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Customer Reviews for Thomas Nelson Spring for Susannah - eBook
Thomas Nelson Spring for Susannah - eBook
With no prospects for marriage and her parents recently deceased, Susannah Freemont agrees to go west to the Dakota territory to marry her minister's homesteading brother, Jesse. But Susannah is painfully shy, doesn't see herself as worthy of love from either a husband or from God, and lives in constant fear that Jesse is going to ship her back to Detroit.
In spite of her petite size and the fact that Susannah doesn't look like she could survive on the prairie, Jesse quickly discovers that his new wife is a greater blessing than he even hoped for. The years she spent as her father's veterinary assistant allow her to save Jesse's ox and twin calves and to help neighboring farmers with their animals.
But Susannah's feelings of unworthiness are deeply rooted, and she can't believe that Jesse's praise-or the tenderness and love he shows-could possibly last. The thawing of her heart seems almost as distant as Spring in the midst of the winter blanketing the Dakota prairie.
Average Customer Rating:
(46 Reviews) 46
Rating Snapshot (46 reviews)
5 stars
24
4 stars
13
3 stars
6
2 stars
2
1 star
1
38 out of 4683%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Review 1 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Not for me, sorry.
Date:April 1, 2013
Was really hoping for a GREAT read when I picked up this book. I made it to page 94, I think. Unfortunately, the beginning didn't draw me in. The pace is rather slow, and the character developments lacking (in my opinion). Also, some things are confusing. E.g. One minute they are in the house, the next outside - and the author doesn't necessarily make a transition between the two. In addition to that, I found it weird that Jesse's brother would marry him and Susannah without Jesse being there... maybe it's just because I'm not familiar with the historical context. Susannah's background and their marriage's background were both unclear. I was hoping for wit, sparks (well they are a few, because in the beginning there are plenty of references to them being intimate as a couple... Let's just say Jesse made it clear that he couldn't wait.) But I think fellow readers might understand me when I say this : there's something about a good book that just transports you... that makes it enchanting. I kept looking for it in Spring for Susannah, but I didn't find it... sorry.
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Review 2 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Cute characters
Date:March 13, 2013
smiley
Location:Ontario, Canada
Age:25-34
Gender:female
Quality:
3
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
3
out of
5
I really enjoyed the characters of the story, and overall liked it but I just felt like the sexual content was not appropriate. The only reason I said I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend is because it would depend on their maturity level.
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Review 3 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Date:November 16, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Susannah feels insecure and unworthy for love. She is very shy and cannot accept her strengths. She has many strenghts and a knowledge that helps her in the Big Dakota Territory. I felt that the author had too many adversities for this couple. It seems she has all the happenings that we read and hear about of the settlers to this great territory.
I liked the way she had many nationalities working together although they did not know each others language.
I liked the way she had many nationalities working together although they did not know each others language.
I did enjoy reading this book.
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Review 4 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
a rich experience, great read!
Date:November 5, 2012
Marilynn Lindahl
Location:Orinda, CA
Age:Over 65
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This book took me to the perilous time of the early Dakota settlers. Well researched excellent story, strong characters, unexpected turns of plot, passion, reality, humor, and faith development provided a rich experience.
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Review 5 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
LOTS OF UPS AND DOWNS!
Date:October 9, 2012
Danell
Location:Al, AL
Age:55-65
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
WOULD'VE LIKED A LITTLE MORE "PROLOGUE" BUT IT IS A SWEET STORY ONCE YOU GET THE FULL PICTURE.
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Review 6 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
The book presents strong woman in west.
Date:October 7, 2012
Aranka Balog
Location:australia
Age:55-65
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
The writer is dedicated to present womans fight for recognition on western front as equal to man.
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Review 7 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
One of the best books Ive read in a very long time
Date:October 6, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Absolutely outstanding read!!! I couldnt put it down. It caught my attention within the second paragraph of the first chapter. I already look forward to reading another book by Catherine Richmond ...
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Review 8 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
An excellent book
Date:September 17, 2012
nonna
the characters were very realistic and heartwarming. good from start to finish
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Review 9 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Enthralling story!
Date:August 25, 2012
prayerpower
Location:St. Petersburg FL
Age:Over 65
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This is the only book I have read by this author, but I will certainly look for more! The story grips you from the first chapter, and is written in such a way as to bring you right into the action. You will learn a lot about farming in the early west and the history of the settlement of this area. The book gives you a new respect for those who endured so many hardships to setttle our country! The story of Susannah's growing faith in God is a pattern that all of us can relate to. Many times we feel overwhelmed, just as she did. Jesse's determined optimism and faith leads us to determine to have strong faith in God ourselves. The story does this without being "preachy" or dull. Great book! Read it!
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Review 10 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
This book is a very interesting read.
