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The Wedding Collection #2
The Wedding Chapel
An old, forgotten chapel holds the key to love and forgiveness.
Retired hall-of-fame football coach Jimmy Westbrook never imagined anything would come of his labor of love—building a wedding chapel for Collette Greer, the woman he fell in love with in 1949. But now a realtor wants the land the chapel sits on, and he sees no reason to hang onto the past.
Photographer Taylor Branson is trying to make a life for herself in New York. Leaving her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, she put a lot of things behind her, including her family’s string of failed marriages. When she falls head-over-heels for Jack Gillingham, a top ad man, their whirlwind romance and elopement leave her with doubts. Jack, while genuine in his love for Taylor, can never seem to find the right way to show her he really cares.
When a post-mortem letter from Taylor’s Granny Peg shows up, along with an old photo, she is driven to uncover family secrets and the secret to her own happiness, starting with an assignment to photograph an unknown, obscure wedding chapel back in Heart’s Bend.
Taylor begins a mission to convince Jimmy that the chapel is worth saving—and that forgiveness and healing might happen within the chapel’s walls . . . for both of them.
Retired hall-of-fame football coach Jimmy Westbrook never imagined anything would come of his labor of love—building a wedding chapel for Collette Greer, the woman he fell in love with in 1949. But now a realtor wants the land the chapel sits on, and he sees no reason to hang onto the past.
Photographer Taylor Branson is trying to make a life for herself in New York. Leaving her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, she put a lot of things behind her, including her family’s string of failed marriages. When she falls head-over-heels for Jack Gillingham, a top ad man, their whirlwind romance and elopement leave her with doubts. Jack, while genuine in his love for Taylor, can never seem to find the right way to show her he really cares.
When a post-mortem letter from Taylor’s Granny Peg shows up, along with an old photo, she is driven to uncover family secrets and the secret to her own happiness, starting with an assignment to photograph an unknown, obscure wedding chapel back in Heart’s Bend.
Taylor begins a mission to convince Jimmy that the chapel is worth saving—and that forgiveness and healing might happen within the chapel’s walls . . . for both of them.
382 pages, ebook
First published November 17, 2015
774 people are currently reading
5029 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hauck
74 books4,503 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 540 reviews
February 12, 2017
Although this book had its well written moments, I tend to struggle with how Hauck tends to write mystical or supernatural events into her stories. In The Wedding Chapel, she wrote about a heartbeat that two characters would hear loud and clear. This is weird to me and would honestly creep me out, but thats beside the point. When such mystical events take place it just ruins the credibility of the characters that she honestly does develop quite well. The second thing that I didn't care for, was the lack of communication for a duration of 60 years. To claim that you are in such deep love, yet to just walk away, is kind of unfathomable for me. Regardless of these personal frustrations with the book, Hauck does prove that she can pen strong characters that feel real, and that she can weave a message of forgiveness and hope with ease. I thought she did a good job of jumping back and forth between four point of views and two time periods smoothly. I enjoyed the book overall. Its just not a book i would be interested in reading again.
August 8, 2016
This was my first book by Rachel Hauck, and I think perhaps not the best one to start with of her books. I found it to be an intriguing story, but struggled with the telling of it. From the get-go, I was less than thrilled with the four different points of view. Perhaps this shows my youth and frame of mind at this point in life, but I was much more interested in Taylor and Jack's marriage than I was Jimmy and Colette's relationship from years ago. I'm just a reader that would much prefer to get into one or two character's heads and get to know them really well; instead, I felt like I was skimming each person's story. Because of that, some of the story-arcs just fell flat for me.
The faith element seems on the nose in some scenes, and while I love the idea of layered family secrets, they were pretty obvious from the beginning of the story. The story seemed to be trying to be a mystery and focused a lot on secrets of the past, whereas I wished it would have focused on the family dynamics of the present-day.
I did like Rachel's writing style and found it to be very readable. Again, this is my first book by this author, so please take my opinion for what it is. I did like the book, and I do still want to check out more of Rachel's books, so if anyone has any recommendations of what to try next, I'm all ears.
