Sweetbriar Cottage

April 24, 2017
Hunter (The Convenient Groom) elevates her writing in this intimately crafted book about deep, selfless love. In present-day Copper Creek, Ga., the IRS notifies Noah Mitchell of a significant discrepancy in his tax return: they believe that he is still married. Noah had divorced Josephine last year, or so he thought. After consulting with his accountant, he learns there is no proof of the divorce because the judge handling their case had failed to sign the documents. Josephine, taking full blame for the divorce and the mix-up, wants to rectify it as quickly as possible and move on with her life. However, on her way to deliver the new divorce papers to Noah’s ranch, her car breaks down during one of the worst snowstorms the region has seen in years. She is stuck with her very unhappy ex for days. After a harrowing experience trying to find one of Noah’s horses, past emotions flare up and the nature of their relationship is called into question. Hunter crafts Noah and Josephine’s convoluted relationship with remarkable depth, immersing readers into a fragile and soul-searching experience. Agent: Karen Solem, Spencerhill.

May 15, 2017
Noah Mitchell figured the letter from the IRS was notification of a routine audit, but it turned out to be much more concerning. The paperwork for his divorce had never been finalized, which triggered a filing error, which means Noah has to contact his not-so-ex-wife, Josephine. She hadn't realized a judge's signature was needed on the final forms and drives up to Noah's horse ranch to deliver the new paperwork. Josephine isn't at Noah's ranch for long before it starts snowing. Trapped together while they wait out the storm, Noah and Josephine tiptoe awkwardly around each other, literally and figuratively. When a power outage and a runaway horse spur Noah and Josephine into the wilderness, they're forced to confront their relationship. Hunter is a prolific romance author known for her series titles, but Sweetbriar Cottage stands on its own merits. Hunter splices flashbacks to Noah and Josephine's early courtship into the tension-filled cabin stay, contrasting contempt and suspicion with the first blush of new love. Hunter's snappy dialogue and heartwarming prose will appeal to fans of Jan Karon and Mary Simses.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)