Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond Blog Tour

Booklist says, "Inspired by [folk] lyrics, Richmond arrives on the inspirational fiction scene with a moving debut novel. Readers will be filled with hope that Susannah will learn the true meaning of love. Highly recommended where inspiring, romantic historical fiction is in demand."

Hundreds of miles from home, Susannah faces an uncertain future as a mail-order bride on the untamed Dakota prairie.

When her parents die suddenly, and no suitors call, Susannah resigns herself to the only option available: becoming a mail-order bride. Agreeing to marry her pastor's brother, Jesse, Susannah leaves the only home she's ever known for the untamed frontier of the Dakota Territory.

Her new husband is more loving and patient with her than she believes she deserves. Still, there is also a wildness to him that mirrors the wilderness surrounding them. And Susannah finds herself constantly on edge. But Jesse's confidence in her-and his faith in God's perfect plan-slowly begin to chip away at the wall she hides behind.

When she miscarries in the brutal Dakota winter, Susannah's fledgling faith in herself and in God begins to crumble. Still, Jesse's love is unwavering. Just when it seems like winter will never end, Susannah finally sees the first tentative evidence of spring. And with it, the realization that more than the landscape has changed.

She looks to the future with a renewed heart. Yet in her wildest dreams, she couldn't predict all that awaits her.



About Catherine: Catherine Richmond was focused on her career as an occupational therapist till a special song planted a story idea in her mind. That idea would ultimately become Spring for Susannah, her first novel. She is also a founder and moderator of Nebraska Novelist critique group and lives in Nebraska with her husband.


My thoughts:
This is not the type of book I usually read. Romance is not one of my favorite genres, but when I read the synopsis, I found myself curious. It’s not a wholly original plot, but still it had enough newness to it to be something I wanted to read.

Let’s begin with the plot itself. It’s a simple enough one, with the usual tug war of emotions between the main characters, watching as they find that they do like spending time with each other and can even come to love one another. The storyline is pretty solid, except for some vagueness in certain moments. What really happened to Susannah with the banker? The scene was a bit of a blur and I’m still not too sure what actions took place. The whole section with Jesse and the Native Americans, also, lacks clarity.

The characters themselves were a bit on the mediocre side. Jesse was too nice, too sweet and kind to seem believable, not much depth to him at all. Susannah drove me up the walls. I violently dislike meek women, and she is the epitome of one. I know that at that time period women were supposed to be submissive to men, but they can at least think like brave women! Not my type of girl, at all.

This was not a bad book, but I was definitely glad I did not buy a copy. Proceed with caution.


To celebrate her debut novel, Catherine and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away a Spring For Susannah Prize Package worth over $150!

One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen

* Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond (for KINDLE)

To enter just click one of the icons below and then tell your friends! But hurry, giveaway ends on June 27th. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 28th at 5 PM (6PM MST, 7PM CST, & 8PM EST) during Catherine's Spring for Susannah Book Club Party on Facebook! Catherine is rustling up some fun for the party - she'll be chatting about the story behind her novel, hosting a book club chat, testing your mail-order bride trivia skills, and giving away some GREAT prizes! Don't miss the fun and tell your friends!