Somewhere, my Love

Somewhere, My Love

by Susan May Warren

We’d all like to believe that there is someone out there, waiting for us. The perfect one, who is exactly the right fit. But sometimes the wait – and the fear of launching out to find that special someone -- keep us from leaping out in faith. From saying hello, accepting that cup of coffee, saying yes to a romantic walk on the beach.

Sometimes it just takes a providential moment to change everything. RITA and Christy award-winning, ECPA and CPA best-selling novelist, Susan May Warren brings you three delightful novellas about leaping out into the unknown only to discover that yes, somewhere, my love is waiting.

Measure of a Man
The last person Calil Deane expects to find trapped in an elevator in Siberia at 2.a.m is Peter Samuelson—the man who broke her heart. Besides, she has a life she loves now - as a missionary in Russia. But Peter is not the man she remembers, and suddenly, she has to take another look, remeasure the man she once knew. But can love be reignited, or will the fears – and mistakes – of the past drive them apart again?

"5 Stars for Measure of a Man!
Susan Warren's offering, Measure of a Man, is wonderful! Endearing characters and a page-turning plot, romance at its very best and a precious message neatly woven in. I can't wait to read more by this incredible new author! ~ D. Raney Amazon.com reviewer

Proof of Your Love
Investigative Reporter Justine Proof knows she doesn't belong in the small, backwater town in East Tennessee...not only is she a Yankee, and hasn't the foggiest idea what grits are, but she's pretty sure someone is out to get her. And yes, it might be because she's investigating a murder, but someone is making it personal. Certainly it can't be cute, but redneck, coffee shop owner "Wild" Pat Bells, right? Still, every time she has car trouble, Pat "seems" to show up, raspberry latte in hand. Is he a rogue meaning her harm - or a friend trying to help?

Patrick Bells can’t believe he heard a woman plan a murder into her tape recorder. And not just any woman – cute and sassy Justine Proof, a woman he’s been scraping up the courage to meet since the first day she ordered a raspberry latte in his coffee shop, the Right Cup. But Pat isn't going to let anyone get hurt in his town. . .

Justine has finally found someone she’d like to trust -- someone who has suddenly become more than just an early morning ray of sunshine in her life. But her suspicious mind stands between her and true love. She’s about to learn that trust is a choice, and that only God can help her make it.

This Little House of Mine
When they said "Missionary," Interior Decorator Ellen White expected, well, not the hot, tall, and sweet Paul Stoneman, fresh from the backwoods of some Russian village. And sure, she'll help him redecorate his cute missionary home. After all, clearly the confirmed, rough-around-the edges bachelor needs a woman's touch. But when she falls for him, she discovers that loving a man with a heart for God requires more from her than she's willing to give.

Paul Stoneman longs for a wife to share his life wife. Sure, he loves his life as a missionary, but admittedly, he's lonely. Beautiful Ellen White is exactly what he's prayed for - right down to her ability to turn his life into something beautiful. But Ellen isn't interesting in leaving the comforts of America for the rustic life of a missionary, right?

More than just a romance, this story will tug at the heart of anyone who loves a man whose heart belongs first, to God.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Christian, Christian Romance, Novella

58 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 2015

About the author

I 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

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was so excited when I found out about it. And of course it was wonderful, as all Susan May Warren's books are. She just knows how to write characters and stories that touch your heart and resonate truth.

Each novella was fun, unique, and inspiring in it's own way, but what I liked about all of them was how strong the characters were. I liked the interplay between the characters. How they complemented and built each other up, and ultimately learned that their greatest strength lay in relying on God together.

This Little House of Mine is a pitch perfect story about faith, love, and answering God's call. I thought Ellen and Paul were absolutely adorable. I was so excited for the truths and love they were uncovering on their journey toward each other and what God had in store for them. I wanted to stand up and cheer at the end.

Measure of a Man seemed to be a little bit longer, it had some more depth and intrigue to it. The characters had a past, so their relationship was more about healing and learning to trust each other and stepping out in faith. I enjoyed how strong and secure Calli was. I really liked how she challenged Peter.

Proof of Your Love was so much fun for me. Yes, the mystery was chilling, and I was on the edge of my seat to find out who was behind it. But I enjoyed the way Justine and Patrick came together and interacted. They were so sweet and so much fun. Both Justine and Patrick struggle with letting go of their past and perceived expectations, and learning to embrace who God really created them to be. I think it's a struggle every Christian can relate to.

Each novella is sweet, romantic, and fun in it's own way. I felt like I came away from each story with a little bit of a faith boost, and a reminder of the hope we have (without being preached at.) I'm excited for the release of this book. Fans of Susan May Warren's will love it, and it's a great mix for those who haven't read her books before to try.


