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The Wedding Collection #1
The Wedding Dress
The New York Times bestseller from award-winning author Rachel Hauck! Four brides. One dress. A tale of faith, redemption, and timeless love. Charlotte owns a chic Birmingham bridal boutique. Dressing brides for their big day is her gift—and her passion. But with her own wedding day approaching, why can’t she find the perfect dress—or feel certain she should marry Tim? Then Charlotte purchases a vintage dress in a battered trunk at an estate sale. It looks brand-new, shimmering with pearls and satin, hand-stitched and timeless in its design. But where did it come from? Who wore it? Charlotte’s search for the gown’s history—and its new bride—begins as a distraction from her sputtering love life. But it takes on a life of its own as she comes to know the women who have worn the dress. Emily from 1912. Mary Grace from 1939. Hillary from 1968. Each with something unique to share. For woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte’s heritage, the power of courage and faith, and the beauty of finding true love. "Hauck weaves an intricately beautiful story centering around a wedding dress passed down through the years. Taken at face value, the tale is superlative, but considering the spiritual message both on the surface and between the lines, this novel is incredible. Readers will laugh, cry and treasure this book." — RT Book Reviews, TOP PICK! for The Wedding Dress "Hauck seamlessly switches back and forth in this redeeming tale of a shop with healing powers for the soul. As Cora and Haley search for solace and love, they find peace in the community of the charming shop. Hauck succeeds at blending similar themes across the time periods, grounding the plot twists in the main characters’ search for redemption and a reinvigoration of their wavering faith. In the third of her winsome wedding-themed standalone novels, Hauck focuses on the power of community to heal a broken heart." —Publishers Weekly
407 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Rachel Hauck
75 books4,612 followersNew York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida.
A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie.
The Wedding Dress has been optioned for film by Brain Power Studio
She loves to hear from readers. She also loves to encourage new writers and is a retired member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Executive Board.
A graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism, Rachel is an avid OSU football fan. She hopes to one day stand on the sidelines in the Shoe with Ryan Day.
Visit her web site to find out more and click on the icons to follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
www.rachelhauck.com
A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie.
The Wedding Dress has been optioned for film by Brain Power Studio
She loves to hear from readers. She also loves to encourage new writers and is a retired member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Executive Board.
A graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism, Rachel is an avid OSU football fan. She hopes to one day stand on the sidelines in the Shoe with Ryan Day.
Visit her web site to find out more and click on the icons to follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
www.rachelhauck.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,024 reviews
August 12, 2013
UGH.
I did not know that this was "religious fiction," going into it. By the time I figured it out (which wasn't too long - all the characters have the same language about God and Him and churchiness) I wanted to know what happened in the end so I skimmed it. For that I give it 2 stars.
I was so disappointed that it is as religious as it is. I mean, why ruin a decent story? It's one thing if religion is specific to a character. If that's who they are, fine. Details like that add to dimension and can make them seem more real. But if all the characters have the same viewpoint, then it feels like the author's opinion, not the characters'. Very distracting from the story. And that is NOT the point of literature, in my view. I want to escape, not be preached at. I want the characters to appear lifelike, not puppets.
As for the writing, there was a lot of unnecessary dialogue (didn't show character, move the story forward, or create tension). The relationships were all so-so, not very well drawn. There weren't any characters that I enjoyed spending time with. I just don't get why this book has such great reviews. I suppose it's meant for Christians who want to read something that they know will be "safe."
Iffy writing and heavy-handed Christianity? Not my cup of tea.
I did not know that this was "religious fiction," going into it. By the time I figured it out (which wasn't too long - all the characters have the same language about God and Him and churchiness) I wanted to know what happened in the end so I skimmed it. For that I give it 2 stars.
I was so disappointed that it is as religious as it is. I mean, why ruin a decent story? It's one thing if religion is specific to a character. If that's who they are, fine. Details like that add to dimension and can make them seem more real. But if all the characters have the same viewpoint, then it feels like the author's opinion, not the characters'. Very distracting from the story. And that is NOT the point of literature, in my view. I want to escape, not be preached at. I want the characters to appear lifelike, not puppets.
As for the writing, there was a lot of unnecessary dialogue (didn't show character, move the story forward, or create tension). The relationships were all so-so, not very well drawn. There weren't any characters that I enjoyed spending time with. I just don't get why this book has such great reviews. I suppose it's meant for Christians who want to read something that they know will be "safe."
Iffy writing and heavy-handed Christianity? Not my cup of tea.
June 26, 2012
As a whole, this was a good story, I liked the characters (especially in 1912) and I liked the concept of figuring out the history of the wedding dress; but somewhere along the line, I think this book suffers from a little bit from identity crisis. It cannot figure out if it wants to be a mystery, a contemporary romance, a historical romance, a Christian fiction, a supernatural fantasy, or commentary on social inequality. It felt like too many cooks adding an ingredient to the pot and you turn out with something where the flavors do not mesh well.
When the story begins, the reader has two primary characters - present day bridal shop owner and a 1912 bride. The narration point-of-view jumps between the two character … I liked that part well enough, but then for we jump into the would be groom’s point-of-view - huh? Where did that come from?
The one thing I didn’t like was the reader learns the end of the 1912 story before the characters in 1912 learn the ending to their own story. For me at least, that spoiled the ending of the book.
When the story begins, the reader has two primary characters - present day bridal shop owner and a 1912 bride. The narration point-of-view jumps between the two character … I liked that part well enough, but then for we jump into the would be groom’s point-of-view - huh? Where did that come from?
The one thing I didn’t like was the reader learns the end of the 1912 story before the characters in 1912 learn the ending to their own story. For me at least, that spoiled the ending of the book.
April 13, 2012
First posted on my blog, Legacy of a Writer.
I was blown away by this beautiful, awe-inspiring tale of one dress that spans—and impacts—the lives of four special women. The Wedding Dress revolves around Charlotte Malone and her discovery of the dress within an old, beaten trunk…and the path down memory lane that it took her on.
While Charlotte was the main character this story revolved around, there were a lot of other central characters as well. And while one might think that this would get confusing, Rachel Hauck did an outstanding job in making each person unique and stand out to the reader. I just loved the funny quirks some of them had! Especially the "Man in Purple" character. Put me in mind of all those sayings about 'angels in our midst'. I can’t say who my favorite character was, or who I bonded with the most—the entire cast was so memorable!
I’ve never read anything by Hauck before, so wasn’t sure what to expect from the author when beginning The Wedding Dress. But she won me over almost instantly! The way she transports her readers between historical and contemporary times was really neat, unique, and well done.
The writing style was sharp and vivid, grabbing my attention from the first page. There were several passionate kisses between characters, but Hauck keeps the details down, making The Wedding Dress a book to be recommended for both older and younger readers—anyone who is a true romantic at heart will be heaving sighs and wiping tears by the end. I highly recommend!
I was blown away by this beautiful, awe-inspiring tale of one dress that spans—and impacts—the lives of four special women. The Wedding Dress revolves around Charlotte Malone and her discovery of the dress within an old, beaten trunk…and the path down memory lane that it took her on.
While Charlotte was the main character this story revolved around, there were a lot of other central characters as well. And while one might think that this would get confusing, Rachel Hauck did an outstanding job in making each person unique and stand out to the reader. I just loved the funny quirks some of them had! Especially the "Man in Purple" character. Put me in mind of all those sayings about 'angels in our midst'. I can’t say who my favorite character was, or who I bonded with the most—the entire cast was so memorable!
I’ve never read anything by Hauck before, so wasn’t sure what to expect from the author when beginning The Wedding Dress. But she won me over almost instantly! The way she transports her readers between historical and contemporary times was really neat, unique, and well done.
The writing style was sharp and vivid, grabbing my attention from the first page. There were several passionate kisses between characters, but Hauck keeps the details down, making The Wedding Dress a book to be recommended for both older and younger readers—anyone who is a true romantic at heart will be heaving sighs and wiping tears by the end. I highly recommend!
February 23, 2017
Wow,this book was mystical,magical,sweet,sassy,spunky,redeeming and it felt like fairy dust was sprinkled within the pages. I absolutely loved it!
