Book Review and Giveaway Info: Spring for Susannah

 

About the Book:

Booklist says, "Inspired by [folk] lyrics, Richmond arrives on the inspirational fiction scene with a moving debut novel. Readers will be filled with hope that Susannah will learn the true meaning of love. Highly recommended where inspiring, romantic historical fiction is in demand."

 

Hundreds of miles from home, Susannah faces an uncertain future as a mail-order bride on the untamed Dakota prairie.

 

When her parents die suddenly, and no suitors call, Susannah resigns herself to the only option available: becoming a mail-order bride. Agreeing to marry her pastor's brother, Jesse, Susannah leaves the only home she's ever known for the untamed frontier of the Dakota Territory .

 

Her new husband is more loving and patient with her than she believes she deserves. Still, there is also a wildness to him that mirrors the wilderness surrounding them. And Susannah finds herself constantly on edge. But Jesse's confidence in her-and his faith in God's perfect plan-slowly begin to chip away at the wall she hides behind.

 

When she miscarries in the brutal Dakota winter, Susannah's fledgling faith in herself and in God begins to crumble. Still, Jesse's love is unwavering. Just when it seems like winter will never end, Susannah finally sees the first tentative evidence of spring. And with it, the realization that more than the landscape has changed.

 

She looks to the future with a renewed heart. Yet in her wildest dreams, she couldn't predict all that awaits her.

 

My thoughts

I have been reviewing books in the Christian fiction genre for a little while now and keep waiting to find one that is overly preachy, like I remember these types of books being.  Spring for Susannah has a lot more talk about religion and God, but not in a way that makes the reader feel like they are sitting in a Sunday sermon.  I did get a little concerned when the author broached the subject of "Mormons" in the book, as sometimes there can be inaccuracies in the way they are portrayed.  The author handled the topic accurately (at least for the time the story takes place, polygamy is no longer practiced by the "Mormon" Church) and in no way bashed any other religions.  On another note, this is a book about the growth of married couple, who did not know each other, as well as the growth of Susannah, the young bride.  My husband found it funny that every time he asked me what was going on in the story,  at least throughout the first part of the book, Jesse and Susannah were about to do what married couples do, especially when they are interested in trying to have a baby ;)  Of course I explained to him that the book is about much more than that and that other things were going on as well, but it did take a few months before she was ready to consummate the marriage and once they did, it seemed like were doing "it" in every chapter.  

My recommendation

I recommend this book to those who enjoy romance novels, stories of personal growth or stories about homesteading during the mid 1800's.  If you are not one who likes a lot of talk about God, I caution you that there is quite a bit, but it is not in an offensive way at all.  In fact, I kind of found the way Jesse interpreted scriptures refreshing and I plan to encourage my sister to read this as she is one who tends to have a different take on scriptures, herself.

About the author

Catherine Richmond was focused on her career as an occupational therapist till a special song planted a story idea in her mind. That idea would ultimately become Spring for Susannah, her first novel. She is also a founder and moderator of Nebraska Novelist critique group and lives in Nebraska with her husband.

 

For more about Catherine, please visit www.catherinerichmond.com. 

 

About the giveaway

To celebrate her debut novel, Catherine and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away a Spring For Susannah Prize Package worth over $150!

One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen

* Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond (for KINDLE)

To enter just click one of the icons below and then tell your friends! But hurry, giveaway ends on June 27th. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 28th at 5 PM (6PM MST, 7PM CST, & 8PM EST) during Catherine's Spring for Susannah Book Club Party on Facebook! Catherine is rustling up some fun for the party - she'll be chatting about the story behind her novel, hosting a book club chat, testing your mail-order bride trivia skills, and giving away some GREAT prizes! Don't miss the fun and tell your friends!

To visit more participants of this blog tour, click here. 

Disclaimer 

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.