"the goodbye bride" by denise hunter

For several years now, Denise Hunter's new releases have been "must reads" for me. As soon as I got my hands on her latest, The Goodbye Bride, well, it leapfrogged over several other review books that I simply must read ASAP ... because I couldn't wait another minute to dive into the novel!

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She only remembers loving him. But he can’t forget the way she left.

Lucy Lovett can’t remember the last seven months of her life. She doesn’t remember leaving her fiancé Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn’t remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself.

Zac was just beginning to get his life back on track after Lucy left him with no explanation. And now she’s back—vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. Has he been given a second chance with the only woman who stirs his passion and haunts his dreams?

Lucy knows she must unlock those missing months and discover why she threw everything away. And Zac knows that if he follows his heart he’ll win back the love of his life—but if Lucy’s memory returns, his would-be bride might say goodbye forever.

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Just when I think there's no way I could possibly like a new Denise Hunter book more than the last, she surprises me again. Honestly, when I heard that the next book in the Summer Harbor series would be about middle Callahan brother Zac, I was a bit disappointed. You see, Hunter did such an excellent job of building up the potential romance between youngest brother Riley and oldest brother Beau's former girlfriend Paige in Falling like Snowflakes that I just wanted to get to their story. I didn't particularly care about Zac or his runaway fiancee Lucy.

Then I started reading the book. Immediately I was swept into Lucy's story and the questions it brought up: how did Lucy lose her memory, who is her new fiance, and will her memory ever come back?

Lucy is such an incredibly likable character that I couldn't help but pull for her happily ever after. Hunter did a magnificent job of portraying Lucy's confusion, fear, and determination, and, due to Hunter's choice to let the audience in on Lucy's past only when Lucy learns about it herself, there's a sense of mystery and suspense that runs throughout the novel, adding another layer to the story.

The Goodbye Bride is a wonderful love story that will keep readers turning pages long into the night. This is a must-read for fans of Christian romance! 5 stars.

Note: While you could technically read this book without first having read Falling like Snowflakes, you'll definitely miss out on some of the nuances of the characters if you don't have the background information. And Falling like Snowflakes IS a wonderful book, so do yourself a favor and pick up both of these novels!

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Hunter's Falling like Snowflakes (5 stars) and the Chapel Springs books: Barefoot Summer (5 stars), A December Bride (4.5 stars), Dancing with Fireflies (5 stars), The Wishing Season (5 stars), and Married 'til Monday (4.5 stars).

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Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 20 books, including Dancing with Fireflies and The Convenient Groom. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice 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 raising three boys. You can learn more about Denise through her website DeniseHunterBooks.com or by visiting her FaceBook page at facebook.com/authordenisehunter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."