I have read most of Denise Hunter's books and she truly knows how to craft broken, suffering, unforgettable characters who carry the story. Sweetbriar Cottage reminded me of her previous books Surrender Bay (Nantucket series) and Married 'Til Monday (Chapel Springs series) with the heroines plagued by their past in need of second chances and unconditional love.

Denise Hunter's writing flows well and the dialogue is heartfelt, believable, and paced just right. Noah is a likable hero from the beginning. He's loyal, honest, hard-working, loving. He tries to see both sides of the situation even in his anger. Josie needed a lot of explanation of her past and present before I felt any affinity for her. But once I understood what molded Josie in her earlier years, I felt compassion for all that she's been through. The flashback chapters helped fill in the gaps of Josie's past and also Noah and Josie's past relationship.

Faith played a large part in the book and the answers to questions raised throughout the book were thought out well and worded well.

This was quite an emotional book, somewhat more so than her others (except for Married 'Till Monday...I reread that book a couple of times and it still got me right in my chest). I couldn't put this book down because I needed to know what Josie did and why. I'm sad that this is a stand-alone book because I was hoping to get a story from either Seth (Noah's brother) or Pastor Jack (Noah's best friend). Perhaps they'll make cameo appearances in the future novels set in Copper Creek?

I received ARC of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to give a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

I’ve had my up and downs with Denise Hunter books, but I have to say I loved this one. It’s my favorite one of hers I’ve read so far.

Noah decided to propose to Josephine after only a few months of dating, despite the warnings of his family and friends. When his marriage ends not too long after it started, it seems the warnings were right. After being apart for over a year Noah finds out the divorce was never finalized and he is, in fact, still married. Since Josephine feels responsible for the mix up she decides to speed things along to fix it by taking the new paperwork up the mountain to Noah’s new ranch. A broken down car and freak spring snowstorm later and they’re stuck together, all alone.

A problem I have with a lot of books by this author is that I find the female lead really unlikable. Thankfully this was not the case with Josephine. While she did make some decisions that frustrated me at times, I feel like her behavior made sense due to her background. I liked that she had reached the point in her life where she was dealing with her past and trying to understand why she did the things she did and become a better person, even though she still lived with a lot of doubts. I thought she was really realistically portrayed. I really liked Noah, as well. Though he had been really hurt by Josephine, he still cared about her and looked out for her when it counted.

I really liked how the romance played out in the story. It wasn’t the typical Contemporary read with lots of “cute” moments (though, of course, there were a couple). It was a more serious love that faced a lot of struggles. We go back and forth between the present and the past. Interspersed with the main story we see Josephine’s childhood and when she and Noah met and started dating. We see Noah’s absolute certainty and Josephine’s tenuous hope at the beginning of their relationship. I liked watching as their hard feelings and fears began to fade while they were stuck together. While I think it’s pretty obvious what broke up their marriage, the details don’t actually come out until late in the story and I kind of wish it would’ve happened a little earlier. I did really like the whole conversation they eventually had surrounding it, though. The one thing I didn’t really like about the romance was that Noah is very strong in his faith and pursued Josephine really hard even though she wasn’t. I’m not a fan of the whole “Evangelism Dating” thing and I don’t think it’s realistic that Noah would rush into marriage with someone who barely seemed to share his faith.

There is also a message of unconditional love woven into the story. Though Josephine had wanted to test Noah to see if he could love her no matter what, it’s really the promise of God’s unconditional love that she needed to accept. I felt that the message was written well into the story and didn’t come across as “preachy.”

