Amanda S. (homemomma) reviewed It Had to Be You (Christiansen Family, Bk 2) on + 38 more book reviews
It's no wonder Susan May Warren is a bestselling and award winning author. This is a fabulous look at a very complex cast of characters. There's more to each than meets the eye.
I laughed, I cried, I cried some more, and I cheered for the characters. The only one I didn't really care for was Eden's brother Owen - but that was a necessary evil. My short review? Highly, highly recommend. Read on for my long review.
Eden Christiansen thinks the purpose of her life is to be the cheerleader for everyone else. She has a mediocre job in the obits department, a slew of siblings who each has their own awesome talent, and a superstar hockey brother she feels she has to serve and protect at all costs. Even if it's to her own detriment. Always comparing herself to their accomplishments, she feels that somehow, no matter how hard she tries, she'll never be as good as them. Yet she wants to do something spectacular - she just doesn't see it happening in the obituary department.
Jace Jacobsen has his own demons to destroy. He, a hockey superstar, has a less than desirable name and past. He knows better than anyone his own faults - and wishes he could change things.
As the story unfolds, both main characters see the other for what they are - hurting people who need someone to care for them. To see that they're worth something. To look past the exterior and see the potential.
Supported by a stellar cast of characters, this isn't just a story about how two people meet and how they learn to like each other. This is a story about heart conditions, desperation, despair, losing everything important, new beginnings, old hurts, and finally, forgiveness. Love. Mending. Growing.
Each person has their own story, and no one lives to themselves. I loved the main plot, the secondary plot, and the emerging plot that I'm pretty sure is going to be the focus of another Christiansen family book. And I can't wait to read it.
*My thanks to the publisher and author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions. I was not required they be positive.*
I laughed, I cried, I cried some more, and I cheered for the characters. The only one I didn't really care for was Eden's brother Owen - but that was a necessary evil. My short review? Highly, highly recommend. Read on for my long review.
Eden Christiansen thinks the purpose of her life is to be the cheerleader for everyone else. She has a mediocre job in the obits department, a slew of siblings who each has their own awesome talent, and a superstar hockey brother she feels she has to serve and protect at all costs. Even if it's to her own detriment. Always comparing herself to their accomplishments, she feels that somehow, no matter how hard she tries, she'll never be as good as them. Yet she wants to do something spectacular - she just doesn't see it happening in the obituary department.
Jace Jacobsen has his own demons to destroy. He, a hockey superstar, has a less than desirable name and past. He knows better than anyone his own faults - and wishes he could change things.
As the story unfolds, both main characters see the other for what they are - hurting people who need someone to care for them. To see that they're worth something. To look past the exterior and see the potential.
Supported by a stellar cast of characters, this isn't just a story about how two people meet and how they learn to like each other. This is a story about heart conditions, desperation, despair, losing everything important, new beginnings, old hurts, and finally, forgiveness. Love. Mending. Growing.
Each person has their own story, and no one lives to themselves. I loved the main plot, the secondary plot, and the emerging plot that I'm pretty sure is going to be the focus of another Christiansen family book. And I can't wait to read it.
*My thanks to the publisher and author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions. I was not required they be positive.*
This is the second book in The Christiansen Family series by Susan May Warren. I thought it was pretty good. There was a lot of tension between the characters. I really liked Eden, who was one to stay back and be everyone's cheerleader. She had to learn to let go. Recommended!
Kristin D. (kdurham2813) reviewed It Had to Be You (Christiansen Family, Bk 2) on + 753 more book reviews
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
The second in the series and the paperback edition includes a novella about the parents of the Christiansen clan that is definitely worth reading! This book centers around Eden Christiansen who always wanted to be a journalist, but has found herself stuck at a newspaper in the obituary section and always on the sidelines of her family - through this book she finds where she fits in.
I absolutely loved Eden's journey, although it was pretty predictable as to the romantic storyline in this book. Because Eden lives in Minneapolis with one of her brothers - Owen, this book didn't include the rest of the family that often, they were only in the book in bits and pieces. I wish there had been more moments with more of the family members, but I understood their absence.
The second in the series and the paperback edition includes a novella about the parents of the Christiansen clan that is definitely worth reading! This book centers around Eden Christiansen who always wanted to be a journalist, but has found herself stuck at a newspaper in the obituary section and always on the sidelines of her family - through this book she finds where she fits in.
I absolutely loved Eden's journey, although it was pretty predictable as to the romantic storyline in this book. Because Eden lives in Minneapolis with one of her brothers - Owen, this book didn't include the rest of the family that often, they were only in the book in bits and pieces. I wish there had been more moments with more of the family members, but I understood their absence.
Predictable, cliche, but not nauseating
As a general rule I don't read books categorized as "romance" - they're so sickly sweet I gag if I try to read them.
