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Deep Haven #5
The Shadow of Your Smile
Sometimes love requires a little forgetting.
A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can’t quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston’s marriage. After twenty-five years, they’re on the brink of divorce when an accident erases part of Noelle’s memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn’t remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped them apart.
What’s more, Noelle is shocked that her life turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. What happened to her ambitions? Could she really be married to this grizzly man?
As she steps back into her role as wife and mother, Eli attempts to help with both humorous and heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can’t remember? Will the secrets she discovers destroy them . . . or has erasing the past given them a chance for the future? (from the product page at Amazon.com)
A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can’t quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston’s marriage. After twenty-five years, they’re on the brink of divorce when an accident erases part of Noelle’s memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn’t remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped them apart.
What’s more, Noelle is shocked that her life turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. What happened to her ambitions? Could she really be married to this grizzly man?
As she steps back into her role as wife and mother, Eli attempts to help with both humorous and heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can’t remember? Will the secrets she discovers destroy them . . . or has erasing the past given them a chance for the future? (from the product page at Amazon.com)
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2011
105 people are currently reading
1261 people want to read
About the author
Susan May Warren
197 books3,588 followersI can't help be amazed at the gifts God has delighted me with - a wonderful husband, four amazing children, and the opportunity to write for Him.
I've been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.
Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the University of MN, my real writing experience started when I penned the The Warren Report - a bi-monthly newsletter that detailed our ministry highlights.
Living in Russia meant I never lacked for great material - and those experiences naturally spilled out first into devotionals and magazine articles and finally into my first published story, "Measure of a Man," in the Tyndale/HeartQuest, Chance Encounters of the Heart anthology.
Susan and husbandI grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. My favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota - it's where I met my husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living. The north woods easily became the foundation for my first series, The Deep Haven series.based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. I have to admit - I'm terribly jealous of Mona, the heroine of my first full-length book, Happily Ever After, a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.
Our family moved home from the mission field in June 2004 -- and now we live in the beautiful town I'd always dreamed of! God has amazed me anew with His provision, and blessings -- and allowed me a season when I can write full time for Him.
I 'm delighted you've stopped in to visit. My hope is that you'll be blessed and encouraged by soul-stirring stories of regular people interacting with a God who loves them.
I'd love to hear from you! I love getting mail, especially from readers and I welcome your questions and comments. Write to me at susan@susanmaywarren.com. And, if you're interested, sign up for my newsletter, a quarterly sneak peek into upcoming releases and projects. Thank you for your interest and support.
God Bless and Happy Reading!
In His Grip,
Susan May Warren
I've been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.
Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the University of MN, my real writing experience started when I penned the The Warren Report - a bi-monthly newsletter that detailed our ministry highlights.
Living in Russia meant I never lacked for great material - and those experiences naturally spilled out first into devotionals and magazine articles and finally into my first published story, "Measure of a Man," in the Tyndale/HeartQuest, Chance Encounters of the Heart anthology.
Susan and husbandI grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. My favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota - it's where I met my husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living. The north woods easily became the foundation for my first series, The Deep Haven series.based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. I have to admit - I'm terribly jealous of Mona, the heroine of my first full-length book, Happily Ever After, a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.
Our family moved home from the mission field in June 2004 -- and now we live in the beautiful town I'd always dreamed of! God has amazed me anew with His provision, and blessings -- and allowed me a season when I can write full time for Him.
I 'm delighted you've stopped in to visit. My hope is that you'll be blessed and encouraged by soul-stirring stories of regular people interacting with a God who loves them.
I'd love to hear from you! I love getting mail, especially from readers and I welcome your questions and comments. Write to me at susan@susanmaywarren.com. And, if you're interested, sign up for my newsletter, a quarterly sneak peek into upcoming releases and projects. Thank you for your interest and support.
God Bless and Happy Reading!
In His Grip,
Susan May Warren
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July 31, 2021
I just re-read this on accident but I definitely liked it way more on re-read. Mostly because of the daughter that died. It really got to me this time and I cried. I didn't even care about his friendship/affair with the OW. I was mad when he kissed her but he was too lol
These two have drifted apart due to death of child. He is emotionally involved with another woman and at one point kisses her but that is it. The wife has an accident and gets amnesia and has forgotten their 25 years of marriage and thinks she's in college. She finds out he was invested in the other woman and he gets shot by the same person who shot his daughter. There is a lot going on. They both had different ways of coping. Hers was ART and his was Lee. I'd have shot him myself if I was her. Just kidding. Good story just found it boring in places. Good message and I did cry at a couple of points.
These two have drifted apart due to death of child. He is emotionally involved with another woman and at one point kisses her but that is it. The wife has an accident and gets amnesia and has forgotten their 25 years of marriage and thinks she's in college. She finds out he was invested in the other woman and he gets shot by the same person who shot his daughter. There is a lot going on. They both had different ways of coping. Hers was ART and his was Lee. I'd have shot him myself if I was her. Just kidding. Good story just found it boring in places. Good message and I did cry at a couple of points.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2020
Whheeww!!! Reading "The Shadow of Your Smile" was like riding an old wooden rollercoaster, that was really bumpy and shook me up! The way this story was crafted blew my mind. The story was intricately pieced together. All of the characters were dynamic characters, because they learned lessons and had to make changes, in order to progress in their journeys. In my opinion, this book was more action-packed than the previous books in this series.
The characters always had a lot of things to mentally process. Many times I could feel their heads spinning, because there were constant moments of ruminating tragic thoughts from the past. I could feel how repetitive visitations to sad and dark memories, drained them physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Then of course, they dealt with present circumstances, that were very difficult as well. It felt like the characters were sandwiched between the past and the present. The future always seemed to have a murky view. Moving forward was a feat that felt impossible for the characters. I envisioned the characters getting terrible cuts, and constantly getting their band-aids ripped off, only to get sliced again where those cuts were. Their lives were like revolving doors of agonizing, unrelenting pain.
The Hueston family was haunted by the loss of Kelsey, daughter to Eli and Noelle; sister to Kyle and Kirby. Kelsey was seventeen years old, when she was shot and killed at work during a robbery. People grieve individually in different ways; however, it is important for families to come together, in order to heal together. This helps each family member, in the process of moving forward. The Hueston family did not come together, during their prolonged period of mourning. As a result, each family member suffered from loneliness, anger, and guilt. These feelings led to bitterness.
Eli blamed himself for his daughter's death. He was the sheriff of Deep Haven at the time, and his mind constantly traveled back to that dreadful night, when he could have handled an encounter on the road differently. Prior to Kelsey being killed, he came in contact with a teenaged boy who was speeding. He pulled the boy over, but let him go without doing a license plate lookup. The same boy killed his daughter. Eli eventually made it to the place, where his daughter was fighting to stay alive. A police officer was also shot at the same place, and was fighting for his life. This scene was so vivid, because of the effort Eli put into trying to save his daughter's life. When he saw her, he automatically noticed that her chance of survival, was slim to none, but in his mind there had to be a way to save her. This scene was gripping, because Kelsey went in and out of her travelling phase to Heaven. She described what she saw, and the peaceful music she heard. The paramedics arrived and helped the police officer and Kelsey, but they both passed away. The police officer just so happened to be, Clay Nelson, a man Eli worked with, and the husband of Noelle's best friend, Lee. The Hueston family and the Nelson family, were always very close.
Noelle locked herself away for months in her bedroom, and eventually suffered from severe depression. Noelle and Kelsey had a mother daughter bond that was really special. They were really close and as a mother, Noelle was torn into pieces. Noelle and Eli grew apart, and became distant strangers. Noelle kept to herself while Eli either slept in the den, or went to his ice house on the lake. He went fishing there and stayed for months, or however long he decided. No longer serving as a police officer, he had a lot of time to keep to himself.
Kyle the oldest son saw his family crumble. He was grieving the loss of his sister, and was devastated because he witnessed his parents grow apart. He was determined to do whatever he could, so a tragedy like that never happened again. Kyle decided to work for the sheriff's department, and he became a police officer. He moved out and left his family, because he did not know how to mend the broken pieces. His younger brother, Kirby stayed with his parents.
One snowy day Noelle ventured out, without telling any of her family members. She decided to enroll in art school, and then stopped at a convenient store in the town, Duluth. The store was held up by two gunmen, and Noelle ran for her life. She ran in the middle of the icy street, to wave down a driver for help. Noelle slipped on the ice, and cracked her head on the pavement. She was rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that twenty-five years, was erased from her memory. Her married life was completely wiped away from her memory. She did not remember anyone. In her mind, she believed she was living in her college years.
Noelle losing her memory was one issue, but there were additional marital problems that occurred later on. More problems led to more pain. There were times when the characters were isolated, and left with their thoughts and God. I could feel the sorrow, and hear the silence in these moments. There was a scene where Eli shouted out to God, while he was out on the frozen lake. He reminded me of David in the Bible, desperately crying out to God, with a repentant heart. Eli yelled out to God, letting out every emotion he had bottled up inside of him, and asked God to teach him how to love his wife again. He needed God to give him the heart to love his wife, who no longer knew him. He needed God's mercy and grace, to return to his wife who he had strayed from.
Kyle found Kelsey's best friend, Emma, and realized that she was also grieving after many years. Emma and Kelsey worked at the same place, and Emma switched shifts with her. She felt like she should have been the one who died, instead of Kelsey. Emma's father was Clay Nelson, so she lost her father as well. Emma and Kelsey used to play music together, and their dream was to go further with their music. Emma was left with an ever-present sound of Kelsey's voice. Emma's passion for music stayed with her, and she continued playing her guitar. However, Kelsey was the lyricist. What did Emma do when she could play a melody, but could not come up with lyrics? Emma's journey tugged at my heart. Kyle and Emma reconnected with shared memories, and they formed a beautiful and deep connection with each other. They faced challenges together and alone. Kyle encouraged Emma by reminding her of something Kelsey said: "Faith wasn't about trusting God when it was easy. Faith appeared when God seemed farthest away." Kyle and Emma had to remember this during difficult times.
