The Shadow of Your Smile (Deep Haven, #5)

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The Shadow of Your Smile (Deep Haven #6)

by Susan May Warren (Goodreads Author)

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 316 ratings · 97 reviews

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 d...more

Paperback, 353 pages

Published December 16th 2011 by Tyndale House Publishers

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Jan 16, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-literature, christian-fiction, christian-inspirational-fiction, contemporary-fiction, romance-fiction

The Hueston family is dealing with the loss of Kelsey, who at 17, was the victim of a robbery in which she was killed in the process. Each of them is trying to move forward but from outsiders looking in, they don't seem to be moving forward at all. More like avoiding the subject and pretending at times that it didn't really happen.

For Eli Hueston, he personally feels the responsibility of the loss as the father who should have been able to prevent this tragedy from claiming his daughter. Had he...more The Hueston family is dealing with the loss of Kelsey, who at 17, was the victim of a robbery in which she was killed in the process. Each of them is trying to move forward but from outsiders looking in, they don't seem to be moving forward at all. More like avoiding the subject and pretending at times that it didn't really happen.

For Eli Hueston, he personally feels the responsibility of the loss as the father who should have been able to prevent this tragedy from claiming his daughter. Had he simply ran the plates of the teenager he stopped that fateful night, he would have learned that there was a Beyond On The Lookout for the boy who was speeding. Instead he simply let him off with a warning to slow down.

Noelle is dealing with the loss as only a mother can. Spending the first three months not being able to learn how to live, she dove deeper into despair and depression. Her and Kelsey shared an unbelievable closeness that really seemed like best friends and soul mates. She had a difficult time learning how to deal with things especially when Eli packed up all her stuff and moved it to storage without her knowledge. Now her and Eli have spent the last three years more apart as roommates than as husband and wife. He has been sleeping in the den and spending every available moment out fishing in the woods.

For Kyle, the oldest son, he's had to endure watching his family literally fall apart. Besides losing his only sister, he's also had to watch his parents lose sight of who they were together. Now it seems like the only thing he can do is find a way to make sure nothing like this happens while he is working for the sheriff's department again. He has moved out and is struggling with his own grief of watching his family fall to pieces and not knowing how to pull them together again. When he finds Kelsey's best friend Emma, he learns that she too is dealing with the loss of her best friend whom she feels she had a hand in killing. Had she not switched shifts with her that fateful night, Kelsey would still be here and so would her dad, the deputy that confronted the teen that night.

When an accident at a truck stop coffee stop leaves Noelle with a concussion and temporary memory loss of the last 25 years of her life, the family sees this as a way to deal with their loss again as a family in helping her to remember and in the process enabling them all to heal.

I received The Shadow of Your Smile compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and LOVED this one. The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren is the beautifully written story that shows how loss affects everyone not just the person who died but everyone who was connected to them. It shows how people deal with things internally instead of turning to God who can help them heal through the grieving process when they are ready. He shows that they are never alone and He can mend all things and restore broken hearts again in time, we simply have to be willing to turn to Him for help. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!
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Jan 15, 2012 Brenda Casto rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a story. When tragedy strikes Noelle's family instead of pulling them together it drives them apart. So much so that the marriage in in shambles. Then an accident occurs that causes Noelle's memory to be erased. She doesn't remember her husband, her children or the reason why her marriage is in shambles. Will the loss of her memory help her regain what she held important in life, could it be the second chance that her marriage needs?
This is one of those stories that slowly works its way int...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved the story overall. Ms. Warren does a wonderful job painting the settings so the reader can ‘see’ them in their imagination. The characters have the air of real people with real challenges and pain that life can bring. And, she has done a stellar job of weaving in the Christian faith. Not all of the main characters feel connected to God in their pain, but as the story unfolds they do all see that God had not abandoned them in their hours of need and waits with open arms for them to re-est...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Burt rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf

The Shadow of Your Smile
Deep Haven #5
I enjoyed the first two thirds, maybe even three quarters of this novel. I hadn’t read any of the other Deep Haven novels, but the story of a family in jeopardy, alienated from each other by their own grief over the death of a family member and their choice to deal with it each on their own appealed to me. An accident and subsequent memory loss suffered by the wife/mother in the story offers a chance at starting again without all the grief to cloud the wate...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Jess Wigal rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Shadow of Your Smile is about a woman, Noelle, who lives in a small town and suffered marital problems after experiencing a tragedy that killed their 17 year old daughter. As Noelle is trying to escape her problems she encounters a similar tragedy that caused her to forget 25 years of her life, her husband, her sons, and tragedy that stole her only daughter.
This is a very good book that every Christian that has ever experienced doubt or tragedy in their life needs to read. The book has the p...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

Buried memories always seem to float to the surface struggling to be acknowledged.