April 23, 2020
While I did like the underlying premise of the book.....any enjoyment was outweighed by the author's amazing ability to include two major race tropes while only having ONE character of color. There is the whole "magical negro trope" represented by Taffy, the black dress maker. She appears, makes this magical dress (of which the entire novel is centered)that transends time, and of course imparts her "wisdom" on Emily about the courage she is going to need to make the right decision as to which person to marry. Then (becasue apparently no novel set the south can be without this element) there is the great white savior trope. OF COURSE the author had to mention serveral times how Emily fought for the rights of the convict workers and how "brave" she was for being the first white women to wear a wedding dress made by a person of color, with no mention of the danger or sacrifice of Taffy. Its always about how "revoluntionary" white people are when it comes to race issues. *sigh*
I laughed when i saw this novel classified as historial fiction. By the time I read that Emily was arrested for breaking Jim Crow laws but Taffy got away without punishment in 1912, i had already made up my mind this book should stay firmly on the purely fiction shelf.
I laughed when i saw this novel classified as historial fiction. By the time I read that Emily was arrested for breaking Jim Crow laws but Taffy got away without punishment in 1912, i had already made up my mind this book should stay firmly on the purely fiction shelf.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2017
3.5 stars
What if one wedding dress found its way to four different women over a hundred year period? How would it get to them? What kind of women would they be? How would their love stories end? Is it possible for the dress to fit them all? Rachel Hauck provides a modern day Christian romance that made me believe in the magic of this story. A totally endearing story from beginning to end.
What if one wedding dress found its way to four different women over a hundred year period? How would it get to them? What kind of women would they be? How would their love stories end? Is it possible for the dress to fit them all? Rachel Hauck provides a modern day Christian romance that made me believe in the magic of this story. A totally endearing story from beginning to end.
February 8, 2017
Amazing book. Rachel Hauck does it again.
Hauck weaves an intricately beautiful story centering around a wedding dress passed down through the years. Taken at face value, the tale is superlative, but considering the spiritual message both on the surface and between the lines, this novel is incredible. Readers will laugh, cry and treasure this book.
Charlotte has waited a long time to get married and takes great pride in finding the perfect wedding gowns for brides who visit her boutique. Her whirlwind romance with Tim led to a quick proposal, and Charlotte isn’t sure the timing is right for a wedding this soon. She purchases a vintage wedding gown in a trunk at an auction and is amazed at how new the dress seems, even though it was supposedly made in 1912. As Charlotte traces the history of the gown, she finds new friends and a new definition of love
Hauck weaves an intricately beautiful story centering around a wedding dress passed down through the years. Taken at face value, the tale is superlative, but considering the spiritual message both on the surface and between the lines, this novel is incredible. Readers will laugh, cry and treasure this book.
Charlotte has waited a long time to get married and takes great pride in finding the perfect wedding gowns for brides who visit her boutique. Her whirlwind romance with Tim led to a quick proposal, and Charlotte isn’t sure the timing is right for a wedding this soon. She purchases a vintage wedding gown in a trunk at an auction and is amazed at how new the dress seems, even though it was supposedly made in 1912. As Charlotte traces the history of the gown, she finds new friends and a new definition of love
March 22, 2012
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, this book!!!!! This is officially one of my all time favorite books!
Full review here: http://writingchristiannovels.blogspo...
Full review here: http://writingchristiannovels.blogspo...
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March 23, 2023Thumbed through the last half after reading the first. Couldn't do it.
I personally lost interest about the halfway mark. The two storylines include a lot of my least favorite tropes which may be why it wasn't my cup of tea.
The content was very on the edge for me. I could have dealt with it, but the constant handsy nature of the interactions between Emily and her cheating fiance was overdone and made me gag. The constant "touching" that made her quake and shiver and gasp was just... disturbing to me personally. It also grew frustrating as the character had multiple opportunities to tell others the full story and didn't, allowing her fiancé to shut her up by kissing her senseless even when she had doubts. It was just too much for me and left me feeling ick as a result.
This might be someone else's cup of tea if you don't find yourself wanting to pull your hair out after the miscommunication, cheating spouse, the "worlds against me but I won't speak up about it" vibes.
Just not for me. Did not finish, hence why I didn't give it any stars. Just wanted people to be aware of the content in case that will bother them.
I personally lost interest about the halfway mark. The two storylines include a lot of my least favorite tropes which may be why it wasn't my cup of tea.
The content was very on the edge for me. I could have dealt with it, but the constant handsy nature of the interactions between Emily and her cheating fiance was overdone and made me gag. The constant "touching" that made her quake and shiver and gasp was just... disturbing to me personally. It also grew frustrating as the character had multiple opportunities to tell others the full story and didn't, allowing her fiancé to shut her up by kissing her senseless even when she had doubts. It was just too much for me and left me feeling ick as a result.
This might be someone else's cup of tea if you don't find yourself wanting to pull your hair out after the miscommunication, cheating spouse, the "worlds against me but I won't speak up about it" vibes.
Just not for me. Did not finish, hence why I didn't give it any stars. Just wanted people to be aware of the content in case that will bother them.
April 2, 2012
“The Wedding Dress” belongs in a league completely its own, with a tapestry of love stories that will, as the cover endorsement so perfectly stated “leave you breathless.”
I was easily impressed with this novel. Four women. Four generations. Four love stories. One dress. The story has a tinge of the ethereal, but what’s the point of fiction if you can’t enjoy the chance to make a story capture the light of the impossible?
With four stories to weave into one, I thought parts of the plot would feel lacking, but quite the contrary. I wanted to spend more time with these characters, but not because I felt I needed to know them better, but because they become a close part of my life in such a short time.
I loved the little quirks of dialogue, character depth and portrayal and the seamless weaving of all these stories as though one large and gorgeous tapestry.
Being a hopeless romantic, the thought of one dress, always fitting the bride with no altering left me just a bit light in the chest. But it was the stories of these woman that moved my heart. I can’t explain it much beyond that, because there was so much to love about this book. But the story trumps all.
“The Wedding Dress” holds a promise, both the dress and the novel. And one that will find a most fitting place on my keeper shelf. No altering required.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through Litfuse for my copy to review.
I was easily impressed with this novel. Four women. Four generations. Four love stories. One dress. The story has a tinge of the ethereal, but what’s the point of fiction if you can’t enjoy the chance to make a story capture the light of the impossible?
With four stories to weave into one, I thought parts of the plot would feel lacking, but quite the contrary. I wanted to spend more time with these characters, but not because I felt I needed to know them better, but because they become a close part of my life in such a short time.
I loved the little quirks of dialogue, character depth and portrayal and the seamless weaving of all these stories as though one large and gorgeous tapestry.
Being a hopeless romantic, the thought of one dress, always fitting the bride with no altering left me just a bit light in the chest. But it was the stories of these woman that moved my heart. I can’t explain it much beyond that, because there was so much to love about this book. But the story trumps all.
“The Wedding Dress” holds a promise, both the dress and the novel. And one that will find a most fitting place on my keeper shelf. No altering required.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through Litfuse for my copy to review.
June 22, 2017
I loved this book so much that I have recommended it many times to others. I have always gotten positive feedback from those people who read it.
The Wedding Dress was the story of how a dress was worn by four different women in different time periods and no one had to have it altered. This is a romantic and truly magical story.
Charlotte Malone is the owner of Malone & Co., a popular bridal shop in Birmingham, Alabama. She wants to make each bride's wedding day very special starting with the right wedding gown. When it comes to her own wedding, she has some doubts. As she tries to pray and meditate about her situation on Red Mountain, her solitude is interrupted by activity of an estate sale at the Ludlow Estate where there is an auction going on to raise money for the poor. Charlotte finds herself pulled to the sale and eventually into bidding on a dull looking old trunk with the lock welded shut. The trunk is one hundred years old and she can't believe that she bought it. But what a treasure the trunk holds! When she gets the trunk open, she finds a beautiful wedding dress of a different time period but in pristine condition. This is a wonderful story of the lives of four different women from different times and life situations. Each person's life story is told and we see them individually but a thread runs through to link them all. We see much more than the story of a dress but we see God's love woven through the lives of the women and how He has a plan for us all.
