My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Noah Mitchell is hiding away at his remote horse ranch, still bitter over his failed marriage. Josephine Mitchell still runs her barbershop in town, struggling to put the mistakes that destroyed her marriage behind her, which is just as hard as letting go of the man she still loves. When a letter from the IRS informs them that the divorce was never finalized, a chain of events is set in motion that forces them both to reexamine their lives, both individually and together.
I sped through this well-written, compelling story in just a few hours, but not because it was an easy, light-hearted read. Denise Hunter deals with some pretty significant issues, and she does it in a way that is realistic and thoughtful without being sensationalistic. She really illustrates how a spouse's past has a major impact on a marriage even if the events that happened took place years before the couple met.
Noah and Josephine are both such likable characters, despite their wounds, or maybe because of them - they are so relatable. Some may find they have a hard time with Josephine but stick with it. People always act the way they do for a reason and she's no different. I found myself frustrated with Noah's friend, Jack for his pre-marriage warnings. I understood the constraints he was under but felt that his half hints and nebulous cautions did more harm than good. On the other hand, his post-marriage advice was excellent.
There's a lot of wonderful imagery in this book. From the horses, to the carpentry, to the storm there's so much there that mirrored what was going on emotionally and spiritually, it adds such lovely depth to the story. Both character's relationship with God feels so real, too. Noah, distant and angry; Josephine, longing but sure she's excluded.
This is a beautiful story that explores the depth and meaning of unconditional love and gently reveals the incredible damage that can be done when others define who we are. Wonderfully done.
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