Lee was Emma's mom, and Noelle's best friend. Lee's life was not the same, after the death of her husband, Clay. As a widow, how did the Hueston family support her? In the midst of everything that happened, the gunmen who held up the convenient store were on the loose. They were searching for Noelle, not knowing that she did not even remember them.
There was a special moment when Noelle took comfort in Kelsey's belongings. She did not remember Kelsey or her belongings, but she felt so much joy and did not know why. Then she came across Kelsey's favorite Bible verse, which was Romans 15:13. "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Kyle was with Noelle in this moment, and he told his mother that Kelsey always said, "Our job was to trust. God's job was to overflow us with joy."
I loved how Susan highlighted the moments when characters felt like God had abandoned them, but later on they realized that He was there all along. They just weren't receptive to His comfort. The characters were not able to survive on their own strength. They needed God's strength, guidance and peace. All of the characters had their moments, of surrendering themselves to God. They emptied themselves before God, and allowed Him to fill them up with what they so desperately needed, which was His love. They needed to reconnect with God, in order to reconnect with each other.
The story ended with an exhilarating car chase. Susan Warren included traffic, the names of streets, avenues, where the characters had to turn, where construction to avoid was located, and how far ahead the bad guy was. The person trying to catch up with the bad guy, bumped into a couple of things while driving and yes, I totally felt like I was in the car. There were so many reasons why this guy had to be caught.
Noelle was keen to anything that resonated with her deep in her soul. She discovered that, "Maybe the key to going forward with her life was simply being grateful for it." The murkiness of the Hueston's future gave way to light, hope and a new beginning. The Author's Note was encouraging as always.
Susan Warren writes stories with so much action, and knows just the right time to slow everything down for a peaceful, happy ending; or an ending with decent closure. I gave this book a 5 star rating, because Susan Warren took me over the river and through the woods a thousand times, and I survived. The story had a happy ending, and I was left with a smile on my face, which I liked. At the same time, it was not a "And they lived happily ever after ending" because although peace seeped into the lives of the characters, I was aware that life for these characters would still involve struggles. This is the way Susan writes, and I am always encouraged by it. She reminds her readers that although there are challenges in life, we need to keep getting back up when we get knocked down. We cannot give up on God, ourselves, or our loved ones. God is with us even when we are down in our darkest valleys. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery as always. All of the characters and struggles were realistic, and even with so much action, Susan kept God at the center of this story.
When I think back on book 1: "Happily Ever After" to book 5: "The Shadow of Your Smile," I am awestruck. For anyone starting book one, just know that there will be a drastic rise on the intensity scale, later on in the series. I am so curious to know what will happen in book 6: "You Don't Know Me" and I am definitely expecting twists and turns, with the strong possibility of everything being turned upside down again. Yes, I jokingly mentioned that I survived; however, this book gets a 5 star rating from me because I enjoyed how Susan used grieving the loss of loved ones, and memory loss to create a powerful domino effect: tragedy crashed into grief, grief crashed into guilt, guilt crashed in agony, agony crashed into brokenness, brokenness crashed into despair, despair crashed into surrender, surrender crashed into God........and with that crash into God, came the beauty of healing and restoration.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading Christian Fiction-Romantic Suspense.
The characters always had a lot of things to mentally process. Many times I could feel their heads spinning, because there were constant moments of ruminating tragic thoughts from the past. I could feel how repetitive visitations to sad and dark memories, drained them physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Then of course, they dealt with present circumstances, that were very difficult as well. It felt like the characters were sandwiched between the past and the present. The future always seemed to have a murky view. Moving forward was a feat that felt impossible for the characters. I envisioned the characters getting terrible cuts, and constantly getting their band-aids ripped off, only to get sliced again where those cuts were. Their lives were like revolving doors of agonizing, unrelenting pain.
The Hueston family was haunted by the loss of Kelsey, daughter to Eli and Noelle; sister to Kyle and Kirby. Kelsey was seventeen years old, when she was shot and killed at work during a robbery. People grieve individually in different ways; however, it is important for families to come together, in order to heal together. This helps each family member, in the process of moving forward. The Hueston family did not come together, during their prolonged period of mourning. As a result, each family member suffered from loneliness, anger, and guilt. These feelings led to bitterness.
Eli blamed himself for his daughter's death. He was the sheriff of Deep Haven at the time, and his mind constantly traveled back to that dreadful night, when he could have handled an encounter on the road differently. Prior to Kelsey being killed, he came in contact with a teenaged boy who was speeding. He pulled the boy over, but let him go without doing a license plate lookup. The same boy killed his daughter. Eli eventually made it to the place, where his daughter was fighting to stay alive. A police officer was also shot at the same place, and was fighting for his life. This scene was so vivid, because of the effort Eli put into trying to save his daughter's life. When he saw her, he automatically noticed that her chance of survival, was slim to none, but in his mind there had to be a way to save her. This scene was gripping, because Kelsey went in and out of her travelling phase to Heaven. She described what she saw, and the peaceful music she heard. The paramedics arrived and helped the police officer and Kelsey, but they both passed away. The police officer just so happened to be, Clay Nelson, a man Eli worked with, and the husband of Noelle's best friend, Lee. The Hueston family and the Nelson family, were always very close.
Noelle locked herself away for months in her bedroom, and eventually suffered from severe depression. Noelle and Kelsey had a mother daughter bond that was really special. They were really close and as a mother, Noelle was torn into pieces. Noelle and Eli grew apart, and became distant strangers. Noelle kept to herself while Eli either slept in the den, or went to his ice house on the lake. He went fishing there and stayed for months, or however long he decided. No longer serving as a police officer, he had a lot of time to keep to himself.
Kyle the oldest son saw his family crumble. He was grieving the loss of his sister, and was devastated because he witnessed his parents grow apart. He was determined to do whatever he could, so a tragedy like that never happened again. Kyle decided to work for the sheriff's department, and he became a police officer. He moved out and left his family, because he did not know how to mend the broken pieces. His younger brother, Kirby stayed with his parents.
One snowy day Noelle ventured out, without telling any of her family members. She decided to enroll in art school, and then stopped at a convenient store in the town, Duluth. The store was held up by two gunmen, and Noelle ran for her life. She ran in the middle of the icy street, to wave down a driver for help. Noelle slipped on the ice, and cracked her head on the pavement. She was rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that twenty-five years, was erased from her memory. Her married life was completely wiped away from her memory. She did not remember anyone. In her mind, she believed she was living in her college years.
Noelle losing her memory was one issue, but there were additional marital problems that occurred later on. More problems led to more pain. There were times when the characters were isolated, and left with their thoughts and God. I could feel the sorrow, and hear the silence in these moments. There was a scene where Eli shouted out to God, while he was out on the frozen lake. He reminded me of David in the Bible, desperately crying out to God, with a repentant heart. Eli yelled out to God, letting out every emotion he had bottled up inside of him, and asked God to teach him how to love his wife again. He needed God to give him the heart to love his wife, who no longer knew him. He needed God's mercy and grace, to return to his wife who he had strayed from.
Kyle found Kelsey's best friend, Emma, and realized that she was also grieving after many years. Emma and Kelsey worked at the same place, and Emma switched shifts with her. She felt like she should have been the one who died, instead of Kelsey. Emma's father was Clay Nelson, so she lost her father as well. Emma and Kelsey used to play music together, and their dream was to go further with their music. Emma was left with an ever-present sound of Kelsey's voice. Emma's passion for music stayed with her, and she continued playing her guitar. However, Kelsey was the lyricist. What did Emma do when she could play a melody, but could not come up with lyrics? Emma's journey tugged at my heart. Kyle and Emma reconnected with shared memories, and they formed a beautiful and deep connection with each other. They faced challenges together and alone. Kyle encouraged Emma by reminding her of something Kelsey said: "Faith wasn't about trusting God when it was easy. Faith appeared when God seemed farthest away." Kyle and Emma had to remember this during difficult times.
Lee was Emma's mom, and Noelle's best friend. Lee's life was not the same, after the death of her husband, Clay. As a widow, how did the Hueston family support her? In the midst of everything that happened, the gunmen who held up the convenient store were on the loose. They were searching for Noelle, not knowing that she did not even remember them.
There was a special moment when Noelle took comfort in Kelsey's belongings. She did not remember Kelsey or her belongings, but she felt so much joy and did not know why. Then she came across Kelsey's favorite Bible verse, which was Romans 15:13. "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Kyle was with Noelle in this moment, and he told his mother that Kelsey always said, "Our job was to trust. God's job was to overflow us with joy."
I loved how Susan highlighted the moments when characters felt like God had abandoned them, but later on they realized that He was there all along. They just weren't receptive to His comfort. The characters were not able to survive on their own strength. They needed God's strength, guidance and peace. All of the characters had their moments, of surrendering themselves to God. They emptied themselves before God, and allowed Him to fill them up with what they so desperately needed, which was His love. They needed to reconnect with God, in order to reconnect with each other.
The story ended with an exhilarating car chase. Susan Warren included traffic, the names of streets, avenues, where the characters had to turn, where construction to avoid was located, and how far ahead the bad guy was. The person trying to catch up with the bad guy, bumped into a couple of things while driving and yes, I totally felt like I was in the car. There were so many reasons why this guy had to be caught.
Noelle was keen to anything that resonated with her deep in her soul. She discovered that, "Maybe the key to going forward with her life was simply being grateful for it." The murkiness of the Hueston's future gave way to light, hope and a new beginning. The Author's Note was encouraging as always.
