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    The Accidental Bride
    The Accidental Bride
    The Accidental Bride
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Accidental Bride

    Written by Denise Hunter

    Narrated by Kathryn Lynhurst

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Shay Brandenberger is raising her daughter in Moose Creek, Montana, on her childhood ranch, nestled against the Yellowstone River. Despite the hard work, she can't seem to keep her head above water-and now the bank is threatening to foreclose. She prays for a miracle, but the answer she receives is anything but expected.

    Having agreed to play the bride in the Founders' Day wedding reenactment, Shay is mortified to be greeted at the end of the aisle by none other than Travis McCoy, her high-school sweetheart-the man who left her high and dry for fame and fortune on the Texas rodeo circuit.

    Then the unthinkable happens. Thanks to a well-meaning busybody and an absentminded preacher, the make-believe vows result in a legal marriage. But before Shay can say annulment, Travis comes up with a crazy proposal. If she refuses his offer, she may lose her home. If she accepts, she may lose her heart.

    Shay isn't sure if the recent events are God's will or just a preacher's blunder. Will trusting her heart to the man who once shattered it be the worst mistake of her life? Or could their marriage be the best accident that ever happened?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateFeb 25, 2020
    ISBN9781494546724
    The Accidental Bride
    Author

    Denise Hunter

    Denise Hunter is the internationally published, bestselling author of more than forty books, three of which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won the Holt Medallion Award, the Reader’s Choice Award, the Carol Award, the Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking chai lattes, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana, where she and her husband raised three boys and are now enjoying an empty nest and three beautiful grandchildren. DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: @AuthorDeniseHunter; Twitter: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: @deniseahunter.

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    Reviews for The Accidental Bride