Noelle has come to a crossroad in her life. She is quite unsure of the pending outcome of her decisions.

Eli in his frozen icehouse haven that at times brought loneliness and thoughts of his present struggles, he quietly wonders what the future holds.

When an accident leaves Noelle without recall of the past 25 years of her marriage and life with Eli, her family struggles to cope as Noelle attempts to regain the life...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Shari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever had the thought "how did I get here?" creep into your mind? You know you think back over your life and think geez my life turned out so different than I thought. Or geez it feels like just yesterday I was a kid doing that, and now I am the mom.

Seriously every once in a while the boys will say "Mom" and I will think, "Really, you are talking to me?" You would think after 5 years I wouldn't get that anymore, but sometimes I still feel like I have no place being in charge of this motl...more Have you ever had the thought "how did I get here?" creep into your mind? You know you think back over your life and think geez my life turned out so different than I thought. Or geez it feels like just yesterday I was a kid doing that, and now I am the mom.

Seriously every once in a while the boys will say "Mom" and I will think, "Really, you are talking to me?" You would think after 5 years I wouldn't get that anymore, but sometimes I still feel like I have no place being in charge of this motley crew of kids.

Sometimes we are going through a rough patch, and we wish we could forget it all.

Well this book is about a lady who gets amnesia and does forget everything for the last 25 years. She wakes up from a Coma and thinks she is 21 again. It is an interesting story about how the whole family copes with having a fresh start with her, and how they handle masking over the scars that their family has had over the years.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got through the 385 pages in less than 24 hours! I couldn't put it down!

Now that Christmas is over and we are all ready to hibernate, I suggest picking up this book, and snuggling in for a great read!

The official about the book:

More about The Shadow of Your Smile:

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?(less)

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Feb 18, 2012 BookWrites rated it 4 of 5 stars

Looking at the most important people in your life -- what do you love about them? What drives you crazy or makes you angry? Now imagine that you were meeting them again for the first time, knowing none of those things about them. What catches your attention? What repulses you?

In The Shadow of Your Smile, Noelle Hueston has just this experience. She is injured in an accident, and now she has no memory of the man at her hospital bedside claiming to be her husband, or the last 25 years of marriag...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Kaylea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: see-blog-for-more-info

What would you do if you woke up and 25 years of your life was gone?

Noelle faces a new reality - and a blank past - when she wakes up from an accident without a memory. She is left trying to build her future, without letting her past tear her down.

In The Shadow of Your Smile, Susan May Warren examines the life and marriage of Noelle and Eli Hueston, and how secrets, pain and grief can tear down the very structure of a marriage.

I found this book a bit heavier than Warren's usual contemporary roma...more

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Jan 29, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kate by: LitFuse Blog Tour

Shelves: received-for-review

Early last summer I read My Foolish Heart, a wonderful book from Susan May Warren's Deep Haven series that I really enjoyed. So when I saw there was another book coming out in the same series, I decided to give it a try. I was expecting the setting to be familiar, but was surprised that the Deep Haven of this book felt so different from the Deep Haven of the last book.

Part of the difference was in the setting. Deep Haven in winter is very different from the Deep Haven I got to know in My Foolish...more Early last summer I read My Foolish Heart, a wonderful book from Susan May Warren's Deep Haven series that I really enjoyed. So when I saw there was another book coming out in the same series, I decided to give it a try. I was expecting the setting to be familiar, but was surprised that the Deep Haven of this book felt so different from the Deep Haven of the last book.

Part of the difference was in the setting. Deep Haven in winter is very different from the Deep Haven I got to know in My Foolish Heart. Plus Noelle and Eli basically live on the outskirts of town, so the story feels different in that sense. The other difference is that the couple at the center of the story, Noelle and Eli, face different circumstances. They are a married couple, with sons in their teens and twenties. Their marriage is falling apart and on the brink of divorce when Noelle loses her memory in a fall. She wakes up in the hospital thinking she is still in college, unable to remember her husband, children, or the life they had together. She has to get to know them all over again and try to reconcile herself with a life that she doesn't recognize and that her college-age self hadn't even anticipated.