Date:June 29, 2012
Mrs. Mark Kratzer
Location:Ohio
Age:55-65
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I enjoyed this book because I like books that are both 1800's and marriages of convenience. It is a good mix of 1800's history and romance. I would recommend it as a relaxing read.
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Review 11 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
could not put it down....
Date:September 17, 2011
sandy
Location:Illinois
Age:Over 65
Gender:female
Hopefully catherine richmond will write a sequel....
I would love to read it....
I would love to read it....
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Review 12 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Delightful Debut!
Date:September 13, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond is an impressive debut novel. Set in the wilds of North Dakota, Susannah must learn to love her new husband, how to survive in a new place, and - more importantly - how to trust God.
Richmond's writing style is fantastic. I was gripped from the very beginning and stayed completely engrossed to the very end. Jesse and Susannah were delightful characters. They felt like friends by the end of the novel! While most of the book was written from the perspective of Susannah, I loved how some chapters were written from Jesse's point of view and each chapter started with a thought from Jesse . . . usually in the form of a prayer. The strength of Jesse's relationship with the Lord was refreshing. I loved how friends and the community were influential in caring for Susannah when she needed help the most.
I cannot wait to see what Catherine Richmond writes next!
I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers and Net Galley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
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Review 13 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Spring for Susannah
Date:July 31, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Spring for Susannah is the author's debut novel, but it sure doesn't read like one! It was amazing! It sucked me in, and I quickly grew to like Susannah and Jesse and root for them. I relate a lot to Susannah's shyness. Unlike many Christian romances, Susannah & Jesse marry by proxy before they meet, and then they learn to love each other in the context of marriage. I enjoyed their flirting and teasing each other. My only quibble is that they were apart for so long the second half of the book, and a lot of things were happening quickly. Then Jesse reappears and the book ends within a handful of pages. It just felt very rushed.
You can buy Spring for Susannah at Amazon or Christianbook.
With thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my review copy.
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Review 14 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Wonderful story! Similar to Laura Frantz's style.
Date:July 9, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Riveting! That's the best word I can think of to describe this novel. I loved how each chapter began with an unspoken thought that Jesse had regarding his wife. That was so well done because it increased my anticipation of each chapter's contents and gave a hint at the lesson that would be learned by the characters.
Have you ever wondered how in the world people survived the winter on the frontier with little to no humanity around them and so much snow that they were holed up in soddies for days at a time? Well, this story gives you a glimpse into that life. It also tosses in a bit about the Lakota Indian tribe and the PTSD suffered by many men who served and survived the Civil War. There were many excellent thoughts about a number of situations slipped into this novel that make you think as you enjoy the story.
I have always enjoyed Mail-Order-bride-type stories, but this one was uniquely different from the typical format and incredibly well-done. Susannah had a lot of baggage, but she was likable and a very believable character. I totally adored her husband, Jesse. He had pride and the desire to protect and provide for his family like a typical man, but he was also a spiritual leader and an emotional healer in her life. He showed her what true love was, and I enjoyed experiencing their relationship as it grew stronger and finally bloomed.
This story was written so naturally in regards to the sexual relationship and the spiritual growth in their individual lives and marriage that they seemed like real people to me, even friends. Oftentimes these elements in a story feel a bit forced. Not in this book. I never would have guessed this story was a debut novel. The writing was beautiful and in some ways reminded me of a Laura Frantz novel. If you love her writing, you will definitely enjoy this book. It was refreshingly realistic and I got a lot out of the story on a personal level. I even found myself smiling as Susannah discovered some spiritual truths and learned to be honest with God. That's a good Christian novel...one that not only inspires you to be a better person, but one that encourages spiritual growth and being honest with yourself. Wonderful, wonderful story. It's definitely a favorite of mine for 2011. Don't miss this one if you want an inspiring read this year.
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Review 15 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Excellent debut effort
Date:July 9, 2011
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
GENRE: HISTORICAL
PUBLISHER: THOMAS NELSON
PUBLICATION DATE: JUNE 14, 2011
RATING: 7 OUT OF 10.
PUBLISHER: THOMAS NELSON
PUBLICATION DATE: JUNE 14, 2011
RATING: 7 OUT OF 10.
Heading to the barren and sparsely inhabited Dakota Territory as a mail-order bride for her pastor’s brother may not have been the most appealing plan for Susannah Underhill, but it was her only option. Following her parents’ deaths and a mentally and physically scarring incident that she’d rather not think about, the offer of marriage from Jesse Mason was like an answer to a prayer – if Susannah still believed in God, that is. Homesteading is a far cry from the city-life Susannah is used to, but the skills learned from her veterinarian father help her to prove to her new husband that she is capable of surviving the harsh prairie life. But it’s going to take more than delivering calves to help Susannah open up to Jesse and let him see her true personality. Shy and previously resigned to being an old maid, Susannah is convinced that Jesse will never be satisfied with her, while Jesse himself just wishes that his new wife would talk to him and let him express his newfound love for her. Can their blossoming marriage survive grass-hopper plagues and snowstorms brought by the tough seasons of prairie life and bring them into a fuller and deeper love for each other?