The faith element seems on the nose in some scenes, and while I love the idea of layered family secrets, they were pretty obvious from the beginning of the story. The story seemed to be trying to be a mystery and focused a lot on secrets of the past, whereas I wished it would have focused on the family dynamics of the present-day.
I did like Rachel's writing style and found it to be very readable. Again, this is my first book by this author, so please take my opinion for what it is. I did like the book, and I do still want to check out more of Rachel's books, so if anyone has any recommendations of what to try next, I'm all ears.
February 11, 2016
The Wedding Chapel
Okay, so...this one called up some pretty decided opinions from me, so I'm going to do my review in a slightly different format than usual to be sure I accurately express my thoughts/feelings.
1. Readability. Score 2/5. I tried months ago to read this book and laid it down in the first chapter. I tried again a few weeks later, the week it was coming out, in order to get my review up in time. I made it four chapters in and got frustrated and put it down. Last week I read a friend's review and decided to give it another try, so I knew I'd have to keep reading if I was going to manage. Once I got halfway, the going was better, as I'd gotten interested in the characters.
The grammar drove me batty. I honestly would have been able to read more easily if I'd had a print copy and a red pen so I could fix it along the way. Misplaced modifiers and passive verbs intruded a couple times as well. There were spelling errors on nearly every page in the last third of the egalley copy. I hope that a lot of this would have been fixed before final publication, but after seeing how much made it into the final copy of Hauck's last title, I am doubtful that all of it was fixed.
2. Characters. Score 5/5. Honestly, it was the characters who got me to the last page. I wanted much more of Jack and Taylor and their attempts to make their marriage work. They're in love, but they come from broken families, and they are having a really hard time with communication and assumptions. I wanted them to fix things and have their happily-ever. Collette I didn't particularly like until the very end, and I found Jimmy likable but not compelling.
3. Plot. Score 3/5. Sweetest thing ever that a man would build a wedding chapel for the girl he loved, stone by stone and beam by beam. The rest of the plot, secrets and all, I guessed accurately by chapter 10. Peg's secret? Taylor's surprise? Learning about her grandparents? The history about her father? Sorry, got it all. Does that make me a jaded reader? Maybe.
4. Is it clean? Score 2/5. Ages 18+. Cursing: "he swore"; nothing specific stated, other than a 'golly g...' which in my world is a swear. Sex: stops short of explicit description...shows pretty much everything else; mentioned quite a bit. Morals: sleeping together outside of marriage, affairs, living together before marriage.
5. Is it Christian? Score 0/5. If a book is published in the Christian market, I include this factor in my rating. So...Jesus was mentioned exactly one time in the entire book. One time. The Holy Spirit is mentioned about a half-dozen times. God is mentioned over and over, and 'having faith'; even 'miraculous' is used several times. One thing that was particularly surprising to me was that Taylor made a comment to Jack near the end of, "Weren't you one of the Christian kids in high school?" or something to effect. I mean, she's been married to him for six months and dated him for two, and she doesn't know? Reading the Bible is recommended once; it is said that Jimmy dealt with his bitterness by starting to go to church and reading through the New Testament and noticing how much it spoke of forgiveness. Other comments are made: "I'm trying to get to Heaven;" "Having faith enough to get to Heaven;" etc.
Don't get me wrong; the book is extremely spiritual, almost mystical. Some of the characters hear an audible heartbeat that they believe is the presence of God. I am not going to argue that point. I am going to point out something, though. Talking about God and feeling a presence and having faith is not the salvation of the Bible. There are many faiths and only one Saviour. As such, this book fails to be a Christian book. It could nearly as easily be a Jewish or New Age book. Faith in itself cannot save. Many people understand the existence of God/gods and the need to have faith in their lives. What makes Christians Christian is one thing: Jesus Christ. You cannot relegate Jesus to one reference and have a Christian book.
Overall score: 2/5.
The characters make immoral choices and do deal with the broken lives that result. There is a lot of heartache and a very broken large family picture. I feel that the mystical "heartbeat" of the story really fell flat. I had a hard time with a lot of the moral implications of the past as the story came to feel more and more like a classic soap opera. Yes, the ending is sweet, but the storytelling is not a winner for me. I found the time-period jumps jarring in a number of places, and even the flashbacks felt confusing a couple of times. Once I realized what the Big Reveal was going to be, I did feel a little cheated, like the author had been keeping secrets just for the fun of my not knowing what was going on.