There are fewer light-hearted moments in this story than in My Foolish Heart. There is a lot of pain here, and not just with a marriage on the rocks and the struggle of a family to cope and heal after Noelle's accident and resulting amnesia. Eli struggles with whether he should tell Noelle about the daughter they lost when she was killed at her job in a convenience store. Part of the reason their marriage was falling apart was because Noelle and Eli were devastated by their loss, and mourned for their daughter in different, incompatible ways. They didn't know how to comfort each other. There were also a lot of secrets going on in their marriage, as Eli developed what I would consider an emotional affair with Lee, one of Noelle's best friends, and Noelle had secrets of her own (which were difficult to work out with amnesia).

There is a good amount of suspense in this novel, with danger lurking on the edges of the story related to Noelle's accident. I wanted to know if she would regain her memory and what revelations would follow. I was also kept on pins and needles wondering what would happen between Eli and Lee, and whether they would do the right thing or not. There was also a nice side-story involving Noelle and Eli's oldest son, Kyle, and their daughter Kelsey's best friend Emma (Lee's daughter), as they get to know each other as adults and figure out what they want out of life (and love).

I really liked that the characters in this book were complicated and their relationships messy. Although I felt at times that there were too many coincidences lining up just right in the storyline, the characters and their relationships helped ground the story and made it feel more realistic. I felt frustrated with every one of the characters at different points in time, but at least it wasn't because they were too perfect--they definitely had human flaws and weaknesses. I found that I could identify with Noelle's struggle to recognize herself as she realized that the life she had led over the past 25 years was so different than what she had planned as a young adult. We kind of lose sight of those idealistic hopes and dreams for the future as we focus on present demands, worries, and decisions. It is true that my younger self would probably have a hard time recognizing the present me. It was quite thought-provoking to consider this question as I read.

So far it appears that the novels in the Deep Haven series don't really need to be read in order and stand alone quite admirably. Susan May Warren has impressed me again with the depth of her characters and the relevant issues raised within the pages of The Shadow of Your Smile. If you like Christian Fiction that makes you think and that you can sink your teeth into, I would definitely recommend it. I'm liking what I've read so far in the series, and I am looking forward to reading more.(less)

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Jan 23, 2012 L_manning rated it 4 of 5 stars

Noelle and Eli have been through a lot in 25 years if marriage. They've wandered so far apart that they don't even know each other anymore. When Noelle has an accident though, she loses her memory. Suddenly she's forgotten the good and the bad over the last 25 years. As Eli and Noelle work together to get her adjusted to her "new" life, they try to rediscover her old life. They find that there were things they were both hiding. As they work together, they begin to discover that healing and hope...more Noelle and Eli have been through a lot in 25 years if marriage. They've wandered so far apart that they don't even know each other anymore. When Noelle has an accident though, she loses her memory. Suddenly she's forgotten the good and the bad over the last 25 years. As Eli and Noelle work together to get her adjusted to her "new" life, they try to rediscover her old life. They find that there were things they were both hiding. As they work together, they begin to discover that healing and hope is always there for those who seek it.

This book raised some great questions, the foremost being how would I react to my life if I forgot how I got here? For Noelle, she sees a very different life than she had imagined in college. Since she has forgotten how she got there, Noelle doesn't really understand her life. Noelle and Eli have both withdrawn from their lives, especially after the great tragedies they have gone through. As they worked to heal, they did it separately. This really added to their growing apart, not only from each other but also their sons. This was a family in a lot of pain. However, they discovered that by working together, it is possible to rediscover the love they once shared. This love is what will ultimately help with healing the many hurts they have.

There was also some sweet romance. Another theme running through the stories of various characters had to deal with ones dreams and wishes. As our lives take their various twists and turns, are we able to keep site of those dreams? Noelle and others had to work at this, but ultimately this helped them find happiness. Even if Noelle was never going to be a great artist, she was still able to find joy in her art. I think we could all stand to live a little bit of our dreams. This book was a great chance to reflect on many different aspects of life. It was a very interesting story and provided a lot of inspiration. I found myself wanting the best for all the characters. They are all likable, with a perfect mix of goodness and flaws. I think people looking for a great book that makes them think as well, this book will fit the bill.

Galley provided for review.(less)

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Jan 21, 2012 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Molly by: LitFuse

Shelves: book-review, favorites

Wow! She did it AGAIN! Susan May Warren is an author who creates books worth reflecting on. This is one of those books that you need to sit on and ponder back on awhile. Susan is an author who can take anything and turn it into a masterpiece. It doesn't matter if it's romance, drama, historical or humor....give it to her and she turns it into a work of art.

