Book Review: Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren/5 Stars

About the book:


Hope finds the hopeless when a storm hits.

It's Christmas weekend 1949, and despite the threat of a storm, the townspeople of Frost are determined to continue their holiday traditions, if only as a means to forget the war that they had all just suffered through. But the suffering hasn't ended for Dottie Morgan who lost her only son in the war. She's preparing to wallow in her isolation for the weekend, when Violet, nearly a spinster at age 29, dares to make a request that will force Dottie to publicly revive the memory of her dead son.

When a storm traps the two women at home with a strange young man who has an unbelievable confession and a neighbor with more to do with Violet's past than she would like, no one can predict how this Christmas will give them all a second chance.

My thoughts:

Rather than give a review about all the great characters or the touching scenes of this book, I'm simply going to say that sometimes there are books that come along at just the right moment in your life, and they leave the most profound impression.  To some, Baby, It's Cold Outside may represent a wonderful start into Christmas books this season, but for me, it became a personal journey of sorts--a chance to pull back the curtain and recognize that, just like Dottie Morgan, I'm not perfect, either.  To some, that may sound like a horrible quality for a book.  (I mean, really...most readers don't really like to have their toes stepped on while they're reading a novel, thank you very much.)  But there's something about the way that Susan does it that doesn't come off as preachy or condescending.  These personal, introspective moments are what make Susan's books so special to me.  They get under my skin, and before it's over, I'm either at the point of tears and/or thanking God that he still loves me despite my faults. 

And hey, if you're looking for an entertaining Christmas story, you'll still get it here...no worries.  But I hope that, like me, you will take away something more than just, "That was a great book."  I hope you'll give it the chance to be a blessing to you.  I never expected it to give one to me. 

5 Stars

Southern?  No
Sass?  No

**Many thanks to Litfuse Publicity and Summerside Press for providing a copy for review.

***

Warm up to Chrismtas early this year with Susan May Warren's Baby, It's Cold Outside! To celebrate the release of her new Christmas book with Summerside Press, she and the publisher are giving away a Kindle Fire and hosting an early Christmas Party on Facebook!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One festive winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. Giveaway ends on 10/26!

But, wait there’s more! Join Susan May Warren on 10/27 for merriment and a few early Christmas presents at her Baby, It's Cold Outside Christmas party! Grab your Christmas sweaters, socks and pj’s and join Susan and a few friends for a fireside chat about her recent books (Heiress & Baby, It’s Cold Outside), holiday traditions, favorite Christmas recipes, a trivia contest and more! Invite your friends and don’t miss the fun!

RSVP here and we'll see you on October 27th at 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST!