"married 'til monday" by denise hunter

Throughout the Chapel Springs Romance series, Denise Hunter has told the stories of the McKinley siblings. In Married 'til Monday, oldest brother Ryan finally gets his chance (or really his second chance) at romance.

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With a big anniversary party in the works for her parents, Ryan will pretend to be Abby's husband for just one last weekend.

Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He's sulked, he's gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive 2-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.

Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she's finally succumbed to her mom's pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever. When he insists he's going to Seabrook, with or without her, Abby knows she can't say no. Her parents still think they're married and now Ryan knows it too. Besides, he only wants to check in with his best friend from college-her cousin Beau, who just lost his dad. It's just a one-week road-trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong?

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I have enjoyed every second I've spent reading the Chapel Springs series, and Married 'til Monday didn't break that trend. Married 'til Monday is quite different from the other books in the series though—it's not a bad thing, it's just different, and it almost didn't even feel like it was part of the same series, probably because the other McKinleys don't have a large role in the novel.

Most of Married 'til Monday takes place over a long weekend road trip. That setting allows for some comedy as, of course, things always go wrong on a road trip! So there's a lightheartedness to the novel that helps balance out some of the serious moments—and there are plenty of those, as Abby's past comes to light and Ryan tries to break down her walls.

While there are plenty of humorous and serious moments, one aspect of the novel stands out: romance. One of the hallmarks of Hunter's writing is sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine, and that chemistry is certainly on display in Ryan and Abby's interactions! I ached for them to work things out and get back together; I was definitely invested in their journey.

I did feel like the novel drug on a bit once they returned home from their road trip, but that's a minor quibble. Married 'til Monday is a fantastic romance, and I can't wait to pick up Hunter's next novel! 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of the other Chapel Springs books: Barefoot Summer (5 stars), A December Bride(4.5 stars), Dancing with Fireflies (5 stars), and The Wishing Season (5 stars).

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Denise Hunter is an internationally published best-selling author. Her books have won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA finalist. In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all of her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps, too. When Denise isn't writing, she's busy raising three heroes-in-the-making with her husband.

Learn more about Denise at http://www.denisehunterbooks.com.

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."

"the wishing season" by denise hunter

If you're looking for heart-tugging romance for Christmas or any other time of the year, The Wishing Season perfectly fits the bill.

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Living side-by-side, a fledgling chef and a big-hearted contractor find a delicious attraction.

Trouble is, their chemistry could spoil their dreams.

Spirited PJ McKinley has the touch when it comes to food. Her dream of opening her own restaurant is just one building short of reality. So when a Chapel Springs resident offers her beloved ancestral home to the applicant with the best plan for the house, PJ believes it’s a contest she was meant to win.

Contractor Cole Evans is confident, professional, and swoon-worthy—but this former foster kid knows his life could have turned out very differently. When Cole discovers the contest, he believes his home for foster kids in transition has found its saving grace. All he has to do is convince the owner that an out-of-towner with a not-for-profit enterprise is good for the community.

But when the eccentric philanthropist sees PJ and Cole’s proposals, she makes an unexpected decision: the pair will share the house for a year to show what their ideas are made of. Now, with Cole and the foster kids upstairs and PJ and the restaurant below, day-to-day life has turned into out-and-out competition—with some seriously flirtatious hallway encounters on the side. Turns out in this competition, it’s not just the house on the line, it’s their hearts.

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For several years now, Denise Hunter has been one of my must-read authors. Her main characters always have sizzling chemistry, and the stories never fail to entertain. I'm especially enjoying the Chapel Springs series, which revolves around the McKinley family.

Though I've read both of the previous novels and the novella in this series, I went into The Wishing Season without a clear picture of PJ--I just knew she was the baby of the family and was often treated as such. So it was fun to see her spread her wings and try to prove her competence as an adult and business owner.