That's what this book is. A masterful work of art. Simply put. I didn't get to read the first Deep Haven novel but I am SO happy that I had...more Wow! She did it AGAIN! Susan May Warren is an author who creates books worth reflecting on. This is one of those books that you need to sit on and ponder back on awhile. Susan is an author who can take anything and turn it into a masterpiece. It doesn't matter if it's romance, drama, historical or humor....give it to her and she turns it into a work of art.

That's what this book is. A masterful work of art. Simply put. I didn't get to read the first Deep Haven novel but I am SO happy that I had the chance to read this one. The Shadow Of Your Smile is a story that combines tragedy, drama, humor, love, romance, friendship, trust and secrets and turns it into a whopper of a fantastical read. I was hooked from the start and this book kept me in awe the whole time.

Noelle and Eli. What amazing characters. Both are ready to throw in the towel on their marriage. After 3 years of living as despondent roommates, rather than as the husband and wife that they were, Noelle wants to start her life over and follow her life long dreams. Eli stays away more often than not. But, then something tragic happens. An accident that can erase time and leave people starting from the beginning. Noelle loses her memory.

Devastated Eli vows to help her remember. Tries to bring his beautiful Noelle back to where they were before the first tragic accident. But, can his love and smiles bring her back? Or has he lost his one true love forever?

Though this story is about Eli and Noelle, whom the reader will fall instantly in love with, the secondary characters....Kyle, Emma, Kirby, Lee....all of them lend an added depth and turn the story into a heartwarming, humor-filled, captivating read.

This is most definitely a high 5 Book worthy novel. A story based on tragedy and drama, you'll fall in love with the sweet town of Deep Haven, it's residents, and the history behind the family torn apart by tragic circumstances. You'll follow them, feel their emotions as your own, and get lost among the messages of God's unending love and guidance. A truly amazing story of tears, laughter and second chances. Well done, Ms. Warren! I can't wait until the next Deep Haven novel or to go back and read My Foolish Heart, Deep Haven #1!

This review originated at Reviews By Molly in part with a blog tour.(less)

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Jan 20, 2012 Sunflower rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-book-reviews, litfuse-publicity

Life can happen in a matter of seconds.

"The Shadow of Your Smile" is the story of a couple, whose known each other for twenty-five years and find themselves drifting apart to the point of divorce and in a matter of seconds, through a tragic accident, become strangers rediscovering who they are and who each other are, all over again.

Second chances?

Hope?

"The Shadow of Your Smile" is a touching, love story that readers, like myself, will find themselves, having a hard time putting down as the main...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Barbara Brink rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once again Susan May Warren has written a story that is wholly relatable. Who hasn’t wondered at some point in his/her life: What if I’d done that instead of this, moved there, married that person, pursued that path… made different choices? The author has taken a well-used story arc – lost memory & forgotten family – and made it fresh again.
When Noelle falls on an icy road and hits her head, she loses more than just her memory of the past twenty-five years. She loses the middle-aged, woman...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Renee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

When I’m looking for a story that will satisfy all my readerly cravings, my go-to author is Susan May Warren. In whatever genre—romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical fiction—I can find a SMW book to provide entertaining drama, heartwarming romance, Bible-based truths, and characters who—by the end of the story—seem like old friends. Her latest novel, The Shadow of Your Smile , is no exception.

The Shadow of Your Smile features two couples, younger and long-married, whose relations...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren
Review by Kara Grant

Summary: 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...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Noelle wakes up in the hospital, she can't remember her life--the accident that caused her memory loss, the man she calls husband, her boys, or her daughter Kelsey who was brutally murdered.

Emma can do nothing but remember Kelsey--and the guilt she feels for living when her best friend died. Will the two women be able to find a bright future or remain stuck in the memories of yesterday?

I usually enjoy Susan May Warren's books, and this one was no exception. I like the darker topic of a str...more

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Nov 23, 2011 Jami rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

A horrible fall after running from the scene of a robbery, Noelle Hueston has lost her memory. She's lost the last twenty-five years of her life, including the memory of being married and having three children. In spite of that, Noelle could tell that her marriage to Eli was strained, but he wouldn't tell her why. Noelle desperately wanted to get her memory back, and slowly her family and friends opened up portions of her life that are missing, including the memory of losing her daughter in a ho...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, christian-romance, e-book, i-own-this, inspirational, litfuse-publicity, kindle-ebook, review-books, tyndale

This is a wonderful book! I wasn’t sure at first as I was a little leery of getting into divorce territory BUT as I kept reading I realized that God can and does save marriages. Even ones that a spouse has been unfaithful, one where a spouse is hiding secrets, God can and does work miracles in marriages today. It’s not just marriages though it’s relationships too, He wants to mend relationships between friends, between parents and children, He wants our relationships to show His love.