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    • 4/5
      Shay feels acutely the judging eyes of her small town neighbors who witnessed her humiliation over being jilted at the altar and then abandoned by her husband after 14 years of marriage. Add to that a failing farm and a broken foot and Shay is not having a good life. And then the boyfriend who left her at the altar comes back into her life and they accidentally get married and things get complicated. I liked the aspect of Shay's development where she comes to terms with her pride and her need to fear God more than man. It allowed her to open herself up to love.
    • 5/5
      What a fun and memorable story! I loved the chemistry between the two main characters, Shay and Travis. Travis was so open about his true feelings for Shay and I loved how he didn't mind telling and showing Shay how much he loved her. I had a hard time putting this story down until I finished the book. This is book 2 in the "Big Sky Romance" series and they just keep getting better with each story so far. There are many of the same people from "A Cowboy's Touch" (book one) in this story so I highly recommend you read them in the order they were written.Shay Brandenberger is raising her daughter in Moose Creek, Montana and trying to keep her ranch from being foreclosed. She agrees to play the bride in the Founders' Day wedding reenactment and finds herself walking down the isle to be met by Travis McCoy. Travis was her childhood sweetheart and the man she left town with years ago to get married to; only to be left standing at the courthouse steps while Travis took off for fame and fortune on the Texas rodeo circuit. It is now 14 years later and Travis suddenly appears back in town. Then the two discover that by a very unlikely accident the make-believe vows resulted in a legal marriage. Before Shay can get an annulment Travis comes up with a crazy proposal. Stay married for 6 months and let him prove to her she can trust him now to love her and never leave her and he will help her meet her financial obligation so she won't lose her ranch. As the back of the book says, "If she refuses his offer, she may lose her home. If she accepts, she may lose her heart".I can understand Shay's reluctance to trust Travis with her heart again and her resistance to him. But Travis knows her so well and knows how to handle her and he is not shy about letting her know his feelings. It was a great love story and I can't wait to get started on the next book in this series, "The Trouble with Cowboys".
    • 3/5
      Shay Brandenberger is too busy trying to make ends meet so she can keep her family ranch to even think about getting involved with another man. Particularly not Travis McCoy who left her at altar when they were both young to go on the rodeo circuit. But when they accidentally end up legally married during a historical reenactment, Travis makes an offer Shay can't refuse. He'll help her get the ranch in order, if she'll just give him a second chance. While Shay doesn't want to risk her heart again, maybe this is God's plan for her life after all.I don't generally read a lot of Christian fiction but I'm trying to expand my own horizons and the plot of this one was too adorable to turn down. While there is some suspension of disbelief required to believe that the accidental marriage could be legal in any way, the narrative itself is charming. Only one religious object lesson seemed a bit heavy handed to me and more like something I'd expect in a book for a younger audience, the only major fault with the book. I also found some of the farm-related similes a bit over the top but I let it go as part of selling the story as being set in Montana. If you enjoy contemporary Christian romances, this is definitely one I can recommend to try.
    • 4/5
      The Accidental BrideDenise HunterBook Summary: When a wedding reenactment turns real, this cowgirl suddenly finds she’s an accidental bride. Shay Brandenberger is raising her daughter in Moose Creek, Montana on her childhood ranch, nestled against the Yellowstone River. Despite her hard work, she can’t seem to keep her head above water—and now the bank is threatening to foreclose. She prays for a miracle, but the answer she receives is anything but. Having agreed to play the bride in the Founders Day wedding reenactment, Shay is mortified to be greeted at the end of the aisle by none other than Travis McCoy, her high school sweetheart—the man who left her high and dry for fame and fortune on the Texas rodeo circuit. Then the unthinkable happens. Thanks to a well-meaning busy body and an absent minded preacher, the wedding reenactment results in a legal marriage. But before Shay can say annulment, Travis comes up with a crazy proposal. If she refuses his offer, she’ll lose her home. But if she accepts, she may lose her heart. Shay isn’t sure if the recent events are God’s will or just a preacher’s blunder. Will trusting her heart to the man who once shattered it be the worst mistake of her life? Or could their marriage be the best accident that ever happened?Review: I liked the 2 main characters and thought they had good chemistry. I did think there were almost too many secondary characters at the start of the book and this made it a little more confusing at times to recall who was who. It did get easier to follow as the book continued. I enjoyed the main characters. Shay was tough and did a lot of manual labor and yet was still feminine. Travis was very masculine and yet very sensitive to Shay. It was believable and yet very enjoyable to see how things were going to be resolved. The marriage license that was old and yet still valid seemed unlikely, although it was easy to suspend belief when the story flowed so nicely and the main characters were enjoyable. It was worth the read and the fact that it was a in a series was not a deterrent it was a good stand alone story. I would like to thank Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