PJ and Cole have great chemistry from the beginning, and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and develop. I also became so invested that I wanted to smack Cole upside the head a few times!

I do wish that PJ would have seen more resolution in her relationship with her family, but I suppose the novel ending as it did made things more realistic. And I did greatly enjoy the way PJ and Cole's story ended. Again, realistic.

Also, The Wishing Season is a great set-up to the next Chapel Springs novel, which will focus on McKinley brother Ryan. I'm very anxious to read his story! 5 stars.

Note: Though this is the third novel in a series, it functions completely as a stand-alone novel. I would definitely recommend reading the other novels, though, as they're just so great!

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of the other Chapel Springs books: Barefoot Summer (5 stars), "A December Bride"  (4.5 stars), and Dancing with Fireflies (5 stars).

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Denise Hunter is an internationally published best-selling author. Her books have won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA finalist. In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all of her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps, too. When Denise isn't writing, she's busy raising three heroes-in-the-making with her husband.

Learn more about Denise at http://www.denisehunterbooks.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley. 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 the 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."

"dancing with fireflies" by denise hunter

About the book (from Litfuse): A Chapel Springs Romance

Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she'd never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.

The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He's loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she's back, his feelings are stronger than ever.

As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she's hiding secrets from her family, and she's strangely attracted to the man who's always called her "squirt." Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.

My take: I finished reading this book a week ago, but I wanted to wait to write the review. Why? Because I was afraid I would gush too much if I wrote the review right away. Well, I think I'm still going to gush, even with a week's perspective ...

Dancing with Fireflies is the second (sort of third, as there's a novella about secondary characters) installment in Denise Hunter's Chapel Springs series. It's the story of Jade, the McKinley family free spirit, and Daniel, Chapel Springs mayor and honorary McKinley. These two characters are incredibly likable, and I actually thought at one point as I was reading, "Lord, I need a Daniel."

As I got close to the end, I actually contemplated putting the book down for a while ... simply because I wasn't ready for the story to end! I have always enjoyed Denise Hunter's novels, but the more recent ones haven't captivated me as much as The Convenient Groom, the first Hunter novel I read. That book set the bar high—and I'm happy to report that Dancing with Fireflies is just as good as, if not better than, The Convenient Groom. That's high praise, let me tell you!

I read a lot of books (obviously). Most of the books I read, I enjoy. But rarely do I encounter a book that keeps me from realizing that it's time for dinner ... or for a favorite TV show. And that's exactly what Dancing with Fireflies did—it sucked me into its world and held on until I'd read the last page. It's a book I could see myself rereading (which I very rarely do). It's a book I'll highly recommend whenever a "real life" friend asks if I've read any good books lately. It's a book that will undoubtedly make my yearly "Top 10" list. It's a book I'm glad I had the opportunity to read.

My rating: 5 stars (If I had more than 5 stars to give, I would!)

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of the other Chapel Springs books: Barefoot Summer and "A December Bride."

About the author: Denise Hunter is an internationally published best-selling author. Her books have won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA finalist. In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all of her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps, too. When Denise isn't writing, she's busy raising three heroes-in-the-making with her husband.

Learn more about Denise at http://www.denisehunterbooks.com.

About the giveaway: Don't miss Denise Hunter's latest Chapel Springs Romance, Dancing with Fireflies. Reviewers have already labeled Dancing with Fireflies "swoon-worthy" and "the perfect love story." 

Join Denise in celebrating the release of her new book by entering her Kindle HDX giveaway and RSVPing for her April 10th Facebook party.

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
• Dancing with Fireflies and Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 10th. Winner will be announced at the Dancing with Fireflies Facebook Party on April 10th. Connect with Denise for an evening of prizes, book chat, and an exclusive look at the next book in the series.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN on the event page. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. 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 the 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."

"A December Bride" by Denise Hunter

About the book (from the publisher): What started as a whim turned into an accidental—and very public—engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the façade in Chapel Springs this holiday season—for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?