Review of When I Fall in Love & Win a KitchenAid Mixer in Susan May Warren’s Hawaiian Chef Showdown!

About the book: 

Hawaii was the last place Grace Christiansen ever imagined she'd vacation, much less fall in love. But when her family surprises her with a cooking retreat in paradise, she is pulled-or maybe yanked-away from her predictable, safe life and thrown headfirst into the adventure of a lifetime.

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.

My review: 

Susan May Warren has done it again!  I have loved every book in the Christiansen Family series, including this one!  I loved the mix of small town and exotic vacation and oh, the food!  I'm not a cook, but I love to eat and try new things.  I want to go to Hawaii even more now, if that's possible.  I felt I could relate to Grace in being afraid to take risks in some ways, but I had a hard time understanding her fear of any kind of risk, including traveling and trying new food.  She did seem a little pathetic at the beginning, but she definitely grew on me and I really liked her as the story progressed.  I felt very sorry for Max and can somewhat understand where he's coming from in trying not to get involved with anyone.  I liked the message, though, about life being worth living, no matter how much time you have or what you suffer through, especially if the suffering draws you closer to Jesus.  I also liked that Grace realized she can't find her happiness in a guy, but in God.  The secondary story was good, too, about a new girl in Deep Haven and the messy situation she gets into with Grace's brothers.  I definitely hope their story continues in another book.  This book can work as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the previous books because they are so good and those characters featured prominently in this one.  This well-written story deals with some tough issues and circumstances, but offers hope and a sweet romance!  Don't miss it!

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

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Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/z5Ijj

About the author: 

Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award-winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA's Inspirational Reader's Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women's events about God's amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors.

Find Susan online: website, My Book Therapy, Twitter, 

Susan May Warren's newest book in the Christiansen Family Collection, When I Fall In Love,  has won over readers' and critics' hearts alike. With critical reviews like, ". . . an exquisite romance. Profoundly touching on the topic of facing fears, this book is a true gem," and more than 60 five-star reviews at Amazon, When I Fall in Love is sure to please.

Susan has teamed up with some amazing food bloggers for a fun food challenge and a KitchenAid Mixer giveaway!

  One grand prize winner will receive:

• A KitchenAid Mixer
• The first three books in the Christiansen Family Collection.
• Melissa Ringstaff’s Kitchen Planner
• Jackie Brown's Freezer Inventory sheet

Grab your aprons and wire whisks and buzz on over to the When I Fall in Love website to learn more and enter the Hawaiian Chef Showdown! Susan is challenging you to make a Hawaiian-inspired dish using coconut, mango, or one of the other ingredients mentioned in the book. You’ll get extra points for creating your own recipe—plus she might share it on the When I Fall in Love site! Or if you're not up for an adventure in the kitchen just click one of the icons below for easy entry.

Hurry, the giveaway ends on August 10th. All winners will be announced August 13th at Susan's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Susan's blog on the 13th to see if you won!