The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter ~ review

Product Details Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 3, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1595548025 ISBN-13: 978-1595548023

Two high-school sweethearts, a wedding reenactment, and one absent-minded preacher. Is it a recipe for disaster or a chance for a new beginning?

Shay Brandenberger is a survivor. She's lived through a crazy childhood, a failed marriage, and single parenthood-with her confidence intact.

But not for long. Because when Shay participates in her town's Founder's Day wedding reenactment, she finds herself face-to-face with the one man who takes her breath away and leaves her weak in the knees: Travis McCoy.

Travis is back in town after years way on the rodeo circuit. His one regret in life is breaking Shay's heart when they were high-school sweethearts. He's determined to get it right this time.

So when their Founder's Day "marriage" is accidentally made official, Travis seizes the day. Can Shay put aside her pride to let Travis help her, or will their accidental marriage be dissolved before it can begin?

My take on this book:

32 year old Shay Brandenberger's has had more than her fair share of heartbreak and disillusion. Left by her husband, she struggles to keep the family ranch running while also dealing with the issues of being a single mother. Add to this the fact that she lives in a small town and everyone knows the struggles she has. When she decides to play the bride in the Founder's Day parade she never imagined she would  actually wind up married to Travis McCoy, a man who left her at the alter fourteen years ago to pursue a rodeo career. Thing is Travis isn't the same man he was all those years ago and just wants a second chance with Shay. Can an accidental marriage bring these two together for keeps?

A contemporary story where someone accidentally winds up married was a bit hard to swallow, but it is fiction after all, so putting that aside I really enjoyed the story.I found myself really enjoying  the twangy  dialogue as well as the humor in the story. The main characters are great, Shay hasn't had an easy life, and is facing loosing the family ranch. Travis wants a second chance with Shay, God seemed to be in the plans from the beginning.  I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this small town. Overall a very well written romance that has a few inspirational messages woven in. 

While this book is the second in the Big Sky Romance series it can easily be read as a stand alone book, but the series is so good that I recommend reading the first book titled "A Cowboys Touch."

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Booksneeze in exchange for an honest review.