25 Book Reviews

Sunday, December 29, 2019

What could be better than a book that combines a Christmas story with a wedding dress????? Only Rachel Hauck could write such a realistic, beautiful tale@


                     "The Wedding Dress"
                        By Rachel Hauck

About the Book:


Genre: Romance, Christmas
Release Date: October 22, 2019
December covers quaint Heart’s Bend, Tennessee with a blanket of white and the glitter of Christmas lights.
For JoJo Castle there’s no place like home. It’s her safe place. Her one-time love of adventure ended when life in the big city shattered her hopes and dreams. Now that she’s returned to Hearts Bend, she never wants to leave again.
Buck Mathews, the biggest country singing sensation in decades, has the world on a string – his guitar strings, to be exact. However, when news of his mother’s illness sends him back to Hearts Bend for the holiday season, he remembers how good it can be to live among family and friends.
Working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop, JoJo has no aspirations of love. Leaving home, surrendering her heart again, is just too risky.
When she runs into her friend and high school crush Buck Mathews, she discovers Love might have other plans for her[BV1] .
Buck’s career is on the verge of an momentous leap. But seeing JoJo awakens feelings he’d buried long ago. Falling in love is easy, but winning her heart will take more than one of his melodic tunes and clever lyrics.
JoJo and Buck want opposite things for their lives, leaving no room for compromise. Can love, especially the kind that touches hearts at Christmastime, overcome her fears andhis quest for greatness?
When a very special gown – the wedding dress – begins to make its presence known, JoJo and Buck’s hearts bend in a way neither ever thought possible.

Click here to get your copy.

My Thoughts:

Rachel Hauck has earned her way to the top of my list of favorite authors , writing novels that capture my interest in the first chapter, hold me totally engrossed in the plot and won't release me until I have read the last page. Thus, I have very high expectations when a new book is announced. Although I am not always satisfied with novellas , as I don't want them to end, "The Wedding Dress Christmas" was no disappointment. A delightful tale full of realistic characters that have you walk along beside them through a rather rocky road of life. This third book in the Wedding Collection is the best yet!!!

The characters, realistic and complicated individuals , draw you into their lives, which are not those of fairy tales. I loved the peek at the Wedding Shop. Doesn't every female? But it is not an ordinary shop. Rachel Hauck always makes her characters and setting somewhat quirky and special. God is always in the lives, often making the seemingly impossible happen, but in His time and in His way.

The plot was full  of twists and turns, surprising me, as with such a short story, that is a difficult task. Rachel writes in her unique storytelling style to engage readers in very different situations. The element with the Castle family and the holiday curse had me on the edge of my seat, awaiting another complication in the lives of these dear people. Only a "God moment" can give Mrs. Castle something very special after a tragedy. 

I was captivated by the very special wedding dress. I loved the magic of the dress and had my own thoughts about its past. 

This was a fabulous read! I was thankful that it was a novella because I just could not put this book down!!  It was a beautiful story !!

Rachel deserves a gold medal for this book! Being able to include the details and complicated plot all done in her unique style, was simply amazing!!!
I am eagerly awaiting her new creation.


This book was supplied by CelebrateLit . The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

About the Author:


Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.
Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.
A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.
At home, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.
A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.
She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.

More From Rachel

Hello Royal Rockstar Readers!
I’m thrilled to share The Wedding Dress Christmas with you. I’ve heard from so many how much The Wedding Dress has touched them, and as I noodled over new story ideas, my thoughts drifted toward the wedding dress and Christmas. What’s more romantic than a Christmas wedding?
This novella is set in Hearts Bend, Tennessee, the fictional town ofThe Wedding Chapel and The Wedding Shop. Even if you’ve never read one of books inThe Wedding Collection, you’ll enjoy this story, the mystery of the dress, and the women whose lives it changed.
I love weddings. They remind us of the purity and the hope of love, the power of commitment. Something powerful is released when two people pledge to spend their lives together, loving and serving one another in both good and bad times. Every wedding I attend reminds me of the vows I made to my husband and I sign up all over again.
Stories are a powerful reflection of life. Yes, fictional stories are often told with wild hyperbole, but that’s what makes them fun to read.
I also love wedding stories because they remind us of God’s love for us, and that one day there will be the grandest wedding of them all. Isn’t it wonderful that God planned a wedding before He created the earth?
In The Wedding Dress Christmas, JoJo and Buck have their issues, but love proves strong enough to conquer them all.
Thanks for going on this little tour with me and The Wedding Dress Christmas.
Yours,
Rachel

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, December 18
Livin’ Lit, December 18
Robin’s Nest, December 18
By The Book, December 19
Wishful Endings, December 19
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 19
Among the Reads, December 20
Genesis 5020, December 20
Life as Lanhams, December 20
Daysong Reflections, December 21
Bigreadersite, December 21
Simple Harvest Reads, December 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Remembrancy, December 22
Britt Reads Fiction, December 22
She Lives to Read, December 23
Empowermoms, December 23
Inside the Wong Mind, December 23
Mia Reads Blog, December 23
Splashes of Joy, December 24
Christian Bookaholic, December 24
Hallie Reads, December 24
Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 25
Blogging With Carol, December 25
For Him and My Family, December 26
Hebrews 12 Endurance, December 26
Mamma Loves Books, December 27
Betti Mace, December 28
Batya’s Bits, December 28
Quiet Quilter, December 29
janicesbookreviews, December 29
A Reader’s Brain, December 30
Inklings and notions, December 30
Texas Book-aholic, December 30
Carla Loves to Read, December 30
Back Porch Reads, December 31
CarpeDiem, December 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a print copy of the book and a Visa gift card for $25. Swag!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

1 comment:

  1. Love reading stories about weddings and wedding dress! Beautiful cover! Thanks for the chance to win!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

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