It will probably be a while before I pick up another Rachel Hauck book.
There is so much more I could say, but I am trying my level best to avoid spoilers.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ecopy to review.
Okay, so...this one called up some pretty decided opinions from me, so I'm going to do my review in a slightly different format than usual to be sure I accurately express my thoughts/feelings.
1. Readability. Score 2/5. I tried months ago to read this book and laid it down in the first chapter. I tried again a few weeks later, the week it was coming out, in order to get my review up in time. I made it four chapters in and got frustrated and put it down. Last week I read a friend's review and decided to give it another try, so I knew I'd have to keep reading if I was going to manage. Once I got halfway, the going was better, as I'd gotten interested in the characters.
The grammar drove me batty. I honestly would have been able to read more easily if I'd had a print copy and a red pen so I could fix it along the way. Misplaced modifiers and passive verbs intruded a couple times as well. There were spelling errors on nearly every page in the last third of the egalley copy. I hope that a lot of this would have been fixed before final publication, but after seeing how much made it into the final copy of Hauck's last title, I am doubtful that all of it was fixed.
2. Characters. Score 5/5. Honestly, it was the characters who got me to the last page. I wanted much more of Jack and Taylor and their attempts to make their marriage work. They're in love, but they come from broken families, and they are having a really hard time with communication and assumptions. I wanted them to fix things and have their happily-ever. Collette I didn't particularly like until the very end, and I found Jimmy likable but not compelling.
3. Plot. Score 3/5. Sweetest thing ever that a man would build a wedding chapel for the girl he loved, stone by stone and beam by beam. The rest of the plot, secrets and all, I guessed accurately by chapter 10. Peg's secret? Taylor's surprise? Learning about her grandparents? The history about her father? Sorry, got it all. Does that make me a jaded reader? Maybe.
4. Is it clean? Score 2/5. Ages 18+. Cursing: "he swore"; nothing specific stated, other than a 'golly g...' which in my world is a swear. Sex: stops short of explicit description...shows pretty much everything else; mentioned quite a bit. Morals: sleeping together outside of marriage, affairs, living together before marriage.
5. Is it Christian? Score 0/5. If a book is published in the Christian market, I include this factor in my rating. So...Jesus was mentioned exactly one time in the entire book. One time. The Holy Spirit is mentioned about a half-dozen times. God is mentioned over and over, and 'having faith'; even 'miraculous' is used several times. One thing that was particularly surprising to me was that Taylor made a comment to Jack near the end of, "Weren't you one of the Christian kids in high school?" or something to effect. I mean, she's been married to him for six months and dated him for two, and she doesn't know? Reading the Bible is recommended once; it is said that Jimmy dealt with his bitterness by starting to go to church and reading through the New Testament and noticing how much it spoke of forgiveness. Other comments are made: "I'm trying to get to Heaven;" "Having faith enough to get to Heaven;" etc.
Don't get me wrong; the book is extremely spiritual, almost mystical. Some of the characters hear an audible heartbeat that they believe is the presence of God. I am not going to argue that point. I am going to point out something, though. Talking about God and feeling a presence and having faith is not the salvation of the Bible. There are many faiths and only one Saviour. As such, this book fails to be a Christian book. It could nearly as easily be a Jewish or New Age book. Faith in itself cannot save. Many people understand the existence of God/gods and the need to have faith in their lives. What makes Christians Christian is one thing: Jesus Christ. You cannot relegate Jesus to one reference and have a Christian book.
Overall score: 2/5.
The characters make immoral choices and do deal with the broken lives that result. There is a lot of heartache and a very broken large family picture. I feel that the mystical "heartbeat" of the story really fell flat. I had a hard time with a lot of the moral implications of the past as the story came to feel more and more like a classic soap opera. Yes, the ending is sweet, but the storytelling is not a winner for me. I found the time-period jumps jarring in a number of places, and even the flashbacks felt confusing a couple of times. Once I realized what the Big Reveal was going to be, I did feel a little cheated, like the author had been keeping secrets just for the fun of my not knowing what was going on.