I’m always a sucker for mail-order bride stories, so I was immediately drawn to this book when I first saw it being advertised, and it was made all the more appealing by the gorgeous cover. This novel had a few quirks that definitely made it stand out from the other historical romances dominating the Christian fiction market right now. I was particularly fond of the little prayers at the start of each chapter, expressing how Jesse was feeling about his marriage to Susannah. While I never felt that I completely got inside Jesse’s head the way that I did with Susannah, I really appreciated the little insights at the beginnings of the chapters. I also enjoyed the way that Susannah would talk to the family dog about her feelings and worries. To some this may seem like a plot device, designed purely to pass information on to the reader that hadn’t come up in normal conversation. But I found that it actually worked really well and illustrated how nervous Susannah was about talking about such matters with her husband, and how she yearned to have someone to discuss her problems with. Sadly, life on the lonely prairie yielded only a dog as a companion, at least until Susannah’s Swedish neighbour leant to speak English.
The secondary characters in this novel are wonderful and really come to life. I was reminded a lot of the cast of the Little House on the Prairie TV show, but not in a plagiarising way. The entire book struck me as a mixture between Little House on the Prairie and a Janette Oke novel. Far more than your conventional romance, Catherine Richmond has packed her debut full of essential details about homesteading and farming in Dakota Territory during this period. The harshness of Jesse and Susannah’s life really resonated throughout the story, with the seasons and elements truly controlling their day-to-day lives. Spring for Susannah was as much about Jesse and Susannah falling in love as it was about Susannah finding herself and coming to terms with her new life. It reminded me a lot of Janette Oke’s When Calls the Heart, in which the romance became secondary to the main character’s personal development due to their separation. When a grass-hopper plague causes Jesse to leave his home with Susannah and head off to find work to support them, the focus of Spring for Susannah shifts to how Susannah manages to look after the homestead on her own and how this helps her to grow as a person as she waits for Jesse to return.
While I did find the detail that Catherine put into her writing fascinating – a sure sign that she had put a lot of thought and research into her novel – I will admit that I missed the conventional plot structure. Generally when I’m reading a novel I can easily detect the beginning, middle and end of the book, but with Spring for SusannahI didn’t feel that it had this structure, and in places I felt that the plot needed reigning in or was a bit strained. Initially I really enjoyed the mixture of romance and every-day-life events, but during the section of the novel where Susannah is on her own it felt a bit unstructured, flitting from one event to another without any sort of explanation. This final section just felt a bit too strained, and while we did get to witness Jesse’s perspective occasionally, these parts didn’t seem as detailed and sometimes felt a bit flat. I’ve read other reviews which have commented that the ending felt a bit rushed, and I’ll have to agree with this – I would have loved to have read a little more about Jesse and Susannah together at the end, after waiting so long for him to return.
Spring for Susannah is an excellent debut effort from Catherine Richmond, and she brings a lot of promise to the genre with her attention to detail and commitment to presenting a realistic portrait of a historical place and period. Her characterisations also bear evidence of her desire to bring realism and completeness to her writing, although I would have liked to have heard more from Jesse’s perspective in places. While the structure of the novel and the continual jumping from one event to another did irritate me on occasion, it in no way deterred me from enjoying this book. I hope to read more from Catherine in the future, and would definitely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, particularly those who are looking for something new in terms of both contextualisation and structure.
Review title provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson.
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Review 16 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
A story of emerging faith, love and renewal
Date:July 8, 2011
BaronBookReview
Location:Gilbert, AZ
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Normally I’m not a fan of the historical romance novel but the description on Spring for Susannah intrigued me with the mail-order bride scenario. It’s not your typical mail-order setting but more of a “last choice” option for Susannah. She knew this was her last alternative to even hope for a husband and home.
Susannah had no idea what she was getting herself into when she got on that train going west. She assumed her new husband would have a home like she was accustomed to and she would take care of it and her husband as her mother taught her. What she did get, however, was nowhere near what she anticipated.
Put yourself in her place—leaving everything & everyone you have known your entire life and going into a wilderness where there is limited access to food, farming materials, and even other human contact. Her mother’s teachings of the way a lady should act and project herself had no place in this new world and Susannah felt lost. I loved how patient and kind Jesse was with Susannah—having just met her, he tolerated her ineptitude around the house, her social constraints, and her lack of trust with a faith that God will provide in time.
