Saturday, July 16, 2011

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren

This novel was so much fun to read!

Let's begin with the summary:

When it comes to love, sometimes you have to be a little foolish. Unknown to her quaint town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley is the star host of My Foolish Heart, a popular syndicated talk radio show. From her home studio, she gives listeners advice on romance . . . even though she’s never had a date.

It’s not that she doesn’t want to, but since a tragic accident took her mother’s life, panic attacks have trapped her inside her small neighborhood. And though she always reminds listeners that their perfect love could be right next door, it can’t possibly be true for her. Especially when a new neighbor moves in. Sure, he’s handsome, but with his unruly dog and Neanderthal manners, Caleb Knight is the last man she’d ever fall for.

To Issy, love isn’t worth the risk. Until she starts to have feelings for a caller—a man she’s never even met but finds honest, charming, and sensitive. A man she doesn’t realize lives right next door. 

And now, my review:

Every time I read Susan May Warren’s work, I delight in the pages, both devouring and savoring, because this one will end too. But not before some profound lines, some delicious prose has edified my soul.

One of her themes in My Foolish Heart was God’s amazing love, a focus which resonates in me. She also zeroed in on God’s grace. Through her characters' lives, Susan demonstrated God’s ability, His willingness, to forgive.

Loved the set up. Romance advice radio hostess’s new neighbor needs advice on how to woo her?! Great hook! Especially if the romance hostess has never had a date and has a lot to learn about love and risking trusting someone else.

Another treat was that Susan had dual romances playing out for readers, one of them a reunion romance, which I particularly enjoy. And because she goes into all four characters’ points of view, you get to feel along with them, share their regrets, and experience their victories. Loved that.

She delves into telling the truth and relying on God. Sometimes I think Christians don’t depend enough on God. We think there really is a verse in the Bible that says: “God helps those who help themselves.” (Which, of course, there isn’t.) The coach character in this story believed that and kept a secret he probably shouldn’t have despite the interest of full disclosure. And I loved how the revelation of that secret played out in stages.

And how cool to revisit Deep Haven? I’ve long been a fan of this series and had no idea we’d get to go back! Happily Ever After is my one of my all-time favorite books. If you haven’t read it, oh, read it! (Hook: the heroine thought her hero was just a fairy tale…)

And, finally, I loved how the hero of My Foolish Heart reached into the heroine’s darkness and loved her free; his lack of fear helped her. Sure, he had some things to learn too, so he wasn’t perfect, but this symbolism of what God does for us, how because of love, Jesus reaches into our darkness and loves us free, was beautiful.

Looking forward to Susan’s next book!

Highly recommended!

No comments:

Post a Comment