Susan Warren writes stories with so much action, and knows just the right time to slow everything down for a peaceful, happy ending; or an ending with decent closure. I gave this book a 5 star rating, because Susan Warren took me over the river and through the woods a thousand times, and I survived. The story had a happy ending, and I was left with a smile on my face, which I liked. At the same time, it was not a "And they lived happily ever after ending" because although peace seeped into the lives of the characters, I was aware that life for these characters would still involve struggles. This is the way Susan writes, and I am always encouraged by it. She reminds her readers that although there are challenges in life, we need to keep getting back up when we get knocked down. We cannot give up on God, ourselves, or our loved ones. God is with us even when we are down in our darkest valleys. I enjoyed the suspense and mystery as always. All of the characters and struggles were realistic, and even with so much action, Susan kept God at the center of this story.
When I think back on book 1: "Happily Ever After" to book 5: "The Shadow of Your Smile," I am awestruck. For anyone starting book one, just know that there will be a drastic rise on the intensity scale, later on in the series. I am so curious to know what will happen in book 6: "You Don't Know Me" and I am definitely expecting twists and turns, with the strong possibility of everything being turned upside down again. Yes, I jokingly mentioned that I survived; however, this book gets a 5 star rating from me because I enjoyed how Susan used grieving the loss of loved ones, and memory loss to create a powerful domino effect: tragedy crashed into grief, grief crashed into guilt, guilt crashed in agony, agony crashed into brokenness, brokenness crashed into despair, despair crashed into surrender, surrender crashed into God........and with that crash into God, came the beauty of healing and restoration.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading Christian Fiction-Romantic Suspense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2021
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
======================
The family suffers an irreparable loss and the couple does not know how to deal with the pain. The heroine's husband seeks comfort in his friendship with one of his wife's friends. He ends up spending more time with this other woman than with his family and becoming emotionally involved with her. The two exchange a kiss and have feelings for each other.
The moral of the story... Watch out for that friend of yours who is a whorebag homewrecker and wants to steal your husband.
======================
The family suffers an irreparable loss and the couple does not know how to deal with the pain. The heroine's husband seeks comfort in his friendship with one of his wife's friends. He ends up spending more time with this other woman than with his family and becoming emotionally involved with her. The two exchange a kiss and have feelings for each other.
The moral of the story... Watch out for that friend of yours who is a whorebag homewrecker and wants to steal your husband.
Alone? Or with someone who cares about you? Lee’s voice rumbled around in his head.
That, and her laughter, the way she looked at him that made him feel twenty years younger, without tragedy in her gaze. She had her own tragedy, of course, but in her eyes he saw himself reflected as a savior.
And oh, boy, he was married.
Kyle stared at him, nonplussed. “You didn’t even know where she was?” “I was fishing.”
“I just think that maybe you could have stopped this. You should have gone with her to Duluth. Should have been there, instead of her, during the robbery. Protected her like a husband should.” Kyle’s low voice slid through him like a knife.
“Why?” Now Kyle rounded on him. “Why should we listen to you? You never came back after Kelsey died.”
“You didn’t move out. You just moved down to the den.” Kyle stared at him. “No wonder Mom wants to forget you. I wanted to forget you.”
Eli. She hated the wretched hurt in his voice last night when he’d called her. At 3 a.m. She probably should have been sleeping, but she’d been hoping he might call, if not stop by. She hated herself a little for that— the happiness she found in his friendship.
Hey, Lee. Eli’s voice, in the padding of darkness, had made her heart do a forbidden dance. He had a deep, resonant voice, a seasoned calmness, a soft familiarity that she needed when the moon lit the lake, lonely in the night sky.
She wanted to rest a hand upon his cheek, smooth away the stress.
Eli wanted to track down Derek Nelson and wring his neck. Two days and Lee’s drive still hadn’t been plowed?
She looked brutal— or would have if she wasn’t so pretty even in her pain. Her hair hung down around her face in a tangle of curls, and smudges of makeup marred her eyes as if she’d been crying.
“Lee! For pete’s sake!” He knelt before her, his voice softening. “What happened?”
She had such a gentle smile— no wonder Clay had proposed to her the day after high school graduation. Eli had always been a little jealous of how easy it came for them— they’d dated since they were fifteen, knew from the day they met that they belonged together.
“Eli.” Lee’s voice softened and had the power to soothe the frayed, angry parts of him. “She didn’t forget you. She just had to figure out how to cope, like the rest of us.” “But you didn’t lock yourself inside your house.”
Except what was he going to do? Leave his wife to come help Lee?
Eli refused to let the words rise, to hear the voice inside that suggested that’s where he wanted her to belong.
Maybe that’s why Eli hadn’t called. Maybe Noelle awoke this morning, her memories restored.
Eli glanced at her too, warmth in his eyes.
He sat in the truck, motor idling, flakes peeling from the dark sky and skimming across his hood, watching Lee move around inside her house. He’d just wanted to make sure she’d arrived home all right after the game.
“What are you doing out here?” He shrugged. “I don’t know.” She gave him a look of tenderness that only made the bubble in his chest grow.
“He said I forgot our family long before Noelle did. He said it was my fault she had forgotten everyone.”
Is it terrible if I hope she doesn’t get her memory back?”
“Thanks for listening, Lee. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Eli’s truck came up the driveway, then eased into the garage. Where had he been at this time of night?
“She was getting better. Much better. You just didn’t see it because you were never around.”
“She was trying!” Kirby’s voice rose, and Kyle shot a look at the door to Kelsey’s room. “She even started painting!”
She closed her eyes, remembering Eli’s hand on hers. I don’t know what I would do without you. Something dangerous had moved inside her then. An emotion she shouldn’t linger on, an urge that frightened her. She’d smiled, then bid him good night and escaped the truck.
I don’t know what I would do without you either, Eli.
“I’m talking about Noelle’s painting studio at the art colony. She’s been renting one for two years. Did you know that? Because I sure didn’t.”
“No,” he said, his eyes red-rimmed. “It means I betrayed her. Kyle was right— I didn’t even know her.”
And then, just like that, he kissed her. She didn’t expect it, hadn’t ever contemplated it— not really. His kiss was urgent and desperate, and she knew it was wrong. But she hadn’t been kissed in so long, and the feelings of a man desiring her, needing her, flooded through Lee.
“I’m not that guy— I don’t cheat on my wife.” “Eli, she doesn’t know you. It can hardly be called cheating when the woman can’t even remember your vows.”
She didn’t want Noelle to retrieve her memory. Never. Because then Eli wouldn’t have to stay with her, would he?
“I’m not leaving Noelle for you.”
“Uh, you kissed me, Eli. I didn’t start this. And I never asked you to leave Noelle.”
“And frankly, you cheated on her long before you kissed me.” “I never—” “Stop lying to yourself, Eli. You spend nearly every day at my house, helping me. Listening to me, being my friend. And when you weren’t at my house, you were fishing or hunting or snowmobiling.
You didn’t want to be in that marriage because if you did, you would have shown up.”
He just had to get somewhere to clear his head, figure out how to erase the feel of Lee in his arms, or reel back time to that moment when he’d lost his mind.
Honestly, he should be surprised that the kiss hadn’t happened sooner. He’d been harboring feelings for Lee for a good long time. Just never wanted to admit it.
Noelle had learned to hunt, to fish, to camp. She’d joined his life. And he’d learned . . . ?
In fact— he sat up, the realization ringing through him— he’d been about to give his heart to Lee. He shook his head, hating the man he’d nearly become.
“He was trying to help himself. He’s probably been in love with you for years, and now he saw you lonely.” “No, I think I was just convenient.”
His wife lost her memory.” “It doesn’t mean you’re supposed to fill in for her.” “Emma!”
He hadn’t gone to Lee’s house once this week. Despite the fact that missing her had left a hole in his life. He missed her kind words, her friendship.
After Kelsey died, something went with her, and I started wandering. I didn’t . . . I didn’t have an affair, but I wouldn’t have stopped it if I could have.” The image of Lee looking at him, his hands tangled in her hair, made him wince.
“You’re my best friend, Lee.” Wow, had he said that? He winced. “Or you were. I don’t know. I’m so confused.” “No,” she said softly. “You’re just lonely, like I was. Like I am. And yes, I wanted you to love me. I wanted to be in that safe place, in your arms.”
You can hurt me and walk away from me and shrug it off—” “I’d never do that—” “You did it, Eli. You kissed me and then practically told me it was my fault. I didn’t show up day after day on your doorstep.
Cause you know the truth, don’t you? You know your dad’s been sneaking over to our house to be with my mom.” Derek turned to Eli. “Haven’t you?”
“Isn’t that why you’re leaving Deep Haven, Mom? Because Eli has gone back to his wife? The wife who can’t even remember him? Maybe he thinks she won’t remember that he had his paws all over you. That he was going to leave her for you.”
“Dad and Mrs. Nelson were having an affair. For a couple of years.”
“You deceived me, Eli.” “I know; I’m sorry. I don’t love Lee—” “It doesn’t matter if you love her or not. You made me believe we had this perfect life, that we were in love, that we had an amazing family despite our wounds. You showed me a world that I wanted to live in again.”
“Did you even try, Eli? Did you wrap your arms around me, hold me, cry with me?” He looked away, her words like fingernails scraping his heart. “No.”
He hadn’t stayed committed to Noelle, hadn’t believed in her, hadn’t encouraged her. And most of all, he hadn’t loved her.
But what hit her hardest, like a blade through her sternum, was watching Eli run after Noelle.
Lee started into a jerky, slow run. He loved Noelle. Not her.
“Okay, you’re right. I did spend way too much time with Lee. And yes, I had feelings for her, but it was wrong, and I know that too. I wasn’t a good husband all the way around. You were right that day in the hospital, Kyle. I blew it.
November 9, 2021
Faith based, emotionally cheating husband, wife with amnesia has no memory of their 25 years together.
October 21, 2020
Wow! What an emotional story. It was wild to see how Noelle start over with her family when so many pieces were missing.