Susannah’s lack of trust and faith slowly turns around with Jesse’s intervention and the way he lives his own life. Over time, their love grows and we even learn a little about their lives “behind closed doors” which is unusual for the typical Christian novel---don’t get me wrong, there are no sordid details but this time we actually know they share a physical relationship.
There were a few slow spots in the middle, almost as if repetition would fill the pages, but once I got past those the story picked back up and got back in the groove. Then at the end, I felt the book ended kind of abruptly as if it was getting too long or something.
For a introductory novel, Ms Richmond has done a fabulous job of getting the reader emotionally involved with the characters. I felt as if I was looking through a window actually watching the story—not just reading about it. I look forward to her next release. Overall, I’d give this a 4 out of 5 for the depth of characters and a new approach to the mail-order bride/historical fiction category.
This Book was provided by Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed were my own.
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Review 17 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Good read
Date:July 4, 2011
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
I like this story very much. To me, Susannah is strong and with courage. When they lost the crops, Jesse left home to try to get a job at other places. Susannah could not stop Jesse from leaving, but yet she did not give up her hope that Jesse would come home. And she did very well in taking care of herself, and their home during this period when Jesse was gone. Despite other people thought Jesse would have died since it's been months since he had left, Susannah believed he would come home and she trusted him would not leave her alone. I always believe things happen for a reason. Without Jesse around, Susannah learn to become independent, and gained back her faith to God.
I enjoy reading this book very much. I love the ending. Very touching story.
Note: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
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Review 18 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Good story line....questionable content.
Date:July 1, 2011
Bethany
Location:North Carolina
Age:25-34
Gender:female
Quality:
3
out of
5
Value:
3
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
2
out of
5
"Spring for Susannah" by Catherine Richmond was overall a well-written story. I agree with most of the reviews though. I have to rate this book a 3, because it was hard to overlook the distasteful language many times. I don't understand why the author felt she needed to include so many details about the romance of her main characters. For those who enjoy reading that type of stuff (which is sad that someone would), they should go to the secular romance novels. When I pick up a Christian fiction novel, I expect there to be a difference. Sadly, I think this book will end up in the trash, because I don't feel comfortable giving it to anyone. I don't want them to think I approve of the content. The characters in this book were very likable and the story line was engaging. I was surprised that this was Catherine Richmond's debut novel. But I highly recommend, like many others have said, that she take out some of the "romance." This would probably create a lot more followers. I received a complimentary copy of this book from booksneeze and I was not required to write a positive or a negative review.
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Review 19 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
a great book to own.
Date:June 27, 2011
Simply Shop and Save
Location:Ontario, CA
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
It's been sometime since I have read a romantic novel and after reading Spring for Susannah, I was quite pleased with Catherine Richmond's novel. The setting of the story which is in Dakota Territory occurs in the same location as Little House on the Prairie. It is a story that kept my attention throughout the book and I always wondered what would happen next in the lives of Susannah and Jesse. The author creates a number of issues in her plot which even exists today. Susannah is shy and has faced difficulties in her past life. Her mail order husband, Jesse, is a sensitive man who is trying to carefully win Susannah over to love him.
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Review 20 for Spring for Susannah - eBook
Overall Rating:
Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond
Date:June 26, 2011
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Booksneeze has Provided Me with A Complimentary Copy of this Book.
With no prospects for marriage and her parents recently deceased, Susannah Freemont agrees to go west to the Dakota territory to marry her minister's homesteading brother, Jesse. But Susannah is painfully shy, doesn't see herself as worthy of love from either a husband or from God, and lives in constant fear that Jesse is going to ship her back to Detroit.
In spite of her petite size and the fact that Susannah doesn't look like she could survive on the prairie, Jesse quickly discovers that his new wife is a greater blessing than he even hoped for. The years she spent as her father's veterinary assistant allow her to save Jesse's ox and twin calves and to help neighboring farmers with their animals.
But Susannah's feelings of unworthiness are deeply rooted, and she can't believe that Jesse's praise-or the tenderness and love he shows-could possibly last. The thawing of her heart seems almost as distant as Spring in the midst of the winter blanketing the Dakota prairie.
This is a GREAT story for Catherine Richmond’s first book. It was so good, I just didn’t want to put it down. Susannah Underhill lives in Michigan and after her parents die, she has no one, so she decides to go to the Dakotas where Jesse Mason lives. Jesse is Susannah’s preacher’s brother,but when she arrives, it is not what she thought it would be, more rustic. She is very shy towards Jesse but will talk to his dog. As the book goes on, she starts to open up to Jesse, but tragedy happens and Jesse has to leave to find work to support her. He is gone for a long time and during this time, she finds out she is pregnant. But she survives on her own and when Jesse returns, he is surprised of how she managed to keep everything going.
It is such a great story, one you would thoroughly enjoy. I would suggest this book to my friends and family.
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