Book Review: "My Foolish Heart" by Susan May Warren

Summary from BN.com: Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she’s never really done either. Issy’s ratings soar when it seems she’s falling in love on-air with a caller. A caller she doesn’t realize lives right next door. Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moves to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart, the show that airs before his favorite sports broadcast. Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host—and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio . . . or the one next door?

When I heard that there was going to be a fourth book in the Deep Haven series, I was very excited. It's been about 2.5 years since I had read the last book in the series and that book had actually been written back in 2004. I was a bit worried that since it had been a while, I would be confused about returning to the town again. New readers don't have to worry though because this book can be read as a standalone. For returning readers, Ellie and Dan make appearances but I don't remember characters from the first two books showing up.

I've never actually met anyone that struggles from PTSD, severe panic attacks or agoraphobia so it was a bit hard for me at first to relate to Issy. As horrible as this sounds on my part, I felt myself getting a bit annoyed with her at times. That makes me sound like a horrible person but those were my feelings as I read. I wanted her to get out and enjoy life but she just couldn't. I also didn't like how she treated Caleb right from the beginning. He is a very patient man and honestly one of the best male characters in a story that I've read in long time. He's not weak at all, instead he wants others to base him on his merits than pity him for what happened to his body. He doesn't care what people think of him, rather the opposite of Issy. If we're going to be honest, the two will have an interesting future together.

I was a bit surprised that since Issy and Caleb have a thing going on and Lucy and Seb seem to be a couple, why no one brought up the fact about the two girls dating rivals. The men never mention it and interestingly neither do the women. I guess I just would have thought that with the women being best friends and each being attracted to two guys who are fighting for the same job there might have been some tension. However it seems that none of this comes to the characters' minds at all.

Overall this is a nice romance. There's the right amount of conflict fused in with the love story to create a believable relationship. Plus there are donuts! And lots of football for those that enjoy that as well. I enjoyed my return to Deep Haven and would love to return again in the future.

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren is published by Tyndale (20110

This review copy was provided for a blog tour with LitFuse Publicity

Other books in the Deep Haven series that I have reviewed:

Tying the Knot (Book 2)
The Perfect Match (Book 3)