Review: Always On My Mind by Susan May Warren

January 22, 2015

Title: Always on my Mind
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Tyndale
Pages: 400
ISBN: 978-1-4143-7844-2
Publication Date: December 18th, 2014

Synopsis:
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?
Review:
I really do not know why I waited so long to read Susan May Warren's books. I have a lot of catching up to do! I was introduced to Susan's books last year, and I have enjoyed every single one I have read thus far.

I jumped in to the Christiansen family series at the half way mark. Thankfully, the books work well as a standalone if need be, but work beautifully when together as a series, as you get the whole story of this wonderful family.

Now mind you, this family I believe is wonderful, but not by any means does that make them perfect. No, far from it. Each character deals with hard struggles and issues that don't resolve right away. This story is based on life, but what these stories offer is hope. Hope is always needed and this family knows what kind of hope they need to look for, even if they are in their darkest place.

It is the dead of winter when we jump into Always On My Mind. We pick up right after When I Fall In Love ends and we watch how everything that transpired at the end of book three unfolds in book four and the actions and lack of communication play such a huge part in how things turn out. Casper has fled from the family to go in search of treasure, but feels a pull to come home. He leaves the beautiful sunny shores and heads to the dead of winter and negative degree weather. When he arrives, he receives many surprises and hurts just seem to plague him.

Raina we were introduced to in the previous book, but here, we really get to know her. She has had a tough and sad life, and because of that you can kind of understand why she makes the decisions she does. However, I do applaud her on one decision, she could have easily gone one way, but did something else. She is also the text book case of a girl who is easy prey. She is hurt, her thoughts aren't completely her own right now, and she is substitutable to any nice gesture or word that is offered to her. And sadly, this happens far to often these days. Raina walks right into.

I loved how this book keeps you up to date on all of the family members from the previous stories. You're not left wondering..."What happened?" No, you are very much a part of this family as you flip through each page. I love that.

I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series. I love escaping to Deep Haven when ever I get the chance!

Too Read!
5 out of 5

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!.

She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. You can find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com.

Thank you Tyndale Blog Network, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.


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