Review: You're the One That I Want by Susan May Warren

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Owen Christiansen has been in a downward spiral since an injury ended his NHL career. But a job on an Alaskan crabbing boat offers a fresh start . . . maybe even a shot at romance with Elise “Scotty” McFlynn, the captain’s daughter.

Used to being one of the guys, to never relying on anyone, Scotty doesn’t believe in happily ever after―especially with someone like Owen. Her instinct is confirmed when Casper Christiansen arrives to drag his prodigal brother home, bringing with him a truckload of family drama―and even worse, the news that Casper is wanted for questioning in connection to a crime back in Minnesota.

But Owen is more than the sum of his mistakes, a truth both he and Scotty discover when she escorts both brothers to Deep Haven as part of her new job on the Anchorage police force. Thrust into an unfamiliar world of family, faith, and fresh starts, Scotty begins to see potential for a happy ending . . . if she’s brave enough to embrace it.

My Review

I have a horrible habit of not reading the last book in a series I love... it's completely irrational, but it's like I subconsciously think that if I don't read that last book the series won't end yet. I recently read a novella by the author set in Deep Haven, and it put me in the mood to *finally* finish the Christiansen series with You're the One That I Want. I had mixed feelings of course about Owen, who is a bit of a punk in previous books. The author did a great job of showing Owen's redemption process, peeling back a layer at a time, showing us the new Owen through Scotty's experiences with him. I thought it was smart to show how major aspects of his personality didn't change- that he is still the same person, but more mature, with a broader perspective, and the desire to be a better man. 

 

I loved reading the scenes set on the fishing boat, reminding me of the show Deadliest Catch, and the danger and adventure there. Owen and Scotty's life changing experience together bonds them, and it was fun to see how their dynamic shifted as their roles changed off the boat. The remainder of the story in Deep Haven was wrought with family drama- both angsty and healing. Lots of faith talk helped Owen, Scotty, and Casper as they worked to resolve the complications that have their relationships tied in knots. A strong ending to a memorable series! Now I want to binge read them all over again...

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the other books in the Christiansen Family series . . .