Max Sharpe may make his living on the ice as a pro hockey player, but he feels most at home in the kitchen. Which is why he lives for the three-week culinary vacation he takes each year in Hawaii. Upon being paired with Grace for a cooking competition, Max finds himself drawn to her passion, confidence, and perseverance. But just when Grace dares to dream of a future beyond her hometown, Max pulls away.
Wrestling with personal demons, Max fights against opening his heart to a love he knows he should never hope for. And as his secrets unfold, Grace is torn between the safe path in front of her and what her heart truly desires. If love means sacrificing her ideal happily ever after, Grace’s faith will face its toughest test yet.
ISBN-13: 9781414378435 | Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Publication date: 06/20/2014 | Series: Christiansen Family Series, #3
My Review: From the very beginning of the Christiansen Family series, I have been in love. This book proves to be no exception. Susan May Warren has a way of writing that pulls me in and doesn't let me go until the very end. I get wrapped up in the story. I even got a little angry when I had to put the book down and do my job! Grace and Max's story started out a little on the slow side for me, but I quickly warmed up to it and didn't want it to end.
Grace is such a sweet character. Her fear of the unknown is one a lot of people can relate to. I know I certainly can. I loved watching her step outside of her box, her comfort zone, and blossom. Max was an intriguing character. It amazed me how he could turn from cold to warm in an instant, all because of his fear of his future and his feelings. Watching the two wrestle their feelings for each other was as frustrating for me as it was for them, and I enjoyed every second of it.
The message of the story, for both characters, has to do with overcoming your fears to live the life that God intends for you to live. I think it can be summed up in these two quotes (don't worry, they aren't plot spoiling quotes):
"The amazing, whole, overwhelming, abundant life is found, oddly, by letting go. By living a dangerous faith -- the kind of faith that believes in a God who knows our hearts and loves us enough to take our breath away."
"Suffering can either destroy you or it can save you. Because without suffering, we don't need more; we have enough. But when we suffer, we can't help but reach out [to God}."
Overall, I enjoyed this addition to the Christiansen Family series and can't wait to read more about Casper and Raina!
A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!.
She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. You can find her online atwww.susanmaywarren.com.
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