Wednesday, July 29, 2009

A Book Hits Home with This Therapist

I just finished a book that is all about where romance meets therapy. I finished Denise Hunter's The Convenient Groom in about 6 hours total today. This book was an absolute must-buy simply based on its premise (that, and I'm a complete sucker for the heroine-and-hero-have-to-get-married type books).

Here's a blurb from the author's website:

Dr. Kate has it all-a radio talk show, a nationally-syndicated column, and a publisher who is paying for a lavish wedding to coincide with the release of her first book, Finding Mr. Right-For-You. But when her fiance jilts her the morning of the wedding, her life begins to crash around her. Who, after all, would want a relationship book by a counselor who can't even hold her own engagement together?

When Lucas Wright realizes what has happened, he offers to marry Kate and save her public image. Kate's heart-and her pride-have been deeply wounded. Are Lucas's handsome smile and utter devotion enough to convince her that her marriage is more than she had ever expected?

I was all over this in the store. She's a high-profile therapist--you have to be if you are called Dr. First-Name--and her specialty is relationships. She gets jilted, a PR nightmare for someone like her. Enter selfless (or is he?) stand-in. Awesome reading.

One of my favorite parts was the beginning of each chapter starting with an excerpt from Dr. Kate's book, Finding Mr.-Right-for-You. Each quote was very therapy-sounding, and many were even along the lines of what I've told clients! Of course, the quote always played into the chapter content, so after reading the quote, I would push on through the chapter, dying to know how it would play out.

I also loved the character arc for the therapist. Being one, I can easily see how we might tend to lean toward the misconception that we know everything there is to know. :) I also can totally identify with the idea that we can't let our own human weaknesses show on the outside. (I mean, what would my clients think if they knew their therapist had also suffered from depression?) Therapists are kind of like pastors. We go through the same stuff everyone else does, but for some reason, everyone thinks we don't. (I know I've thought my pastors were just one under the Trinity in holiness and perfection....but they have all put their underwear on one foot at a time like we all do.) So therapists have learning curves, too...perhaps harder than average, as we're working against all our book knowledge of human behavior instead of just hanging it all out there blindly. Make sense?

Denise is an excellent writer...I had never read any of her work before. But you can bet I'll be grabbing up her first Nantucket Love Story when I have a chance.

Thanks for reading my review...pick this book up!


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20 comments:

MeganRebekah said...

I think it's beneficial for a therapist to admit their own faults to their clients. For the clients, it shows that they are not isolated or weird for their struggles.

But I'm glad you recommended this book. I was at BN last weekend and ultimately didn't buy it because it wasn't part of the Buy 3 for 2 deal. Next time, though.

Lynnette Labelle said...

Oh, that does sound good. I'll check it out. Thanks.

Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT said...

meganrebekah - i bought it as part of a 3 for 2 deal myself! so i hope you find it next time you're there.

Ralene said...

Man, I'm gonna quit reading book posts by my friends because my TBR is growing out of hand! lol...

Georgiana Daniels said...

I really enjoyed this book too--probably my favorite Denise Hunter. Which reminds me I need to order the next one!

Sherrinda Ketchersid said...

I absolutely love stories where the H/H have to get married! I will definitely be putting this one on my list!

Eileen Astels Watson said...

Sounds great, I'll have to see I can find it.

Katie Ganshert said...

Great review! Looks like I have another books to add to my list. :)

Stephanie Faris said...

I'm going to have to check that one out. It sounds fascinating.

PatriciaW said...

For therapists, and for pastors, there has to be a safe place to be open, honest, and real. Because they can't admit their flaws to the people who look to them as authorities in most cases.

I mean if I'm paying a therapist to help me through an issue, I certainly don't want to find out that she's paying another therapist to help her work through the same issue. Where's the authority in that? Maybe I should just go to the other therapist. See the problem?

That's not to say they should present themselves as perfect. They just can't let it all hang out.

But this book sounds like a good read. I'll check it out.

Terri Tiffany said...

I think you made this book sound great! And yes, as a former counselor, I understand how it can be when your own life isn't exactly the way you think it should be and people might know:)

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT said...

patricia - that's exactly what i'm talking about. there is just this expectation that therapists (and pastors and the like) just have all their ducks in a row. the idea they have is, "how can they help me go through this when they are going through it too?" what i've learned is when and when not to disclose to clients certain information. sometimes its really meaningful to a client to know their therapist WAS (not currently is, maybe) in the same place they are in. my safe place for letting it all hang out is with my husband and in staff meetings with other professionals. it works. :)

Jody Hedlund said...

Thanks for another great review. You're making my reading list longer with all your reviews! And it does sound like the perfect book for a therapist!

Jessica Nelson said...

I've read this book too. I liked it but it wasn't amazing to me. Subjectivity is so funny. LOL But you're right about her being a good, smooth writer. Also, I loved the little excerpts from the book too! It was a cute one, for sure.

Liana Brooks said...

Sounds like a cute premise. I hope it ended Happily Ever After :o)

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT said...

liana - of course it did! i know i've asked this before...but is there really any other way to end a romance? :) (and yes, sue, i know there is...i'm not into tragedy, though!)

Cindy R. Wilson said...

I read this book two weeks ago and I loved it. Found it at the library, which I thought was amazing. Sweetwater Gap is also good and I just picked up Surrender Bay with a gift card recently. Thanks for the review!

Krista Phillips said...

I read this book a while back myself... and LOVED it too! I'm also a "marriage of convenience" lover too... Not 100% sure why... but when I read on the back that it's going to be, it almost always finds it's way to the cash register.

It's my goal to write at least ONE MOC story in my writing career *grin*

Tana said...

Jeannie, I have a question about one of my characters but would like to ask it privately should I use the character email even though I don't want it posted? Thanx I can't wait to get your opinion!

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT said...

t.anne - use the same email, i just wont post anything since you said you wanted it private. :)