Overall, I really enjoyed Sweetbriar Cottage. I liked the characters, the story, the romance, and the message of God’s love. I’ve read a lot of Denise Hunter’s books and this one is definitely my new favorite and I would recommend it to fans of Contemporary Romance and Inspirational Romance.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars

Have you ever had a book that you hoped would be really, really good, and it turned out to be even better than you thought? That's how Denise Hunter's new book, Sweetbriar Cottage, was for me. You may know that I'm a pretty recent fan of Denise Hunter, but so far I've loved everything that I've read. Her novels are sweet love stories with great characters. Her plots always draw me in, and I never want the story to end when "happily ever after" arrives. My favorite Hunter novel has been The Goodbye Bride, until I read Sweetbriar Cottage, and it may have taken the first-place spot! Let me say first, that this is a departure from some of Denise's more light-hearted romances. Her characters have had some sad secrets in their pasts before, but Josephine (the female lead character in this book) has a very dark, painful past that has shadowed her whole life. Her secrets eventually destroyed the relationship with one person who really and truly loved her.

Noah and Josephine Mitchell are divorced. Well, they think they are. But when Noah receives a mysterious letter from the IRS, they discover that they never filed the final paperwork, and they are still married. Noah was devastated after his marriage ended, and he withdrew to a small ranch several miles outside of town, where he boards and trains horses. He does everything in his power to avoid meeting Josephine. He is angry when he discovers her mistake with the divorce papers, and demands that she get it fixed. Josephine is also heartbroken since the divorce, but she can't let Noah see that. He must believe that losing her was for the best. So, she agrees to get the new papers and sign them for him to pick up on Friday. Hoping to save him some trouble, and help assuage his anger, Josephine decides to drive to his ranch on Tuesday evening to give him the papers. While she's there a spring snowstorm hits, and she's stranded. Noah and Josephine both hope for the storm to end quickly so they can sign the papers and never see each other again, but someone seems to have another plan. As the days pass by and the world outside freezes, inside, their hearts begin to melt. But Noah knows that he can't let Josie back into his life, and she knows she'll only hurt him again. But when they are suddenly caught outside and exposed to the elements, secrets are revealed that change everything. As the weather gets colder, their lives are in danger, and rescue may come too late to save them.

Sweetbriar Cottage is not your typical romance. Actually, the last few chapters are almost like a thriller as you wonder if Josephine and Noah will survive the storm. We all start reading a book like this, and think we know that ending will definitely be reconciliation and joy, but the further in I got, the more I really wondered what was going to happen. A happy ending was not guaranteed!

In a note at the end, Denise says how difficult this book was for her to write, and I totally understand why. Dealing with issues like those that Josephine faced in her past is never an easy subject--but it is certainly an important one. There are many women who struggle with their pasts, whether it be things that were done to them, or things they did. In Sweetbriar Cottage, Denise illustrates that there is hope for people who battle issues regarding sexual sins. It is possible to have a happily every after, but not on your own. Josephine tried to forget her past and forge ahead with a relationship with Noah, never realizing that the past would find her. Her story proves that the only way to move past a tainted history is through honesty. A person may need counseling or therapy to be able to move on, but even that requires honesty with yourself. I love the message in this book that there is an unconditional love from God, even when we make mistakes, and when others fail us. He is always ready and willing to give forgiveness, if only we'll ask.

Noah and Josephine's story is awesome. Sweetbriar Cottage is un-putdownable. I couldn't stop reading, and finished the book in a day. The story is somehow classic Hunter, but with a new depth and a twist that makes it totally new and different. Everything about it is beautiful, from the cover art, down to the scenery described inside and the too-true characters. It's a picture of life that isn't perfect, people who have painful histories, unconditional love and forgiveness.

Is it weird to recommend a book about a snowstorm in them middle of summer? I don't know, but it made me want to curl up on my couch with a quilt (I have plenty to choose from!) even though it was 85 degrees outside! I can't think of a more perfect summer read than that!



Sweetbriar Cottage was also mentioned in my list of books for your summer reading. You can check that out here. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own, and a favorable review was not required.

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I know you read it all the time, but...I could  not put this book down.....and in this case it is literally true.

I had to force myself to put the book down and make lunch. Then I suggested, actually I didn't thaw anything out for dinner and told my husband that I could make a salad or he could order pizza. So, we had pizza for dinner. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish the book, and it was well worth it.

This book will appeal to anyone who likes a clean romance. It has a good plot and interesting twists along the way.