Good news. This book isn't like that. It has some good messages in it, and the characters are real enough.
Bad news. There's still way too much kissing for my taste. I know that may sound prudish, but kissing before they're a couple, kissing when they aren't sure about their coupleness. It takes about halfway through the book to start, but once it does it's implied that it's pretty serious kissing. I find that very disappointing since this work is labeled as a Christian work. I get that the characters aren't perfect. Neither am I. But as writer you also influence people's ideas, perceptions. Maybe even help them form some ideas for their own life. I know, there aren't sex scenes or things like that which (I hear) are common in non-Christian romance novels. But what about fleeing from temptation? What about setting a higher standard?
The story would be quite compelling without the unnecessary kissing ... or at least some of the descriptions accompanying those scenes.
As a general rule I don't read books categorized as "romance" - they're so sickly sweet I gag if I try to read them.
Good news. This book isn't like that. It has some good messages in it, and the characters are real enough.
Bad news. There's still way too much kissing for my taste. I know that may sound prudish, but kissing before they're a couple, kissing when they aren't sure about their coupleness. It takes about halfway through the book to start, but once it does it's implied that it's pretty serious kissing. I find that very disappointing since this work is labeled as a Christian work. I get that the characters aren't perfect. Neither am I. But as writer you also influence people's ideas, perceptions. Maybe even help them form some ideas for their own life. I know, there aren't sex scenes or things like that which (I hear) are common in non-Christian romance novels. But what about fleeing from temptation? What about setting a higher standard?
The story would be quite compelling without the unnecessary kissing ... or at least some of the descriptions accompanying those scenes.
Virginia P. (virginiajeanne) reviewed It Had to Be You (Christiansen Family, Bk 2) on + 207 more book reviews
Eden works for the newspaper while watching out for her younger brother, a hockey player. When she meets Jace, hockey team captain, she hopes he will mentor her brother, but Jace has other ideas and the two clash over various issues.
I thought this was a very good book even though I am not a fan of hockey. The characters are interesting and the overall story was well written as was the previous book. There is a novella in the back of the book about Eden's parents. I liked the novella, but preferred the main story.
I thought this was a very good book even though I am not a fan of hockey. The characters are interesting and the overall story was well written as was the previous book. There is a novella in the back of the book about Eden's parents. I liked the novella, but preferred the main story.
Charity L. (kingsdaughter1611) -
Susan May Warren is one of those authors you can pick up and read again and again. This new novel, It Had To Be You, is part of the Christiansen Family series but if you have read any of her other books, you just might recognize some of the characters. They go all the way back to the Deep Haven series:)
This book is about Eden Christiansen. Her whole family seems to be gifted or have some sort of talent, except her. She is the cheerleader, the one who stands on the sidelines and helps others. Her brother Owen is an up and coming hockey star who is following in the footsteps of bad boy enforcer, J Hammer. But as much as Eden vows to stay away from Jace Hammer, he somehow ends up helping her out of trouble, time and again. I really liked the character development of Eden. You see her grow and change. There was one part with Owen that kinda threw me off. I guess you don't expect things overnight and with him it was abrupt. Sorry to be vague but I don't want to give anything away.
One of my favorite parts is when Eden is talking to Jace about your life as a Christian. And the things she said(okay, what Susan Warren wrote) really stuck with me. Enough that I want to share a little bit of it with you as I end. Maybe it will be a help to someone. Just let it sink in. Really sink in.
"You are God's child, and that means He's crazy about you. And that doesn't change because you do something stupid- or even do something terrible. God's love simply is. We can't sin it away- our only option is to accept it or reject it."
I received a copy of this book for my review purposes. All thoughts are 100% mine.
This book is about Eden Christiansen. Her whole family seems to be gifted or have some sort of talent, except her. She is the cheerleader, the one who stands on the sidelines and helps others. Her brother Owen is an up and coming hockey star who is following in the footsteps of bad boy enforcer, J Hammer. But as much as Eden vows to stay away from Jace Hammer, he somehow ends up helping her out of trouble, time and again. I really liked the character development of Eden. You see her grow and change. There was one part with Owen that kinda threw me off. I guess you don't expect things overnight and with him it was abrupt. Sorry to be vague but I don't want to give anything away.
One of my favorite parts is when Eden is talking to Jace about your life as a Christian. And the things she said(okay, what Susan Warren wrote) really stuck with me. Enough that I want to share a little bit of it with you as I end. Maybe it will be a help to someone. Just let it sink in. Really sink in.
"You are God's child, and that means He's crazy about you. And that doesn't change because you do something stupid- or even do something terrible. God's love simply is. We can't sin it away- our only option is to accept it or reject it."
I received a copy of this book for my review purposes. All thoughts are 100% mine.
