The Marriage Wish / God's Gift

by Dee Henderson

Stories of sweet second chances from bestselling author Dee Henderson

The Marriage Wish

A birthday wish leads lonely bachelor Scott Williams to Jennifer St. James…but love is the last thing on Jennifer's mind. Weighed down with sadness and regret, she's certain happiness is out of reach. Only patience, faith and everlasting love can make their marriage wishes come true.

God's Gift

Mission work in Africa is James Graham's life.

So when an injury exiles him home, he's left adrift. Can he find new purpose with Rachel Ashcroft? The lovely volunteer's care packages always cheered him while he was in Africa. Now it's James's turn to make her happy…for the rest of his life.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Love Inspired, Christian, Romance

512 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1998

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Dee Henderson is the author of 27 non-fiction and fiction titles, including Jesus our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus the Truth and the Life, The Good News Project, Taken and the acclaimed O’MALLEY series. Several titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestseller list; Full Disclosure has also appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list. For details visit: DeeHenderson.com

Reviews

[Kim Bakos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed both stories, they shouldn't have been put together into one volume - the two stories are much too similar to read back to back.

[kaotickitten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the love inspired series.

Dee Henderson is an amazing writer. I love the way she mixes pain and hope. Plus she adds animals which for me as a dog owner is a plus.

In the Marriage Wish the characters were believable and had depth. The sorrow the female had to get over and endure was honest. The way she came about was also a very beautiful way.

In God’s Gift you felt for both the characters and wanted more. You could tell what was going to happen but still couldn’t stop reading. In this one you want to know what the next chapter of this couples life is like. She did a good job and I hope she revisits these characters again.

[Suzette Lawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gods Gift of Marriage

Hey, the first book totally reminded me of Dee Henderson's writing style. The way Scott and Jennifer met was super cute, and his reaction to her black eye was hilarious. I felt like I was right there watching their relationship grow. The emotional depth was intense - I legit wanted to give Jennifer a big hug and comfort her. I've read tons of Dee Henderson books, and this one just made me want more.

The second book used similar names but wasn't connected to the first one. It was good, but kinda dragged on. By the time I finished, I was ready for it to wrap up. Even so, I'd still recommend both books.

[Judy K Graves · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the book very predictable. It was a sweet story

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This printing puts Dee Henderson's first two published works together in one volume. Both stories center around the romance of a woman who's lost her one true love and a man who wants her to find happiness again. I did find the stories very similar, but I was still able to enjoy them both. Both love stories are aided by God and Christianity.

The Marriage Wish tells the love story of Scott Williams and Jennifer St. James. Jennifer lost two very important things in her life and she feels she will never be able to love again. It is a difficult road for Scott to travel, but he is willing to go down it to bring Jennifer back from drowning.

God's Gift introduces us to James Graham, a mission worker in Africa, who has returned home to recover from an illness. It is here he meets face-to-face his sister's friend, Rachel Ashcroft. He had "met" her previously through care packages she sent his group. He never planned to fall in love with her for he has plans to return to Africa. Rachel has her own secret as to why she is trying not to fall in love with James.

I would have given this collection higher stars if I didn't feel the two stories were carbon copies of each other. They were good stories and I enjoyed them, but that's exactly what they were.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Marriage Wish was a difficult read for me as I felt so badly about how deeply she was grieving and couldn't seem to get past it and in God's Gift - was difficult to read how difficult it was to learn to adapt to a crippling disease and the doctor's could not diagnose and to see someone replacing work with a life. Both stories are very good, but difficult to read. Tear jerkers even tho they come out just fine at the finish.

[LadyS · Rating 1 out of 5]

it was just epically terrible!!! i never thought id give Dee Henderson such a terrible rating!! cheesy, predictable, sappy, unrealistic and certainly not convincing. i hated every moment especially the 2nd story. don't read these stories! infact, i.didn't even finish it...too painful

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both women in this book were writers and I especially loved that. They both suffered tragedies that kept their hearts closed but God had second chances for them. A really good read, I'd recommend!

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish the 2nd book. The first was very sad and drawn out. Couldn't make it through the 2nd, needed more upbeat story.

[A Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad but good I really liked The Marriage Wish the most but God's gift was good also but I felt like you could have extended the book more...

[Mal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good, but dragged.

I really enjoyed the plot. although I thought that the stories dragged. I would still suggest the book to other's.