Customer Reviews

The Marriage Wish (Love Inspired #17)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Okay, I'm the first to raise my hand and declare, "I'm a Dee Henderson Addict!", but this book just didn't thrill me. It wasn't until I was done reading it and was thinking, "blah..." that I realized this book was her FIRST book. Then, everything made sense. Her writing, character development, dialogue...everything has improved over the years. I then re-read the book with a more compassionate eye. It's still not up to snuff of the "O'Malley Series" or the "Uncommon Heroes" series, but for a first attempt, it was good. Again, if you're going to be reading "The Marriage Wish" thinking it was on par with her other books, you might be surprised (like me). But, if you read it and realize its significance in the literary process of Ms. Henderson, it's pretty good.

Dee Henderson began her legacy with a simply sweet romance book. I had read her O'Malley and Uncommon Heros Series before picking up this one. Her suspense and mystery were great, but this romance topped the charts. Its not a bad book. It reflects the sense of fear every widow or widower gets when first encountering love again. I fell in love with Scott and Jennifer. They really showed me Henderson at her finest. Any Romance lover will enjoy this book. I've re-read it already three times!

How often do we make wishes and fail to recognize what we really want? Scott knows from the minute he sees Jennifer, and works hard at following God's will instead of his own when it comes to the desires of his heart. Dee Henderson is a excellent author and each of her stories puts you right there with what her characters are going through. She captures the realness of life and translates that to words that make it difficult to put her books down! Read all her stuff, you won't be disapointed!

As Dee Henderson's first book, I was quite surprised at how intriguing The Marriage Wish was. Ms. Henderson really took you into the pain that Jennifer and, toward the end, Scott were feeling.

I also love how Ms. Henderson writes her romance. It is truly romantic, but always clean. I am a great fan of romance, but I don't find smutty "romance" really romantic at all. Also, I appreciate Ms. Henderson's lack of curse word's in her writing.

The only problem that I found was that at times the dialogue was stiff, since Ms. Henderson rarely used contractions. This, however, is very small in comparison to the book overall.

Ms. Henderson's first book published, The Marriage Wish, is a truly romantic book that makes you experience the story along with the characters, and makes you feel emotions as if you were really there.

I thought that this book had a much different plot than most Christian romances. I enjoyed the story, but it was very sad all the way through. I had a headache from crying. All in all, I liked the book, but it will be quite a while before I pick it up again for a rereading.

In one word, Dee Henderson's, "The Marriage Wish" is: Touching! Dee Henderson does a superb job of connecting and drawing in her readers, because this book does not speak to the head, but the heart! Healing takes place and dreams come true as the lives of Scott Williams and Jennifer St. James intertwine. Both characters show a willingness to face the obstacles and challenges that come with bringing two hearts together, after those hearts have been broken before.
This is not an easy book. Not easy in the sense that Dee Henderson does an amazing job of being real with how relationships take twists and turns and that choosing to face your hurts, pains, and fears require work, perseverance, and determination. Life happens in the pages of this book and my heart is left thanking God for sending His people other people to love us, heal us, and show us how to live again!
Love wins over in, "The Marriage Wish", as Jennifer relives some heart rending life experiences, and Scott Williams depends on the Lord to show him how to bring comfort, forgiveness, and strength to her. Forgiveness is shown at its' finest and the life changing love of God is revealed. I have found hope, encouragement, and life in the pages of, "The Marriage Wish".

By: Jeremy Ray
[...]

I admit to reading the reviews before reading the book, just to get a feeling at what other's were saying, so I read this after people complained that this was the author's first book and did a poor job...

Sorry, I don't agree on the poor job part. Her writing style was very simple, and a bit puzzling at times, but it was so necessary because it fit Jennifer so well!!! I LOVED how this book was written! I LOVED the story line! I LOVED Scott, and must say that he is definitely too good to EVER be true!!! If a woman had that much conflict, I'm sure most men would run! I don't have nearly the conflict she has, yet men run from me when they discover the conflict...This is the man that every woman hopes for!!!

I wish I could give this a higher rating than five because I would. I loved the way they both loved God, yet were angry at Him for what He had done. I do feel that Jennifer reconciled with God a bit too quickly and suddenly. One minute she was angry, yelling for answers; and the next she was telling God she didn't understand but was willing to accept it...I know it was her first time back in church and all, but with the amount of pent up emotions she had burning inside her, I don't feel singing some songs in church would break all that reserve she spent years filling...

And Scott...Poor, desperate Scott...For a man who wanted to badly get married and start a family, well...I don't believe it would have been right for the couple to get married with the issue of children unresolved. I don't feel that their agreeing to 'adopt' an older child would help Jennifer. She still carried a lot of fear and pain. But then I suppose the fire took care of that problem...

And the scene at the end of the last chapter...Whoo boy! That's all I'll say. Get ready to be shocked at the scene that is written in this - gets your imagination flowing, and that's for SURE!!! I'm not sure h ow much detail was written in the secular version, but there was enough in the Inspirational version to make me wonder...

GREAT BOOK!!! This is a MUST read!!!

While the female lead of this book is not as strong as her later books, this was still a great book. I read it in April of 2010 after having read all her other books because I'm having a Dee Henderson book withdrawal. She tells a good story while reminding me gently that my ties to God are important. I needed something to keep me going til she brings out another book. This did it for me. Hope she sells a new one soon.
Marcia in TX.

Dee Henderson chooses a great title in THE MARRIAGE WISH, for Scott Williams desires nothing more than to wed author, Jennifer St. James. Enter conflict: Grieving her late husband and daughter, Jennifer is terrified to commit to a new family.Henderson paces the plot effectively, stringing the reader along until finally after much fear and indecision, Jennifer says, "yes" to Scott's marriage proposal.

While the book delivers a solid story line, there is much lacking in the execution: dialogue that goes nowhere, needless repetition, and head-hopping within the same scene. Furthermore, I find Scott's character a bit unrealistic at times--too good to be true.

Nevertheless, if you enjoy romance, THE MARRIAGE WISH is a story worth reading, especially for the thorough job Henderson does helping the characters through grief and loss. -Eileen Rife, author of WHEN MOURNING COMES, LIVING THROUGH LOSS When Mourning Comes: Living Through Loss

Did anyone else find that the time line of this book didn't make sence?
1. Jennifer lost her husband in August (the book starts in August three years after his death.
2. He knew the baby was a girl (he told her to take care of Colleen), so she had to have been at least 4 1/2 months pregnant when he died.
3. The baby was badly premature weighing only two pounds, so she must've been born at 6 - 7 months.
4. However, the baby wasn't born until December 10, 3 1/2 months after her husbands death, making the baby at least 8 months.
Sorry, I love Dee Henderson, but I'm a sticler about such things, and it drove me nuts for the whole book!