The Convenient Groom: A Nantucket Love Story

The Convenient Grooms follows Surrender Bay but stands totally on its own. I'm not even sure characters carry-over. But this book was amazing. A sweet romance that had me rooting so hard for the hero, and grieving with the heroine. Denise pulled on all of my heart strings and brought this book in for a very compelling ending.

I don't think I can adequately put into words how much I loved this book. It was such a sweet and wonderful story. I would highly recommend it. I finished it and then had to read it again because I was afraid I might have missed something. Can't wait for the 3rd installment of the Nantucket love stories.

"The Convenient Groom" was the first book I have read by this author, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down; I finished it the very day I received it in the mail. When I read the author's note at the end, I thought back about the parallels between Lucas' love for Kate and Christ's love for all of us. Denise Hunter did a masterful job of telling a romantic story that can be used as an object lesson for those who don't understand the depth of Christ's love.

I'm the type of reader that reads five chapters of a novel, reads the end, and then decides if it's worth reading the rest. I read THE CONVENIENT GROOM in one big gulp, staying up until 3 a.m. to finish it--and I didn't read the ending after five chapters, either! What I appreciated were (1) the good character development; (2) a strong theme of unconditional love and acceptance--without being preachy or heavy-handed about it; (3) beautifully-crafted sentences (Denise Hunter is a GREAT WRITER); and (4) unexpected irony, which amused me. At the beginning of each chapter, Denise Hunter put quotes from FINDING MR. RIGHT-FOR-YOU, the self-help book authored by the main character, Kate Lawrence. Often these quotes were in direct conflict with the choices Kate was making (against her better judgment). This extra "touch" added to my understanding of how "out-of-control" the situation was for Dr. Kate. A great read: 5 stars.

"The Convenient Groom" is the second Nantucket novel by Denise Hunter, and it is her absolute best writing to date! I only wish I could have read this one straight through, but due to health stuff, I was forced to slow down. As a result, I was able to savor every morsel. Sometimes, booky friends, we need to do this...slow down and savor. Trust me, it was SO worth it! Kate Lawrence has made a national name for herself as Dr. Kate, relationship guru and debut author. Her book releases on the day of her much anticipated wedding to fiance Bryan, who's been kept under wraps to help build suspense. Turns out, that wasn't such a bad idea when he calls a few hours before the big day begins to say, instead of "I do", that "I don't". The media will descend in mere hours! Where can Dr. Kate find a groom at this late hour, and should she even try? How can she save her career now? Enter Lucas Wright, extraordinary carpenter and craftsman of all things wood, and her office space mate. He's willing to step in and be Kate's groom, to help save her career, to help her save face... ...and maybe to convince her to love him. Seems Luc has a secret...and it's a gorgeous one. Now, none of this seems plausible on the surface. What were those two thinking? But how many spur of the moment decisions felt brilliant to you until you saw the end results, huh? I'm telling you, Denise makes this plot line sing, and it is a beautiful song. I turned the last page and cried, "NOOOOOOOOO!! I want more!!!!!!!" And that is a VERY good thing! I adored this story, these characters, and Denise's talent shines in this follow up to "Surrender Bay" (not a sequel). I'm giving "The Convenient Groom" six out of five bookmarks, with a spiral bound notebook as a charm (read the book and you'll get it!). Do NOT miss this inspiring, funny, heartwarming and engaging novel! You'll be so sorry if you do!! Happy Reading! Deena