I was caugh...more

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Feb 19, 2012 cecilia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Susan May Warren knows how to set the stage, and The Shadow Of Your Smile packs a lot of food-for-thought that can easily been observed in real life. Parents in a deep, unmentionable grief over their teenaged daughter’s death; husbands and wives who don’t know how to address the chasm growing between them; brothers and sisters ill-equipped to help their parents move on – all these are so very believable and utterly heart-wrenching to watch as these characters unfold. Susan May Warren does a wond...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Itsjustme-wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars

4 1/2 Stars!
This was my 5th book by this author! As always, Susan May Warren puts out a great suspenseful novel! I really liked this storyline a lot. I was hooked right away. Very sweet but "on-the-edge" story with a strong Christian message.
I don't know why, but I really like reading about people who loose their memory. I guess it just makes it more mysterious. I thought SMW did an excellent job using this idea! The whole thing was very believable, executed very well.
SMW, again, always has grea...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Jessica R. Patch rated it 3 of 5 stars

"If God would start playing by the rules, it would sure be easier to trust Him."

If you're a Susan May Warren fan and stories from Deep Haven fan, you won't be disappointed in this novel.

Plot and subplot are rich with drama, romance, and humor.

This novel is about a couple in their mid-forties, who've already had a tragedy strike their lives, now--Noelle Hueston is thinking about leaving her husband and starting over. One last kiddo to graduate and she's making a new life, but an incident leaves h...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Margaret Tidwell rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book!!!!!! This type of book isn't usually what I like to read but I couldn't put this book down. I read it in 3 days and was sad when it was over. I don't think are words to describe how I feel about this book. The characters were so easy for me to relate to and her writing captured me in from the very beginning. I really didn't think that I would like this book because like I said it isn't my usual type of book but I am so glad that I read it and have found this author. I can't wa...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Title: THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Tyndale
December 2011
ISBN: 978-1414334837
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary romance

Noelle Hueston was headed home from Duluth, after talking to Admissions about enrolling in the art institute. On the way home, she stops for coffee, and interrupts a robbery. She escapes, but falls, hitting her head on the pavement. When she awakes, she’s in a hospital, twenty-five years of her life gone, and a man in there claiming to be her husband....more

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Feb 03, 2012 Cheryl Olson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: net-galley, reviews-2012

Imagine you wake up to find yourself in a hospital room with the memories of 25 years of your life just missing, gone, kaput. In your mind you are a college student at the beginning of your life ready to pursue your dreams and make a difference. You prefer diet Coke to coffee and want your parents to come to the hospital to see you, not this 50 year old stranger who keeps holding your hand telling you he is your husband. And let’s just say that the shock of seeing your reflection in the mirror i...more Imagine you wake up to find yourself in a hospital room with the memories of 25 years of your life just missing, gone, kaput. In your mind you are a college student at the beginning of your life ready to pursue your dreams and make a difference. You prefer diet Coke to coffee and want your parents to come to the hospital to see you, not this 50 year old stranger who keeps holding your hand telling you he is your husband. And let’s just say that the shock of seeing your reflection in the mirror is a bit jarring. This is the predicament of Noelle Hueston, the main character in The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren. Only Noelle isn’t a college student, she is a married woman with children and a husband and some tough memories that she cannot recall.

The struggling marriage of Noelle and her husband Eli is simply forgotten by Noelle after suffering an accident where her head is hit incredibly hard causing her to lose all memories from the last 25 years. So while she is struggling to remember her past and the people closest to her, she also discovers that things have not turned out for her as she thought they would. She was an aspiring artist that all but gave up her dreams for others and she feels a bit disappointed to see what her 40-something self did with her life in comparison to what her 20-something self thought she would be doing. What a fascinating perspective for her to see. She’s not too happy with her waist size either. (But then again, who is?) Her husband Eli seeks to have a brand new start with this new wife who doesn’t remember all the heartache of their past and wants to build forward from there. They both learn though that it’s impossible to divorce our past from our present, it’s what grows us and something we need to make peace with in order to move forward. It cannot be ignored. There are some other family dynamic stuff that comes into play with the sons that shows some pretty realistic moments, I believe- people placing blame, the importance of honesty and forgiveness. Very well done here.

