Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond. Book Review + Kindle Giveaway

I just love it when I find a good book that I don’t want to put down. I’ve been lucky enough to read a few lately that fit into that category and all of them are Christian Fiction. So that makes it even better! “Spring for Susannah”, by first-time author Catherine Richmond, is a wonderful novel about a young woman who decides to become a “mail order bride” after her life takes some unexpected twists and turns. I put that in quotes because typical mail order brides, to me, are ones who answer an ad from someone they have no connections whatsoever with. But in Susannah’s case, while she doesn’t know her husband-to-be personally, she is well acquainted with his brother (her pastor) and sister-in-law. Susannah had a disconnected upbringing where her parents were concerned, not really feeling the love and warmth a child should. And when something unsettling happens in her life, she is pretty much forced to move away. That is when the marriage deal basically falls into her life and changes her life. Does it finally lead her to the true and undying love she deserves? Well, you’ll have to read it to find out! I don’t want to spoil it but I can tell you there are plenty of ups and downs and twists and turns.

In my opinion, the book is FANTASTIC but sort of trails off in too many directions at the very end. Maybe this is paving the way for sequels? I’m not sure but the last third of the book did throw me a little and was slightly hard to keep up with. Then it ended a little abruptly. It seems like the last few books I’ve read have done that and while I know they are sometimes left open for sequels, it makes it hard to reach closure with the end of the story. I don’t always get to read the next in the series so it is a little disappointing. That is the case with this book. The novel itself was wonderful and I love how Catherine told the story and the flow of the chapters, but the ending left too many unanswered questions for me about the final direction of Susannah’s life and how things worked out.

I feel like that makes you think I didn’t enjoy the book but that’s not the case. I LOVED the book. I just would have liked the ending to carry out a little more.

Kindle Giveaway from Catherine Richmond:
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!

About the book: Spring for Susannah

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.

About Catherine: 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.

Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Spring-Susannah-Catherine-Richmond/dp/1595549242?ie=UTF8&tag=sprightly-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969

As a member of LitFuse Group Blog Tour, I received a complimentary novel for review purposes. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are strictly my own.