I highly recommend this special book.
The Wedding Dress was the story of how a dress was worn by four different women in different time periods and no one had to have it altered. This is a romantic and truly magical story.
Charlotte Malone is the owner of Malone & Co., a popular bridal shop in Birmingham, Alabama. She wants to make each bride's wedding day very special starting with the right wedding gown. When it comes to her own wedding, she has some doubts. As she tries to pray and meditate about her situation on Red Mountain, her solitude is interrupted by activity of an estate sale at the Ludlow Estate where there is an auction going on to raise money for the poor. Charlotte finds herself pulled to the sale and eventually into bidding on a dull looking old trunk with the lock welded shut. The trunk is one hundred years old and she can't believe that she bought it. But what a treasure the trunk holds! When she gets the trunk open, she finds a beautiful wedding dress of a different time period but in pristine condition. This is a wonderful story of the lives of four different women from different times and life situations. Each person's life story is told and we see them individually but a thread runs through to link them all. We see much more than the story of a dress but we see God's love woven through the lives of the women and how He has a plan for us all.
I highly recommend this special book.
December 28, 2015
My own fault for buying this book without double-checking the genre. I have to be in the mood to read Christian romance. Most of it doesn't float my boat at all. This one was distracting with the asides to prayers and seeking out God. It didn't feel organic to the story at all. Coupled with two boring characters with the same voice I was not in the mood to continue the book.
The characters I read were Charlotte (present day character) and Emily (living in 1912) taking place in Birmingham.
I think that if the story had managed to flow between the present and past much better I could have stayed engaged. Instead everytime the story shifted I felt like I was hitting a mental brick wall and it would take me forever to get back into the story. I finally just gave up at page 72 and moved onto another book.
The characters I read were Charlotte (present day character) and Emily (living in 1912) taking place in Birmingham.
I think that if the story had managed to flow between the present and past much better I could have stayed engaged. Instead everytime the story shifted I felt like I was hitting a mental brick wall and it would take me forever to get back into the story. I finally just gave up at page 72 and moved onto another book.
September 11, 2025
A contemporary romance which includes history, a bit of mystery, unexpected twists, and a message about the importance of being connected to not only other people, but God has his plan for our lives.
January 4, 2016
I blame myself for this one. I jumped into this because I saw it was on sale for the Nook, checked Goodreads and the rating was fairly high, and thought the plot looked interesting. If I had researched a bit more, I would have probably discovered that this was VERY religious in nature and wasn't at all the historical fiction that I thought it was going to be. This read like a Duggar wrote it and I don't mean that in a good way at all. I'm not against Christian novels when they are presented that way and when the plot stands on its own (example - I love the Mitford series), but this book was all about weak women trying to find the right guy. Boo. Well, got my worst book of the year taken care of early, I guess!
May 21, 2013
This charming romance blends both Contemporary and Historical through unique characters spanning a hundred years. Meet Charlotte, a wedding boutique owner who takes pride and pleasure in helping brides find that special dress that will make them feel like a princess on their wedding day, but flounders when it comes to her own upcoming wedding. Meet Emily, a suffrage supporter trying to please her family and society, and losing her identity, freedom, and shot at happiness in the process.
The Wedding Dress is beautifully written in a style that sang to my internal editor. Every scene had purpose and moved the story forward, and though the pace was slower than what I prefer, it was ideal for Contemporary Romance. Kudos to the author for such a fantastic ending, one I didn't see coming until well into the book--a perfect example of how to do a HEA (happily ever after) mixed with that "unknown" element readers crave. Only one other author was able to surprise me at the end, and both surprises came about because the author broke out of the mold other CBA authors rarely stray from.
The one thing that grated was Emily's determination to please others, even at the cost of closing her eyes to obvious truth. I wanted to scream at her and shake some sense into her--maybe because I have people-pleasing tendencies myself--and if it weren't for a connection with Charlotte, I might have stopped reading the book altogether. But by the end, I wanted to hug Emily and commend her for her courage, lol. It's a talented author that can breathe life and real personalities into imaginary characters, and Hauck wowed me with her ability to redeem Emily and turn her into a true heroine. I loved the man who dressed in purple, and the supernatural element that surrounded his character. More and more CBA books seem to be incorporating a thread of the supernatural, and I love it!
Wonderful, wonderful story, and I'm looking forward to Hauck's latest release, "Once Upon a Prince". :-)
The Wedding Dress is beautifully written in a style that sang to my internal editor. Every scene had purpose and moved the story forward, and though the pace was slower than what I prefer, it was ideal for Contemporary Romance. Kudos to the author for such a fantastic ending, one I didn't see coming until well into the book--a perfect example of how to do a HEA (happily ever after) mixed with that "unknown" element readers crave. Only one other author was able to surprise me at the end, and both surprises came about because the author broke out of the mold other CBA authors rarely stray from.
The one thing that grated was Emily's determination to please others, even at the cost of closing her eyes to obvious truth. I wanted to scream at her and shake some sense into her--maybe because I have people-pleasing tendencies myself--and if it weren't for a connection with Charlotte, I might have stopped reading the book altogether. But by the end, I wanted to hug Emily and commend her for her courage, lol. It's a talented author that can breathe life and real personalities into imaginary characters, and Hauck wowed me with her ability to redeem Emily and turn her into a true heroine. I loved the man who dressed in purple, and the supernatural element that surrounded his character. More and more CBA books seem to be incorporating a thread of the supernatural, and I love it!
Wonderful, wonderful story, and I'm looking forward to Hauck's latest release, "Once Upon a Prince". :-)
September 29, 2016
4.5 Highly Recommend
Content: Clean, Christian fiction but not overly preachy
Content: Clean, Christian fiction but not overly preachy
July 14, 2022
Story Rating: 8.5/10 Christian Faith Rating: 3/3
This is a dual time period novel following four women who were each connected to the same wedding dress.
I loved the faith in this book. I loved the legend surrounding the dress and the weaving of different stories around it.
Two of the main characters I really admired. Two of them frustrated me and I’m not going to say which! I connected more with the present day story and I loved how Charlotte was able to match brides with their perfect dress.
This is a dual time period novel following four women who were each connected to the same wedding dress.
I loved the faith in this book. I loved the legend surrounding the dress and the weaving of different stories around it.
Two of the main characters I really admired. Two of them frustrated me and I’m not going to say which! I connected more with the present day story and I loved how Charlotte was able to match brides with their perfect dress.
February 11, 2017
Beautiful story.
Main character Charlotte is living in today's world with all its modern conveniences and technology. Secondary character Emily lived during the early 1900s. Despite the large time span, both women went through a journey to find their true love. The wedding dress that bound Charlotte and Emily together was a representation of God's love. This was a lovely novel about love. A perfect Valentine Month read.
My gratitude to the author for an autographed copy of The Wedding Dress. I was not required to write a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
Main character Charlotte is living in today's world with all its modern conveniences and technology. Secondary character Emily lived during the early 1900s. Despite the large time span, both women went through a journey to find their true love. The wedding dress that bound Charlotte and Emily together was a representation of God's love. This was a lovely novel about love. A perfect Valentine Month read.
My gratitude to the author for an autographed copy of The Wedding Dress. I was not required to write a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
August 11, 2020
Some caveats before I get into the meat of this review:
1) I am a Christian and I knew this was Christian Fiction going in.
2) I usually hate this kind of Christian Romance fiction.
3) I received this as a gift and was repeatedly asked about it and therefore obligated to read it.
I'll start with the negative: this book was about what I expected. To me, Christian fiction seems to be one of two things: overwrought, symbolic fantasy 'for the teenagers', and overly sugary sweet romance 'for the women' (this also splits into the lesser 'don't worry about boys yet' genre 'for the teen girls'. Don't ask me to explain it.) This definitely falls into the overbearingly sentimental romance genre. It fills all the stereotypes and all the cliches.
