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    It Had to Be You
    It Had to Be You
    It Had to Be You
    Audiobook11 hours

    It Had to Be You

    Written by Susan May Warren

    Narrated by Joell A. Jacob

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen's cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits-and starting to fear that she doesn't have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.

    Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior-on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he's getting from Eden Christiansen isn't making things any easier. But when Owen's carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateAug 2, 2016
    ISBN9781515979401
    It Had to Be You
    Author

    Susan May Warren

    Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy, Carol and RITA award–winning author of more than sixty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. In addition to her writing, Susan is a nationally acclaimed writing teacher and runs an academy for writers, Novel.Academy. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com

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    Reviews for It Had to Be You

    4.5/5

    39 ratings5 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This is such a great story. I love how each of them assumes things about the other that aren’t true. When they find the person the other really is can help them be who they were fully meant to be.
    • 5/5
      It's no wonder Susan May Warren is a bestselling and award winning author. This is a fabulous look at a very complex cast of characters. There's more to each than meets the eye.I laughed, I cried, I cried some more, and I cheered for the characters. The only one I didn't really care for was Eden's brother Owen - but that was a necessary evil. My short review? Highly, highly recommend. Read on for my long review.Eden Christiansen thinks the purpose of her life is to be the cheerleader for everyone else. She has a mediocre job in the obits department, a slew of siblings who each has their own awesome talent, and a superstar hockey brother she feels she has to serve and protect at all costs. Even if it's to her own detriment. Always comparing herself to their accomplishments, she feels that somehow, no matter how hard she tries, she'll never be as good as them. Yet she wants to do something spectacular - she just doesn't see it happening in the obituary department.Jace Jacobsen has his own demons to destroy. He, a hockey superstar, has a less than desirable name and past. He knows better than anyone his own faults - and wishes he could change things.As the story unfolds, both main characters see the other for what they are - hurting people who need someone to care for them. To see that they're worth something. To look past the exterior and see the potential.Supported by a stellar cast of characters, this isn't just a story about how two people meet and how they learn to like each other. This is a story about heart conditions, desperation, despair, losing everything important, new beginnings, old hurts, and finally, forgiveness. Love. Mending. Growing.Each person has their own story, and no one lives to themselves. I loved the main plot, the secondary plot, and the emerging plot that I'm pretty sure is going to be the focus of another Christiansen family book. And I can't wait to read it.*My thanks to the publisher and author for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions. I was not required they be positive.*
    • 5/5
      How do I forgive myself? It is much harder than forgiving others, or even accepting that God has forgiven us. Many times as I was reading this book I had an AHA moment...where the words resonated with my heart.In this novel, Susan gets at some of the nitty gritty parts of the dynamics of a family life where there are siblings versus where there is an only child. Yes,and the way we can and do hurt the ones we love the most. I saw myself in more than just one of the characters, which i think is the talent of a good writer. As well as writing about characters that are undeniably realistic in situations we can find around us every day, the father, John is a very wise man, and his sayings resonate with the reader.I loved this book,and this series is a must keeper for me. It will go on the shelf together with Karen Kingsbury and Terri Blackstock.I received this Ebook free from Amy at Litfuse Publicity Group, Tyndale Publishing House and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      Wow! I loved my return visit with this great family. There is even a novella at the end ...a bonus...how the family began.This is Eden and Owen's story. Knowing what it is like to come from a large family and being one of the older siblings. We do the mothering thing. This is Eden, she has taken over the care of her hockey star brother. Yes, she was the one who took him to his meets and training as a youngster, and wiped his tears, and hurts.They are both adults now, and Eden still wants to mother, guess that is a hard roll to release, even though, in fact, Owen does have parents. Do we need to pick up and protect our siblings for the rest of their lives, or let them make their own mistakes?We also meet a fan hero, superstar, and Hockey player, Jace Jacobsen. He is nearing retirement, and dealing with some medical issues. He is also haunted by his own demons.Ms Warren, places you right on the ice, in the living room. You are going to feel like you are a participant! Talk about feeling the cold emanating from the ice! You also feel the pain of parents loving and wanting the best for their children. How can you let go? We find some amazing answers.Looking at the book and seeing how big it is can be intimating, but in reality, it was a very quick, page turning read. You will not want to miss this one!I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 5/5
      I've read Susan May Warren for a long time and I love her Deep Haven books. The first in this series about the Christiansens was wonderful but this one is just totally over the top! It moved me in ways I never imagined. Eden Christiansen has always been there, hovering, taking care of, babying, her brother Owen, rookie hockey star. She's put so much effort into his career that she hasn't had time for herself in any way at all. She dreams of being a great reporter, but seems stuck writing obituaries for her paper. She doesn't see that this will ever change.Jace Jacobsen is the enforcer of his hockey team, aggressive and blunt, but he's not at peace with his life. Eden holds him responsible for policing Owen's behavior, too. Jace also has secret demons in his own life that weigh him down at every turn. Will these two people who seem to hate each other manage to look beyond the turmoil in their lives and see the hope that God offers them? Or will they continue in their stubbornness and miss out on the greatest thing that could ever happen to them.This book has so much of value in it. Susan May Warren has the unique ability to make the reader a part of the story. From the very first, you feel as if you belong there, with the characters. It's almost as if there is a big giant tv screen playing along in your head as you read!I shed a lot of tears during the last portion of this book. And I tell you this: God ministered to me about a situation in my own life, teaching me a lesson about hope and grace, too! The theme of redemption runs strong through this book also. It's like I got a sermon from this book! I just read another book this week with the same message, so I think maybe God is trying to get my attention!The romance was fantastic. She writes so sweetly about the romance between her characters, always has. You'll never regret buying a Susan May Warren book! I know I'll never miss one!