Honeysuckle Dreams

by Denise Hunter

Book Blurb:

After Brady Collins’ ex-wife dies, he receives devastating news—his nine-month-old son Sam isn’t his son at all. And Sam’s wealthy maternal grandparents want custody of the child. Brady knows he’s in for the fight of his life. But regardless of what any blood test says, Sam is his son, and Brady will go to any lengths to keep him.

Brady’s attorney tips him off that one major life change would virtually assure him of winning guardianship of baby Sam at the final hearing: an impending marriage. And his friend Hope is willing to step in as the loving and devoted fiancé.

Local radio celebrity Hope Daniels has been driven by a solitary goal her entire life, and after a happy accident she’s finally offered her dream job. But if the truth comes out about her arrangement with Brady, she may miss the chance of a lifetime and stand in the way of a dear friend’s dreams.

As Brady and Hope make sacrifices to help each other in their times of need, they risk uncovering a

truth neither of them expects to find.

My Thoughts:

How far would you go for a friend?

A Modern “marriage of convenience” story. Honeysuckle Dreams is a well-written romance that will pull you into the lives of Brady and Hope. I loved how Hope’s name plays into the storyline and her radio show, Living with Hope. These characters have faced heart-ache and loss. They know what it is to have a loved one reject you or be taken from you. This story looks fully into the struggles of the modern Christian, how falling for temptation of alcohol or fornication can completely change the course of your life. The lives of these characters show that there is hope in Christ, forgiveness of sins and a bright future for those who make it their goal to faithfully follow him. The past that haunts both Brady and Hope has made it difficult for them to open their hearts to love again, especially Hope, who when facing the vulnerability that love brings is almost more than she can handle.

Honeysuckle Dreams is a modern story in both the timeline and the writing style. I was disappointed to see the usage of “minced oath” type words (some may refer to these as euphemisms). I know that many Christians don’t see a problem with these words, that’s completely between you and God. From someone who has a more tight-lipped personal filter, this is a warning that those words are in this book. And these words were not spoken by a villain or a non-Christian, the main characters themselves used them. (Sexiness and sex are also part of the subject matter, so I would use discretion when recommending this book to unmarried readers.)

All that being said, Denise Hunter writes a beautiful love story, and for those looking for clean romances or a more faith-based story, you will love Denise Hunter’s newest release, Honeysuckle Dreams.

One more thought, this book works as a stand-alone novel, it includes characters from Blue Ridge Sunrise, the first book in the Blue Ridge Romance series, but these characters are well explained. So, even if you haven’t read book one, book two will make perfect sense. This is the first book I have read by Denise Hunter. I have seen the Hallmark movie, A December Bride, based on her story of the same title. And I loved it!

About the Author

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final 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 good coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest.

You can learn more about Denise through her website http://www.DeniseHunterBooks.com or by visiting her FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/authordenisehunter