Honeysuckle Dreams
Denise Hunter
Thomas Nelson, 2018
After his ex-wife’s death Brady Collins finds himself the sole parent of his infant son Sam. But a revelation from Sam’s grandparents reveals the devastating truth that Sam isn’t his biological son, making the battle for custody an uphill climb for Brady. Then a misunderstanding about his relationship status leads to a scheme that might just help Brady keep his son, if his good friend Hope is willing to play along.
For Hope Daniels, deciding to to marry her old friend isn’t a difficult choice. She’s always wanted a husband and family, and she adores Sam and admires Brady. After the devastating loss she suffered in her first and only real relationship, the thought of a marriage built on friendship sounds safer than love and romance anyway. But as they spend more time together together Brady and Hope both realize their feelings are deepening. For Brady, the change is welcome, but for Hope, feelings for her husband bring the grief in her past rushing back to the surface. Only through sacrifice and growing in their faith will they have a chance at saving a marriage that was anything but ordinary from the start.
This post contains affiliate links. Read more about that here. Thanks to TLC Book Tours for sending me a copy of Honeysuckle Dreams to review.
There are few things I love in fiction as much as a marriage of convenience story. The thing is, though, that marriages of convenience are generally limited to historical fiction, since cultural dynamics in current society are not friendly to such arrangements. So when I read the description of Honeysuckle Dreams I knew I had to read it, and I wasn’t disappointed.
This was my first time reading a Denise Hunter book, and I definitely plan to read more. I thought her characters felt very realistic, and I like the way she handled the idea of a modern day marriage of convenience. There are no sparks to pave the way and cloud their vision. Brady and Hope enter into the arrangement thoughtfully and with eyes wide open. But any marriage is bound to have problems, and a well-place flashback to Hope’s past sets the stage for some major issues to crop up.
This book deals with grief, mental health, and complicated family dynamics. There are some kissing scenes and implied intimacy, but I found it to be wholesome in the context of a married couple exploring their attraction to each other. Faith and trust in God’s plan are a big part of this story, and I like the way Brady and Hope both struggle and doubt in their faith journeys, because that feels very true-to-life to me. I very much enjoyed Honeysuckle Dreams and I can’t wait to see what other Denise Hunter titles have to offer.
I’m glad you enjoyed this story of a modern marriage of convenience! Thanks for being a part of the tour!
My pleasure!