This novel tackles extremely hard topics including the death of a child, death of a spouse, survivor's guilt, the danger of an emotional affair, and much more. Noelle and Eli had a lot to work on in their marriage and it was an emotional but important journey back to a place together that was better than it had been in years. Very good story.
This novel tackles extremely hard topics including the death of a child, death of a spouse, survivor's guilt, the danger of an emotional affair, and much more. Noelle and Eli had a lot to work on in their marriage and it was an emotional but important journey back to a place together that was better than it had been in years. Very good story.
November 2, 2020
This was a raw, emotion-filled roller coaster towards forgiveness and reconciliation. Susan May Warren has a talent of providing characters with emotion, taking you with them to the lowest lows and highest highs, their journey in discovering God’s plans in their lives and then just throw in some action for suspense, because who doesn’t like a few twists and turns.
Starting this novel I was a bit wary and not connecting to Noelle, because she came across mean - but I didn’t just lose my memory, thinking I was 25 years younger... but as the story developed, I experienced Noelle’s journey in discovering her life and herself.
Eli, Noelle and the sub characters had so much to deal with - quilt, letting go, forgiving others and oneself. I loved the spiritual walks each character had to take to get to the point of reconciliation to God and others. And the flashbacks to the past and the major event which turned their lives upside down was so full of emotion, I was drawn in and could feel what the characters feel!
There is so much more to say about this novel, but I will leave you to discover it on your own.
“Kelsey told me once that faith wasn’t about trusting God when it was easy. Faith appeared when God seemed farthest away.”
“She always said our job was to trust. God’s job was to overflow us with joy.”
“God never intended for us to go through life alone.”
Starting this novel I was a bit wary and not connecting to Noelle, because she came across mean - but I didn’t just lose my memory, thinking I was 25 years younger... but as the story developed, I experienced Noelle’s journey in discovering her life and herself.
Eli, Noelle and the sub characters had so much to deal with - quilt, letting go, forgiving others and oneself. I loved the spiritual walks each character had to take to get to the point of reconciliation to God and others. And the flashbacks to the past and the major event which turned their lives upside down was so full of emotion, I was drawn in and could feel what the characters feel!
There is so much more to say about this novel, but I will leave you to discover it on your own.
“Kelsey told me once that faith wasn’t about trusting God when it was easy. Faith appeared when God seemed farthest away.”
“She always said our job was to trust. God’s job was to overflow us with joy.”
“God never intended for us to go through life alone.”
August 22, 2021
Characters: Susan May Warren crafts great characters. Eli, Noelle, Kyle, Emma, and Lee all had flaws and realistically grew throughout the book. I found Noelle’s experience with amnesia especially interesting and liked the way it played out. No spoilers …
Language: Clean.
Moral: The biggest theme in this book was marriage—making it work and learning to love again after problems (like amnesia and grief).
Plot: From the cover, I expected this book to be a rather tame contemporary romance. Since it’s by Susan May Warren, I should’ve known better. :) Don’t get me wrong—this was a contemporary romance, but it also had moments of suspense and danger and dealt with the aftermath of a death in the family and how different characters reacted.
Romance: Clean. A few kisses. There were a few scenes where a guy came dangerously close to having an affair, but he realized that was wrong.
Writing: Susan May Warren has a great, easygoing style that works so well for her characters’ voices. I always enjoy reading her writing.
Overall: The Shadow of Your Smile was an entertaining, rather surprising read, and I’d recommend it to those who like Christian fiction and contemporary romance.
Language: Clean.
Moral: The biggest theme in this book was marriage—making it work and learning to love again after problems (like amnesia and grief).
Plot: From the cover, I expected this book to be a rather tame contemporary romance. Since it’s by Susan May Warren, I should’ve known better. :) Don’t get me wrong—this was a contemporary romance, but it also had moments of suspense and danger and dealt with the aftermath of a death in the family and how different characters reacted.
Romance: Clean. A few kisses. There were a few scenes where a guy came dangerously close to having an affair, but he realized that was wrong.
Writing: Susan May Warren has a great, easygoing style that works so well for her characters’ voices. I always enjoy reading her writing.
Overall: The Shadow of Your Smile was an entertaining, rather surprising read, and I’d recommend it to those who like Christian fiction and contemporary romance.
November 9, 2021
no just no
I didn’t like this. I should have known because I am not a fan of Christian stories. The betrayal in this book was just brushed under the rug. And of course the wronged party takes some of the blame for it at the end.
I didn’t like this. I should have known because I am not a fan of Christian stories. The betrayal in this book was just brushed under the rug. And of course the wronged party takes some of the blame for it at the end.
October 24, 2011
"If God would start playing by the rules, it would sure be easier to trust Him."
If you're a Susan May Warren fan and stories from Deep Haven fan, you won't be disappointed in this novel.
Plot and subplot are rich with drama, romance, and humor.
This novel is about a couple in their mid-forties, who've already had a tragedy strike their lives, now--Noelle Hueston is thinking about leaving her husband and starting over. One last kiddo to graduate and she's making a new life, but an incident leaves her injured and her memory past college is gone. Funny, when she wakes up, she truly thinks she's twenty-one! Which is sad and hilarious at the same time.
This main plot is about loving, forgiving, and starting over. A beautiful story of two married people who've grown apart through time and unfortunate circumstances.
The subplot involved the couple's oldest son, Kyle, and his love interest, another local from Deep Haven, but the tragedy that wrecked the Hueston family reached into Emma Nelson's family as well.
Susan May Warren has a unique way of describing using all the senses and when I read one of her books, including this one, I feel like I'm transported to Deep Haven. I live there as long as it takes me to read the book. I had lots of time yesterday, so I read it in one long stretch.
I thought the ending was well done and I closed the book with satisfaction.
This book is set to release in 2012. I recommend you nab it up when it does. You'll enjoy winter in Deep Haven, the crackling fires, fresh powdered snow blanketing a story of lost love, found.
I appreciate Tyndale giving me the chance to review it in return for my honest opinion.
If you're a Susan May Warren fan and stories from Deep Haven fan, you won't be disappointed in this novel.
Plot and subplot are rich with drama, romance, and humor.
This novel is about a couple in their mid-forties, who've already had a tragedy strike their lives, now--Noelle Hueston is thinking about leaving her husband and starting over. One last kiddo to graduate and she's making a new life, but an incident leaves her injured and her memory past college is gone. Funny, when she wakes up, she truly thinks she's twenty-one! Which is sad and hilarious at the same time.
This main plot is about loving, forgiving, and starting over. A beautiful story of two married people who've grown apart through time and unfortunate circumstances.
The subplot involved the couple's oldest son, Kyle, and his love interest, another local from Deep Haven, but the tragedy that wrecked the Hueston family reached into Emma Nelson's family as well.
Susan May Warren has a unique way of describing using all the senses and when I read one of her books, including this one, I feel like I'm transported to Deep Haven. I live there as long as it takes me to read the book. I had lots of time yesterday, so I read it in one long stretch.
I thought the ending was well done and I closed the book with satisfaction.
This book is set to release in 2012. I recommend you nab it up when it does. You'll enjoy winter in Deep Haven, the crackling fires, fresh powdered snow blanketing a story of lost love, found.
I appreciate Tyndale giving me the chance to review it in return for my honest opinion.
January 15, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
I love that the author didn’t shy away from real life issues and hard things that happen as a result of grief and trauma and brokenness. I also really loved the faith. But there was one topic/event that I really disliked and that’s why I gave it 4.5 stars.
I love that the author didn’t shy away from real life issues and hard things that happen as a result of grief and trauma and brokenness. I also really loved the faith. But there was one topic/event that I really disliked and that’s why I gave it 4.5 stars.
February 8, 2021
4.5 stars. WOW, what a heavy book! I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so...just HEAVY. But extremely well done, and just riveting all the way around.
June 4, 2022
Wow! Lots of emotions with this one.
February 3, 2012
Imagine you wake up to find yourself in a hospital room with the memories of 25 years of your life just missing, gone, kaput. In your mind you are a college student at the beginning of your life ready to pursue your dreams and make a difference. You prefer diet Coke to coffee and want your parents to come to the hospital to see you, not this 50 year old stranger who keeps holding your hand telling you he is your husband. And let’s just say that the shock of seeing your reflection in the mirror is a bit jarring. This is the predicament of Noelle Hueston, the main character in The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren. Only Noelle isn’t a college student, she is a married woman with children and a husband and some tough memories that she cannot recall.
The struggling marriage of Noelle and her husband Eli is simply forgotten by Noelle after suffering an accident where her head is hit incredibly hard causing her to lose all memories from the last 25 years. So while she is struggling to remember her past and the people closest to her, she also discovers that things have not turned out for her as she thought they would. She was an aspiring artist that all but gave up her dreams for others and she feels a bit disappointed to see what her 40-something self did with her life in comparison to what her 20-something self thought she would be doing. What a fascinating perspective for her to see. She’s not too happy with her waist size either. (But then again, who is?) Her husband Eli seeks to have a brand new start with this new wife who doesn’t remember all the heartache of their past and wants to build forward from there. They both learn though that it’s impossible to divorce our past from our present, it’s what grows us and something we need to make peace with in order to move forward. It cannot be ignored. There are some other family dynamic stuff that comes into play with the sons that shows some pretty realistic moments, I believe- people placing blame, the importance of honesty and forgiveness. Very well done here.
I thought the pacing of the novel was good, enjoyed the character development and storyline. I actually thought the ending was good, realistic, although I might say that part felt a little rushed. Overall, I enjoyed what this novel explored, the whole idea of are you happy where you are, is it what you imagined and if not, what can you do to change it? I think we all have that question in our mind to a certain extent. Is my life really what I pictured it would be? My answer is no, it’s not, but I think this alternate route, personally, is better than what I had planned.
4 stars.