It will probably be a while before I pick up another Rachel Hauck book.
There is so much more I could say, but I am trying my level best to avoid spoilers.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ecopy to review.
May 19, 2018
Like a Hallmark Channel telefilm, this sweet story shows the power of love...and that, as 1 Corinthians 13 says, "love endures all things".
December 18, 2015
*My Thoughts*
Wow. Wow,wow,wow,wow,WOW! I do not have a clue how Rachel pulled this off but I am so glad she did!! Why am I so surprised she did? Let me list the reasons:
1. I generally am not a fan of stories about couples with marital problems. I read fiction to escape stress and that feels like non-fiction to me.
2. The story is not just told from one persons point of you but from four. FOUR!
3. This is one of those books where it switches from one scene to another-this one happens to be from 1948 to 2015!
4. I didn't feel lost when it ended. (This is not a bad thing, read to the end!)
The funny thing is, those are all things that make it difficult for me to get into a novel with. That and the fact that I had 2 days to read it. I finished it in 3 1/2 hours. No food. No water. No bathroom breaks. I don't know what you call it but around here...that's called obsession.
I was entirely and completely obsessed with this book. It was beautiful. Heartfelt. Well written. Captivating. Enchanting. Breathtaking. Surprising. Endearing. There are not enough words to describe how much I loved this book.
Absolutely worth reading 50,000,000,000 times. And I will. Believe me.
____________________________________________________
*My overall thoughts*
The best contemporary/historical mixed novel I have ever read! Beautiful and redemptive, this story will captivate you from beginning to end!
_______________________________________________________
*My Rating*
I give The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck...
5 stars!!
*I received this book from litfuse, the publisher, and the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have given. All thoughts were my own and I was not compensated in any other way.
July 25, 2019
The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck... Oh my, what a sweet, sweet story.
Taylor and Jack, a young couple that eloped and is now questioning their decision. A past that keeps Jack from opening up emotionally and Taylor, who’s family dynamics hold secrets and divorces that make her feel as if her story has already been written and a successful marriage and true love is not in the plan for her. Between exes, regrets, lack of communication and emotions, their marriage is on the rocks.
Colette, a soap opera actress whose sixty years of acting on a show that had cast members like family, is coming to an end and she is questioning everything, including a lost love from a past that won’t let go. As she embodies the spirit of her character, Vivica, she tries to confront the past and get answers she feels she deserves.
Jimmy, residing in Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, is being pressured into selling the wedding chapel that he built with his own hands. The stunning building hasn’t see a single wedding, but Jimmy is still reluctant to sell it. It’s a staple in his life and it’s not fair to see it fall into someone else’s hands.
The Wedding Chapel follows the lives of these four people telling their stories and sharing their perspectives. Let me just say, this book really surprised me. Flashbacks into the past, secrets exposed, heart-breaks, heart-aches, and tender moments that leave you swooning. Oh this book gave me all the hallmark movie feels but also threw in some twists I never saw coming.
Beautiful book and sweet-filled read!
Taylor and Jack, a young couple that eloped and is now questioning their decision. A past that keeps Jack from opening up emotionally and Taylor, who’s family dynamics hold secrets and divorces that make her feel as if her story has already been written and a successful marriage and true love is not in the plan for her. Between exes, regrets, lack of communication and emotions, their marriage is on the rocks.
Colette, a soap opera actress whose sixty years of acting on a show that had cast members like family, is coming to an end and she is questioning everything, including a lost love from a past that won’t let go. As she embodies the spirit of her character, Vivica, she tries to confront the past and get answers she feels she deserves.
Jimmy, residing in Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, is being pressured into selling the wedding chapel that he built with his own hands. The stunning building hasn’t see a single wedding, but Jimmy is still reluctant to sell it. It’s a staple in his life and it’s not fair to see it fall into someone else’s hands.
