for a second chance―even contend with Amelia’s old flame, who is intent on sending Roark packing.

While one surprise after another leaves Amelia reeling, Roark’s continued presence only highlights the questions pursuing her. Like him, is she running from the life God has called her to? Could finding her new place mean leaving home behind?

My Review:
I felt bad for Amelia. She realizes that what she dreamed of doing with her life, was not meant to be. She had to come home, and rebuild her future. She thought she left her past behind her, and that Seth was "safe" for her. What she did not count on was Roark coming to find her and professing his love for her. Especially in front of witnesses. What was she going to do? Date both men and see who is right for her! Again I loved catching up with this family! At times I laughed out loud, but mostly I was drawn into the drama! The ending was by far, my favorite part of the book. I am also glad that Amelia got over Roark's secret. I was given a copy. All opinions are my own. I am giving this book a 5/5!

ABOUT BOOK: After a failed dig in Honduras, aspiring archaeologist Casper Christiansen heads home to Minnesota to face his unresolved feelings for Raina Beaumont, the woman of his dreams. But when he arrives unannounced on her doorstep, he receives the shock of a lifetime: Raina is pregnant with someone else’s baby.
Heartbroken, especially when he discovers the identity of the baby’s father, Casper tables his dreams and determines to be dependable for once, helping his older brother, Darek, prepare the family resort for its grand reopening. Casper longs to be the hero of at least one family story, but a never-ending Deep Haven winter and costly repairs threaten their efforts—and the future of the resort.

Worse, one of Casper’s new jobs constantly brings him into contact with Raina, whom he can’t seem to forget. A tentative friendship begins to heal fresh wounds, but can they possibly overcome past mistakes and current choices to discover a future together?

My Review:
This story picks up after book 3 in the series, and I felt like no time passed and I could jump right back into the story. The Christiansen family is like "The Simpsons" for me. I feel as though I know them and have been with them throughout the years. Watching them grow and seeing their struggles. Casper is such a good guy. He was willing to come home and face his past. He didn't expect Raina to be pregnant. Instead of leaving again he stayed, and tried to fight his feelings. However Raina also tries to hide feelings. When they start to be thrown together by their work they decide to be friends and date other people. Raina ended up giving her baby up for adoption. I was not surprised who the father was... Can Casper ever marry Raina knowing that his brother and his wife have a child together? I liked the tension of Owen's Character even though he was not really in the book, his presence could be felt. I also really enjoyed the subplots of the diary entries and Ivy's story. The ending was a little confusing for me, but it also gave a sneak peek into Amelia's future. I am also sure that the author will show us more of this couple in future books! I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review. All opinions are my own.  
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Growing up in Minneapolis and attending the U of MN, I learned to love city life, although I'm a woodsy girl at heart. Or maybe I'm an adventurer -- having lived and traveled all over the world, including Siberia Russia as a missionary for eight years. Probably that's why my characters can't sit still, and seem to get into one scrape after another -- they're too much like me! I love God, my family, my country, my church, and feel privileged every day to be able to write stories, that I hope inspire and entertain!

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