Sweetbriar Cottage Review!

About the Book

Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job and settled 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, 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 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?

My Perspective

Can you say, hello new Hallmark movie!? That is exactly what was running through my head the entire time I was reading this. It had the look, feel, characters, setting and circumstances of a great Hallmark movie. So take note Hallmark channel! This would be a welcome addition to the fall/winter lineup!

Now that you know I am a sucker for a good Hallmark movie, you can probably tell how much I enjoyed this story. First of all, I was drawn to Noah. He puts others first (for the most part) and just has that swoony man appeal. You know what I am talking about! While they were trapped, it was amazing what Noah did. The ultimate sacrifice really, and I think that is kind of the message of the story. What you are willing to do for love?

As for Josephine, here is this poor and broken woman. She had this reputation and it seemed like no one really gave her the time of day or the opportunity to get to know her. Throughout the book you get glimpses into her broken past and being to understand how she became the woman she is today. You feel sorry for her, but then on some level almost proud of how she grew during this time. I may not have always liked her character, but she grew on me over time.

Overall this is a wonderful book. I haven’t met a book by Denise Hunter that I did not like, but I think this is one of my favorites! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband 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 www.facebook.com/authordenisehunter.