Chill out with: Chill Out, Josey!

Okay, I couldn't resist using that title for my blog post today. I'm excited to talk about Susan May Warren's latest release, Chill Out, Josey!

Most of the time at the end of a romance, we read the happily ever after part, and off the couple goes into the sunset. Or what have you.

This time, we get to see Josey's adventures continue after she says, "I do."

Russia ? Not again. Josey's finally living the good life - she's got the man, the (almost-perfect) wedding, the two-story Cape-Cod house of her dreams. That is until her man drags her back to Moscow ! Josey knows she has the guts to follow her own dreams across the world, but she's not so sure she can play the perfect wife while her husband chases after his. Josey's set on having the perfect life…even in a world without hot water, decent take-out and size-two leather fashion. But can she find the courage to tell her man the secret that will change their lives forever?

Two things delighted me about this book. Susan puts such humor into the everyday situations we all face. Especially with Josey's newlywed awakening, so to speak. And then during the bombshell of going back to Russia.

Also, in my opinion, the real work of romance starts after the wedding. We still learn much about our spouses, past that getting-to-know-you and attraction phase, past the deciding "Do we believe we should spend the rest of our lives together? Is this what God has for us?" Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that because we say yes to each other and yes to God, that we won't have bumps in the road. Or major potholes! Part of the journey is learning to live and love with each other through those bumps and potholes. Or, in Josey's case, a major move!

Here's Susan, in her own words:

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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.

I 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.

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Susan didn't mention this, but if you're a writer, you should check out her Book Therapy services. She's helped me flesh out a future book series, and I'm so glad I took the chance to work with her. I generally have few issues with punctuation, sentence structure, but Susan helped me work on character, plot, and other areas. I believe my future book will be much stronger as a result of her input. (Thanks, Suz!)

Lastly, she's holding a contest. Here's the details:

Submit your funniest/craziest/most embarrassing PREGNANCY STORY and be entered to win a Super Fabulous, Ultra Deluxe Chill Out, Mom SPA BASKET! Here is the link to the Contest page on Susan’s website: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/contest.html (**note, this contest is exclusively for her blog tour, chances are there will be another contest going on for her general audience…feel free to enter both contests. By submitting your story, Susan will know which contest you are entering!)

Happy Reading!