*I received an ARC of this title from the author in the exchange for my honest review.


www.wanderingthepages.tumblr.com

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Limited Pre-Order price of .99!**


We’d all like to believe that there is someone out there, waiting for us. The perfect one, who is exactly the right fit. But sometimes the wait – and the fear of launching out to find that special someone -- keep us from leaping out in faith. From saying hello, accepting that cup of coffee, saying yes to a romantic walk on the beach.

Sometimes it just takes a providential moment to change everything. RITA and Christy award-winning, ECPA and CPA best-selling novelist, Susan May Warren brings you three delightful novellas about leaping out into the unknown only to discover that yes, somewhere, my love is waiting.


This Little House of Mine

When they said "Missionary," Interior Decorator Ellen White expected, well, not the hot, tall, and sweet Paul Stoneman, fresh from the backwoods of some Russian village. And sure, she'll help him redecorate his cute missionary home. After all, clearly the confirmed, rough-around-the edges bachelor needs a woman's touch. But when she falls for him, she discovers that loving a man with a heart for God requires more from her than she's willing to give.

Paul Stoneman longs for a wife to share his life wife. Sure, he loves his life as a missionary, but admittedly, he's lonely. Beautiful Ellen White is exactly what he's prayed for - right down to her ability to turn his life into something beautiful. But Ellen isn't interesting in leaving the comforts of America for the rustic life of a missionary, right?

More than just a romance, this story will tug at the heart of anyone who loves a man whose heart belongs first, to God.

My thoughts: Ellen is bubbly and instantly wins over Paul's heart. Whereas Ellen is torn, wanting to throw over her dream career for a mission field... is God actually calling her or is it because of Paul?

I'm used to reading Susan's more developed stories, with characters that you fall in love with despite their issues. I wasn't there with Paul and Ellen but I wanted to. Maybe I went in with too high of expectations, since this was one of Ms. Warren's first published books and she hadn't honed her skill to the level it is now.

Regardless, I enjoyed getting reacquainted with Paul and Ellen. All he wanted to do was build a deck. . . and she turned his life upside down. One just has to be amazed at how God works . . . I may have wanted this story to be longer and more developed, but it was still good. A quick read. 4 stars.

Measure of a Man

The last person Calli Deane expects to find trapped in an elevator in Siberia at 2.a.m is Peter Samuelson—the man who broke her heart. Besides, she has a life she loves now - as a missionary in Russia. But Peter is not the man she remembers, and suddenly, she has to take another look, remeasure the man she once knew. But can love be reignited, or will the fears – and mistakes – of the past drive them apart again?

My thoughts. This story was also previously published -- Ms. Warren's very first published book. I remember her excitement when her real-life story of being stuck in a Russian elevator turned into a published novel. I was excited for her!

It was good getting reacquainted with Peter and Calli, and as I said with the first novella in this collection, these books in no way mirror the talent Ms. Warren currently is. It made me initially fall in love with her books, and it might bring a whole new flock of fans to Ms. Warren's doorsteps, but as with most author's, their writing ability improve with each book they write.

It was interesting finding Peter out of his element in Russia and floundering around. Getting robbed... poisoned... tricked. Callie was the true hero, coming to his rescue, time and again, and pointing him to God. But--will Peter give up his legacy and surrender to missions work? Or will he call Callie out of the wilderness? 4 stars.


Proof of Your Love

Investigative Reporter Justine Proof knows she doesn't belong in the small, backwater town in East Tennessee...not only is she a Yankee, and hasn't the foggiest idea what grits are, but she's pretty sure someone is out to get her. And yes, it might be because she's investigating a murder, but someone is making it personal. Certainly it can't be cute, but redneck, coffee shop owner "Wild" Pat Bells, right? Still, every time she has car trouble, Pat "seems" to show up, raspberry latte in hand. Is he a rogue meaning her harm - or a friend trying to help?

Patrick Bells can’t believe he heard a woman plan a murder into her tape recorder. And not just any woman – cute and sassy Justine Proof, a woman he’s been scraping up the courage to meet since the first day she ordered a raspberry latte in his coffee shop, the Right Cup. But Pat isn't going to let anyone get hurt in his town. . .

Justine has finally found someone she’d like to trust -- someone who has suddenly become more than just an early morning ray of sunshine in her life. But her suspicious mind stands between her and true love. She’s about to learn that trust is a choice, and that only God can help her make it.

My thoughts: Again, Proof of Your Love was previously published, this one with a collection with Barbour. I remember reading it when it first came out. I enjoyed getting reacquainted with Justine and Patrick, and remembering the story behind this story. It was funny how Patrick heard Justine plotting a murder in her recorder, and worried that she might be trying to kill someone for real.

But things are not as peaceful in this Tennessee town as one would think. There are long buried feuds, murders unsolved, and someone out to kill Justine. Why? And who? You'll have to read the book to find out.

