I'd put this book on my wish list a few years ago and my husband just surprised me with it this summer. When I began reading I kept saying that I would have loved it a couple years ago but it wasn't my style so much now. I was very sure it was going to be heartbreaking in a way that would hit close to home for me. It was. It also ended up grabbing me and pulling me in. I knew the characters, I cared for some, couldn't stand others. The story is really about love in many forms, deep and connected to selfish and obsessive. There is a strong religious tug of war, the main character is a preacher's wife with a liberal heart. Emotional slice of life story with plenty of moments to keep you turning the pages well after bedtime. ( )

I read The Sunday Wife because my favourite beach is on the very first page and the town that I live in is mentioned multiple times. I have often driven through Seaside. And at first I liked it as much as I had hoped. Some of the characters are so realistic that I felt as if I knew both preachers, albeit in Southern Baptist form. The story keeps moving and I read the book quickly.
Here's why I'm only giving it two stars. Through the whole book we watch as Dean slowly spreads her wings and realizes she can fly, and yet she goes from


SPOILERS



one relationship with a bully to another. The ending is supposed to be so happy--Maddox and Dean are so perfect for each other, right? Well, we keep being told that. And for most of the book he seems like a much better mate for her than her husband. But by the end of the book he has pushed her into a relationship with him even though she has repeatedly told him she wasn't ready, that she wanted to try to save her marriage, etc. Every time he has agreed to give her time, to let her be, etc, he goes and pops right back up again and forces her into an intimate moment, eventually causing her infidelity to go public and chase her out of town. At more than one point he tricks her to get his way. By the end of the book I was convinced that he was just as selfish and self-centered as her husband.
I hate books that promote unhealthy relationships as "romantic." I think it's a terrible message to send, that a woman's "no" only means "no" if the guy is unattractive or poor. And, lol, I am tired of sex on the public beach scenes in books! To me it's just so unrealistic as to bring me out of the story to make me laugh.
And then there are the characters. Yes, there are the preachers who are eerily well done. But most of the others are really never explored, have one note, and some even seem to serve no real purpose at all.
I think that this author shows promise, and I might (key word being might) read one of her other works. I guess I have to thank her for putting my hometown and places I love on the map. But will I ever read it again? Nope. ( )

I enjoyed this book, and found it to be a fast summer read. I liked the characters and their development and found myself rooting for them, as well as wishing a horrible death on others. [ha] I recommend it. ( )

Willodean (Dean) Lynch has spent 20 years married to Ben an ambitious Methodist minister with aspirations to rise to a position in the powerful Bishop's cabinet. Dean has been a dutiful "Sunday" wife but has not been welcomed by Ben as a wife in any other areas as he only sees Dean as a necessary part of his ministerial duties. After Ben is promoted to a large church in Crystal City, Florida, Dean once again finds herself living in one more parsonage, a home that belongs to the church and not to her. Ben hopes to bring Maddox and Augusta Holderfield into his congregation as they are the richest and most influential couple in town and when Augusta and Dean become immediate friends Ben is overjoyed. Beautiful and vivacious Augusta takes the shy Dean under her wing and helps bring her out of her shell and, more importantly, out of Ben's iron-fisted shadow. Dean renews her love of music, especially her playing of the dulcimer, and befriends people that Ben definitely does not approve, namely a gypsy psychic and a gay couple. As Dean's marriage stifles her Augusta confies secrets to her friend that both frighten and dismay Dean. A tragedy will force all in Dean's new life to reexamine themselves and their values.

Although this was an interesting story the character of Ben was so pious and mean-spirited that I had a hard time believing Dean could stay with someone like that especially after her world was opened up by Augusta. Dean was a coward through so much of the book but I did like her character especially the friendship between the two women. Augusta's secrets were indeed disturbing and it is understandable that the naive Dean would not have a clue what to do with them. The story moved a bit slowly at times but I enjoyed it on the whole.
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I loved this book. The characters are beautifully written and completely believable.

Dean is a minister's wife moving to a new town, a new parsonage, a new congregation. Her husband is really only concerned with his career and appearances. Dean makes a friend in Augusta, a wealthy and prominent free spirit in town. Augusta encourages Dean to have dreams of her own and to stand for her own beliefs instead of bowing to her husband's wishes. However, Augusta is not telling the truth about everything and when the truth comes out, Dean is devastated.

Loved Dean, Maddox, Augusta, and despised the two main men of god in the book. Dean's husband bothered me so very very much. Maybe he reminded me a little of my exhusband. But even Vickery was awful with his hypocritical actions. But both men were well written enough to be able to hate them. A really satisfying read. ( )