The Wedding Chapel follows the lives of these four people telling their stories and sharing their perspectives. Let me just say, this book really surprised me. Flashbacks into the past, secrets exposed, heart-breaks, heart-aches, and tender moments that leave you swooning. Oh this book gave me all the hallmark movie feels but also threw in some twists I never saw coming.
Beautiful book and sweet-filled read!
June 3, 2016
The last two chapters were my favorite. I love this author but for whatever reason, I didn't care for this book. *shrug
December 2, 2015
The Wedding Chapel entranced me from the very beginning. The dual timeline added an element of intrigue that kept me turning the pages and inhaling the words as quickly as possible. I especially loved the fact that readers get to see the story from various perspectives as the focus alternates between the four main characters. To me, this kept the plot flowing and the emotional investment strong.
As always, Rachel Hauck writes with grace and heart, her words flowing masterfully across the pages. The vivid characters felt like real people, and I was sad to say goodbye to them when the story concluded. I could have easily set up camp there in Heart’s Bend for quite some time, and that’s in large part a result of Hauck’s talent for descriptive phrasing and depth. The town, the plot and the people wrapped around me like a hand-stitched quilt and refused to let go.
A fellow reviewer mentioned that she felt sin was "excused, justified, and even glorified" in The Wedding Chapel but I personally saw none of that here. What I saw was a family torn apart and devastated by sin. I saw broken hearts and wasted lives and needless pain. One small decision that could have been justified as only affecting two people rippled out and tangled countless people in its destruction. Some innocent. Some not so innocent.
Tucked away between the family history mystery and the wedding chapel is the even more important theme of love. Not just romance. But true love, the kind that lasts for sixty years even when rejected time and time again. The kind that sticks it out when the marriage falters or veers off course. The kind of love that confronts painful secrets and difficult truth and still forgives. The kind of love that accepts the abandoned, the orphaned, the hard-to-love and models the Divine picture of adoption – without manipulation or agenda. In today’s world, this reminder is all the more important and vital, and Rachel Hauck paints it beautifully.
I could not help but think as I read The Wedding Chapel that it would make the perfect book club read – or a Hallmark movie. It has all the right elements: emotional tug, compelling characters, an enduring story, and romance (of course). I would easily recommend it to fans of Kate Morton, Katie Ganshert, Susan Meissner or any of Hauck’s previous novels, for that matter. This is a wonderfully uplifting and incredibly engrossing story that will remind you of the power of secrets and restoration … and how the Truth (and the love of a Father) will set you free.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
As always, Rachel Hauck writes with grace and heart, her words flowing masterfully across the pages. The vivid characters felt like real people, and I was sad to say goodbye to them when the story concluded. I could have easily set up camp there in Heart’s Bend for quite some time, and that’s in large part a result of Hauck’s talent for descriptive phrasing and depth. The town, the plot and the people wrapped around me like a hand-stitched quilt and refused to let go.
A fellow reviewer mentioned that she felt sin was "excused, justified, and even glorified" in The Wedding Chapel but I personally saw none of that here. What I saw was a family torn apart and devastated by sin. I saw broken hearts and wasted lives and needless pain. One small decision that could have been justified as only affecting two people rippled out and tangled countless people in its destruction. Some innocent. Some not so innocent.
Tucked away between the family history mystery and the wedding chapel is the even more important theme of love. Not just romance. But true love, the kind that lasts for sixty years even when rejected time and time again. The kind that sticks it out when the marriage falters or veers off course. The kind of love that confronts painful secrets and difficult truth and still forgives. The kind of love that accepts the abandoned, the orphaned, the hard-to-love and models the Divine picture of adoption – without manipulation or agenda. In today’s world, this reminder is all the more important and vital, and Rachel Hauck paints it beautifully.
I could not help but think as I read The Wedding Chapel that it would make the perfect book club read – or a Hallmark movie. It has all the right elements: emotional tug, compelling characters, an enduring story, and romance (of course). I would easily recommend it to fans of Kate Morton, Katie Ganshert, Susan Meissner or any of Hauck’s previous novels, for that matter. This is a wonderfully uplifting and incredibly engrossing story that will remind you of the power of secrets and restoration … and how the Truth (and the love of a Father) will set you free.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)
June 12, 2016
Make no mistake, this is the type of book that must be coupled with a steaming hot cup of tea and a cat curled at your feet. Rain or sunshine, completely optional. "The Wedding Chapel" is also one of those books that generally readers have a good indication about how the book is going to turn out. For me, it was a good weekend read; purely for pleasure! I loved the four people in this story, Taylor, Jack, Jimmy and Colette. Sometimes in this vast and often frightening world, it is nice to be able to escape into a story that is all heartbeat and rainbow.
