The Man She Married : The Men of Maple Hill

Rating:
Summary: From the "Men of Maple Hill" series -Recommended
Review: A long, dark year finally seems to culminate in success for Prue Hale until her estranged husband arrives in Maple Hill. Rather than presenting her with divorce papers, he proposes a temporary reconciliation based on a business opportunity for Prue. Her clothing line has captured his aunt's eye, and she offers a fabulous publicity package during a planned visit. Little does Prue suspect that Hugh and his aunt have conspired together to give her marriage to Hugh a second chance.

When Prue refuses to listen to reason, Hugh knows he must gamble on an outside chance if he wants his marriage back. Moving her into his home and playing at being married again to supposedly receive the gift of a publicity package for her business might seem duplicitous, but a man in love must resort to desperate measures during desperate times. Perhaps if they can spend some time together Prue will come to trust him enough to accept that he had never been unfaithful, only foolish.

Second chances lend charm to Muriel Jensen's THE MAN SHE MARRIED. Communication issues destroyed Gideon and Prue's marriage and threaten to wreck their second chance. Gideon and Prue are realistic, sympathetic characters whose flaw is simply being human. When lack of time strained their marriage the first time, trust issues prevented her from believing that he had not been unfaithful. But Prue herself has not been as honest with Gideon as he deserved, and only when communication and love come together does this damaged couple find the healing that they both deserve. I admit, however, to having reservations about duplicity to bring about reconciliation for a marriage that was originally destroyed by miscommunication and trust issues. It seems to me that such dishonesty could perpetuate the problem rather than solve it. Nonetheless, THE MAN SHE MARRIED is still a pleasant afternoon's read that comes recommended.

Rating:
Summary: engaging contemporary romance
Review: Prue Hale designs a successful clothing line for the Maple Hill Library. Her work has enabled her to move past her spouse Hugh Gideon until he shows up. Hugh has come to plead with her, insisting he never cheated on her with Claudia Hackett. Prue rejects his plea so he plans to move onto Alaska to help a friend start up a winery.

Prue is shocked that he is leaving behind his family's winery and his White Plains law practice. She also knows that by just seeing him she understands why she failed to sign the divorce papers; a horrified Prue still loves Hugh, but does not trust him. Hugh is ready to throw in the towel, but gives it one last try offering legal service to his beloved's start up business with the hope that she will see he never cheated on her. If successful, Hugh will next have to deal with the fact that she failed to trust him.

This engaging contemporary romance stars two likable protagonists who allow a misunderstanding to place their love on the brink of extinction. Readers will feel for Hugh as he struggles to get his recalcitrant wife to realize he could never philander as long as she is in his life; but also the dilemma of winning his case means still losing because he has doubts about any future alleged misstep. Prue receives less empathy although the circumstantial evidence seems obvious in support of her conclusion that THE MAN SHE MARRIED is NO MAN IN A MILLION as she once thought.

Rating:
Summary: engaging contemporary romance
Review: Prue Hale designs a successful clothing line for the Maple Hill Library. Her work has enabled her to move past her spouse Hugh Gideon until he shows up. Hugh has come to plead with her, insisting he never cheated on her with Claudia Hackett. Prue rejects his plea so he plans to move onto Alaska to help a friend start up a winery.

Prue is shocked that he is leaving behind his family's winery and his White Plains law practice. She also knows that by just seeing him she understands why she failed to sign the divorce papers; a horrified Prue still loves Hugh, but does not trust him. Hugh is ready to throw in the towel, but gives it one last try offering legal service to his beloved's start up business with the hope that she will see he never cheated on her. If successful, Hugh will next have to deal with the fact that she failed to trust him.

This engaging contemporary romance stars two likable protagonists who allow a misunderstanding to place their love on the brink of extinction. Readers will feel for Hugh as he struggles to get his recalcitrant wife to realize he could never philander as long as she is in his life; but also the dilemma of winning his case means still losing because he has doubts about any future alleged misstep. Prue receives less empathy although the circumstantial evidence seems obvious in support of her conclusion that THE MAN SHE MARRIED is NO MAN IN A MILLION as she once thought.