None of the characters are particularly deep -- yet have supposedly deep faith -- and the relationships seem equally shallow. The premise is interesting, but hampered by holes in the plot. There are some things that are never really explained, for example: the purple man is I think supposed to be God? Daniel Ludlow rides a horse into a church and suffers no consequences? Nor does the horse have any difficulties with this? Emily stays with Philip up to the very end, even though he's cheating on her, with no real explanation other than he's hot?
This last point is the most difficult for me to swallow. Emily is strongwilled and says repeatedly that she a) doesn't want to be with someone who's not in love with her, and b) is in love with Daniel, not Philip. But Philip is hot and naturally the happy ending can't happen until the end, so she has to stay with Philip because it is the only way the plot works -- even though this is incongruous with her entire character. The author could have used a million other reasons for why a relationship between Daniel and Emily could not be, but instead they chose a very weak -- and frankly, uninteresting -- reason. This reason is such a weak plot device that it creates inconsistencies not only in Emily's character but also in the characters of her parents.
The other problem with Philip is that the novel sets him up as this huge cad for stepping out on his intended, and the problem is simply resolved with a few terse lines from Emily. She dismisses his infidelity and essentially gives him permission to be with Emmeline, so I suppose we are meant to assume that those two work out 'happily ever after' even though his parents have forbidden the relationship and threatened to disinherit him. But I suppose that just goes away once Emily has spoken. (On a side note, the disinheritance threat seems to come out of absolutely nowhere, like a deus ex machina). For a novel that's definitely trying to make a point about the sanctity of love, a complete failure to address infidelity seems counterproductive.
My other main concern with this novel is one that can be applied to (in my experience) this entire genre. Why do we, as Christians, produce so much fiction 'for women' that is exactly the same as regular romantic fiction, minus the sex and plus some lyrics from worship songs? Can't we do any better? Is there nothing else Christian women care about? This is the 21st century, and Christian fiction still acts like women are only interested in getting married and having children, which is not even Biblical (both Jesus and Paul say it's better to stay single if you can so don't tell me it's our 'job' as Christians to have babies). For that matter, why is getting married and having children treated as the ultimate goal for all Christians, regardless of gender? Tim has to give up his unreligious love of motocross to be truly devoted to Charlotte and raise a family. I don't buy that. As a Christian, there is nothing we should love more than God, and we should definitely love each other more than things or hobbies, and I think the author wants us to think Tim gives up motocross for God, but that's not what the plot or the characters actually say: they make it seem like he gives it up to get Charlotte back; it doesn't feel like it has anything to do with God at all.
I think the criticisms I've seen from non-Christians on this book, that it's too preachy or that all the characters have the same viewpoint because they're all Christian are somewhat valid points. The problem for me when reading Christian fiction (I haven't read a lot, mind you, because most of it sucks) is that everyone's faith seems too easy. I think a lot of us Christians can live in a vacuum: sure, we interact with non-Christians at work and out in public, but for a lot of us, religion is a family affair, and a lot of our close friends are also religious. To that end, the complaint that every character in this book is a Christian is pretty invalid: this is the reality for a lot of Christians. As human beings, we gravitate towards people who think like us because we share commonalities and understand each others goals. It's a lot easier for a Christian to understand wanting to follow God and the Bible than a non-Christian who doesn't have the same background knowledge. That said, however, no one in this genre really seems to struggle with their faith, which is a very real thing that happens to Christians all the time. Once in my life, I'd like to see a real, down to earth approach to Christian fiction. Sure, there are times in our faith journeys that can only be described in cheesy, Christian-ese terms, but there's also parts that are dark and angry, where we rail and yell at God sometimes. I feel that this type of novel is only useful to a generally content Christian because its lacking realism. It's not going to push you to go outside your comfort zone, it's not going to make you feel like you've been in the same rock-bottom valley as the characters, it's just nice and everything works out nice because God's in control. But I think it's dishonest as Christians to assume that everything will always be our definition of good, just because God's in control: 'everything works together for good', but that's according to God, and I think a lot of the time we're not honest about the fact that that 'good for God and His plan for the world' is not the same as 'good for us'.
One final pet peeve: would it have killed the author to describe someone as something other than 'gorgeous' for once? I swear the word is on every page. And if it's not, then we have to hear about 'Tim's handsome face' or 'Daniel's silky brown hair and soft eyes' or 'Emily's perfect figure' or how she's the most beautiful girl in Birmingham. We get it, they're hot. Do we really need to be reminded on every. single. page.
The pros: there aren't a lot, but I think some of the cons can also double as pros. I'm not going to lie, I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I had realized going in how much of a suspension of disbelief it would require. I think a lot of Christian fiction goes for a realism approach (which usually doesn't work because as I said, it usually ISN'T realistic) and I shouldn't have expected that with this. That said, I don't think unrealistic storytelling is a con. If it was, fantasy as a genre wouldn't be nearly so popular. So if you're willing to take this with a huge helping of salt, you can handle the more outlandish parts of the plot.
I also appreciated the places where the novel WAS realistic, though those moments were pretty minor and overall insignificant. I appreciate the fact that the characters watch secular television or enjoy secular music, because, let's face it, a lot of us prefer the popular over the sacred when it comes to entertainment. I also appreciate that Charlotte mentions listening to both Michael Buble and Jesus Culture, because I think a lot of Christians have a music library that's a whole mess of secular and religious. I also found it refreshing that it doesn't demonize the secular choices. However, this is like......a one paragraph blip.
I did not appreciate being beat over the head with the 'no sex before marriage' commandment -- it was obvious through the characters actions and could have been merely shown, rather than told, especially since this is intended for Christian audiences (like??? we already know???). It would have improved the quality of writing a lot. But that said, I do appreciate Emily's blatant jab at rape culture, short-lived though it is. I think Christians can be incredibly Victorian in their approach to sex and absolutely refuse to talk about it, rather than acknowledging that talking about it can actually be healthy and helpful, especially considering how many rules we have about it.
The main pro is, however, the fact that it's just a feel-good book. If this is the genre you're into, then this book is great for you. I know I said earlier that the Christian tendency to paint everything as 'good' (again, our human definition of good) belies the fact that God's 'good' is not always our 'good'. But I also think there is a time and place to simply be reminded of God's love for us, and that he does send some of us incredible blessings sometimes, and storytelling is one of the best ways to share that reminder. I just wish us Christian women had a better medium for it than the seemingly endless stream of incredibly similar romance novels that keep appearing on the shelves of Christian bookstores. Romance and hot husbands aren't the only blessings God gives us.
Overall, I didn't hate it as much as I though I would, but it does suffer from a weak combination of plotting and characterization, inconsistent characterization, and it uses every single genre cliche it possibly can. But cliches aren't all bad all the time, and if Christian romance is your thing, read this novel.
1) I am a Christian and I knew this was Christian Fiction going in.
2) I usually hate this kind of Christian Romance fiction.
3) I received this as a gift and was repeatedly asked about it and therefore obligated to read it.
I'll start with the negative: this book was about what I expected. To me, Christian fiction seems to be one of two things: overwrought, symbolic fantasy 'for the teenagers', and overly sugary sweet romance 'for the women' (this also splits into the lesser 'don't worry about boys yet' genre 'for the teen girls'. Don't ask me to explain it.) This definitely falls into the overbearingly sentimental romance genre. It fills all the stereotypes and all the cliches.
None of the characters are particularly deep -- yet have supposedly deep faith -- and the relationships seem equally shallow. The premise is interesting, but hampered by holes in the plot. There are some things that are never really explained, for example: the purple man is I think supposed to be God? Daniel Ludlow rides a horse into a church and suffers no consequences? Nor does the horse have any difficulties with this? Emily stays with Philip up to the very end, even though he's cheating on her, with no real explanation other than he's hot?
This last point is the most difficult for me to swallow. Emily is strongwilled and says repeatedly that she a) doesn't want to be with someone who's not in love with her, and b) is in love with Daniel, not Philip. But Philip is hot and naturally the happy ending can't happen until the end, so she has to stay with Philip because it is the only way the plot works -- even though this is incongruous with her entire character. The author could have used a million other reasons for why a relationship between Daniel and Emily could not be, but instead they chose a very weak -- and frankly, uninteresting -- reason. This reason is such a weak plot device that it creates inconsistencies not only in Emily's character but also in the characters of her parents.