I was graciously provided a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The struggling marriage of Noelle and her husband Eli is simply forgotten by Noelle after suffering an accident where her head is hit incredibly hard causing her to lose all memories from the last 25 years. So while she is struggling to remember her past and the people closest to her, she also discovers that things have not turned out for her as she thought they would. She was an aspiring artist that all but gave up her dreams for others and she feels a bit disappointed to see what her 40-something self did with her life in comparison to what her 20-something self thought she would be doing. What a fascinating perspective for her to see. She’s not too happy with her waist size either. (But then again, who is?) Her husband Eli seeks to have a brand new start with this new wife who doesn’t remember all the heartache of their past and wants to build forward from there. They both learn though that it’s impossible to divorce our past from our present, it’s what grows us and something we need to make peace with in order to move forward. It cannot be ignored. There are some other family dynamic stuff that comes into play with the sons that shows some pretty realistic moments, I believe- people placing blame, the importance of honesty and forgiveness. Very well done here.
I thought the pacing of the novel was good, enjoyed the character development and storyline. I actually thought the ending was good, realistic, although I might say that part felt a little rushed. Overall, I enjoyed what this novel explored, the whole idea of are you happy where you are, is it what you imagined and if not, what can you do to change it? I think we all have that question in our mind to a certain extent. Is my life really what I pictured it would be? My answer is no, it’s not, but I think this alternate route, personally, is better than what I had planned.
4 stars.
I was graciously provided a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 28, 2011
The Shadow of Your Smile is a beautifully written story of how tragedy can tear apart a family even though it is the time when you need those you love most. Noelle and Eli's marriage has fractured under the stress of losing their daughter and essentially they are leading separate lives when Noelle is badly injured, losing the memory of the past twenty something years. Noelle is shocked to discover she is unhappily married with near adult sons, has never made use of her art major and lives in a small town. However the accident may well be a blessing, for the family has a fresh slate, a chance to put their hurts and secrets behind them and reconnect... until memories begin to resurface and threaten to devastate them all.
I really enjoyed The Shadow of Your Smile - the first title I have read by Susan May Warren which is part of a series following characters in the small town of Deep Haven, Minnesota. The rich storyline is handled with sensitivity and depth and I was really impressed with they way in which Warren is able to explore so many facets of such emotive issues from so many perspectives, without ever descending in to melodrama. While it is Noelle and Eli's disintegrating marriage that the story centers around, it is the aftermath of unexpected death that is the true focal element of the story with the author deftly showing how the tragedy impacts on those who are faced with it. Their respective losses are compounded by their own grief, guilt and anger that isolates them from each other creating more losses as they turn away from each other. The theme of forgiveness also plays a large part in the novel as does love and faith.
Despite a reasonably large featured cast, the characters in The Shadow of Your Smile are brought to life by Warren exposing what they think and feel. The characters are likeable and easy to relate to with their emotions and reactions are heartfelt and genuine. I had a huge amount of sympathy for all of the characters and enjoyed getting to know them.
The Shadow of Your Smile is a lovely contemporary read. Emotionally compelling and finely crafted, I may be tempted to read more by this author. To be honest had I known that the book had a strong Christian element I probably would not have chosen to read it. Due to my own beliefs I am uncomfortable with the preaching and bible quotes, particularly near the end of the book, however I chose to disregard them in favour of the story.
I really enjoyed The Shadow of Your Smile - the first title I have read by Susan May Warren which is part of a series following characters in the small town of Deep Haven, Minnesota. The rich storyline is handled with sensitivity and depth and I was really impressed with they way in which Warren is able to explore so many facets of such emotive issues from so many perspectives, without ever descending in to melodrama. While it is Noelle and Eli's disintegrating marriage that the story centers around, it is the aftermath of unexpected death that is the true focal element of the story with the author deftly showing how the tragedy impacts on those who are faced with it. Their respective losses are compounded by their own grief, guilt and anger that isolates them from each other creating more losses as they turn away from each other. The theme of forgiveness also plays a large part in the novel as does love and faith.
Despite a reasonably large featured cast, the characters in The Shadow of Your Smile are brought to life by Warren exposing what they think and feel. The characters are likeable and easy to relate to with their emotions and reactions are heartfelt and genuine. I had a huge amount of sympathy for all of the characters and enjoyed getting to know them.
The Shadow of Your Smile is a lovely contemporary read. Emotionally compelling and finely crafted, I may be tempted to read more by this author. To be honest had I known that the book had a strong Christian element I probably would not have chosen to read it. Due to my own beliefs I am uncomfortable with the preaching and bible quotes, particularly near the end of the book, however I chose to disregard them in favour of the story.
January 7, 2012
“The Shadow of Your Smile” is one of those novels that twines itself around your heart. Its hurting characters and their struggles make you stop and think: what I would do in this kind of situation?
So much history and dynamics play into this family and it shows how one person’s bad choices have nearly ruined an entire family’s relationships. Noelle and Eli might have been married for years, but after the tragic death of their daughter, they might have been in the same house. But they haven’t really lived.
Their changing love story impacted me in the heart. I wanted to see them come together. I wanted to see them change. But there was SO much going against them. And when Noelle loses her memory and a gun-toting bad guy, can anything put them back together?
Several times during the book, I held my breath, hoping, hoping that the characters would make the right decisions. Those are the kind of stories that engage the emotions and bring the reader into the story.
There were quite a few subplots (even though everything did tie neatly in the end), it felt a bit quick and I’m hoping we can return to a few in future books set in the charming Deep Haven.
It’s a novel about relationships. Relationships with our family, loved ones and friends, with God more than anything.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Litfuse for my copy to review.
So much history and dynamics play into this family and it shows how one person’s bad choices have nearly ruined an entire family’s relationships. Noelle and Eli might have been married for years, but after the tragic death of their daughter, they might have been in the same house. But they haven’t really lived.
Their changing love story impacted me in the heart. I wanted to see them come together. I wanted to see them change. But there was SO much going against them. And when Noelle loses her memory and a gun-toting bad guy, can anything put them back together?
Several times during the book, I held my breath, hoping, hoping that the characters would make the right decisions. Those are the kind of stories that engage the emotions and bring the reader into the story.
There were quite a few subplots (even though everything did tie neatly in the end), it felt a bit quick and I’m hoping we can return to a few in future books set in the charming Deep Haven.
It’s a novel about relationships. Relationships with our family, loved ones and friends, with God more than anything.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Litfuse for my copy to review.
December 27, 2012
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R18A1HMQ...
Review to be posted on my blog 12/29: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
The Shadow of Your Smile is the second Deep Haven novel I've read (the first being book six, You Don't Know Me). I know, I'm reading them out of order, but it hasn't affected my enjoyment of the stories so far.
I loved The Shadow of Your Smile! It was different than the majority of books I've read, as the main characters were already married. I seem to love stories where a character loses his/her memory and this one was no different. I found it very interesting to read the Hueston's story as Noelle struggles to regain her memory and reenter her life. I also loved the subplot romance between two of the characters.
I found The Shadow of Your Smile to be very realistic and just a really great read. Even though there was one thing I didn't like, overall it was still too good to give it any less than 5 stars. :) I look forward to reading more Deep Haven novels in the future.
*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Review to be posted on my blog 12/29: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
The Shadow of Your Smile is the second Deep Haven novel I've read (the first being book six, You Don't Know Me). I know, I'm reading them out of order, but it hasn't affected my enjoyment of the stories so far.
I loved The Shadow of Your Smile! It was different than the majority of books I've read, as the main characters were already married. I seem to love stories where a character loses his/her memory and this one was no different. I found it very interesting to read the Hueston's story as Noelle struggles to regain her memory and reenter her life. I also loved the subplot romance between two of the characters.
I found The Shadow of Your Smile to be very realistic and just a really great read. Even though there was one thing I didn't like, overall it was still too good to give it any less than 5 stars. :) I look forward to reading more Deep Haven novels in the future.
*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
January 6, 2012
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY
PUBLISHER: TYNDALE HOUSE
PUBLICATION DATE: JANUARY 01, 2012
RATING: 8 OUT OF 10 - VERY GOOD
PROS: Part of a series but each novel is a standalone; made me care enough about the characters that I cried during flashback scenes; unputdownable!
CONS: There was a lot of drama going on for such a small, seemingly peaceful town; it seemed like this family had everything possibly going against them.
Following a trauma that recently rocked their family, Eli and Noelle’s marriage is on the rocks. Eli has no idea what his wife gets up to when he’s out of the house, and now that he’s a retired cop he spends most of his time ice-fishing in order to avoid his family. Noelle is on the brink of making a decision that could tear her family apart when she’s involved in an accident that causes her to forget the last twenty-five years of her life. She wakes up in a hospital bed thinking she’s still at college, and she has no idea who Eli is and no recollection of their marriage or children. Eli realises that God has given him a second chance, the opportunity to get his marriage back on track. But can he make Noelle fall in love with him again before she figures out why their marriage went south in the first place?
I make no secret of the fact that my guilty pleasure when it comes to novels is amnesia plots. Amnesia, snowbound and babies have to be my favourite romantic plot devices; but The Shadow of Your Smile isn’t exactly a romance novel. While Eli gets the chance to reromance his wife, this book also contains the stories of how Noelle’s family members and friends react to her amnesia; how it brings some of them together and pushes others apart. This novel reminded me of a modern day family saga, a Christian version of a Barbara Delinsky novel, where the reactions of family, friends and an entire town are detailed in relation to a dramatic event. In The Shadow of Your Smile we not only witness how Eli and Noelle come to reconcile their relationship, but also how their son, Kyle, a new cop, reacts to the incident that caused his mother’s amnesia and his relationship with his sister’s best friend, Emma. Emma’s mother is also heavily involved in the events in this book, as not only Noelle’s best friend but in her dangerously close relationship to Eli.