It is well written and has a good message.

Okay, now I've gotten the important part out of the way...Let me tell you why I liked this book so  much. It wasn't the same old boy meets girl. They overcome all the obstacles that are thrown at them. They live happily ever after. This was a story about a man and a woman who'd been married. They thought they were perfect for each other. They were happy until she cheated on him and they got divorced.

The story begins when Noah receives a letter from the IRS that claims he and his ex wife are still married. Noah and Josie are thrown into a series of circumstances that force them to work together and talk, something they haven't done in a very long time. The chaos that ensues is interesting to unravel.

The main characters are both likeable. I was rooting for both of them to work things out and get back toeghter throughout the whole book. I think if a book has you so wrapped up in the outcome that you have to keep turning the page to find out what happens next, the author has done a good job of writing.

I know you will enjoy this book. It will be released June 13, 2017, so order your copy ASAP.

I think this was probably my favorite Denise Hunter book. I loved the story of redemption and forgiveness in a broken marriage. The brokenness of the two characters and how different their pasts were brought a depth to the story that tugged at my heart strings. I thought the difficult subject was presented in a beautifully broken way that was both delicate but not skimping over the tough parts. Through flashbacks, you experience how they first fell in love and how critical points in Josephine's life affected her. Through the present, you experience the brokenness that came from their choices that resulted in a failed marriage and their story of redemption.

This was my first Denise Hunter book with Sweetbriar Cottage. Josephine has a troubled past and made several mistakes in her life. When she inherits a property in a new town, she sees this a fresh start and opens a barbershop. Things are looking up when she falls in love with Noah, but a mistake sends her perfect life into a spiral once again. Can Noah learn to forgive, and can Josephine forgive herself? Find out in Sweetbriar Cottage as Noah and Josephine face unforeseen circumstances that make then confront each other and the past.

Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Denise Hunter’s most recent release not only answers her readers love of romance but undertakes the challenge of a Christian marrying a non-Christian.