    • 4/5
      Shay Brandenberger’s life is difficult. She is a single mom, her ranch is close to default, and her relationship record is pitiful. A friend pushes her into participating in a wedding reenactment where the groom turns out to be the man who left her at the alter years ago. The situation turns serious when the reenactment turns out to be a legal marriage. Travis McCoy, the groom, returned specifically to attempt to reconnect with Shay, and decides to take advantage of the accidental marriage. They both seek God’s will in this series of events as it winds through their lives.Although the premise is farfetched, the story is good clean fun. Both main characters wrestle with real life problems and well described characters. I particularly liked the couple seeking the Lord’s guidance and striving toward unity as they work through their personal feelings and problems. I rate this an above average romance.Received Galley from NetGalley.com
    • 5/5
      A woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do--even if that means starting over again, all over again! Sometimes the surest path to true happiness is the one strewn with the most emotional obstacles. It's not an easy path to follow, but the reward at the end of the journey makes it all worthwhile. After having her young heart broken being left on the courthouse steps waiting for her groom-to-be, Shay Brandenberger eventually seeks fulfillment in a different relationship. Setting aside her hurt at her cruel abandonment by Travis McCoy, Shay later marries another man. After the hurtful end of the marriage, Shay must secure the future for herself and her young daughter, Olivia. Ranch life is hard enough for a man and woman with plentiful resources. For a single woman with a child, it is incredibly difficult. A busybody, well-meaning angel with a tilted halo seeks to reunite Shay and Travis. Participating as the bride in a Founder's Day wedding reenactment in order to please others, Shay is shocked when the groom turns out to be Travis, now returned from a life on the rodeo circuit. This time, their "wedding ceremony" not only goes through, the mock marriage turns out to be legal and binding. Complications ensue when Shay finds herself agreeing to stay married to Travis for six months in exchange for his help at her ranch. The life that Travis chose on the rodeo circuit was empty without Shay, and his regrets have followed him through the years. Will his prayers finally be answered and allow him to once again win Shay's love? Denise Hunter's "The Accidental Bride" offers great characters who make human errors and learn life lessons in ways that are sometimes quite painful. A lovely book from a talented storyteller who never leaves her readers hearts untouched.Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.(Proverbs 3:5,6) Review Copy Gratis BookSneeze
    • 4/5
      Shay Brandenberger is raising her daughter, Olivia, on her own on the ranch she grew up on in Moose Creek, Montana. Try as she might, the bills keep piling up and now the bank is ready to foreclose on her land. She prays for an answer but the answer is not what she expects or wants...or does she? Travis McCoy has always loved Shay but made a really bad decision when he left Shay at the courthouse waiting for him to come and marry her. Now he's returned to look after his parents ranch while they're on a mission trip. He returns to apologize to Shay and maybe find a second chance at the love he never got over. Shay is asked to play the bride in the Founders Day reenactment and is shocked to find Travis is playing the groom. Then they find out that because of an absent-minded preacher and a match-making friend, the marriage is real. Shay wants an immediate annulment but Travis offers her a crazy proposal that she really can't refuse. If she does, she'll loose her childhood home. But if she agrees to his proposal, she just might loose her heart, again! Can the Founders Day wedding reenactment be the worst thing that ever happened to Shay or will it be the best mistake that ever happened her?I thoroughly enjoyed this story and returning once again to Moose Creek! Although something like the Founders Day mistake would probably never happen, the whole premise for it was fun. I truly LOVED all the interaction between Shay and Travis. I must say though, that Shay kinda grated on me a little. You could truly understand why she behaved the way she did. I mean the man did leave her at the altar, but the fact that she knew him her whole life it seems she would have been able to see that he had truly changed and that he was really trying. Travis was a swoon-worthy hero. Oh my! I loved the way he handled Shay and Olivia. He was strong yet patient even in the face of Shay's prickliness. There was enough sizzle between Travis and Shay to light the lamp I was reading next to. It was also really fun to see Abigail and Wade again. It made me want to go back and re-read A Cowboy's Touch. I also thoroughly enjoyed Miss Lucy. She and "her girls" are a hoot. I think one very important lesson in the story was that our self-worth or value should not come from what people think about us but what God thinks about us. Also, the way in which we behave affects, not only us, but those that are around us so we need to be careful. I always enjoy Denise Hunter's books and The Accidental Bride is no exception. It's Book 2 in A Big Sky Romance Series. A thank you goes to Thomas Nelson who provided me with the complimentary copy through Netgalley for my review.Paperback: 304 pagesPublisher: Thomas Nelson (January 3, 2012)ISBN-10: 1595548025ISBN-13: 978-1595548023
    • 4/5
      When the book arrived, my sister immediately took and read it (she rarely does this with my books that arrive in the mailbox). She later asked me, "Don't you have the first book of the series?" It took me a minute to realize that The Accidental Bride is the second book of the Big Sky Romance series and I had read/reviewed the first book, The Cowboy's Touch. Of course, I just had to devour The Accidental Bride. When I read The Cowboy's Touch, I had expected the second book in the series to be about Wade's bachelor best friend, Dylan. Hence, I was more than a little surprise to find this book about Shay instead. Looks like poor Dylan has to wait a little longer to find his girl!For a book in the Christian genre, The Accidental Bride surprised me by being a little heavy on the romance content. Of course, nothing explicit is described, but plenty of hints is given. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story. I like it even better than The Cowboy's Touch because of the characters. I found all of them very likeable. Shay is a feisty lady with a soft side. Her fiery character lends many interesting and funny points in the book. Travis is a (very) patient man with plenty of fine points, if not for the past that is hounding him.The Accidental Bride is about second chances and forgiveness, similar themes to that of The Cowboy's Touch. Reflecting back on the book, I realize that its plot is quite unrealistic, and consists of just the type of stories that happen in fairy tales with happily ever after endings. After all, it's not easy to buy into a story with an "accidental" marriage. No matter how good Travis is at answering questions, I definitely wouldn't buy into it. Also, there isn't much of a climax or build-up to a climax in the story.Yet, I enjoyed every page of the novel. Aside from the characters, the comedy is hilarious. Most of it stems out of the hurt Shay has, but while you can pity her, it's difficult not to laugh. And I loved the usage of slang in the conversations. They made the Texan and cowboy mood in the story more realistic. After considering the plus and minuses in the book, I have to say that The Accidental Bride is my current favorite cowboy read. Some might feel uncomfortable with certain scenes, but the book isn't graphic, nor is it preachy.
    • 4/5
      When Shay Brandenberger wanted to marry Travis McCoy, he left her alone on the courthouse steps to pursue his own dreams. Years later, Shay struggles to raise her daughter and keep her childhood home financially afloat following the death of her husband, Garrett Brandenberger. When Travis McCoy shows up in town, he is the last person Shay wants to spend time with. But when she finds herself accidentally, yet legitimately, married to him, Shay must decide which is riskier: To keep trying to save her home as she has been or to accept Travis' ridiculous proposal to stay married to him for a few months and receive the financial assistance she needs. Could this accidental marriage actually be God's will or just a crazy twist of fate? Is Shay even willing to find out? Read for yourself in The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter.The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter is the second book in the Big Sky Romance series. I enjoyed revisiting some of the characters of the first book, A Cowboy's Touch. However, The Accidental Bride works well as a stand-alone book if you have not read the first one. While the premise of Shay and Travis' accidental marriage seems highly unlikely to ever happen in real life, the story was so good that I was happy to suspend a little bit of reality in favor of just enjoying the book. Hunter touched on an important theme about trying to win favor with people or God. Though I think this theme could have been brought out a little stronger earlier in the book, it is a challenging and encouraging message for the reader to ponder. Overall, I highly recommend The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter to anyone looking for a sweet romance with a good message.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advanced reading copy of this book free from the publisher as part of FIRST Wild Card Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."
    • 4/5
      4 STARSI felt for Shay in so many ways. I could not believe how Travis had left her on the court steps in her wedding dress with no money or change of clothes at 18.Shay was trying on wedding dress for founder's day ceremony when Travis walked into the shop were she was trying it on. Shay was not happy to see him after all these years and especially wearing a wedding dress.Travis had regretted leaving Shay and how he did it. He came back six months later and Shay was married to someone else and soon to be a mother. So Travis had not been back since until his mom called and asked him to watch over their ranch. Travis started to say no but his mom told him Shay was single again. Travis jumped at the chance to come back and try with Shay again.The groom for founder's day ceremony had to step out and they got Travis to do it. Shay only found out when she got to the preacher. Turned out their wedding license from years ago that they had both signed got brought to ceremony and preacher signed it and mailed it with others he had.Shay was loosing her family ranch and had broken her foot. Travis offered to carry ranch for 5 months if she will give him a chance to be together again. Shay had to accept his help. Oliva liked having Travis around.It was a good story. Easy to see what happened in the past and future mistakes. Was fun to watch them work things out. Good clean story. I would read more books from 'denise again. I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review.