I read so many books in September, I had to split them up into two posts! Half of them happened to be by the same author: Susan May Warren, one of my top three favorite authors of all time. She’s one of those authors whose new books I’ll always buy as soon as they come out, because I know I’ll love them! In September, I read the last book in the Montana Fire trilogy that came out this summer, and the first three books in the Deep Haven series that my grandmother gave me for my birthday.

Burnin’ For You – Montana Fire trilogy #3

Plot: He’s loved her for years . . .Smoke jumper Reuben Marshall is harboring a deep regret—a split-second decision that cost the life of his crew boss in a fire. It’s a grief that has paralyzed him, kept him from moving forward. It’s mistakes, and regrets like this that keep him from pursuing his long-burning interest in Gilly Priest, their pretty, petite pilot. Not only is she not interested in dating a teammate, but she’s also the preacher’s daughter. And while Reuben’s not the chiefest of sinners, he’s no saint. Reuben feels like a buffalo next to her and worse, can’t seem to string two words together when she’s in his radar. He’ll just have to love her from afar…

Her dark secret keeps her from trusting . . .Gilly Priest has worked hard to carve out her niche as a female bomber pilot in the dangerous world of firefighting. Sure she’s small, but she’s made up for her stature in courage, grit, and the tenacity to face danger other pilots wouldn’t dare to confront. And yes, she’s noticed handsome Reuben Marshall—who wouldn’t? Dependable and strong, he takes up most of the space in the room. But Gilly’s dark secret won’t allow her close enough to talk to him, let alone let herself fall for him.

A race to rescue the people they love . . .When their smokejumper plane goes down in the northwestern Montana mountains, wounding their team, Gilly and Reuben are the only ones able to hike out to find help. But when their rescue mission turns out to be a fight for their lives against the terrain, a saboteur, and a forest fire, they discover they’ll have to put aside their fears and learn to trust each other. But will trust lead to igniting something they both long for…and fear? And can they save their team before tragedy strikes—again?

My thoughts: This conclusion to the Montana Fire trilogy was so good! Susan May Warren does a great job of mixing drama, adventure, and romance in her books, and this one was no exception. I loved getting to know Gilly and Reuben and seeing how their love story grew as they faced their fears and sacrificed to save their friends. Not your typical or predictable love story…you won’t regret the time spent reading it!

Happily Ever After – Deep Haven Series #1

Plot: Mona Reynolds knows exactly whom she wants to marry. The only problem is, he isn’t real.

Mona’s dream is about to come true. With the help of her best friend, Liza, she’s transforming an old Victorian house in the lovely lakeside town of Deep Haven into the Footstep of Heaven Bookstore and Coffee Shop. If only she could swing a hammer. Luckily for Mona, Joe Michaels — a handsome, mysterious handyman — agrees to help in exchange for rent in the apartment above her garage. But when disaster threatens her dream, Mona turns to her handyman for more than just household solutions and finds that some fairy tales have surprise endings. . . .

My thoughts: This book is an introduction to Deep Haven, Minnesota, which is also where Warren’s more recent Christiansen Family series takes place. I love that it’s about a woman starting a bookstore — that sounds like so much fun! Still, it’s not without its struggles, as Mona soon discovers. Enter Joe, the handyman with secrets that could change everything. This story is really well-written, with great characters and a plot twist that I didn’t see coming at first.

Tying the Knot – Deep Haven Series #2

Plot: EMT Anne Lundstrom is running from her past. But it’s about to catch up. She thought she’d escaped it when she moved out of the city and into the quiet town of Deep Haven. She certainly never expected to get roped into helping Noah Standing Bear run his summer camp for inner-city kids. Yet Noah has a charisma she can’t ignore, and romance is in the air. But when the very danger she was trying to escape threatens her peaceful haven―and her life―Anne must find the courage to face her fears and embrace the one man who can help her understand her past.

My thoughts: I loved the first book in the series, but I thought this one was even better! Anne moves to Deep Haven from the city, not realizing that a chance encounter from her past is about to change the rest of her life. This is a great story about how God can use our lives when we’re willing to trust Him with our fears and open our eyes to something beyond our own dreams and plans.

The Perfect Match – Deep Haven Series #3

Plot: Ellie Karlson is new to Deep Haven. As the town’s interim fire chief, she is determined to lead the local macho fire crew in spite of their misconceptions about her. But when someone begins setting deadly fires, Ellie faces the biggest challenge of her life. Especially when sparks fly with one of the volunteers on her crew: Pastor Dan Matthews. As Ellie battles to do her job and win the respect of her crew, she finds that there is one fire she can’t fight―the one Dan has set in her heart.

My thoughts: Pastor Dan and Ellie are characters you can’t help but root for, even when they seem to be at odds with each other. Ellie has a tough job to do as Deep Haven’s fire chief, and the men on her crew don’t all appreciate having a woman in charge. Dan was skeptical too at first, but he soon becomes her friend and confidante. They learn to see and love each other for who they are, rather than their preconceived ideas of how the other should act. It turns out to be a story with plenty of danger and mystery, but a sweet and touching ending.

If you’ve never read Susan May Warren’s books, now is a great time to start! I just noticed that this ebook, the prequel to her upcoming Montana Rescue series, is free on Kindle right now.  You can download that and then pre-order the first book in the new series, Wild Montana Skies, that’s coming out next Tuesday. (This post is not sponsored in any way; I just love her books!) I know I can’t wait to read my copy as soon as it comes in the mail! 

Have you read any of Susan May Warren’s books? Who are some of your favorite authors?