Denise Hunter is a favorite author of mine because she always takes issues head on, refusing to give any quarter to untruth, while still providing loving relationships for her characters. Her latest story is one that I think has much to teach and I, for one, found myself convicted several times while reading. Ms. Hunter begins her book with a predicament – a couple who believe they have been divorced for 18 months suddenly find out that the paperwork was never signed by a judge, meaning they are still married. Both are expectedly upset, but this plot provides excellent material for Ms. Hunter to examine their relationship in detail.  Neither Noah Mitchell nor Josephine Dupree have truly moved on from their divorce, given they were so deeply in love. But both were also hurt deeply by the other and have yet to forgive each other or themselves for allowing the hurt to happen. But as always happens when God is working in people’s lives, they find themselves having to face what happened when they are accidentally stranded at Noah’s ranch during a fast set-in snowstorm. Without cell signal and eventually without electricity, they will have to find ways to work out a truce and keep from freezing to death. Given time to talk, they slowly start to ask and answer the questions they didn’t make time for before. As they work through the pain of what happened, they will be further challenged as they set out to find Noah’s runaway horse, becoming stranded miles from shelter when their snowmobile runs out of gas. Learning to work together on their trek home will bring them closer together and give them a chance to take a good look at their past. How they met is told in flashbacks between the present day story: Noah and Josephine met three and a half years ago when Noah came into her new barber shop for a long overdue haircut. Knowing she was new in town didn’t stop Noah from stopping in as it meant he didn’t have to go to further away Ellijay whenever he needed a trim. One look at Josephine and Noah knew he was in trouble; she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He quickly decided to help her with her build out to expand her shop, paying no heed to the advice of his friend and pastor Jack who warns Noah not to lose his heart until he knows her beliefs. Working together quickly leads to dating and within six months they were engaged and married by Christmas. But Josephine carries a secret, one that, without being told, becomes the breaking point for their marriage. Josephine grew up in a small town on the “wrong side of the tracks” in a single-wide trailer with her mom and mean step-dad. After her mom dies when she’s twelve she continues to live with her step dad, Eddie, as she has no other living relatives who will take her in. A drunk and a gambler, Eddie makes a deal one night that if his buddy beats him at poker he can have anything Eddie owns as payment. This deal will spell tragedy for Josephine as she is the item that Eddie’s buddy, Shark will claim as his for whatever purpose he decides. Rather than protecting her Eddie allows Shark to rape Josephine on multiple occasions, telling her no one will really love her and she is only good for one thing: sex. And after “friends” at school start rumors about her promiscuity with a fellow student, Josephine decides to own that label: she will give her body to men, but only when, where and with whom SHE says. Given this upbringing, Josephine has no idea how to handle God-fearing, respectful Noah who loves her enough to wait for sex until after marriage. And her fear of never being loved unconditionally will be realized throughout the months of their marriage in which Josephine pushes Noah to prove his love repeatedly. Needing complete acceptance, she commits the ultimate betrayal – an affair – desperately wanting to know if Noah loves her enough to stay with her anyways. When he turns away and requests divorce, Josephine decides Eddie was right and no one will ever really love her unconditionally. Fast forward to present day – Noah and Josephine are stranded out in the ever-dropping temperatures, miles from anyone’s home or property. As they fight to get home, they will find that forgiveness is waiting and all they had to do was ask. Josephine will find that the love she craves from people can be found only in the One who is capable of unconditional love. Noah will discover that Josephine isn’t the only one who needs to be forgiven, and that his pursuance of a relationship with her was wrong as she was an un-believer when they got together. Ms. Hunter takes all this hurt and pain and points her readers to the true Source of healing, never shying away from making her characters real and raw. I have known several people who have walked a painful road like this and I believe they would say as Ms. Hunter does, that God gives his children rules to follow to keep them from hurt and sorrow. Noah was so enamored by Josephine that he forgot to look to God for leadership in their relationship. He assumed because she talked about going to Sunday School as a child she was a Christian, never imagining that such a “nice” person didn’t have a relationship with God. How much Noah gave himself to endure when he failed to discuss this critical point. I was glad to see Ms. Hunter be very candid in her take on this issue – she leaves her readers in no doubt that what Noah did was wrong and that he was responsible for much of their marriage trouble. Josephine as an unbeliever acted wrongly as well, but the expectations for her were much different than for Noah. Ms. Hunter had her come to realize her deepest needs and turn to the One who could help her be forgiven and changed. How good it was to read a story that not only explored the dangers of “unequally yoked” relationships but also included true forgiveness and re-found love. I was so very pleased to see that Noah and Josephine were able to forgive each other and find deeper, more lasting love because of placing their marriage in God’s hands. I will most certainly be recommending this book to others as I believe the truths included in this story are vitally important and relevant. Very well done, Ms. Hunter! Please keep writing these challenging love stories that include such truths that needs to be learned by so many Christians today.

I received this E-book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

I really enjoyed this book and loved how it jumped between the past and present, it really gave the story some added depth. It was also good how it jumped between Josephine's view and Noah's view so you could see the story from all angles instead of one sided.

I liked Josephine from the moment I met her in the book but it was clear that she felt she didn't deserve to be loved. It was great seeing her develop and realise that her past didn't affect her future or her happiness.
Noah took me a while to warm up to and it was clear that he had isolated himself from people and distanced himself from the ones he has loved since the divorce and that the last thing he wants is to be stuck with his ex-wife. You get to see varying sides of him throughout the story and just how much he doesn't want to let go of Josephine despite what he has convinced himself to think.

This book isn't a typical love story like I am used to reading, but a story about forgiveness and healing. It's about how you can think people will judge you because of your past but sometimes once they know the full story you will not only receive forgiveness but also healing. At times I wasn't sure where the story was going but everything worked out in the end as should happen in all good stories.

