MY REVIEW:
It was with mixed feelings that I closed the final pages of Susan May Warren’s final book in her wonderful Christiansen Family series. I was happily satisfied to see the conclusion of Owen’s story resolved so well yet I was also sad to know that I had reached the end of time spent with this special family (unless I go back and read the series again).
Susan writes stories with characters and situations that are so realistic that the reader can easily identify. Many of her characters are people with whom I would probably enjoy spending time. One thing I like about them is that they are not perfect – they make mistakes (sometimes big ones) like the rest of us. And sometimes it takes them some time to own up to their mistakes and make things right.
Of all the Christiansen family, Owen was probably the most stubborn and rebellious. The funny thing was that although he had run far away from family and friends, he was totally unaware of his all-time biggest mistake. I loved how Owen met his match in Scotty, an equally wounded soul and how each of them eventually found the forgiveness, healing, and restoration needed to move forward in their lives. It was also a bit ironic how Casper, the brother Owen thought could do no wrong, was the one who ended up with BIG problems in this book. But family ties are strong and despite the conflict between the two brothers, Owen stepped up and did everything he could to prove Casper’s innocence.
As I stated earlier, I really hate to see this series end but also eagerly look forward to whatever Susan has planned next for her readers. If you have never read one of her books, by all means start with this series. You could read “You’re the One That I Want” as a stand alone but it would be far better in my opinion, to start at the beginning and work your way through it.
This book was provided for review by the Tyndale Blog Network.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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.
Read an excerpt from “You’re the One That I Want” here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Susan May Warren is the bestselling, Christy and RITA Award–winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church.
Susan holds a BA in mass communications from the University of Minnesota. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women’s events about God’s amazing grace in our lives.
For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com.