I know, I know, I haven't really delved into the plot, but it's only because I don't want to give even a morsel of this beautiful story away.
I know, I know, I haven't really delved into the plot, but it's only because I don't want to give even a morsel of this beautiful story away.
July 21, 2017
This story has a bit of everything that I like---connection to the past, a second chance at love, family drama, romance, healing, reconciliation, hope---plus a LOT of heart. It made me picture some of my favorite old movies and the actors that brought them to life re-creating this story. Loved it!
November 6, 2015
A wedding chapel that has never seen a wedding. The football coach who built the chapel stone by stone as a tribute to his lost, but never forgotten, love. The elderly actress with past regrets. A newlywed couple with communication problems. "Coach" Jimmy Westbrook poured his heart and soul into building a chapel for the wedding he hoped to have with his high school sweetheart, Collette Greer. For over sixty years, the chapel has stood vacant. It's a place where Jimmy's memories live. Photographer Taylor Branson left her hometown of Heart's Bend, Tennessee to make a name for herself in New York. She doesn't believe in love based on the track record of her family's failed marriages. When she's swept off of her feet by Jack Forester, also from Heart's Bend, Taylor opens her heart a bit to love. Jack's got his own demons that are hurting his relationship with Taylor. Despite his very real and deep love for Taylor, he struggles to share his heart. When Taylor is asked to photograph a wedding chapel in the hills of Tennessee, she reluctantly returns home. The beauty of the chapel, and Coach's obvious love for the woman he built it for, touch something deep inside Taylor. The longer she's in town, the more she discovers that she doesn't want to give up on her marriage. She's captivated by the beauty of the chapel and Coach's story. Yet Taylor also discovers that her own family is connected to both Jimmy and the chapel in a way that she never imagined. Will Jimmy live in the past or be willing to move on? And can Jack and Taylor build a strong marriage despite their rocky beginnings? And for Taylor's elderly aunt, Collette Greer, will she be able to finally gain the peace she longs for from the past that haunts her?
Wow. That's really all I can say about this book. Having read several others of Rachel's books including The Wedding Dress, I had a good idea as to what to expect with this one.
She has seamlessly woven the past with the present and four differing viewpoints to make this a novel I really couldn't put down. Even though the book is told from Taylor, Jack, Jimmy, and Collette's perspectives, I wasn't lost at all. Each piece just peeled back another layer of this remarkable story.
Why did it capture me so much? First of all, the story telling. My heart hurt for Jimmy and for Collette. I wanted Jack and Taylor to talk to each other. Needless to say, I was enthralled by the characters and their lives.
While this one is very different than the Royal Wedding Series, I still loved it. It was similar in style to the Wedding Dress.
I received this book for free from BookLook Bloggers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of women's fiction, Rachel Hauck, Julie Lessman, Karen Kingsbury, Jody Hedlund, Denise Hunter, Irene Hannon, Susan May Warren, contemporary fiction.
Rating - 5 stars
Note - The review will be posted on Amazon on or around November 17, 2015.
Wow. That's really all I can say about this book. Having read several others of Rachel's books including The Wedding Dress, I had a good idea as to what to expect with this one.
She has seamlessly woven the past with the present and four differing viewpoints to make this a novel I really couldn't put down. Even though the book is told from Taylor, Jack, Jimmy, and Collette's perspectives, I wasn't lost at all. Each piece just peeled back another layer of this remarkable story.
Why did it capture me so much? First of all, the story telling. My heart hurt for Jimmy and for Collette. I wanted Jack and Taylor to talk to each other. Needless to say, I was enthralled by the characters and their lives.
While this one is very different than the Royal Wedding Series, I still loved it. It was similar in style to the Wedding Dress.