I thought the pacing of the novel was good, enjoyed the character development and storyline. I actually thought the ending was good, realistic, although I might say that part felt a little rushed. Overall, I enjoyed what this novel explored, the whole idea of are you happy where you are, is it what you imagined and if not, what can you do to change it? I think we all have that question in our mind to a certain extent. Is my life really what I pictured it would be? My answer is no, it’s not, but I think this alternate route, personally, is better than what I had planned.

4 stars.

I was graciously provided a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Jul 25, 2012 Tari rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love Susan May Warren's ability to create such a real world for the reader. I loved this book and read it in two nights.

What I love most about Susan's book are that they hold a strong element of life truth in them that hangs with you after the book is done. I am the mother of three children Boy, Girl, Boy. And in a way, looking at this family pre-tradegy was like a glimpse of my little family in fifteen years.

We don't know what God has for us but I know I want to enjoy every day I have with...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

There is a lot of tragedy in this book. The book opens with Noelle Hueston's running from a Murder robbery. She takes a terrible fall and ends up with a head injury and amnesia. She doesn't know her son's Kirby or Kyle or her husband Eli.
Three years ago there was another robbery and a double murder...Eli and Noelle 17 year old daughter Kelsey, and Kelsy's best friends Dad is also killed. The toll of this puts a big strain on their twenty-five year marriage. So when Noelle doesn't remember them...more

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May 02, 2012 Lonnie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this was different than Susan's usual writing. It was more emotionally deep and dark. My heart ached the whole time I read it, like an open wound. At the beginning, you know something horrific has happened in Noelle's past, because she alludes to it when she’s held up at a coffee shop. And slowly, through different characters and different memories, you get the back story, until, finally, Eli relives the whole trauma at the end of the book. Yet despite the darkness this shattered family is...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Brooke (i blog 4 books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

My Foolish Heart (another book in the Deep Haven series) was my first introduction to Susan May Warren. I couldn't get enough of it. So I was thrilled when I learned that The Shadow of Your Smile was coming out. I was not disappointed!

Eli and Noelle's marriage is falling apart when Noelle is in a serious car accident. When she comes out of her coma, she thinks she is back in college . . . remembering neither her husband nor her three children nor anything that's happened in the last twenty years...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Iola rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, contemporary-romance, kindle, netgalley, 2012

The marriage of Eli and Noelle Hueston has been going steadily downhill since the death of their teenage daughter in a store shooting. Eli blames himself for her death, and has since retired from his job as Sheriff, and spends his time either fishing or helping out Lee Nelson, who lost her husband in the same shooting. Noelle is barely surviving, and spends her time volunteering, but has made the decision that she is going to live again. A twist of fate finds her caught up in another shore shoot...more

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About Susan May Warren

I can't help be amazed at the gifts God has delighted me with - a wonderful husband, four amazing children, and the opportunity to write for Him.

I've been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.

Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the Unive...more I can't help be amazed at the gifts God has delighted me with - a wonderful husband, four amazing children, and the opportunity to write for Him.

I've been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.

Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the University of MN, my real writing experience started when I penned the The Warren Report - a bi-monthly newsletter that detailed our ministry highlights.

Living in Russia meant I never lacked for great material - and those experiences naturally spilled out first into devotionals and magazine articles and finally into my first published story, "Measure of a Man," in the Tyndale/HeartQuest, Chance Encounters of the Heart anthology.

Susan and husbandI grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. My favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota - it's where I met my husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living. The north woods easily became the foundation for my first series, The Deep Haven series.based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. I have to admit - I'm terribly jealous of Mona, the heroine of my first full-length book, Happily Ever After, a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.

Our family moved home from the mission field in June 2004 -- and now we live in the beautiful town I'd always dreamed of! God has amazed me anew with His provision, and blessings -- and allowed me a season when I can write full time for Him.

I 'm delighted you've stopped in to visit. My hope is that you'll be blessed and encouraged by soul-stirring stories of regular people interacting with a God who loves them.

I'd love to hear from you! I love getting mail, especially from readers and I welcome your questions and comments. Write to me at susan@susanmaywarren.com. And, if you're interested, sign up for my newsletter, a quarterly sneak peek into upcoming releases and projects. Thank you for your interest and support.

God Bless and Happy Reading!

In His Grip,
Susan May Warren(less)

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The Shadow of Your Smile (Deep Haven #6)

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