This was Ms. Warren's deput suspense/thriller which led to her her series with Love Inspired about Russia and another one set in Tennessee and Missouri. 4.5 stars.

Overall, 4.166667 stars A great collection of Ms. Warren's beginning novellas now out of print. Fans who haven't read her early works will want this, in addition to contemporary romance readers who haven't discovered her yet.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oftentimes, novellas aren't really my thing—I think it takes special skill to write a novella that feels complete and not rushed. But when I learned that one of my most favorite authors, Susan May Warren, was putting out a novella collection comprised of some of her earlier work, I didn't hesitate. I knew I needed to read these stories!

"This Little House of Mine" finds confirmed bachelor missionary Paul Stoneman on furlough in small town Oklahoma. He is immediately drawn to interior designer Ellen White—but how could he ask her to give up her comfortable life and career to follow him to Siberia?

This is a sweet novella, and there's a lot of chemistry between Paul and Ellen. I did think it was a pretty swift journey from meet cute to "I'm going to Siberia with you," but overall, Warren makes it work. Paul and Ellen are characters I'd love to spend more time with! 4 stars.

"In Measure of a Man," college sweethearts Calli and Peter are reunited in a place neither would have anticipated: Siberia. Though both Calli and Peter felt God's call to missions in college, Peter ultimately decided to follow his father's wishes and become a corporate lawyer, while Calli became a missionary at a camp in Russia. Calli believes their unexpected encounter in Russia is God's way of trying to get Peter's attention—but could it also be His way of giving her the desire of her heart?

"Measure of a Man" feels more complete than "This Little House of Mine"—and I'm sure part of that has to do with its length. I enjoyed getting to know Calli and Peter, and the novella is full of fun scenes, like when Peter gets stuck in an elevator. There's also a suspense thread, and that's the only part of the novella that fell a bit flat for me. I don't think it was quite suspenseful enough, and I had no trouble figuring out who was out to get Peter. Still, this is an enjoyable novella—perfect for a lazy Saturday or a rainy day! 3-1/2 stars.

In "Proof of Your Love," reporter and aspiring novelist Justine takes a job in Tennessee—a place that's very different from her Minnesota home. Not only is southern living a major adjustment, but she also begins to suspect that someone is out to get her ... or it could just be her writer's brain working overtime. When she meets Patrick, she misjudges him at first but soon begins to fall for him. Then it begins to look like Patrick might be behind some of the things happening to her. Is she trusting the wrong person?

While I enjoyed the first two novellas, I didn't fall head over heels for them in the way I normally fall for Warren's books. But the instant I began reading "Proof of Your Love," I knew it would be a different story. Of the three novellas, this story felt most like Warren's current writing—it grabbed me at the beginning and wouldn't let go until the end. The characters felt realistic, and the suspense was truly suspenseful. While I did figure out who was out to get Justine, I wasn't ever 100% sure until the end of the novella. At the very end of the novella, a few things were left a bit unresolved regarding Justine's tormentors, but that is the only thing I didn't 100% love. I wish Warren would revisit this setting—I'd love to check in with Patrick and Justine again, and I think Patrick's friend ElHannon deserves his own story! 4-1/2 stars.

Overall, this novella collection is very good, and at the pre-order price of $.99, you get a lot of bang for your buck! 4 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere, My Love is a collection of three novellas. These stories are some of Susan May Warren’s earliest works and were such a pleasure to read.

The first novella, This Little House of Mine, was my favorite of the three. Paul Stoneman and Ellen White just had such great chemistry! They felt like such “real” people, struggling to determine God’s direction for their lives. Paul knows that his dedication is to the Lord first, but the pull he feels toward Ellen makes him question whether this “well-groomed, city-girl” could possibly be meant to serve with him in Siberia. And Ellen’s inner-struggle is such a pleasure to read about, as well. God really worked on her heart to bring her back to a life dedicated to Him.

The second novella, Measure of a Man, also deals with missions in Siberia. The premise for the story is so clever, and based lightly on a “trapped in an elevator in Siberia” experience that the author had. But, the story is so much more than that fun beginning. It is quite a deep story, full of past hurts, attraction, and the call of God to a man who keeps trying to justify the decisions he once made.

The third novella, Proof of Your Love, was full of strange events and disconcerting problems for the heroine. This story had lots of humor in it, with a trace of nerve-wracking danger. It was a cute story with a touch of romantic suspense thrown in.

My thanks to the author for the complimentary copy of this book that I received in exchange for my honest review.

You can read this review and pre-order your copy (by Memorial Day) on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Measure of a Man: is a missionary story. Eight years earlier, Peter and Calli dedicated their lives to missionary service, but the Peter changed his mind. Now he's in Russia to make a business deal and finds himself stuck in an elevator and having a conversation with a girl outside the doors while waiting for rescue. He may find more than he bargained for on this trip.

