Spring for Susannah

May 1, 2011
Inspired by hymn lyrics, Richmond arrives on the inspirational fiction scene with a moving debut novel. Susannah Underhill feels she has run out of options when she accepts a marriage proposal by proxy and moves sight unseen to the Dakota territory in 1873 to be wife to a man she knows only from the few letters they have exchanged. After much coaxing from her rough but kind husband, Jesse, Susannah discovers that the world of propriety she was raised in will never do if she intends to survive in the harsh and lonesome conditions of life on the prairie. And just when Susannah seems to be settling into her role as Jesses helpmate, tragedy strikes and the man that she has come to love is stripped away. The backstory of the emotions of a mail-order bridea favorite among historical-romance readersdeepens Richmonds tale, and 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)