I wasn’t sure whether I’d enjoy reading about a couple whose marriage had deteriorated after twenty-five years. I’m getting married in less than six months and I remember my experience of reading the first few chapters of Rob Parson’s The Sixty Minute Marriage, where I bawled to my fiancé about how there were all of these horrible things that could go wrong with our marriage. Sometimes you’re just not in the right frame of mind for reading about a topic close to your heart. But in this case, I was able to enjoy The Shadow of Your Smile without panicking about the “What Ifs?” presented in the novel. While this book deals with a lot of tough topics, it’s also very easy to read. The problems that the characters encounter are very realistic ones and the characters are so down-to-earth and normal that they could be your next-door-neighbours. This was my first experience with the Deep Haven series but the town really came alive to me in this book and I think that the setting of this novel will make readers feel at home, whether this is the first book in the series that they’ve read or the sixth.
That said, I did feel a bit disorientated when I first began reading The Shadow of Your Smile. It was as if I’d been dropped right into the middle of Deep Haven and Eli and Noelle’s lives. It took a bit of adjusting to get used to all of the relationships and histories between the characters, and there were incidents in Eli and Noelle’s lives that were vaguely mentioned several times and it took me a while to finally figure out what had happened to push them apart. I actually went online and looked up the other Deep Haven novels to see whether there had been a previous novel about this family and whether I was missing some important details about their lives. When I realised that all of the other books focused on completely different characters I started to wonder whether Susan had deliberately made The Shadow of Your Smile disorientating for the reader in order to make them sympathise with Noelle’s amnesia. To be honest, I was as confused as Noelle was in the opening chapters of the novel, and this made reading the book an even more interesting experience. As I figured out the missing pieces of Noelle’s life, so did Noelle. To any readers of the novel who may be confused to begin with, I urge you not to give up – this book is definitely worth all of the figuring out that you have to do!
However, there were some sections of the book that I didn’t find quite so compelling. While Kyle and Emma’s romance was sweet and endearing, it was also rather predictable. It was a nice side-story but as much as I tried, I never could really relate to Emma. I also had an issue with the fact that Kyle and his and Emma’s fathers were all police officers and quite strong, manly characters; at times it seemed as if the author was trying to make working in the police force seem especially noble. While there are flashbacks and comments from Eli that stress that he doesn’t think that a career in the police is worth the harm is can bring to a family, at other times the book almost glamorized police work and placed it on a pedestal. I know a couple of police officers and do respect their work, but I got a bit tired of the fact that all of the main characters in the book who had jobs were police officers. And considering how small a town Deep Haven seemed to be, there always seemed to be a lot drama and crime taking place. While some of the events in the story were necessary to bring the plot to where it stood at the start of the novel, I couldn’t help but wonder whether the crime rate in Deep Haven was entirely typical. It was one of those experiences where you’re reading a book and find yourself wondering, “Could anything else possibly happen to these poor characters?”
Despite my misgivings with the level of drama in this book, Susan May Warren also made me truly care about her characters. I finished reading this book on Christmas Day and was dabbing at my tears as Eli remembered his daughter’s accident. While this book had its flaws and didn’t have that special something that pushed its rating up to a 4.5 or 5, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read. And while I will admit that this was an easy novel to breeze through in a couple of days, it had so much food for thought. It’s not possible to come away from this novel without musing over some point or another. I will definitely be going back and reading more of the Deep Haven books, and encourage fans of family sagas and contemporary fiction to start with The Shadow of Your Smile and do the same.
Review title provided by Tyndale House.
PUBLISHER: TYNDALE HOUSE
PUBLICATION DATE: JANUARY 01, 2012
RATING: 8 OUT OF 10 - VERY GOOD
PROS: Part of a series but each novel is a standalone; made me care enough about the characters that I cried during flashback scenes; unputdownable!
CONS: There was a lot of drama going on for such a small, seemingly peaceful town; it seemed like this family had everything possibly going against them.
Following a trauma that recently rocked their family, Eli and Noelle’s marriage is on the rocks. Eli has no idea what his wife gets up to when he’s out of the house, and now that he’s a retired cop he spends most of his time ice-fishing in order to avoid his family. Noelle is on the brink of making a decision that could tear her family apart when she’s involved in an accident that causes her to forget the last twenty-five years of her life. She wakes up in a hospital bed thinking she’s still at college, and she has no idea who Eli is and no recollection of their marriage or children. Eli realises that God has given him a second chance, the opportunity to get his marriage back on track. But can he make Noelle fall in love with him again before she figures out why their marriage went south in the first place?
I make no secret of the fact that my guilty pleasure when it comes to novels is amnesia plots. Amnesia, snowbound and babies have to be my favourite romantic plot devices; but The Shadow of Your Smile isn’t exactly a romance novel. While Eli gets the chance to reromance his wife, this book also contains the stories of how Noelle’s family members and friends react to her amnesia; how it brings some of them together and pushes others apart. This novel reminded me of a modern day family saga, a Christian version of a Barbara Delinsky novel, where the reactions of family, friends and an entire town are detailed in relation to a dramatic event. In The Shadow of Your Smile we not only witness how Eli and Noelle come to reconcile their relationship, but also how their son, Kyle, a new cop, reacts to the incident that caused his mother’s amnesia and his relationship with his sister’s best friend, Emma. Emma’s mother is also heavily involved in the events in this book, as not only Noelle’s best friend but in her dangerously close relationship to Eli.
I wasn’t sure whether I’d enjoy reading about a couple whose marriage had deteriorated after twenty-five years. I’m getting married in less than six months and I remember my experience of reading the first few chapters of Rob Parson’s The Sixty Minute Marriage, where I bawled to my fiancé about how there were all of these horrible things that could go wrong with our marriage. Sometimes you’re just not in the right frame of mind for reading about a topic close to your heart. But in this case, I was able to enjoy The Shadow of Your Smile without panicking about the “What Ifs?” presented in the novel. While this book deals with a lot of tough topics, it’s also very easy to read. The problems that the characters encounter are very realistic ones and the characters are so down-to-earth and normal that they could be your next-door-neighbours. This was my first experience with the Deep Haven series but the town really came alive to me in this book and I think that the setting of this novel will make readers feel at home, whether this is the first book in the series that they’ve read or the sixth.
That said, I did feel a bit disorientated when I first began reading The Shadow of Your Smile. It was as if I’d been dropped right into the middle of Deep Haven and Eli and Noelle’s lives. It took a bit of adjusting to get used to all of the relationships and histories between the characters, and there were incidents in Eli and Noelle’s lives that were vaguely mentioned several times and it took me a while to finally figure out what had happened to push them apart. I actually went online and looked up the other Deep Haven novels to see whether there had been a previous novel about this family and whether I was missing some important details about their lives. When I realised that all of the other books focused on completely different characters I started to wonder whether Susan had deliberately made The Shadow of Your Smile disorientating for the reader in order to make them sympathise with Noelle’s amnesia. To be honest, I was as confused as Noelle was in the opening chapters of the novel, and this made reading the book an even more interesting experience. As I figured out the missing pieces of Noelle’s life, so did Noelle. To any readers of the novel who may be confused to begin with, I urge you not to give up – this book is definitely worth all of the figuring out that you have to do!
However, there were some sections of the book that I didn’t find quite so compelling. While Kyle and Emma’s romance was sweet and endearing, it was also rather predictable. It was a nice side-story but as much as I tried, I never could really relate to Emma. I also had an issue with the fact that Kyle and his and Emma’s fathers were all police officers and quite strong, manly characters; at times it seemed as if the author was trying to make working in the police force seem especially noble. While there are flashbacks and comments from Eli that stress that he doesn’t think that a career in the police is worth the harm is can bring to a family, at other times the book almost glamorized police work and placed it on a pedestal. I know a couple of police officers and do respect their work, but I got a bit tired of the fact that all of the main characters in the book who had jobs were police officers. And considering how small a town Deep Haven seemed to be, there always seemed to be a lot drama and crime taking place. While some of the events in the story were necessary to bring the plot to where it stood at the start of the novel, I couldn’t help but wonder whether the crime rate in Deep Haven was entirely typical. It was one of those experiences where you’re reading a book and find yourself wondering, “Could anything else possibly happen to these poor characters?”
Despite my misgivings with the level of drama in this book, Susan May Warren also made me truly care about her characters. I finished reading this book on Christmas Day and was dabbing at my tears as Eli remembered his daughter’s accident. While this book had its flaws and didn’t have that special something that pushed its rating up to a 4.5 or 5, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read. And while I will admit that this was an easy novel to breeze through in a couple of days, it had so much food for thought. It’s not possible to come away from this novel without musing over some point or another. I will definitely be going back and reading more of the Deep Haven books, and encourage fans of family sagas and contemporary fiction to start with The Shadow of Your Smile and do the same.
Review title provided by Tyndale House.
February 21, 2023
While this book dealt with some REALLY difficult topics, I felt like there was an undercurrent of grace woven in and around the story, keeping things together.
I ended up really liking Noelle and Eli, as well as Kyle, Emma, and even Lee. Though I cannot condone all of their actions (past and/or present), I could clearly understand the reasons WHY they made the choices they made, and I cheered when each of them made a conscious choice to turn to God in the midst of the heartachy mess and let Him heal them . . . find the dawn's light that always comes after the darkest of nights.
This book broke my heart several times, but offered me reminders of the One Who can always put it back together.
I ended up really liking Noelle and Eli, as well as Kyle, Emma, and even Lee. Though I cannot condone all of their actions (past and/or present), I could clearly understand the reasons WHY they made the choices they made, and I cheered when each of them made a conscious choice to turn to God in the midst of the heartachy mess and let Him heal them . . . find the dawn's light that always comes after the darkest of nights.
This book broke my heart several times, but offered me reminders of the One Who can always put it back together.