I received this book for free from BookLook Bloggers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Recommended to fans of women's fiction, Rachel Hauck, Julie Lessman, Karen Kingsbury, Jody Hedlund, Denise Hunter, Irene Hannon, Susan May Warren, contemporary fiction.
Rating - 5 stars
Note - The review will be posted on Amazon on or around November 17, 2015.
June 3, 2016
The Wedding Chapel is a dual story line with a current day thread about Jack and Taylor and the history of Jimmy and Colette from the 1940s and 1950s. As a fan of historical fiction, I really enjoyed learning about Jimmy and Colette and how World War II impacted their lives.
All of the characters have struggles to work through and I enjoyed the journey. I look forward to reading other novels by Rachel Hauck.
All of the characters have struggles to work through and I enjoyed the journey. I look forward to reading other novels by Rachel Hauck.
September 14, 2016
I love Rachel's books and this was no exception. As always, highly recommended!!
#allthetears
#allthetears
November 10, 2019
An easy, fluffy read that was delightful and fun. 😊 I was hooked and everything turned out just as you thought it would. 😉
November 10, 2025
A very touching story that held my interest throughout. The storyline alternates between the late 40's, early 50's & 2015. The chapters also alternate between 4 main characters. I did not find it confusing to follow along.
This is the second book of 4 in a series. Although I really enjoyed the first book, (which I read last year) The Wedding Dress, I enjoyed this one even more.
These are Christian Romance, so the romances are discreet and the characters discuss God in their lives. At times I was frustrated by decisions some of the characters made, but it was great to read them work through their issues. A few surprises along the way and a satisfying ending made this a book I had a hard time putting down & would definitely recommend. This would make a great movie for Hallmark.
This is the second book of 4 in a series. Although I really enjoyed the first book, (which I read last year) The Wedding Dress, I enjoyed this one even more.
These are Christian Romance, so the romances are discreet and the characters discuss God in their lives. At times I was frustrated by decisions some of the characters made, but it was great to read them work through their issues. A few surprises along the way and a satisfying ending made this a book I had a hard time putting down & would definitely recommend. This would make a great movie for Hallmark.
November 19, 2015
Investing in "The Wedding Chapel" isn’t hard. The decades long love story is sure to stir the reader’s emotions and as is true to the signature style that is Rachel Hauck, the book has a wonderful concept of love so that despite the complex story, by its conclusion everything is wonderfully brought full circle. At the core, the story is about two couples. The first is Jimmy and Collette; 19240s, high school sweethearts, life hasn’t been kind to the now elderly couple. Collette left, leaving Jimmy with a shattered heart and nothing but a shell of a dream. In the present day, Taylor married Jack on a whim – in fact, they eloped much to the shock and horror of Taylor’s family. Six months into their marriage and Taylor senses their relationship is fading – fast. Leaving to return to her hometown for a job, it takes a wedding chapel, a reunion and a carefully hidden secret for over 50 years to open their hearts to new possibilities.
This is a kind of “raw” story. It’s not the typical contemporary fluff in the same sense as Rachel’s prior works. In fact, this reminded me of Nicholas Sparks "The Longest Ride" in some sense though as one would expect, "The Wedding Chapel" has a far more rewarding payoff. After a mediocre beginning (strictly on my part, not because the book was ill-written), about ½ way through the book, something clicked into place and the flow of this story worked its magic. I think my primary hesitation with the story was the four person point-of-views and within that, two of the POV’s shift back in time as well as unfold in the present. For me, as a reader, this is often too “messy” for someone who enjoys a two-person switch-off, back-and-forth only between the primary characters. With this story, I understand why it was so important to dig deeper into Jimmy and Collette’s story. Fortunately, the end result is really, quite beautiful.
I have to confess I liked (surprisingly) Taylor and Jack’s story best. In particular I liked Jack. Written onto these pages is a very real and very flawed male protagonist, who underneath his insecurities and messy past lays a heart of gold. I never doubted that Jack loved Taylor with a kind of reverence, and I stand resolutely by the fact that he cherished her. He just needed to find a way to move past ghosts that were trapping him in a past he didn’t know how to repair. Both of them came into their whirlwind romance with baggage, what they hadn’t counted on was those ghosts rearing up, affecting who they were as one half of each other’s hearts.
