Litfuse Blog Tour: Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond

Spring for Susannah

by Catherine Richmond

Copyright 2011

Thomas Nelson Publishers

348 pages

ISBN: 978-1-59554-924-2

Fiction/Christian/Romance

From the publisher:
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 Review:

It's not often that I give 5 stars to a debut novelist but for Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond, I wish I could give 5 1/2 stars. In recent years it has seemed as though the "serious" prairie romance has gone by the wayside in favor of more lighthearted westerns or war-time romances. Not since Janette Oke's, Love Comes Softly have I read a marriage of convenience story that captured my heart as completely as Spring for Susannah. I'm happy to say that Catherine Richmond has made me want more more more in this genre. The characters, the atmosphere, the romance, the tragedy, the growth; I loved every word of it. From shy, proper Susannah who is so full of sadness and doubt to the outspoken yet patient Jesse this story is magnetic. It reads a lot like a diary since we not only follow every struggle of Susannah's from her marriage to a relative stranger, her anxieties about intimacy, and her emotional and spiritual growth but each chapter starts off with a brief look at what's going through Jesse's head. I was really taken by surprise by some of the details that the author included but it was all tastefully done and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who loves a great Christian romance.

To check out what other readers thought of this book visit the Litfuse Blog Tour post HERE

*I received my complimentary copy through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for posting my review during the tour.*

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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!

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