September 22, 2021
Wow wow wow. I didn't quite expect the angle with which Susan started this book. Not the usual story line of two singles finding their way to being together. I love how we're given the hope of a sour love being restored to sweet love, toning down the route of divorce being the first solution. This was downright entertaining and enlightening. I was reminded that God has a word for everyone in every situation.
February 29, 2024
Until the end I still didn't like Eli I understand him and why he did what he did but I don't have to like him. The faith content was good and good clear message that you can try to seek heal or wholeness in other men but Hod , God is the only one that can truly help and care for you .
September 9, 2018
This was a sweet book that looked at a marriage after a trauma. I enjoyed it from cover to cover.
January 23, 2012
Noelle and Eli have been through a lot in 25 years if marriage. They've wandered so far apart that they don't even know each other anymore. When Noelle has an accident though, she loses her memory. Suddenly she's forgotten the good and the bad over the last 25 years. As Eli and Noelle work together to get her adjusted to her "new" life, they try to rediscover her old life. They find that there were things they were both hiding. As they work together, they begin to discover that healing and hope is always there for those who seek it.
This book raised some great questions, the foremost being how would I react to my life if I forgot how I got here? For Noelle, she sees a very different life than she had imagined in college. Since she has forgotten how she got there, Noelle doesn't really understand her life. Noelle and Eli have both withdrawn from their lives, especially after the great tragedies they have gone through. As they worked to heal, they did it separately. This really added to their growing apart, not only from each other but also their sons. This was a family in a lot of pain. However, they discovered that by working together, it is possible to rediscover the love they once shared. This love is what will ultimately help with healing the many hurts they have.
There was also some sweet romance. Another theme running through the stories of various characters had to deal with ones dreams and wishes. As our lives take their various twists and turns, are we able to keep site of those dreams? Noelle and others had to work at this, but ultimately this helped them find happiness. Even if Noelle was never going to be a great artist, she was still able to find joy in her art. I think we could all stand to live a little bit of our dreams. This book was a great chance to reflect on many different aspects of life. It was a very interesting story and provided a lot of inspiration. I found myself wanting the best for all the characters. They are all likable, with a perfect mix of goodness and flaws. I think people looking for a great book that makes them think as well, this book will fit the bill.
Galley provided for review.
This book raised some great questions, the foremost being how would I react to my life if I forgot how I got here? For Noelle, she sees a very different life than she had imagined in college. Since she has forgotten how she got there, Noelle doesn't really understand her life. Noelle and Eli have both withdrawn from their lives, especially after the great tragedies they have gone through. As they worked to heal, they did it separately. This really added to their growing apart, not only from each other but also their sons. This was a family in a lot of pain. However, they discovered that by working together, it is possible to rediscover the love they once shared. This love is what will ultimately help with healing the many hurts they have.
There was also some sweet romance. Another theme running through the stories of various characters had to deal with ones dreams and wishes. As our lives take their various twists and turns, are we able to keep site of those dreams? Noelle and others had to work at this, but ultimately this helped them find happiness. Even if Noelle was never going to be a great artist, she was still able to find joy in her art. I think we could all stand to live a little bit of our dreams. This book was a great chance to reflect on many different aspects of life. It was a very interesting story and provided a lot of inspiration. I found myself wanting the best for all the characters. They are all likable, with a perfect mix of goodness and flaws. I think people looking for a great book that makes them think as well, this book will fit the bill.
Galley provided for review.
January 11, 2012
My Foolish Heart (another book in the Deep Haven series) was my first introduction to Susan May Warren. I couldn't get enough of it. So I was thrilled when I learned that The Shadow of Your Smile was coming out. I was not disappointed!
Eli and Noelle's marriage is falling apart when Noelle is in a serious car accident. When she comes out of her coma, she thinks she is back in college . . . remembering neither her husband nor her three children nor anything that's happened in the last twenty years. It may be the second chance that Eli and Noelle desperately need.
Sounds pretty good, right?! Well, throw in a secondary plot (or really a second primary plot) featuring Eli and Noelle's son and a hometown girl running away from her past, and it's doubly good!
Warren weaves the two stories together beautifully. Since much of the tragedy in their lives is shared, it doesn't come off as two separate stories, but rather as two stories that are closely linked. Themes of forgiveness, faith, and second chances make this an emotional read. By the end, I was a complete mess . . . in the best way!
There's a part in the book describing a person's last minutes before death and they begin describing what is happening to them and say something along the lines of hearing the joy of heaven. That part of the book was not a major part of the storyline, but I got chills and could hear a song running through my head that made me think of the joy of heaven. It was just so realistic to me. Anything that can give me chills and actually HEAR something (that isn't there) is pretty awesome writing!
Susan May Warren does everything right with this book . . . the characters, the writing, the emotional punch. I wasn't ready for the book to end when it did. [5 stars]
Thanks to LitFuse Publicity, Tyndale House, and Net Galley for providing a free review copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Eli and Noelle's marriage is falling apart when Noelle is in a serious car accident. When she comes out of her coma, she thinks she is back in college . . . remembering neither her husband nor her three children nor anything that's happened in the last twenty years. It may be the second chance that Eli and Noelle desperately need.
Sounds pretty good, right?! Well, throw in a secondary plot (or really a second primary plot) featuring Eli and Noelle's son and a hometown girl running away from her past, and it's doubly good!
Warren weaves the two stories together beautifully. Since much of the tragedy in their lives is shared, it doesn't come off as two separate stories, but rather as two stories that are closely linked. Themes of forgiveness, faith, and second chances make this an emotional read. By the end, I was a complete mess . . . in the best way!
There's a part in the book describing a person's last minutes before death and they begin describing what is happening to them and say something along the lines of hearing the joy of heaven. That part of the book was not a major part of the storyline, but I got chills and could hear a song running through my head that made me think of the joy of heaven. It was just so realistic to me. Anything that can give me chills and actually HEAR something (that isn't there) is pretty awesome writing!
Susan May Warren does everything right with this book . . . the characters, the writing, the emotional punch. I wasn't ready for the book to end when it did. [5 stars]
Thanks to LitFuse Publicity, Tyndale House, and Net Galley for providing a free review copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.
March 22, 2012
Title: THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Tyndale
December 2011
ISBN: 978-1414334837
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary romance
Noelle Hueston was headed home from Duluth, after talking to Admissions about enrolling in the art institute. On the way home, she stops for coffee, and interrupts a robbery. She escapes, but falls, hitting her head on the pavement. When she awakes, she’s in a hospital, twenty-five years of her life gone, and a man in there claiming to be her husband. Two boys who claim to be her sons…
With no where to go, Noelle has to allow these strangers to take her home. But she has no memory of this place, these people. Moreover, she is shocked that the life she is living is nothing like the life she’d always thought she’d live. Did she loose herself in this marriage?
Why was her husband, Eli, sleeping in the den? What happened to her ambitions? Does she even have any friends in this remote town? And if she had this life, what was she doing talking to Admissions in Duluth about enrolling in college?
THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE is the newest novel set in Deep Haven, Minnesota, by Susan May Warren. It is rare when you pick up a book that seems to minister to all your deepest emotions, but this book did. I found my self crying with some of the lyrics, praying with some of the prayers, and even quoting the verses, begging God that they might be true in my life too.
I absolutely LOVED this book. I can’t say enough good things about it. Noelle, her husband, Eli, their son, Kyle, a neighbor lady, Lee and her daughter Emma all had point of views in this book, all main characters, and I fell in love with every single one of them. My heart broke, it soared, I cried. THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE is going on my keeper shelf. I highly recommend it. 5 stars. 368 pages. $13.99
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Tyndale
December 2011
ISBN: 978-1414334837
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary romance
Noelle Hueston was headed home from Duluth, after talking to Admissions about enrolling in the art institute. On the way home, she stops for coffee, and interrupts a robbery. She escapes, but falls, hitting her head on the pavement. When she awakes, she’s in a hospital, twenty-five years of her life gone, and a man in there claiming to be her husband. Two boys who claim to be her sons…
With no where to go, Noelle has to allow these strangers to take her home. But she has no memory of this place, these people. Moreover, she is shocked that the life she is living is nothing like the life she’d always thought she’d live. Did she loose herself in this marriage?
Why was her husband, Eli, sleeping in the den? What happened to her ambitions? Does she even have any friends in this remote town? And if she had this life, what was she doing talking to Admissions in Duluth about enrolling in college?
THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE is the newest novel set in Deep Haven, Minnesota, by Susan May Warren. It is rare when you pick up a book that seems to minister to all your deepest emotions, but this book did. I found my self crying with some of the lyrics, praying with some of the prayers, and even quoting the verses, begging God that they might be true in my life too.
I absolutely LOVED this book. I can’t say enough good things about it. Noelle, her husband, Eli, their son, Kyle, a neighbor lady, Lee and her daughter Emma all had point of views in this book, all main characters, and I fell in love with every single one of them. My heart broke, it soared, I cried. THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE is going on my keeper shelf. I highly recommend it. 5 stars. 368 pages. $13.99
January 27, 2015
*Book Description*
Noelle and Eli Hueston's relationship has seemed to have reached the end of it's rope...after 25 years together. When a tragic accident occurs and part of Noelle's memory is lost, the only thing she remembers is how she used to dream of her life turning out. Her husband and son were never really part of the plan and Noelle begins to realize how far from her dream her life has turned out. Viewing her husband as the old, tired grouch he's turned out to be, Noelle is horrified to realize she's married to him. Will their relationship ever be the same as it once was, back when they were young and in love? Or will Eli lose his one true love forever?
Struggling with the death of her best friend, Emma Nelson is desperately trying to find the songs and lyrics of her heart once more. When Kyle, a dear long lost friend, shows up in the most unexpected of places can she-with his help-find herself in the midst of tragedy and learn to love again?
