A Reader's Opinion: SWEETBRIAR COTTAGE by Denise Hunter

May 31, 20173 min read

A READER'S OPINION

SWEETBRIAR COTTAGE is a heartwarming story about the power of forgiveness and second chances. Noah Mitchell thought his marriage to Josephine had ended until he receives a surprise letter from the IRS. Just like in real life, the IRS rarely brings good news, and Noah discovers that he's still married. When faced with having to see and talk to Josephine again, Noah's quiet life of seclusion is turned upside down. Josephine made her share of mistakes, and she doesn't blame Noah for ending their marriage, but what happens when two people torn apart by betrayal still love each other? Josephine promises to fix the issue and drives to Noah's mountain ranch to deliver the new paperwork for his signature. She should have checked the weather more closely!

Patience, love, trust, and hope are tested when Noah and Josephine find themselves stuck during the storm. I don't know if the author meant to have a parallel between the weather and their turbulent relationship, but that's what I got out of it. I felt for both characters as they struggled with their own feelings. I don't often read Christian romance, and this is the first book I've enjoyed by Denise Hunter, but I plan to read more. The author has a very nice writing style that draws you into the story and makes you feel the characters experiences. There is a powerful message of forgiveness in SWEETBRIAR COTTAGE. Noah is a kinder person than I think I could have been in the same situation, but that really made me like him so much more.

Rating: 4 Stars | Content Rating: 1 Hearts | Reviewed by: Kathy Scott

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BOOK SYNOPSIS

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?