Another great book by Denise Hunter :)

As good as this book was, it was also heartbreaking and emotionally charged.
The main characters are Noah and Josephine Mitchell . They thought they had divorced , but Josephine missed the final process of the divorce papers and therefore, are still married. She proceeds to delivering the papers in person to Noah, who has now moved to a ranch as a way to stay away from his past and Josephine.
God and life have a plan, and they find themselves trapped together in the midst of a storm. It is then that they confront each other. Under closed quarters Josephine reveals her tragic past. A past that has affected her in such a way, that is at the root of the separation from her husband. A man that loves her deeply. Both have been hurt but maybe this time they will be able not only to reunite but be stronger this time around.
Definitely thought provoking and very real to life.
I was gifted this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Josephine & Noah thought their divorce was finalized, but then Noah receives mail indicating something differently. Living on the outskirts of town on a ranch, it's hard for Noah to get into town to make sure his ex-wife has the forms completed. So Josephine travels to Noah's ranch to have him sign the forms, only to be trapped in a sudden spring storm.

Will being forced to spend time together give Noah and Josephine to talk things through. Can they reunite, since they're still technically married?

This was a cute story, a little predictable at times. But it took an adventurous turn.

This was a major story of love and redemption and forgiveness. Noah and Josephine have been divorced for three years, or have they. Through a series of events they get a second chance on love and redemption. A beautiful romance with a painful past but God's love and forgiveness bring them through.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book. It was romantic, sweet and adventurous too. I loved the relationship between the main characters Josie and Noah. I would definitely recommend this book.

Storyline
Josephine Dupree runs a hair salon, and tries to ignore the whispers behind her back about her reputation. From an abusive childhood to being used as an adult, her years have mostly been isolated, lonely and full of bad choices. Except for one time in her life - when she was married to Noah Mitchell. He actually made her feel lovely on the inside and perhaps worthy of real love. Life was good and hopeful - until that all fell apart as well.

Noah Mitchell has purchased a farm up in the mountains and rarely comes down to town. Too many memories, especially when he passes Josephine's hair salon. But when he learns from the IRS about a mistake in their divorce paperwork, and the two of them are actually still married, he has no choice but to face her again. In an attempt to correct the problem, the two get stranded together in the worst snowstorm of the decade. Neither of them wants to face the problems of the past - but they must if they are to move forward.

Depth
Josephine has some pretty awful things in her background that have shaped who she is today. Her flirtatious demeanor is the only way she knows how to protect herself. Noah never really bothered to find out about her past while they were married, but if they are to reach a place of forgiveness and understanding he must face the ugly truths. Issues of child abuse, betrayal, forgiveness and worth are dealt with.

Faith
Noah has a strong faith in the Lord and lives like it. But he has a lot to learn about extending God's forgiveness to others; he frequently prays about it and allows God to speak to his heart. On the other hand, Josephine keeps her distance from God because she figures He couldn't possibly care about someone like her. As she faces her past throughout this book, she realizes that God has been right there waiting for her the entire time.

Although it's clear Josephine makes her peace with God, these two chicks wish we would have been able to read more insight into her "coming to Jesus" moment!

Love Story
Noah and Josephine have some serious chemistry! They have never stopped loving each other, even after the divorce and it's obvious right away when they come face to face again. Although the heat is turned up on these two, Noah is sure to still treat their relationship right and keeps purity at the forefront of his actions. These two have a lot to work through, and author Denise masterfully writes the complex intricacies of such a relationship.

Overall
This book was very, very good and came close to being a five star in our book! The one thing we wished for, however, was seeing more of a spiritual "come to Jesus" moment for Josephine. Although it is clear she makes her peace with her past and with God, we aren't given a front row seat to her conversion. Bummer! However, the rest of the book had all the right elements to make this a must read for those who love a good story of redemption and forgiveness.

Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter is a stand-alone novel newly released by Thomas Nelson. It is an emotional, heart-wrenching story about overcoming past hurts and learning to love again.
When Noah Mitchell comes down to town from his ranch house in the mountains, he discovers an unsettling problem with his taxes. He filed as being single, having just come off a divorce. But apparently, his ex-wife never finished up the process with filing the papers, and the judge never signed them, so he’s still married. He storms into his ex-but-apparently-still-current wife’s barber shop to see if he can put an end to the mess.
Josephine Mitchell had a hard enough time getting over Noah, but when he comes back into her life, out of the blue, months after he broke her heart, she doesn’t know how to handle him. Trying to patch up the mess she’s made, she gets new papers and brings them up to his mountain house to save him a trip to town. Only, she doesn’t plan on being snowed in with the man who wants nothing more than to get her out of his hair.
Are hope and reconciliation possible? Can this couple learn to bridge the gap that their anger has caused and learn to understand the other better? How do previous hurts and disappointments play into a current relationship?
I really enjoyed this story. Yes, the plot was slightly predictable, but the characters and their struggles were memorable and relatable. I would highly recommend, but probably just to adults, as it does contain some hard topics. It’s definitely a story worth reading.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson publishers and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

I LOVED this book. I love Denise Hunter and think her books are great but this one is a big departure from her usual writing. This is not a sweet, Christian novel with flowers and rainbows. While it's not quite dark and gritty compared to her other books this is. There is no silly mistake that can easily be glossed over or some dark past that isn't really delved into. The sin is real, the mistakes are huge and the past is fully looked at. I love that these heavy topics, infidelity, sexual abuse, divorce, healing are not just thrown in but are looked at and handled as best possible. Noah and Josie both grow and change throughout this book. The story is told a lot through flashbacks, something that can become annoying in a novel but this was handled well so that it really made the story. I loved the parallels hinted at between Josie and Noah's horse, it was insulting or demeaning but the wounded horse needing a gentle hand, that's Josie.

Often in fiction, the story ends and readers are left to assume the happily ever after. It’s usually at high point—a declaration of love, an engagement, a wedding. But what happens after the last first kiss? After the I do’s? When real life encroaches on the high of falling in love? What happens when there are hiccups in the happily-ever-after?

In her latest book, Denise Hunter explores this concept while delicately balancing on the line of realities of life and the hope of love.

Noah and Josephine had a whirlwind romance, one that seemed to set them up for a lifetime of love. But it ended too soon…or has it?

Josephine didn’t completely open herself up to her husband while Noah hadn’t wanted to push his wife whenever he saw that expression of sadness cross her features. Yet, in successful relationships—ones that last lifetimes—communication is so key.

Forced together due to a storm, Noah and Josephine must fast their failures and faults in their relationship while admitting there is still something between them. Will they allow past hurts and angry words to overrule God’s grace, forgiveness, and healing? Sweetbriar Cottage presents a picture that reminds the reader that only God’s love is limitless. That people make mistakes and errors that hurt deeply but unconditional love is not something we earn, it’s something given freely.


Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Noah and Josephine thought they had gotten a divorce a year and a half ago, but due to a missing signature they are still married.

When Josephine tries to expedite the process of refiling the papers to help Noah she gets stuck at his house when a huge snow storm rolls in. They go through a number of both frustrating and sweet moments as they try to come to terms with why their marriage ended and how they feel about each other now.

While you get both Noah and Josephine's points of view, I think that you learn a lot more about Josephine and how her past has shaped her world view and feelings of self worth.

I liked the faith aspect of the story as Noah is a man of God and prays often. It didn't feel forced or like Noah's actions were contradictory to how important his faith was to him.

I have read a few of Denise Hunter's other books and while Sweetbriar Cottage isn't my favorite, I did enjoy it quite a bit.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well written story of second chances but not my favorite Denise Hunter book. To me, the characters were hard to connect with and I never did seem to feel Noah's character. The spiritual aspect seemed to skate around the edges but not really ever fully transform either character.

Wonderful story, reminded me a bit of the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer. A heart-wrencher for sure was this. I'm so thankful for God's unconditional love for His children and it was great to read that we can offer that love, too.

I love Denise Hunter's books and Sweetbriar Cottage was no exception. This book had a super plot and I loved the North Georgia mountain setting. I highly recommend this book.