The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter didn't disappoint in her latest novel, The Accidental Bride. Second in the Big Sky Romance Series, the plot revolves around Shay, a single mom in Moose Creek, Montana. She agrees to play the bride in the Founder's Day reenactment ceremony, to help out Miss Lucy the town's matchmaker and eccentric dollmaker. She had no idea that the groom would be her high school sweetheart that she never quite got over even though 14 years have gone by. Travis is back in town overseeing his parents ranch while they are on a short-term missions trip. Although he has been a success with the rodeo, he never forgot leaving Shay so abruptly and he wants to make it right by helping save her ranch. I LOVED this story! The characters felt so real and I almost read the whole book in one day. I loved the conflict and the bantering between the two main characters. Plus, the characters from the first in this series were in side plots, although you didn't need to read the books in order. Denise Hunter includes Reading Group questions at the end that make you think. I hope the author continues with "the gang from Moose Creek". Thanks Thomas Nelson for my free copy of this book!

Smitten

Colleen Coble, Kristen Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter have all come together to create the novel, Smitten. Smitten, VT is a dying town. The lumber mill has closed and with no hope of another industry taking its place, the townspeople are thinking to give up. Four friends come up with a plan to turn Smitten, VT into a honeymoon destination similar to the Poconos. Although, some of the men in town grumble at the thought of turning their manly town into something girly, romance is soon in the air. The book is broken down into 4 seasons, with each of the friends taking a turn as the main character. The four authors take their turn as well in the writing of the novel that tells a year in the life of Smitten, VT. I love all these authors and impatiently waited for Thomas Nelson to send me a free copy to review. I practically read the book all in one day b/c I wanted to see how it ended. I could find a little bit in common with each of the women - athletic Reese, energetic Natalie, graceful Shelby, and sophisticated Julia. These women dealt with issues such as single parenting, starting their own business, forgiving their parents, abortion, and falling in love with their best friend. I love how they learned to trust God for their future, and realized they didn't have to "do life" on their own. Can't wait for the sequel that comes out next December!!!!!