Litfuse Blog Tour: The Shadow of Your Smile

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A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the quaint 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 contemplating divorce . . . just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. But then 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 their family apart. What’s more, Noelle is shocked that her life has turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. As she tries to regain her memory and slowly steps into her role as a wife and mother, Eli helps her readjust to daily life with sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can’t remember?

Will their secrets destroy them . . . or has erasing the past given them a chance for a future? Read the story behind the story here. 

I received a free copy of The Shadow of Your Smile from the publisher in exchange for participating in this blog tour. Even if I hadn't, Susan May Warren's books are an automatic buy. I loved reading The Deep Haven series through the years. Susie's books are always rich with details, storyworld and three-dimensional characters. In The Shadow of Your Smile, I felt pulled into each of the character's emotions. The depth of their pain pulled on my heart. Unfortunately I haven't finished reading this book due to my schedule, but each time I turn the page, I'm pulled back to Deep Haven on a journey that helps me to really appreciate the one I married. Reading how Noelle and Eli work to put together the shadow of their marriage helps me to appreciate the love and blessings I share with my husband. You must buy your copy of The Shadow of Your Smile today. You won't be disappointed. 

 

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

 

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats 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 My Book Therapy, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

 

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

 

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at www.susanmaywarren.com. 

 

Susan is celebrating the release of The Shadow of Your Smile by giving away a prize pack worth over $200 from 1/9-1/28.

Come Back to Deep Haven and Win a $200 Visa Card from @susanmaywarren!


Sometimes love requires a little forgetting ... Come back to Deep Haven and find out what's been happening in your favorite quaint hamlet. If you're new to the Deep Haven series - this is the perfect book to start with - each book in the series is a stand alone story.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to rekindle a little romance, treat yourself to a spa day, snap up those shoes you’ve been eyeing, or purchase a few great books!)

• The entire set of Deep Haven Books 

The winner will be announced on 1/30/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles! Just click one of the icons below to enter and tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Clarification about Is Being Single a Choice

I wanted to address Wednesday's post about Is Being Single a Choice? I absolutely loved the conversation the developed. After reading a few of the comments, I felt the need to clarify a couple of points. When I asked is being single a choice, I did not mean to imply that if a person is single, then they are that way by choice. I have several single friends who are single by circumstance, not by choice. They are hoping for a spouse someday, but it hasn't happened yet. My main purpose of the post was to say I did not believe people are meant to be alone. If a person desires be married, then I believe God will help them to find their mate or change their heart to be satisfied with being single. Many people who are single maintain their status by choice. I apologize if my post offended anyone. That truly was not my intent. 


I'm blogging at MBT Ponderers today, talking about Change Equals Growth. Here's a snippet of the post:

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I work with children on a daily basis. One of the most amazing moments of being an early childhood educator is seeing their physical and cognitive skills development. I praise my infant Little Darling for learning how to clap her chubby little hands. I praise my preschool Little Darlings for their letters and spelling their names. I praise my toddler Little Darling for sharing toys with her friends. One of the saddest things about these precious Little Darlings is they outgrow me. Their changes as they develop and grow older require higher levels of learning than what I offer.

And don't even get me started on my own boys. Our older son has chosen to leave his current university and course of study to enroll in culinary school ... three hours away. Our younger son is a senior in high school this year. In June, he will graduate and begin a new adventure as he studies photography. His flight from the nest will leave another empty place at the dinner table. 

To read the rest of this post, go here.

If you haven't yet, please consider liking my Facebook Author page. 

Is Being Single a Choice?

I had a discussion recently with a couple of thirty-something single friends who are successful in their careers and have their own homes.

We talked briefly about being single--is it a choice or are certain people just meant to be alone?

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I haven't been single for most of my life. I've had a steady boyfriend since I was 17. But when I was 19, I met Hubby and knew without a doubt he was the person I planned to spend the rest of my life with.

For me, being single was not a choice. I wanted to be married. I wanted to have a family. If you knew my childhood history, you may be surprised about my positive view on marriage. Marrying Hubby gave me the security I craved. We dated for 18 months before we eloped. Yes, we eloped. It was the right decision at the time. We planned to have a church wedding several months later, but life circumstances changed that, namely my pregnancy three months later and Hubby's orders (He was in the USMC).

More people are waiting until they're older to get married. They're establishing their careers, their homes, their futures before getting married and having children.

I have a single friend with a good job, a beautiful home, and no desire to get married. However, she plans to adopt someday. She said her life doesn't stop because she doesn't have a ring on her finger.

I have another single friend with a good job, a lovely apartment, and she wants to get married. But dating is not enjoyable for her.

Another friend is a little older than I am. She left an abusive marriage and stayed single for the rest of her adult life so far. I'm not sure if her marriage discolored her view on marriage or if it's a choice.

Another friend suffered tragedy when her fiance was murdered. She has been single since then.

Another friend believes some people are meant to be alone.

Perhaps my rose-colored glasses are on my face more than they're set aside, but I disagree that some people are meant to be alone.

Genesis 2:18 states, "The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

With that verse scrolling through my thoughts, I believe being single is a choice. You may be reading this and disagree. I'm totally fine with that. You may be single and wonder if you'll ever find that perfect mate for your life.

If you are single and want to get married, my best piece of advice is to pray about it. Offer your desire to God and ask for His will to be done. Ask Him to provide you with the right opportunities to meet the man or woman you're meant to share your life with. And this may take some work on your part too--developing right relationships takes time and patience. Most of all, you want to stay in the center of God's will for your life.

Your turn: Are you single? Is it by choice, or do you believe some people are meant to be alone? Are you married? Does being married change how you view those who are still single?