The other problem with Philip is that the novel sets him up as this huge cad for stepping out on his intended, and the problem is simply resolved with a few terse lines from Emily. She dismisses his infidelity and essentially gives him permission to be with Emmeline, so I suppose we are meant to assume that those two work out 'happily ever after' even though his parents have forbidden the relationship and threatened to disinherit him. But I suppose that just goes away once Emily has spoken. (On a side note, the disinheritance threat seems to come out of absolutely nowhere, like a deus ex machina). For a novel that's definitely trying to make a point about the sanctity of love, a complete failure to address infidelity seems counterproductive.
My other main concern with this novel is one that can be applied to (in my experience) this entire genre. Why do we, as Christians, produce so much fiction 'for women' that is exactly the same as regular romantic fiction, minus the sex and plus some lyrics from worship songs? Can't we do any better? Is there nothing else Christian women care about? This is the 21st century, and Christian fiction still acts like women are only interested in getting married and having children, which is not even Biblical (both Jesus and Paul say it's better to stay single if you can so don't tell me it's our 'job' as Christians to have babies). For that matter, why is getting married and having children treated as the ultimate goal for all Christians, regardless of gender? Tim has to give up his unreligious love of motocross to be truly devoted to Charlotte and raise a family. I don't buy that. As a Christian, there is nothing we should love more than God, and we should definitely love each other more than things or hobbies, and I think the author wants us to think Tim gives up motocross for God, but that's not what the plot or the characters actually say: they make it seem like he gives it up to get Charlotte back; it doesn't feel like it has anything to do with God at all.
I think the criticisms I've seen from non-Christians on this book, that it's too preachy or that all the characters have the same viewpoint because they're all Christian are somewhat valid points. The problem for me when reading Christian fiction (I haven't read a lot, mind you, because most of it sucks) is that everyone's faith seems too easy. I think a lot of us Christians can live in a vacuum: sure, we interact with non-Christians at work and out in public, but for a lot of us, religion is a family affair, and a lot of our close friends are also religious. To that end, the complaint that every character in this book is a Christian is pretty invalid: this is the reality for a lot of Christians. As human beings, we gravitate towards people who think like us because we share commonalities and understand each others goals. It's a lot easier for a Christian to understand wanting to follow God and the Bible than a non-Christian who doesn't have the same background knowledge. That said, however, no one in this genre really seems to struggle with their faith, which is a very real thing that happens to Christians all the time. Once in my life, I'd like to see a real, down to earth approach to Christian fiction. Sure, there are times in our faith journeys that can only be described in cheesy, Christian-ese terms, but there's also parts that are dark and angry, where we rail and yell at God sometimes. I feel that this type of novel is only useful to a generally content Christian because its lacking realism. It's not going to push you to go outside your comfort zone, it's not going to make you feel like you've been in the same rock-bottom valley as the characters, it's just nice and everything works out nice because God's in control. But I think it's dishonest as Christians to assume that everything will always be our definition of good, just because God's in control: 'everything works together for good', but that's according to God, and I think a lot of the time we're not honest about the fact that that 'good for God and His plan for the world' is not the same as 'good for us'.
One final pet peeve: would it have killed the author to describe someone as something other than 'gorgeous' for once? I swear the word is on every page. And if it's not, then we have to hear about 'Tim's handsome face' or 'Daniel's silky brown hair and soft eyes' or 'Emily's perfect figure' or how she's the most beautiful girl in Birmingham. We get it, they're hot. Do we really need to be reminded on every. single. page.
The pros: there aren't a lot, but I think some of the cons can also double as pros. I'm not going to lie, I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I had realized going in how much of a suspension of disbelief it would require. I think a lot of Christian fiction goes for a realism approach (which usually doesn't work because as I said, it usually ISN'T realistic) and I shouldn't have expected that with this. That said, I don't think unrealistic storytelling is a con. If it was, fantasy as a genre wouldn't be nearly so popular. So if you're willing to take this with a huge helping of salt, you can handle the more outlandish parts of the plot.
I also appreciated the places where the novel WAS realistic, though those moments were pretty minor and overall insignificant. I appreciate the fact that the characters watch secular television or enjoy secular music, because, let's face it, a lot of us prefer the popular over the sacred when it comes to entertainment. I also appreciate that Charlotte mentions listening to both Michael Buble and Jesus Culture, because I think a lot of Christians have a music library that's a whole mess of secular and religious. I also found it refreshing that it doesn't demonize the secular choices. However, this is like......a one paragraph blip.
I did not appreciate being beat over the head with the 'no sex before marriage' commandment -- it was obvious through the characters actions and could have been merely shown, rather than told, especially since this is intended for Christian audiences (like??? we already know???). It would have improved the quality of writing a lot. But that said, I do appreciate Emily's blatant jab at rape culture, short-lived though it is. I think Christians can be incredibly Victorian in their approach to sex and absolutely refuse to talk about it, rather than acknowledging that talking about it can actually be healthy and helpful, especially considering how many rules we have about it.
The main pro is, however, the fact that it's just a feel-good book. If this is the genre you're into, then this book is great for you. I know I said earlier that the Christian tendency to paint everything as 'good' (again, our human definition of good) belies the fact that God's 'good' is not always our 'good'. But I also think there is a time and place to simply be reminded of God's love for us, and that he does send some of us incredible blessings sometimes, and storytelling is one of the best ways to share that reminder. I just wish us Christian women had a better medium for it than the seemingly endless stream of incredibly similar romance novels that keep appearing on the shelves of Christian bookstores. Romance and hot husbands aren't the only blessings God gives us.
Overall, I didn't hate it as much as I though I would, but it does suffer from a weak combination of plotting and characterization, inconsistent characterization, and it uses every single genre cliche it possibly can. But cliches aren't all bad all the time, and if Christian romance is your thing, read this novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2021
While this may not take the prize of worst book I've read this year (A Whole New World by Liz Braswell still narrowly holds that position), this one is a STRONG second place. Get comfortable folks this could be a doozy.
I had a feeling that I wasn't going to like this book once I realized that it was a Christian fiction book (somehow I didn't pick up on that when I read the back of the book). I really hate that so many books in this genre come wrapped in a historical fiction package.
A few notes for the record:
1.) Yes, I am a practicing Christian and I have been for my entire life
2.) My aversion to Christian fiction is NOT because it promotes Christianity
3.) No, not all Christian fiction is bad (I enjoyed the Light of Eidon and select BJ Hoff books).
But I will say that most Christian books that I consider "bad" are "bad" for the same reasons. It mostly boils down to the fact that generally aspects of the actual story (characters, plot and dialogue) play second fiddle to the author's Christian message. This book is par for the course.
Dialogue: It's hard to find dialogue believable in this book because ALL the characters seem to be in agreement that God is wonderful and very interesting to talk about. Maybe it's just my unique experience, but I never talk THAT much about God in my daily life. With my family or close friends or in church, yes. But these characters seem to discuss it constantly and in a way that seems more like a sermon that one character interacting with another. I think the biggest criticism of Christian fiction in general is that it tends to come across as "preachy". When the dialogue and all the characters' inner thoughts are peppered with religious overtones, it feels more like it is coming from the author than one of the characters. Even though I tend to agree from a religious standpoint, I find these moments incredibly tedious. Show not tell is part of Creative Writing 101. Stories tend to be more powerful when God's influence is shown through the action of the characters and not because a character says something. There are plenty of examples of Christian-themed novels not considered Christian fiction that are powerful and moving because the characters are able to show these ideals. My go-to example for this the Lord of the Rings which never mentions Jesus or God once, but it clearly inspired by Christian beliefs. Other examples include To Kill a Mockingbird, Atonement and A Wrinkle in Time.
