When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren (Review)

When I Fall in Love
by Susan May Warren
Christiansen Family series, Book 3
Christian Fiction / Contemporary / Romance
Available July 2014
Tyndale House
400 pages

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About the Book

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.

Max 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.

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My Thoughts

Ahhhh! I love this series so much! I'm a huge fan of family series, and Warren is sucking me right in so that I feel like I'm a part of the Christiansen family ... or at least a close family friend. :)

Grace and Max's adventures in Hawaii had me itching to hop on the next plane to the islands! Since that wasn't quite possible, though, I did make a wish list of things to do based on this book when I finally get there. Warren really made the setting an integral part of the story, which was a lot of fun.

Grace and Max were so much fun to get to know! Their story was so moving. At times I wanted to shake them for pushing each other away, despite the reasons. But they had this great friendship with chemistry just bubbling under the surface, so I couldn't stay mad at them for too long. 

The situation with Max's family's illness was so sad. I wasn't sure how it would be handled throughout the book, but I was pleasantly surprised by how Warren treated such a tough subject. It was sad, but it worked in this story.

When I Fall in Love is one of those books that is so good yet sort of sad but totally hopeful and amazing in the end. This book will likely make my "Top 10" list for the year. It really was that good! Read. It. Now! [5 stars]

About the Author

Susan May Warren is the bestselling, 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. 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. She also runs a writing community for authors. Visit MyBookTherapy.com to learn more. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com

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