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Marie Wells Coutu
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The Secret Heart (Mended Vessels Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Marie Wells Coutu (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
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Modern re-telling of Bathsheba & King David's romance

Finalist, 2018 National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Awards
Semi-Finalist, 2018 Royal Palm Literary Awards

Truth is messy. But will their shared secret destroy his political career—or sabotage their marriage?

After a whirlwind romance, beautiful Shawna Moore marries Hunter Wilson, the governor of Tennessee. Now, she wonders if the governor ever loved her or only hoped to avoid a scandal.

In this modern re-imagining of the biblical story of Bathsheba and King David, an investigative reporter is asking questions—the wedding took place only six weeks following the death of Shawna's first husband in Iraq. If he discovers the truth about Shawna's baby, Hunter's chances for reelection, as well as Shawna's reputation, will be ruined.

But keeping their secret is destroying their marriage.

Will Hunter's choice mean the end of his political career or his family?
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Previous page
  1. Book 3 of 3
    Mended Vessels
  2. Print length
    416 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    February 21, 2017
  6. File size
    6588 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Total Price: $11.97
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01N6TKHS3
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Write Integrity Press (February 21, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 21, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6588 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

About the author

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Marie Wells Coutu

Marie Wells Coutu

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Marie Wells Coutu finds beauty in surprising places, like old houses, gnarly trees, and forgotten treasures. When she’s not writing about finding restoration and healing through God-designed journeys, she enjoys taking broken things and making them useful. She’s the award-winning author of three contemporary novels based on biblical women. With her handyman husband of five decades, she divides her time between Florida and the Midwest.

Her stories have won awards in the Books of Hope Contest, Selah Awards, Genesis, Royal Palm Literary Awards, National Excellence in Romance Fiction, and many others.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
20 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jill Biddy
5.0 out of 5 stars I also love the theme of the story based on the story ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is the third book by Marie. It is a very touching story. The characters and story are real. I could relate to things that have happend in my life and understand their actions and feelings. I also love the theme of the story based on the story of David and Bathsheba in the Bible but with a modern side to it. I highly recomend all three of her books.
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S Olson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2017
Verified Purchase
Just finished The Secret Heart by Marie Wells Coutu. I feel that it is her best book. I love how she patterns the story after Bible Stories. The book was very hard to put down once I started reading. I could really get into the emotions of the characters. Looking forward to her next book,
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Love Overcomes Obstacles
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2020
This story grabs you from the first few pages. Marie Wells Contu's characters are wrapped in faith which blossoms as the story progresses, and flawed, like we humans.

I enjoyed getting peeks inside a Governor's daily life, and how it affects a family.

This is the first book I've read from the series. It can be a stand alone read. It's made me curious about the others in the series, so you'll most likely need them too.
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A. E. Arndt
5.0 out of 5 stars Celebrity Marriage, Secrets, & Innuendo
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2017
Marie Wells Coutu’s newest novel, The Secret Heart, is loosely based on the lives of Bathsheba and David and is the third book in her Mended Vessels series. All the books in the series are contemporary re-imaginings of the stories of strong biblical women such as Esther and the woman at the well. This one is my favorite! Secret is definitely the key word in this story!

Coutu has a beautiful way of revealing character through relationships. The main character, Shawna, is the second wife of the Governor of Tennessee. If that wasn’t hard enough, the Governor’s late wife’s mother lives with them and cares for his children. Can you imagine? Talk about fireworks!

But the real drama is between the power couple themselves. Ambition and guilt are lonely bedfellows and Coutu unravels and re-tangles their marriage with each disappointment. Can it survive all the secrets and scandal? I'll never tell, but you'll love getting to know the real Shawna and Hunter.

Marie Wells Coutu is a lovely writer and I was thrilled to receive a free copy of The Secret Heart in exchange for my fair and honest review.
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Nina Norman
5.0 out of 5 stars I've had the good fortune to curl up in my favorite chair and ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2017
Although there are three novels in the Mended Vessels series, they contain stand alone stories. I've had the good fortune to curl up in my favorite chair and read all three. I received a complimentary copy of The Secret Heart in advance. Found the premise intriguing that the fictional characters in The Secret Heart reflect real people from the Bible. The Secret Heart reminds us of the fascinating story of David and Bathsheba including wrong choices, love, intrigue, and heart break. This is a perfect read when you're looking for a book about a blended family and their struggles with secrets from the past and the conflicts they must overcome. How they overcome makes the story a great read from beginning to end.
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Mary Jo Gulbranson
5.0 out of 5 stars It is definitely my favorite of the series
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018
I just finished reading Marie Wells Coutu’s The Secret Heart, book three of the Mended Vessels Series. It is definitely my favorite of the series, a page-turner! I drove my husband crazy with my gasping and groaning while reading the part where Cooper “goes out on a limb!” It is so contemporary as far as politics and the media, like news of today. I enjoyed watching the family dynamics evolve for the better. A really good Christian fiction book. Keep your books coming!
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Grammie5
5.0 out of 5 stars The third book in this collection does not disappoint, and I think it may be the best ...
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2017
The third book in this collection does not disappoint, and I think it may be the best of the three. (All stories are independent of each other and can be read in any order.) The story and characters develop quickly and make you feel sympathetic for the decisions they have made and the consequences and circumstances they are dealing with. There was a bit of suspense as situations developed and characters were struggling with their conscience and the secrets they are keeping. Readers can enjoy the book without knowing the story of David and Bathsheba, but may find themselves reading that too. Highly recommend! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my opinion.
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