MY REVIEW:
Denise Hunter is one of the queens of Christian romance novels. It’s no wonder that some of her books have become Hallmark movies although like most readers I think the books are better! “Sweetbriar Cottage” is probably the most serious book I’ve read by this author but it still managed to hold my attention through each and every page.
The story of a divorced couple who discover they are still married due to a paperwork error, this novel probes the depths of emotion when Noah and Josephine are forced to spend days in close proximity due to a winter storm. Then an even graver situation requires them to rely on each other and personal secrets are revealed that help each of them gain a better understanding of each other.
The author took me through every high and low with her beautifully developed characters. Noah was a near perfect hero but a few negative traits kept him human. Josephine was so in need of encouragement to help her overcome her past – something Noah had never realized. I loved how the couple learned how to depend on each other during such adverse conditions and how that brought them closer together.
This is one of those books that you just have to read for yourself but it is well worth the effort. I will always recommend books by Denise Hunter because she writes about real life situations featuring flawed humans who need each other and a Savior.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Booklook Bloggers. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Noah and Josephine Mitchell discover their divorce was never actually finalized, their lives are turned upside down.
Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job, settling at a remote horse ranch in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, putting much-needed distance between himself and the former love of his life. But then Noah gets a letter from the IRS claiming he and Josephine are still married. When he confronts Josephine for the first time in months, they discover that she missed the final step in filing the paperwork and they are, in fact, still married.
Josephine is no happier about the news than Noah. Maybe the failed marriage—and okay, the botched divorce—was her fault, but her heart was shattered right alongside his, more than he would ever believe. The sooner they put this marriage behind them, the better for both of their sakes.
But when Josephine delivers the final paperwork to his ranch, the two become stranded in his cottage during the worst spring snowstorm in a decade. Being trapped with Josephine is a test of Noah’s endurance. He wrestles with resentment and an unmistakable pull to his wife—still beautiful, still brave, and still more intriguing than any woman he’s ever known.
As they find themselves confronted with each other and their shared past, old wounds surface and tempers flare. But when they are forced out into the storm, they must rely on each other in a way they never have before. Josephine finally opens up about her tragic past, and Noah realizes she’s never been loved unconditionally by anyone—including him. Will Noah accept the challenge to pursue Josephine’s heart? And can she finally find the courage to trust Noah?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 25 books, including “The Convenient Groom” and “A December Bride” which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.
In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking good coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband have three boys and are rapidly approaching an empty nest.
You can learn more about Denise through her website www.DeniseHunterBooks.com or by visiting her FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/authordenisehunter
