Author: Susan May Warren
Series: Christiansen Family, #3
Genre: Christian Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Source: publisher
Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she’d vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is pulled—or maybe yanked—away from her predictable, safe life and thrown headfirst into the adventure of a lifetime.
Maxwell Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he lives for the three-week culinary vacation he takes each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But just when Grace dares to dream of a future beyond her hometown, Max pulls away.
Wrestling with personal demons, Max fights against opening his heart to a love he knows he should never hope for. And as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires. If love means sacrificing her ideal happily ever after, Grace’s faith will face its toughest test yet.
I definitely enjoyed this series and my time with the Christiansen family. Before I start, I do want to mention that each of these could be read as a standalone. While people and events from past books are vital in these, they are explained well enough that you could just read them by themselves, if you choose.
Like all of Warren's books, this deals with some hard issues, while also being light and a fun read. Max has a genetic disease (although, okay, must we always pick this one? Be original) and hides himself away from deep and meaningful relationships. Grace is fearful, always preferring to stay in the background rather than put herself out there. So when her family gifts her a cooking retreat in Hawaii, Grace is not happy. Until she meets Max, who teaches her how to let go and have a little fun.
I think I relate a lot to Grace, which is why I enjoyed this as much as I did. I also really liked Max, who is wrestling with his personal demons, but learning to let them go. I thought this story was realistic, and enjoyable to read. Like all stories in this series, it does end a little too "perfect", but I thought the characters were real and honest. Of course, the side characters are also well fleshed out, and I enjoyed seeing them in this one too, even with the main story taking place so far away. I thought this was a great, well-written story and made me definitely look forward to the next one.
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Author: Susan May Warren
Series: Christiansen Family, #5
Genre: Christian Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Source: publisher
Mortified after her year abroad is cut short, Amelia Christiansen returns to Deep Haven, certain she isn’t brave enough to embrace 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 place mean leaving home behind?
This might have been my favorite of the series. I thought Caspar's story would have been (book 4), but then this one came along. Tall, dark, and handsome British guy? Sa-woon. But that wasn't the only reason of course.
Amelia thought she was brave, fearless, adventurous. Until she comes home early from her year abroad. Retreating into herself, she decides that maybe she isn't meant for anything more than staying at home. That is, until the guy who broke her heart travels across the ocean to win her back. But with her huge, overprotective family, that won't be easy. Add to that, her high school sweetheart who is determined to prove that she belongs with him, and Roark does not have it easy. But still he stays.
Roark was most definitely my favorite out of all the men in this series. And not just because he's British ;) But when a guy is willing to put up with your entire family and well-meaning but crazy brothers, and work in a coffee shop even though he's a billionaire, girl you don't let him get away. There was a lot of me shouting "JUST COMMUNICATE", frustrated at them. I did not like Seth. He rubbed me entirely the wrong way and I couldn't even see why she would consider someone so controlling. But that's none of my business.
I also loved seeing Amelia grow and mature and figure out what her life is. I mean, she is my age, and already putting me to shame. But she had to learn how to let go, and go with the flow, and realize that you don't have to have it all figured out yet. And that was a lesson I needed as well. The only thing I didn't like was there is always a secondary story in these books, and this book was Grace and Max. And I was not liking it, or them very much. It almost ruined the book for me. I would be super eager to just move past their story and get back to Amelia. But all in all, this was a great story.
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Author: Susan May Warren
Series: Christiansen Family, #6
Genre: Christian Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Source: NetGalley
Owen Christiansen has been in a downward spiral since an injury ended his NHL career. But a job on an Alaskan crabbing boat offers a fresh start . . . maybe even a shot at romance with Elise “Scotty” McFlynn, the captain’s daughter.
Used to being one of the guys, to never relying on anyone, Scotty doesn’t believe in happily ever after―especially with someone like Owen. Her instinct is confirmed when Casper Christiansen arrives to drag his prodigal brother home, bringing with him a truckload of family drama―and even worse, the news that Casper is wanted for questioning in connection to a crime back in Minnesota.
But Owen is more than the sum of his mistakes, a truth both he and Scotty discover when she escorts both brothers to Deep Haven as part of her new job on the Anchorage police force. Thrust into an unfamiliar world of family, faith, and fresh starts, Scotty begins to see potential for a happy ending . . . if she’s brave enough to embrace it.
Owen's story has been slowly intertwined in every other book, but now we get his story as a fitting conclusion to the series and to this family. Owen is kind of the black sheep of the family, and he has run away to Alaska, where he get a job on a fishing boat.
From the beginning, we see that Owen is a changed man. He's realized his mistakes, found Jesus, and is trying to move on and become a better man. When Caspar finds him, after months of looking, Owen has to own up to his mistakes and face his past.
I think Scotty was my favorite out of the female characters. She's tough. She's used to depending on herself, being on of the guys. So this whole "huge, loving family" thing is completely foreign to her. But Scotty is insistent that she is not "marriage material" and that just broke my heart. I think we can all relate in some way, of feeling not good enough, and that was portrayed very real and very accurately.
And of course this book is full of what the Christiansen's are good at: drama. So much going on. At the risk of spoiling the other books for those interested, I won't say much, but I would totally be scared if I was Scotty, too. But, of course, everything works out. I will say, and I saw this in some of the other books too but especially this one, there were times when the characters did not act like themselves. Some of the actions and words were not consistent with who they were in previous books. Especially their dislike and rudeness to Scotty (no matter what she had done).
But I thought this was a fitting conclusion. Of course everything wrapped up neatly and nicely and perfect. I loved getting to know this family, and I will miss them (crazy and all).
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