Characters: The characters lack depth! They are all squeaky clean with no real character flaws. All of them are pious, good, kind-hearted characters who attend church every sunday, pray through all problems, read the Bible in times of crisis and don't have sex before marriage (my initial cynical response to this was "yeah right"). And while these types of people can be lovely, kind-hearted people in real life, they're pretty boring when it comes to novels. Real people are complicated and even with good intentions have pretty messed up lives with a multitude of sins, vices and flaws. It's what makes us human. It's hard to relate and sympathize with perfect characters who never do anything wrong (apart from the pre-designated "villains") As Tolstoy famously said. "Happy families are all alike. Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
These are the issues that I expect to run into when I read any Christian fiction novel. I also have a bunch of issues with the writing of this novel.
Word Choice: This author needs to vary her word choice. She uses the words 'chum', 'hooked' and 'gorgeous' MANY times.
Emily Canton: This character is an idiot! I'm sorry, but I wanted to slap this girl by the end of the story. The woman catches her fiance cheating or engaging in inappropriate behavior with Emmeline with her own eyes TWICE, but spends the remainder of the novel trying to find proof that he's cheating (and then trying to disprove this proof) and convincing herself that he's not actual cheating. She is SO fickle, constantly switching her positions on whether he is faithful or not every time a guy hugs her.
Motor Cross Racing is the Devil!: This one of the most confusing aspects of this novel. It somehow presents the notion that Tim's motorcross racing hobby as the thing that breaks up their relationship. It even goes so far as to suggest that God wants Tim to give up this hobby.
What?
Throughout the story Tim is described as a responsible, mature adult with a solid job and a devoted family who just happens to like motorcross. The implication that this hobby is somehow what makes him an unfit husband because it distracts him from Charlotte is just weird. Yes
Which brings me to the next subject
Tim: Once again, Tim is not portrayed in the best light. But I don't think it's quite fair. A man is not a commitment-phobe because he has second thoughts about proposing to a girl he has only known for two months. I would call that coming to his senses. Also to revisit the previous point, he is not irresponsible because he likes motorcross. Even though he was injured, that was a freak accident not a result of recklessness or stupidity on his part.
Kathryn: This shrew of a character really serves no purpose than to make Charlotte feel bad.
Agnostic: I can tolerate books with a religious message, but I really don't like it when it tears down one set of beliefs while promoting another. This book describes an agnostic character as "Believing in nothing". This is not entirely accurate and a bit insulting to agnostics. Agnosticism is the belief that humans can't determine whether or not God exists. They do not claim to believe in God, but they don't actively disbelieve in God either. Agnostics don't believe in "nothing" either, many of them believing in their own set of values and morals and the power of the spirit of humanity.
Taffy: There is a rather insulting cliche in books where an African American character serves a stock character whose main purpose in the story is to dispense wisdom to a white character, usually with some form of mystical power. In this case, it's Taffy. Which brings up...
Historical Inaccuracies: There is no way in hell that a white girl from a prominent family would be thrown into jail for associating with a black person during the Jim Crow era, while the the black person got off without any real punishment. If this were historically accurate, the laws would be on Emily's side. Not Taffy's. Also, the concept that Emily would be the first person to wear a gown made by a black seamstress is completely inaccurate. Mary Todd Lincoln (Abe Lincoln's wife) had a black seamstress working in the White House on her gowns as far back as 1862, a full 50 years before this story.
Cliches: They are used throughout the story including such gems as "This is the first day of the rest of my life."
Riding a horse inside a church: UGH!!!! Really? This is not a Disney movie! There are some real problems with this scene. Here's the short list:
1. How did he physically get the horse inside?
2. How did no one notice that the horse was inside a church?!
3. The horse would more than likely spook while entering
4. How did she manage to ride a horse in a freaking wedding dress?!
Despite ALL of this, I did enjoy the overall concept of the wedding dress being passed throughout the years. This alone keeps it from being the worst book I've read all year, but this book was deeply disappointing and I'm glad that the next audiobook I had available was by one of my favorite authors.
I had a feeling that I wasn't going to like this book once I realized that it was a Christian fiction book (somehow I didn't pick up on that when I read the back of the book). I really hate that so many books in this genre come wrapped in a historical fiction package.
A few notes for the record:
1.) Yes, I am a practicing Christian and I have been for my entire life
2.) My aversion to Christian fiction is NOT because it promotes Christianity
3.) No, not all Christian fiction is bad (I enjoyed the Light of Eidon and select BJ Hoff books).
But I will say that most Christian books that I consider "bad" are "bad" for the same reasons. It mostly boils down to the fact that generally aspects of the actual story (characters, plot and dialogue) play second fiddle to the author's Christian message. This book is par for the course.
Dialogue: It's hard to find dialogue believable in this book because ALL the characters seem to be in agreement that God is wonderful and very interesting to talk about. Maybe it's just my unique experience, but I never talk THAT much about God in my daily life. With my family or close friends or in church, yes. But these characters seem to discuss it constantly and in a way that seems more like a sermon that one character interacting with another. I think the biggest criticism of Christian fiction in general is that it tends to come across as "preachy". When the dialogue and all the characters' inner thoughts are peppered with religious overtones, it feels more like it is coming from the author than one of the characters. Even though I tend to agree from a religious standpoint, I find these moments incredibly tedious. Show not tell is part of Creative Writing 101. Stories tend to be more powerful when God's influence is shown through the action of the characters and not because a character says something. There are plenty of examples of Christian-themed novels not considered Christian fiction that are powerful and moving because the characters are able to show these ideals. My go-to example for this the Lord of the Rings which never mentions Jesus or God once, but it clearly inspired by Christian beliefs. Other examples include To Kill a Mockingbird, Atonement and A Wrinkle in Time.
Characters: The characters lack depth! They are all squeaky clean with no real character flaws. All of them are pious, good, kind-hearted characters who attend church every sunday, pray through all problems, read the Bible in times of crisis and don't have sex before marriage (my initial cynical response to this was "yeah right"). And while these types of people can be lovely, kind-hearted people in real life, they're pretty boring when it comes to novels. Real people are complicated and even with good intentions have pretty messed up lives with a multitude of sins, vices and flaws. It's what makes us human. It's hard to relate and sympathize with perfect characters who never do anything wrong (apart from the pre-designated "villains") As Tolstoy famously said. "Happy families are all alike. Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
These are the issues that I expect to run into when I read any Christian fiction novel. I also have a bunch of issues with the writing of this novel.
Word Choice: This author needs to vary her word choice. She uses the words 'chum', 'hooked' and 'gorgeous' MANY times.
Emily Canton: This character is an idiot! I'm sorry, but I wanted to slap this girl by the end of the story. The woman catches her fiance cheating or engaging in inappropriate behavior with Emmeline with her own eyes TWICE, but spends the remainder of the novel trying to find proof that he's cheating (and then trying to disprove this proof) and convincing herself that he's not actual cheating. She is SO fickle, constantly switching her positions on whether he is faithful or not every time a guy hugs her.
Motor Cross Racing is the Devil!: This one of the most confusing aspects of this novel. It somehow presents the notion that Tim's motorcross racing hobby as the thing that breaks up their relationship. It even goes so far as to suggest that God wants Tim to give up this hobby.
What?
Throughout the story Tim is described as a responsible, mature adult with a solid job and a devoted family who just happens to like motorcross. The implication that this hobby is somehow what makes him an unfit husband because it distracts him from Charlotte is just weird. Yes
Which brings me to the next subject
Tim: Once again, Tim is not portrayed in the best light. But I don't think it's quite fair. A man is not a commitment-phobe because he has second thoughts about proposing to a girl he has only known for two months. I would call that coming to his senses. Also to revisit the previous point, he is not irresponsible because he likes motorcross. Even though he was injured, that was a freak accident not a result of recklessness or stupidity on his part.
Kathryn: This shrew of a character really serves no purpose than to make Charlotte feel bad.
Agnostic: I can tolerate books with a religious message, but I really don't like it when it tears down one set of beliefs while promoting another. This book describes an agnostic character as "Believing in nothing". This is not entirely accurate and a bit insulting to agnostics. Agnosticism is the belief that humans can't determine whether or not God exists. They do not claim to believe in God, but they don't actively disbelieve in God either. Agnostics don't believe in "nothing" either, many of them believing in their own set of values and morals and the power of the spirit of humanity.