*What I liked*
I loved all the characters in this story. Susan did a fabulous job of intertwining two precious stories on romance of faith and yet they were separate. The cover knows what's up with this book too!
*What I didn't like*
I was supposed to not like something?! Oh! Well then I guess I could say, if you're looking for a light read...leave this one on the shelf until next time. But READ it!!
*My Rating*
~My Rating is 5 stars~
*My Overall Opinion*
The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren is a heart wrenching, inspiring romance novel on love, grief, and staying together no matter what.
http://bookreviewsforchristianmenandw...
Noelle and Eli Hueston's relationship has seemed to have reached the end of it's rope...after 25 years together. When a tragic accident occurs and part of Noelle's memory is lost, the only thing she remembers is how she used to dream of her life turning out. Her husband and son were never really part of the plan and Noelle begins to realize how far from her dream her life has turned out. Viewing her husband as the old, tired grouch he's turned out to be, Noelle is horrified to realize she's married to him. Will their relationship ever be the same as it once was, back when they were young and in love? Or will Eli lose his one true love forever?
Struggling with the death of her best friend, Emma Nelson is desperately trying to find the songs and lyrics of her heart once more. When Kyle, a dear long lost friend, shows up in the most unexpected of places can she-with his help-find herself in the midst of tragedy and learn to love again?
*What I liked*
I loved all the characters in this story. Susan did a fabulous job of intertwining two precious stories on romance of faith and yet they were separate. The cover knows what's up with this book too!
*What I didn't like*
I was supposed to not like something?! Oh! Well then I guess I could say, if you're looking for a light read...leave this one on the shelf until next time. But READ it!!
*My Rating*
~My Rating is 5 stars~
*My Overall Opinion*
The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren is a heart wrenching, inspiring romance novel on love, grief, and staying together no matter what.
http://bookreviewsforchristianmenandw...
January 19, 2012
When I’m looking for a story that will satisfy all my readerly cravings, my go-to author is Susan May Warren.
In whatever genre—romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical fiction—I can find a SMW book to provide entertaining drama, heartwarming romance, Bible-based truths, and characters who—by the end of the story—seem like old friends. Her latest novel,
The Shadow of Your Smile
, is no exception.
The Shadow of Your Smile features two couples, younger and long-married, whose relationships need repair. I was drawn most to the mid-life couple, Noelle and Eli, and quickly became immersed in their drama. As they looked back at events and choices and asked the inevitable (and painful), “If I had to do it all over again . . .” questions, I hurt with them. And I loved how finding who they were in the Lord as individuals became the key to bringing their lives and love story full circle. Their sweet second courtship left me playing the song The Second Time Around (video on my blog) in my head and smiling.
So if you have even the slightest touch of the long-cold-days, dark-too-soon, winter blahs, here’s my prescription: a hot cup of coffee or tea, some gentle music on your iPod, and this charming story. View the video (Bing Crosby), learn about Susan's writing helps, and enter the giveaway at my blog, Doorkeeper!
The Shadow of Your Smile features two couples, younger and long-married, whose relationships need repair. I was drawn most to the mid-life couple, Noelle and Eli, and quickly became immersed in their drama. As they looked back at events and choices and asked the inevitable (and painful), “If I had to do it all over again . . .” questions, I hurt with them. And I loved how finding who they were in the Lord as individuals became the key to bringing their lives and love story full circle. Their sweet second courtship left me playing the song The Second Time Around (video on my blog) in my head and smiling.
So if you have even the slightest touch of the long-cold-days, dark-too-soon, winter blahs, here’s my prescription: a hot cup of coffee or tea, some gentle music on your iPod, and this charming story. View the video (Bing Crosby), learn about Susan's writing helps, and enter the giveaway at my blog, Doorkeeper!
June 12, 2012
When Noelle wakes up in the hospital, she can't remember her life--the accident that caused her memory loss, the man she calls husband, her boys, or her daughter Kelsey who was brutally murdered.
Emma can do nothing but remember Kelsey--and the guilt she feels for living when her best friend died. Will the two women be able to find a bright future or remain stuck in the memories of yesterday?
I usually enjoy Susan May Warren's books, and this one was no exception. I like the darker topic of a struggling marriage, an inappropriate friendship that crosses a line, and the forgiveness that lasting love requires. These harder topics may make for a tough read for some, especially those who want a beach happy love story, but they are real issues that Christians face. Warren did a fantastic job with the character of Noelle. She often seemed cold and unfeeling in the book, which was perfect for a woman who didn't even know these people. The depth and honesty of the characters will make this a book readers don't just enjoy but remember.
My only complaint was it was resolved a little too easily at the end. Each character had so many major issues, the book could have easily been stretched to two books and thus made the ending a little more realistic.
**I would love to read another book about Emma. I think she has a lot of story left to tell. Hint, hint, Mrs. Warren. :)
I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Emma can do nothing but remember Kelsey--and the guilt she feels for living when her best friend died. Will the two women be able to find a bright future or remain stuck in the memories of yesterday?
I usually enjoy Susan May Warren's books, and this one was no exception. I like the darker topic of a struggling marriage, an inappropriate friendship that crosses a line, and the forgiveness that lasting love requires. These harder topics may make for a tough read for some, especially those who want a beach happy love story, but they are real issues that Christians face. Warren did a fantastic job with the character of Noelle. She often seemed cold and unfeeling in the book, which was perfect for a woman who didn't even know these people. The depth and honesty of the characters will make this a book readers don't just enjoy but remember.
My only complaint was it was resolved a little too easily at the end. Each character had so many major issues, the book could have easily been stretched to two books and thus made the ending a little more realistic.
**I would love to read another book about Emma. I think she has a lot of story left to tell. Hint, hint, Mrs. Warren. :)
I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 21, 2015
This was really two stories that were interwoven. One mature married couples, and their children. A story of healing, and hope. Also of rediscovery and commitment. Also the story of their children.
One couple has lost a daughter in a previous novel, and one woman is a widow. The misunderstandings and hurt have driven a wedge between the married couple (Eli and Noelle). Lee (the widow) is having difficulty dealing with her home, and having a hard time transitioning to empty nesting.
Noelle has some secrets, Eli has some, and at the beginning she is involved in an accident where she loses her memory. Time for healing for her, and protecting her from retribution (part of the story) leads to hope for Eli and his two sons to restart their family and cherish what they have.
Lee's daughter Emma and Eli and Noelle's son Kyle are thrown together and Emma is falling for her old HS crush, while Kyle sees her for the first time. Very sweet romance, lots of misunderstandings, everything comes together and resolves with healing and hope.
I love SMW's sense that we can rise above our tragedies, and find direction and hope as we struggle through the bumps and dips in the journey of life.
Positive, hopeful and wonderful as always.
One couple has lost a daughter in a previous novel, and one woman is a widow. The misunderstandings and hurt have driven a wedge between the married couple (Eli and Noelle). Lee (the widow) is having difficulty dealing with her home, and having a hard time transitioning to empty nesting.
Noelle has some secrets, Eli has some, and at the beginning she is involved in an accident where she loses her memory. Time for healing for her, and protecting her from retribution (part of the story) leads to hope for Eli and his two sons to restart their family and cherish what they have.
Lee's daughter Emma and Eli and Noelle's son Kyle are thrown together and Emma is falling for her old HS crush, while Kyle sees her for the first time. Very sweet romance, lots of misunderstandings, everything comes together and resolves with healing and hope.
I love SMW's sense that we can rise above our tragedies, and find direction and hope as we struggle through the bumps and dips in the journey of life.
Positive, hopeful and wonderful as always.
June 30, 2014
Noelle and her husband Eli have been drifting apart after their daughter was murdered. Noelle is on her way home one day when she has an accident. She wakes up in the hospital thinking she's a college student, not a mom and wife of 25 yrs. It seems like the perfect way for them to start over. But the men who caused the accident are out looking for her, Noelle can't remember even a small part of her life with her family, and Eli must deal with the consequences of his actions.
I love how the author tells two stories at once that tie together, but are also their own individual stories. The romance is there, but is more subtle than a typical romance. The author also weaves in a tiny bit of mystery, faith, and a small town feel. While this book is part of a series, it can definitely stand alone. One of the things that I appreciate most about this author and her books is how her books make me think. They are more than just a story.
I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.
I love how the author tells two stories at once that tie together, but are also their own individual stories. The romance is there, but is more subtle than a typical romance. The author also weaves in a tiny bit of mystery, faith, and a small town feel. While this book is part of a series, it can definitely stand alone. One of the things that I appreciate most about this author and her books is how her books make me think. They are more than just a story.
I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.
January 26, 2012
There is a lot of tragedy in this book. The book opens with Noelle Hueston's running from a Murder robbery. She takes a terrible fall and ends up with a head injury and amnesia. She doesn't know her son's Kirby or Kyle or her husband Eli.
Three years ago there was another robbery and a double murder...Eli and Noelle 17 year old daughter Kelsey, and Kelsy's best friends Dad is also killed. The toll of this puts a big strain on their twenty-five year marriage. So when Noelle doesn't remember them he makes a decision not to tell her about Kelsey.
There is so much action in this book that I read this in one day! You need to get to the end to find out the answers, much is answered, but I still have a few unanswered. The book will want to make you move to Deep Haven MN, and embrace this wonderful God loving people.
I recommend this awesome read!
I was provided with an e-book by Tyndale House Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.
Three years ago there was another robbery and a double murder...Eli and Noelle 17 year old daughter Kelsey, and Kelsy's best friends Dad is also killed. The toll of this puts a big strain on their twenty-five year marriage. So when Noelle doesn't remember them he makes a decision not to tell her about Kelsey.
There is so much action in this book that I read this in one day! You need to get to the end to find out the answers, much is answered, but I still have a few unanswered. The book will want to make you move to Deep Haven MN, and embrace this wonderful God loving people.
I recommend this awesome read!
I was provided with an e-book by Tyndale House Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.
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