Monday, September 14, 2009

Never The Bride by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay GIVEAWAY

Never the Bride
by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay
Random House, Inc / 2009 / Paperback





I was up until 1am finishing this book. I absolutely could not put it down!

Unlike Jessie Stone, I've been married 2x. By then end of this novel, I was thinking to myself that I was like Jessie in so many ways, except the one where it mattered most...waiting. I dove right in, both times. I never waited like Jessie did, even though she was actively searching. Oh, I thought I'd heard God's voice the 2nd time. Jessie thought God had answered her a couple times and chose to go right on ahead with what she believed.

Who here doesn't love the thought of being proposed to in a really unique way? One that will be the talk of the town? Well, Jessie Stone and her sister, Brooklyn, go into business helping men propose to the women they are dating! What a great idea!! Or so it seems.

I could relate to Jessie in that she's always wondering if the man she's talking to at that moment is the "One". I always wondered that, too. I knew any of the guys I was with at the moment could easily become MY one. I never really checked to see if he was GOD's one for me. That's where this story finally detours from mine. After struggling against God, Jessie finally hands over her pen that she's used to write out her expectations to God.

I love how the authors portray God in this story. He's quirky. Doesn't show up when Jessie believes she needs him. He doesn't do what she demands, but does what He knows is right for her life. He shows up when it's least expected and stays silent when she is asking for direction. God doesn't come as she expects and He writes Jessie's love story the way He desires. We also see when she breaks his heart, just like we all do. I liked that I had a physical idea of how God responds when we are out of His will.

The end of this story was emotional for me. I saw a lot of myself and my inner struggles through Jessie's words, actions and thoughts. I became very introspective and think of all the time I lost being out of God's will for my life when it came to the men I dated/married.

If you are a woman or young lady who is single, don't rush into anything. Wait on God. Even if it's been 10, 15, 20 yrs since you thought you should already be married. God's timing is perfect, as demonstrated in this novel. No, marriage isn't easy and just because your spouse is the one God chose for you, it doesn't mean they are perfect. Only God is perfect. Remember that!

I think all of us ladies would thoroughly enjoy this novel and I'm giving a copy away. If you'd like to read the 1st chapter, here's a link to my FIRST post from a few days ago. Check it out then come back here to answer 1 of 2 questions.

http://wovenbywords.blogspot.com/2009/09/never-bride-by-rene-gutteridge-first.html

Answer to one of these 2 questions: 1) If you're married, how did your spouse propose? 2) If you're not married, how would you imagine being proposed to?

My husband gave me a jewelry box for Mother's Day. I thought it was beautiful. What I didn't realize was, he had put my engagement ring inside the box. He thought I'd see it right away since the front of the jewelry box was glass. Nope, I was too thrilled at the jewelry box. Of course when he told me to open the front door, there it was in all it's shiny beauty.

To enter, answer one of the questions above and leave your separated email address so I can contact you if you win. No email address = No entry. Open to US residents only. Please read the new guidelines I have set in place on the front page of my blog at the top under the names of the winners. By entering this and any contest it will be assumed that you have read and agree to the terms of this giveaway. I will draw a name Saturday, September 19th.

23 comments:

April Erwin said...

I'm still single, but I've always thought the traditional romantic dinner and walk in the park was a great idea. I've pictured stopping in the moonlight, sitting on a bench to talk and being surprised to see him get down on one knee. Diamonds seem so romantic by moonlight. Although, to be honest, I think I'll be thrilled by just about any method if I ever do get a proposal :)
I'd love to be entered in the contest. My email address is:
aprilannerwin (at)yahoo.com

Debra Ullrick said...

1) If you're married, how did your spouse propose?

My husband took me to dinner at The Hungry Farmer, a very nice, expensive dining place. Afterward he drove to Lookout Point and parked by the water. He pulled a small box out of his pocket and asked me to marry him. Nothing glamorous or anything, but the pleasant surprise was. We went to look at rings and I showed him one I wanted. Of course, it was a cheap set as I didn't want him spending money on me. When he opened the box I was shocked. Inside the laid the most beautiful engagement ring ever. A large diamond in the middle and on both sides of it were several smaller diamonds. I'm so glad he didn't buy the one I chose.

Cant wait to read Never A Bride. I love Rene Gutteridge. Her stories are awesome and so is she.

Please add my name to the drawing.

Debra Ullrick, author of The Bride Wore Coveralls.
christianromancewriter[at]gmail[dot]com

Thanks!

Mimi N said...

Debra, that's so special. What a wonderful man to not go with the set you were being practical with. I don't think any proposal is ever "unglamorous". Like we learn in this story, it's all about the heart!

~Mimi

Mimi N said...

April, I can just picture the moonlight reflecting off the diamond! :) Sounds very romantic!

~Mimi

Linda said...

We, too, had gone out to eat and parked in a secluded area where he proposed a few weeks after we looked at rings. I also had picked out the ring as I didn't want to spend a lot but wanted something I knew I would like for both of us. My husband did buy then. We had just gone in to look, and most of the inventory was closed up. The guy brought it all back out and showed us what they had. It was close to closing time, so that was so kind of him.
I've wanted to read Never the Bride since I first saw it. It's got me so intrigued I can hardly stand it! Thanks for the giveaway!
desertrose5173 gmail dot com

Martha A. said...

I am married.....but my husband did not propose to me in the traditional sense. Instead in their tradition, you ask someone else to ask the girl, so his older brother asked me if I wanted to marry my husband. My answer when he asked " What happens if I say yes?" (He is Russian)
= )
martha(at)lclink(dot)com

April Erwin said...