Loved the characters and who their hearts created them to be.

Proof of Your Love:

Justine Proof has a new job. In Tennessee. She is homesick, but her father got her the job, so she can't turn it down. The day she meets Patrick Bells, she's convinced he will hurt her. He turns out to be an interesting guy. And there's someone causing havoc in the middle of it all. Another great short story by Susie May Warren!

This Little House of Mine:

What a fun story of a missionary who comes home on furlough and has to do improvements in exchange for rent. Ellen offers to help decorate and finds herself spending plenty of time with Paul. As a child she yearned to be a missionary and as they spend time together, that yearning returns. But Paul has his reasons for not wanting Ellen to return to Siberia with him.

This was a great book with great missionary stories. Susan May Warren has done it again!

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like whatever Susie writes and she is using yet another song title for her novella. I have one negative point and that is I got lost reading when changes of characters came on the scene without a pause or ... points. I feel that would have helped me, as it was I had to reread passages because I wasn't able to flow with the quick change of scene.
Measure of a Man ... wow! fancy meeting again in Siberia after eight years and I can see that may have been the Lord's input. Being stuck in the lift could be life changing.
Proof of your love had a lot in it for the short amount of pages especially as it lead into mystery n suspense in who to trust and was their a threat to Justin's life after hearing about the person she replaced was killed in a car accident going over a bridge. The different culture in a southern state n all to contend with.
this little House of Mine was short n intense. Missionary on furlough to promote giving to missions but God may have an agenda to recruit a partner who yet has to surrender to God their lives.
Certainly something to think about while reading this ebook where God is leading me and is he trying to get my attention.

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of three novellas Susan May Warren published early in her writing career. Each has a preface from the author describing what inspired her to write the short story and how it influenced her later writing. The first two stories have a heavy missionary theme, each with one of the characters questioning their path in life and what God's will for them is in regards to spreading the good news and serving in His kingdom. The romance is sweet but there are also some angsty-dramatic moments to spice things up. The third story has more suspense with a quirky journalist/mystery writer and the southern town she is trying to assimilate into. I felt like things moved a bit quickly and I was missing some details in the mystery that would have rounded out the story better if it had been full-length rather than a novella. I enjoyed the stories and while they are not as high quality as the author's current writing, I appreciated her perspective on missionary work in remote places.

(Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of sweet, romantic novellas by the great Susan May Warren. They are some of Warren's earliest work and all have been published previously in various collections, but together make a collection of stories that are quick to read, mixing romance with faith. Warren introduces each novella with a note explaining where the idea for the story came from, often with real-life connections. I don't believe that these novellas are as good as Warren's latest full-length works, her writing has developed well over the years, but they are still certainly worth reading, especially if you are a fan of her writing or if you like sweet romances.

[CarolynB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of three novellas written early in Susan May Warren's writing career. The conversion into digital format leaves a lot to be desired, especially in the beginning of the book. I almost gave up while reading the first story, but I'm glad I hung in there because the conversion got better, and I thought the stories got progressively better, too. I'm not a huge fan of novellas, but I would give this collection 3.75 stars if that were possible.

[Katy Kauffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading these novellas, and I read them quickly. I like Susan May Warren's style and how she weaved spiritual truths for everyday life into the stories. One of the endings was exactly what I needed to hear for my own life. So thank you for that! The stories were sweethearted and romantic. Since I like missionary adventures, I enjoyed reading the first and last stories, and the middle one had a bit of mystery to it. Mystery and coffee.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised to find out this was a well established author, only because I found so many grammatical errors, it was like a newbie writer. And it was driving me crazy!
The stories were cute, I enjoyed them, and was well worth the price, but please could you get someone else to do the proof reading??? :)

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this novella collection. Susan May Warren is one of my all time FAVORITE authors and I was so happy to see this collection eb released. I enjoyed every word. It was especially nice to read Calli and Peter's store again :)

[Gena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok read

I love this author and read everything she writes but these stories were just OK. The stories jumped all over the place and I kept thinking I skipped a page.

[Karen Peale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novella collection

I love this author and because she has served as a missionary these novellas were authentic. I did see some errors. But it was a good read.

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3-in-1

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Jaycee Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming shorter tales from a fantastic author

Susan May Warren does inspirational novellas as well as she does intricate family stories and adventure suspense. In this collection, the characters and their romances are beautifully developed in a short time span, and God at work in their lives takes center stage (as He should). Always uplifting and never overly preachy, it’s an enjoyable collection I can easily recommend.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read

Susan May Warren is one of my favorite authors. This collection of novellas was fun to read. I enjoyed that she included things that pertained to her experiences as a missionary.

[Janet Merrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall was not my favorite collection. The last novella bumped my rating up to 3 stars.