Married 'til Monday

Second chance love story. Ryan and Abby were invited to Abby's parents 35th wedding anniversary when Abby's mom calls Ryan instead of Abby, but they don't know they have been divorced for 3 years. Instead of telling her parents of her divorce, Abby and Ryan decided to play married couple until party is over. They were driving to see her parents. Ryan wanted a second chance since he is traveling with her.. He was constantly looking for signs. They have their up and down. Their divorce didn't settle well for both. Abby did not have very close relationships with her parents. Abby's dad bulled and still bullied her. He constantly tells her she will never accomplish and nobody will really want her. He does say things i wasn't sure if he was her real father. Later I found out he really abused her bad since she was a child. It really saddens me to see father resented her and telling her. Abby and Ryan was getting close while traveling together, whenever she was getting close to him, she always backs out. Abby was struggling with her past but she never realized her actions to Ryan was influenced by her abusive father. Her father was piece of work.. He really did a number on her and she was struggling. When she realize she did really love Ryan, she pushed him too far away.. She wasn't sure if she will really get a second chance at her marriage again.

This story has more christian feel to it than other books. I really warms me to see Ryan keeps trying to get Abby back and giving all his love to her.

I have really enjoyed this series by Denise Hunter, and I'm a little sad to see it end. While Ryan's story wasn't my favorite, it's still a good romance. I liked how the author had the flashbacks, showing how two people who were in love could drift apart to the point of divorce even though they still loved each other. Ryan and Abby were both well-developed and complex. Ryan was almost too good--most guys wouldn't have kept coming back after Abby pushed him away over and over. But, he saw in her what readers didn't see until halfway through--a hurt girl who had walls to the sky around her. Overall, it was a great read, and I recommend it to fans of Susan May Warren as well as those who have enjoyed getting to know the McKinley family.
I was given this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

Married 'til Monday was such a fantastic read! I have loved this series, Chapel Springs, so much and hope we get more books with these characters some day. Ryan's story was so sweet and I loved the reconciliation story -- a great showing of second chances.

The characters were great and I felt like we really got to know them through this story. Abby had a difficult life and I definitely felt for her and all she went through. Ryan was a great MC and I loved how he tried to woo Abby back to him and yet also gave her space. Something else I loved -- the moments when we got to see the rest of Ryan's family and know what was happening in their lives.

All in all, I loved Married 'til Monday and definitely recommend it if you enjoy contemporary romance. So good!

*I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

As I read the earlier books in this series, I found myself drawn to Ryan. He reminded me of someone I use to know, and like in the story, he was a brother figure. I wanted to see his story turn out happily ever after. I wanted to read about his situation going from hard and painful to better. See his rejection issues turned around.

Our heroine came from an abusive home, and because her father expects her to fail, she must prove him wrong. That’s what toxic shame will do to you—motivate you to prove people wrong, which sometimes results in taking risks. But the only risk for our heroine is a possible return to a relationship with her ex-husband.

Ryan is willing to take the risk. In some ways this book reminded me of my favorite Denise Hunter title, Surrender Bay, in the symbolism to God’s willingness to risk His heart in loving us.

The heroine is determined to be rejected. Yes, you read that right. She doesn’t make their week together easy on Ryan. But though he seemed on a fool’s mission, I sympathized with both him and with Abby. I wanted the best for them.

I loved watching these two together. And the humor here and there was fun! But at times this was a tough story to read. I’ve found lately with Denise’s writing, she’s going deeper into the pain humans face in relationships and this story proved that true. But, like in life, that pain was tempered with possibilities, with hope, with romance in these characters' lives.

A little secret: mention of Abby’s family comes up in Denise’s next series, Summer Harbor, which is set in Maine.

Up soon here on Net's Book Notes, a review for Falling Like Snowflakes, book one in the Summer Harbor Series, which just released.