Martha, that's so intriguing. I've never heard of that tradition before, but man what a twist. Did it throw you off balance when your brother in law asked you? I'm assuming you said yes... :)

Julia said...

I'm not married yet, as it would be illegal, but when I do, I would like to be proposed to in an.... interesting way. Something funny that I can look back at 50 years from then and still laugh so hard I cry. I don't have the right idea yet, but some ideas to get the funny point across are:

1. Putting the ring in a ziplock bag and making me fish it out of a giant vat of pickles or...
2. Covering my car or any other noticeable object with post-it notes saying "Will you marry me?"

I love to smile and laugh, and even though these are weird, smiling and laughing are what they would bring.

juliaisakutie (at) gmail (dot) com

adge said...

I'm single so I've never been proposed too. I think I'm a little young at this point to get married but some people do I guess. I've never thought about getting proposed to... I'm not exactly sure what I'd want. I'm not sure at all. But the Russian thing is definitely interesting.

gasweetheart211{at}netscape[dot]net

Cherie J said...

1) If you're married, how did your spouse propose? He actually surprised me after a kiss and surprised me by just simply asking me if I would like to marry him. It kind of surprised me because I thought he would do it a little more romantically than just asking me whene we were alone and after a kiss. I guess he was nervous and afraid of rejection so that was a form of protecting himself.

Anyway, I would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'm a married gal, and I absolutely loved the way my hubby proposed. We're from West TN, and we flew to Portland, OR so he could be the best man at his best friend's wedding. Our day of flying out there was exhausting, and when his friend and fiancee picked us up, we decided to go downtown and hang out. Of course, we didn't know that we were about to have to deal with them locking their keys in the car! AGH!! So, an hour later, we can finally do something...so they take us to the Rose Garden in Portland (which is absolutely gorgeous, BTW). My hubby had brought the ring with him, and after we walked around the garden for awhile, he proposed. :o) It was completely spontaneous, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Would love to be signed up for the giveaway! This sounds like my kind of book, for sure. :o)

Christy
orca0024 at yahoo dot com

Mimi N said...

Linda, how nice of the jewelry guy to bring the rings out for you to look at! Awesome that your hubby just went for it! :)

Martha, I want to know more about this Russian proposal! What's the reason behind the brother asking? Did you know that before you were asked? Isn't it hard to be "romantic" when being asked by the brother? I mean, didn't you just want to throw your arms around your honey and give him some lovin'? Just curious. Would love to learn more!!

Julia, I LOVE the post-it idea! The pickles would be stinky, but I love big dill pickles!

Cherie, I think being proposed to after being kissed is dreamy!!

Christy, your husband sure picked a romantic time to propose. I think OR is gorgeous!

~Mimi

Carole said...

Apparently it was love at first sight or something close to that for my husband, because he showed me a ring not long after we started dating. Sensing my near panic, he didn't mention it again and we continued dating. A year passed and he still didn't mention it, so I figured the ball was in my court, so to speak, and I asked him if he still had that ring. We met for breakfast at IHOP before church the next morning, and he produced the ring. Dumb story, but we've been very happily married for 36 years now.

I would love to read Rene's book and appreciate the giveaway, Mimi.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Mimi N said...

Carole, I have a feeling it's more romantic than you realize. For a guy to know so early on that you are the ONE? Ugh, to die for!!! And for him to see your panic and wait for you, he is the man! You're the 2nd gal I read of today that was in a panic thinking her boyfriend wanted to get married. The other gal acutally lied to her boyfriend and denied him a trip to the top of the Eifel Tower because she believed he was going to propose. He totally denied it when she fessed up down the road.

~Mimi

Gail said...

this book sounds really good, please enter me!

I've been waiting a long time already for a proposal and have never come close. And I really try to focus on not having expectations about these things, even though it is very had. Our attitudes about life so often boil down to expectations. So, sorry, but I cannot think about it. I am just trying to wait patiently on the Lord as my provider.

Gail
bookwurm70 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Hi Mimi...
I have never been married,I am single. I have envision my future spouse giving me a ring that been past down from his family(like his grandma beautiful antique ring) and he propose to me on a moonlight horse and carriage ride.
I really want to read the book. Please enter me in contest. my e-mail is heelfan91@att.net.
Blessings, Sherry D. :)

Winning Readings said...

No need to enter me; just a note that we've posted about this at Winning Readings:

http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/09/never-bride.html

ossmcalc said...

I have been divorced for 18 years and still have a little hope that one day I will be married to someone who will truly love me. It will take a very special man who will put up with my illnesses for which there is no cure.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Mimi N said...

Gail, I totally understand about our expectations. They're hard not to pay attention to!

Sherry, I love it when rings are passed down. It's such a wonderful legacy & tradition. As for the carriage ride, that'd be spectacular!

Christine, I don't know what God has for you, but if He has a man for you, it won't matter about your illness. I know there are spouses out there (men and women) who love the person and live with the illness. It can happen, if that's what God has for you.

Blessings all,
Mimi

Marie said...

My husband took me to dinner on my birthday and had the waiter deliver the ring under one of fancy serving platters with a cover. It was very sweet :-)

marielay@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

my dh took me to the places we went on our first date 1½ years earlier. the restaurant and then downtown OKC to a park with a fountain. he was from MO, so on our first date, I had showed him around OKC. he sent a toy boat down to me in the fountain with lots of fun fill in the blank messages. the 4th message was asking me to marry him. then he waded in the water to me for my answer. I've got it all written down in our wedding album and my kids love to read it. :)

I'd love to win this book. our book discussion group is reading it in a couple months!

Anonymous said...

he got on his knees and asked

Anonymous said...

on his knees wolfbayou@yahoo.com

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Woven by Words by Mimi B is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.