Overview: 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?
ISBN-13: 9781401687069 | Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date: 6/9/2015 | Series: Chapel Springs Romance Series, #4
Read an Excerpt.
My Review: It's been a while since I've read a book by Denise Hunter. I forgot this author has a knack for tugging at my heart strings. Married 'til Monday is an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end and I loved every minute of it! The story was well laid out. At times it was serious and other times I was laughing at Ryan and Abby's antics. The plot was engaging and I was laughing, crying, angry, and sometimes frustrated right along with the characters. I loved this book from start to finish. Period.
I can relate so well to Abby. Growing up in a dysfunctional household has a long lasting effect on a person if it's not recognized and dealt with. It can affect everything and color everything in your life without you even realizing it. Abby's attitude, determination, and fear resonated deeply with me. Ryan, oh Ryan. I loved him from the first page of the book. He is handsome, kind, determined, and confident. He's also humble and flawed, and he recognizes those traits. His pursuit of Abby is endearing. He takes everything in stride, even when it's hard for him to swallow. Their relationship attracted me from start to finish. I loved every minute of their bickering, playful banter, and sweet, tender moments.
This book focuses a lot on marriage, the "ins" and "outs" if you will, of what a married couple endures. The spiritual, sexual, and emotional. The good, the bad, and the ugly. These two characters went through it all. The message of the book, beside it's focus on marriage, is about relying on God to see you through rather than running away and getting angry. When we allow anger to fester, or we don't deal with issues as they arise, we become bitter and contention and strife invades our relationship with God and everyone else. Recognizing, letting go, and letting God is something each character had to deal with, especially Abby. This book also touches on some tough subjects like abuse, miscarriage, and divorce.
Overall, I loved this book. I think it's my favorite of the series (although I haven't read the first one yet). I can't wait to read more by this phenomenal author.
I can relate so well to Abby. Growing up in a dysfunctional household has a long lasting effect on a person if it's not recognized and dealt with. It can affect everything and color everything in your life without you even realizing it. Abby's attitude, determination, and fear resonated deeply with me. Ryan, oh Ryan. I loved him from the first page of the book. He is handsome, kind, determined, and confident. He's also humble and flawed, and he recognizes those traits. His pursuit of Abby is endearing. He takes everything in stride, even when it's hard for him to swallow. Their relationship attracted me from start to finish. I loved every minute of their bickering, playful banter, and sweet, tender moments.
This book focuses a lot on marriage, the "ins" and "outs" if you will, of what a married couple endures. The spiritual, sexual, and emotional. The good, the bad, and the ugly. These two characters went through it all. The message of the book, beside it's focus on marriage, is about relying on God to see you through rather than running away and getting angry. When we allow anger to fester, or we don't deal with issues as they arise, we become bitter and contention and strife invades our relationship with God and everyone else. Recognizing, letting go, and letting God is something each character had to deal with, especially Abby. This book also touches on some tough subjects like abuse, miscarriage, and divorce.
Overall, I loved this book. I think it's my favorite of the series (although I haven't read the first one yet). I can't wait to read more by this phenomenal author.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook blogging program in exchange for my honest review.*
About the Author: 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.Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.
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 her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are raising three boys.