Taffy: There is a rather insulting cliche in books where an African American character serves a stock character whose main purpose in the story is to dispense wisdom to a white character, usually with some form of mystical power. In this case, it's Taffy. Which brings up...
Historical Inaccuracies: There is no way in hell that a white girl from a prominent family would be thrown into jail for associating with a black person during the Jim Crow era, while the the black person got off without any real punishment. If this were historically accurate, the laws would be on Emily's side. Not Taffy's. Also, the concept that Emily would be the first person to wear a gown made by a black seamstress is completely inaccurate. Mary Todd Lincoln (Abe Lincoln's wife) had a black seamstress working in the White House on her gowns as far back as 1862, a full 50 years before this story.
Cliches: They are used throughout the story including such gems as "This is the first day of the rest of my life."
Riding a horse inside a church: UGH!!!! Really? This is not a Disney movie! There are some real problems with this scene. Here's the short list:
1. How did he physically get the horse inside?
2. How did no one notice that the horse was inside a church?!
3. The horse would more than likely spook while entering
4. How did she manage to ride a horse in a freaking wedding dress?!
Despite ALL of this, I did enjoy the overall concept of the wedding dress being passed throughout the years. This alone keeps it from being the worst book I've read all year, but this book was deeply disappointing and I'm glad that the next audiobook I had available was by one of my favorite authors.
February 26, 2017
Loved it!
There is so much I loved about this book. First, I really enjoyed the dual timeline. It was so well done and kept the suspense going for both stories. I also loved how the characters didn't talk the same way depending on the era. The dialogues felt appropriate for the time period. It's one of my favorite aspects about The Wedding Dress, because I really felt like I travelled back in time every time the story would jump back to 1912.
I also really appreciated that Charlotte was smart. I've read books were I felt the author had to make his or her main character dumb to keep the mystery going. I'm talking about those books were the reader has figured everything out midway through the book while the main character is still in the dark. But not Charlotte! She had the same guesses as I did, and the mystery didn't feel forced. I had no idea how the story would unfold until the very end.
And of course, the story was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! I loved the romance and the mystery and the wonderful cast of characters. I found a new favorite author.
This is definitely a must read for all Christian fiction fans out there!
There is so much I loved about this book. First, I really enjoyed the dual timeline. It was so well done and kept the suspense going for both stories. I also loved how the characters didn't talk the same way depending on the era. The dialogues felt appropriate for the time period. It's one of my favorite aspects about The Wedding Dress, because I really felt like I travelled back in time every time the story would jump back to 1912.
I also really appreciated that Charlotte was smart. I've read books were I felt the author had to make his or her main character dumb to keep the mystery going. I'm talking about those books were the reader has figured everything out midway through the book while the main character is still in the dark. But not Charlotte! She had the same guesses as I did, and the mystery didn't feel forced. I had no idea how the story would unfold until the very end.
And of course, the story was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! I loved the romance and the mystery and the wonderful cast of characters. I found a new favorite author.
This is definitely a must read for all Christian fiction fans out there!
July 9, 2018
3.5 sweet stars!
A light and sweet story that follows the history of a 100 year old wedding dress and four brides.
Overall I enjoyed this story of freedom, redemption and faith. It was sweet and I liked that it was set in the present and past.
The reason for the low rating is that I found it a little strange in places and the attempt to link with the gospel didn’t work for me as I think it crossed the line of magic rather than supernatural.
I read this book along side the audio which was narrated by Windy Lanzi. I give her 4 Stars for her performance as listening was very engaging and enjoyable.
This is my first book by Rachel Hauck and would like to read another by her in the future.
Recommended for those looking for a light story with a dual setting of past and present.
A light and sweet story that follows the history of a 100 year old wedding dress and four brides.
Overall I enjoyed this story of freedom, redemption and faith. It was sweet and I liked that it was set in the present and past.
The reason for the low rating is that I found it a little strange in places and the attempt to link with the gospel didn’t work for me as I think it crossed the line of magic rather than supernatural.
I read this book along side the audio which was narrated by Windy Lanzi. I give her 4 Stars for her performance as listening was very engaging and enjoyable.
This is my first book by Rachel Hauck and would like to read another by her in the future.
Recommended for those looking for a light story with a dual setting of past and present.
May 23, 2024
I could NOT get my mind off of this book once I started listening to it! I felt like I was on a journey with Charlotte as she goes about finding answers to the mystery of the wedding dress she finds in a trunk.
It was so neat getting to know more about the women who had worn the dress before Charlotte found it. It made me nostalgic for when wedding dresses were passed on as an heirloom to the daughter to wear at her wedding.
I really liked the southern drawl the narrator had in this story. I mean, I liked all of her different voices. She did a great job and didn't overdo it with the male voices (thank goodness).
This is my favorite book by this author and I'm so glad I listened to it!
It was so neat getting to know more about the women who had worn the dress before Charlotte found it. It made me nostalgic for when wedding dresses were passed on as an heirloom to the daughter to wear at her wedding.
I really liked the southern drawl the narrator had in this story. I mean, I liked all of her different voices. She did a great job and didn't overdo it with the male voices (thank goodness).
This is my favorite book by this author and I'm so glad I listened to it!
July 8, 2018
I really really liked this book!! I was surprised I found myself wanting to read it considering some of the reviews. IDK why ppl are saying it is really preachy Christian. I didn't feel it was come to Jesus!! at all. I'm a Christian but it is not really my reading genre. This was a sweet feel good story about a girl with a broken heart and no family. It really was sisterhood of the traveling pants (insert wedding dress) through 100 yrs kind of story. I finished it with a smile on my face. :) Yes, gushy girlie!!
May 26, 2017
This one is really hard to rate, review, and classify. I really enjoyed aspects of the story, especially Charlotte. The odd parts are...well, odd. The older gentleman, the "Purple Man" or "Mr. Oddfellow", falls just short of perfection as a mythical or supernatural being...he is one shade too nebulous. And I'm not too sure about the dress itself...what makes it fit? Is it some sort of miracle or simply "by magic"? Without a real specification, it would be easy to believe it magical, and I don't agree with that theologically. Basically, it seems that enough was said to raise questions and speculations, but not to give any sort of spiritual opinion on it. It being Christian fiction, it feels like the Christian application is missing.
The mechanics of the writing is excellent. Hauck knows her way around English better than most current authors. In the way of storytelling, however, it's simply a good rating, as it feels not quite a finished story; the characters were given a whole story arc, but not the dress itself or the purple man. Both of those remain just as shrouded in mystery as before.
All that said, I loved the womens' individual stories. The tale is very sweet and engaging, and it's easy to see how it's a reader favorite. I, however, am not comfortable with rating it more than 3.5 stars.
The mechanics of the writing is excellent. Hauck knows her way around English better than most current authors. In the way of storytelling, however, it's simply a good rating, as it feels not quite a finished story; the characters were given a whole story arc, but not the dress itself or the purple man. Both of those remain just as shrouded in mystery as before.
All that said, I loved the womens' individual stories. The tale is very sweet and engaging, and it's easy to see how it's a reader favorite. I, however, am not comfortable with rating it more than 3.5 stars.
July 18, 2017
What is it about a wedding that turns even the most unsentimental heart to mush?
Or that transforms an ordinary man and woman in a tux and white gown into emissaries of True Love Always? Maybe it’s the rich biblical symbolism that makes us swoon over bride and groom—because God so often uses the wedding metaphor to describe how He woos us. (“As a young man marries a maiden, so your sons marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” ~ from Isaiah) Wherever the magic stems from, Rachel Hauck has infused it into her charming new book, The Wedding Dress.,/i>
The story begins with Charlotte Malone, a bridal boutique owner who dresses brides for a living yet can’t summon any enthusiasm for own wedding. Charlotte attends an estate sale and feels compelled to bid on a mysterious battered trunk. When she finally breaks through the trunk’s welded lock, she discovers a vintage wedding dress. The book then moves from present day to 1912 so we can understand how the unusual dress came to be through suffragette Emily’s story. As Charlotte works out the history of the dress, we learn about Mary Grace in 1939 and Hillary from 1968.
But it’s the connection between Emily and Charlotte and what they learn about true love that really makes this story special. Though I knew there had to be an HEA (Happily Ever After) coming, I enjoyed every discovery and lover’s quarrel and sweet reconciliation along the way. I’d love to see this as a Hallmark movie!
I adore my Kindle. However, I keep hard copies of favorite stories so I can share them with my friends. And I’ve already thought of several folks I want to pass this book along to—a few of my avid teen readers at school, a friend who has cancer and delights in heartwarming stories, and a recently engaged bride-to-be. Now that I think of it, I may need more than one copy!
Stop by my blog Doorkeeper to enter The Wedding Dress Visa Card Giveaway.
The story begins with Charlotte Malone, a bridal boutique owner who dresses brides for a living yet can’t summon any enthusiasm for own wedding. Charlotte attends an estate sale and feels compelled to bid on a mysterious battered trunk. When she finally breaks through the trunk’s welded lock, she discovers a vintage wedding dress. The book then moves from present day to 1912 so we can understand how the unusual dress came to be through suffragette Emily’s story. As Charlotte works out the history of the dress, we learn about Mary Grace in 1939 and Hillary from 1968.
But it’s the connection between Emily and Charlotte and what they learn about true love that really makes this story special. Though I knew there had to be an HEA (Happily Ever After) coming, I enjoyed every discovery and lover’s quarrel and sweet reconciliation along the way. I’d love to see this as a Hallmark movie!
I adore my Kindle. However, I keep hard copies of favorite stories so I can share them with my friends. And I’ve already thought of several folks I want to pass this book along to—a few of my avid teen readers at school, a friend who has cancer and delights in heartwarming stories, and a recently engaged bride-to-be. Now that I think of it, I may need more than one copy!
Stop by my blog Doorkeeper to enter The Wedding Dress Visa Card Giveaway.
April 20, 2017
The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck is a wonderful tale about 4 brides who all wore the same dress the day they were married. The story starts in 1912 and ends in the present. The dress was beautifully made and never wore out over the years. Mysteriously it fit each bride perfectly. Never went out of style.
Emily Canton wore it in 1912 when she married Daniel Ludlow. Again in 1935 Mary Grace wore the dress when she married her sweetheart Thomas Talbot. Hillary Saltonstall was next in line to wear the dress on September the 8th 1968 when she married Joel Miller before he left for Vietnam. Then we are taken to Charlotte Malone who is last to wear the wedding dress when she marries Tim Rose.
Of coarse there's a story that goes with this dress that will capture your attention as you read though each page. You'll get to spend time with all 4 brides and get to know each of them. Each one has a special part in this story . Grab yourself a nice hot cup of tea, sit back and prepare yourself to be drawn into 4 different eras in time.
If you like romance and stories about brides you will love The Wedding Dress. I enjoyed reading into the lives of each young lady and loved how Rachel blended the story and bought the 4 brides together before the end.
I won a giveaway on Facebook by the Author and I chose The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck as my gift. I was not asked to do a review but because I enjoyed the book I wanted to do one. If you haven't already read this book I recommend it to you.
Emily Canton wore it in 1912 when she married Daniel Ludlow. Again in 1935 Mary Grace wore the dress when she married her sweetheart Thomas Talbot. Hillary Saltonstall was next in line to wear the dress on September the 8th 1968 when she married Joel Miller before he left for Vietnam. Then we are taken to Charlotte Malone who is last to wear the wedding dress when she marries Tim Rose.
Of coarse there's a story that goes with this dress that will capture your attention as you read though each page. You'll get to spend time with all 4 brides and get to know each of them. Each one has a special part in this story . Grab yourself a nice hot cup of tea, sit back and prepare yourself to be drawn into 4 different eras in time.
If you like romance and stories about brides you will love The Wedding Dress. I enjoyed reading into the lives of each young lady and loved how Rachel blended the story and bought the 4 brides together before the end.
I won a giveaway on Facebook by the Author and I chose The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck as my gift. I was not asked to do a review but because I enjoyed the book I wanted to do one. If you haven't already read this book I recommend it to you.
April 29, 2012
Brought Me to Tears
Charlotte owns a wedding dress boutique, and has a true gift for finding the perfect dress for every bride that comes her way, that is except herself. Somehow, she just cannot move forward with her wedding plans, so she visits a local historical estate for peace and quiet, but instead discovers they are having an antique sale to raise money for the foundation. She finds herself bidding on a trunk, then discovers that it holds a beautiful wedding gown, thus she begins a journey to discover who owned the gown before even though it appears unworn. Her journey takes her through one hundred years, connecting her life to this who lived gone before and opening her eyes to her own choices.
The beginning gave the impression that this book is a simple romance, but it proved to be so much more. Reading about the struggles and the lives of those who wore the dress made me smile and cry as the women found their way to the man that God had chosen for them, along the way growing in faith and hope. Anyone who enjoys a beautiful love story or a story of women seeking God’s will, will love this book.
Received Galley from NetGalley.com
Charlotte owns a wedding dress boutique, and has a true gift for finding the perfect dress for every bride that comes her way, that is except herself. Somehow, she just cannot move forward with her wedding plans, so she visits a local historical estate for peace and quiet, but instead discovers they are having an antique sale to raise money for the foundation. She finds herself bidding on a trunk, then discovers that it holds a beautiful wedding gown, thus she begins a journey to discover who owned the gown before even though it appears unworn. Her journey takes her through one hundred years, connecting her life to this who lived gone before and opening her eyes to her own choices.
The beginning gave the impression that this book is a simple romance, but it proved to be so much more. Reading about the struggles and the lives of those who wore the dress made me smile and cry as the women found their way to the man that God had chosen for them, along the way growing in faith and hope. Anyone who enjoys a beautiful love story or a story of women seeking God’s will, will love this book.
Received Galley from NetGalley.com
February 23, 2012
An amazing love story
I know this book has not been release yet, but I had won a copy of it on facebook and the minute I got it I could not put it down. The book is not just about a wedding dress but about a love story and how four amazing lives were touched by a dress. The story also talks about the struggle of a each young women trying to make a choice that will impact there lives as well as the lives of others around them. God uses a time in each young women's life to show his love for them, that with some it takes years to figure out and with others only a short time. Now the story being about 4 young women you may think it will be hard to keep up with but how ever that is not the case Rachel has done an amazing job and telling each story and having each story make an impact. God continues to work through each women and allow her story to be told and her life to be touch in the story, I do however suggest that you keep a box of tissues around though because this story can and will impact you as you read it. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did
I know this book has not been release yet, but I had won a copy of it on facebook and the minute I got it I could not put it down. The book is not just about a wedding dress but about a love story and how four amazing lives were touched by a dress. The story also talks about the struggle of a each young women trying to make a choice that will impact there lives as well as the lives of others around them. God uses a time in each young women's life to show his love for them, that with some it takes years to figure out and with others only a short time. Now the story being about 4 young women you may think it will be hard to keep up with but how ever that is not the case Rachel has done an amazing job and telling each story and having each story make an impact. God continues to work through each women and allow her story to be told and her life to be touch in the story, I do however suggest that you keep a box of tissues around though because this story can and will impact you as you read it. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did
March 29, 2012
I fell in love with Rachel Hauck's novel The Wedding Dress from the opening line and finished reading the last page with tears in my eyes. I'd anticipated reading this book for many months, and Hauck didn't disappoint me. She seamlessly wove together the stories of 4 women who are brought together by one wedding dress. Throughout the novel, Hauck highlights the importance of love, faith, choices, freedom and family. Hauck skillfully handles multiple POVs--and just when I'd decide which character's story I liked the most, she'd pull me into another character's story and I couldn't decide!
I've already purchased two copies of The Wedding Dress because I gave my first copy away. I know I'll be purchasing more.
I've already purchased two copies of The Wedding Dress because I gave my first copy away. I know I'll be purchasing more.
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