"The Wedding Chapel" is very different than Rachel’s last adventures which took us on the adventure of a lifetime with their three royal brides, but it’s a heartwarming story nonetheless. This is certainly one of those books that has that something special. Personally I found it quietly impacting. Everyone’s story leads to a satisfying place and gives the characters a promising future, bringing them all to a place of new beginnings and forgiveness.
Sincere thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.
This is a kind of “raw” story. It’s not the typical contemporary fluff in the same sense as Rachel’s prior works. In fact, this reminded me of Nicholas Sparks "The Longest Ride" in some sense though as one would expect, "The Wedding Chapel" has a far more rewarding payoff. After a mediocre beginning (strictly on my part, not because the book was ill-written), about ½ way through the book, something clicked into place and the flow of this story worked its magic. I think my primary hesitation with the story was the four person point-of-views and within that, two of the POV’s shift back in time as well as unfold in the present. For me, as a reader, this is often too “messy” for someone who enjoys a two-person switch-off, back-and-forth only between the primary characters. With this story, I understand why it was so important to dig deeper into Jimmy and Collette’s story. Fortunately, the end result is really, quite beautiful.
I have to confess I liked (surprisingly) Taylor and Jack’s story best. In particular I liked Jack. Written onto these pages is a very real and very flawed male protagonist, who underneath his insecurities and messy past lays a heart of gold. I never doubted that Jack loved Taylor with a kind of reverence, and I stand resolutely by the fact that he cherished her. He just needed to find a way to move past ghosts that were trapping him in a past he didn’t know how to repair. Both of them came into their whirlwind romance with baggage, what they hadn’t counted on was those ghosts rearing up, affecting who they were as one half of each other’s hearts.
"The Wedding Chapel" is very different than Rachel’s last adventures which took us on the adventure of a lifetime with their three royal brides, but it’s a heartwarming story nonetheless. This is certainly one of those books that has that something special. Personally I found it quietly impacting. Everyone’s story leads to a satisfying place and gives the characters a promising future, bringing them all to a place of new beginnings and forgiveness.
Sincere thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing purposes.
June 23, 2017
This is another of Rachel Hauck's books that cover different time periods and how they intersect at some point. As the story starts out, a group of close high school friends get together to hang out all the time--after school, football games and during the summer in the town of Heart's Bend, Tennessee. This is during the 40's right before the Korean War. As it happens in the life of a group of friends, jealousy occurs as does competition between each other. Collette and Jimmy loved each other and wanted to marry. He even built a wedding chapel on his family's land for Collette. But Collette's sister was also in love with Jimmy. She was the stronger personality and convinced Collette that she should stay away from Jimmy. So, Collette ran away to New York with one of the guys in the group. Some of the group went to war. Some of them married and stayed in Heart's Bend. Years later, Collette is an actress in a long running soap opera. Jimmy was a hall of fame football star and high school coach. But he never married.
On a different timeline, in today's time, Taylor left Heart's Bend to pursue a career as a photographer. She is living in New York. She and Jack, a media specialist, also from Heart's Bend run into each other and marry after a whirlwind romance. But their marriage is on shaky grounds. Jack comes from a dysfunctional background and has problems believing the marriage is going to work out. He is keeping secrets from Taylor about a job offer in a different city, thinking that she won't want to go with him. When Taylor's job sends her on a photo shoot for the soap opera that Collette is a cast member of, she meets Collette, who is actually her grandmother's sister. About the same time, Taylor's job sends her to Heart's Bend for a photo shoot of the wedding chapel that Jimmy built. As Taylor and her sister clean out their recently deceased grandmother's house, the secrets of years ago begin to slowly unravel as she reads her grandmother's journal.
This is a thought provoking story about the frailties and humanity of people and how misunderstandings and secrets can cause so much damage but also the power of redemption and healing through grace. There is a connection between the characters in the different generations that Rachel Hauck has created and she does a great job of telling an amazing story to tie everything together.
On a different timeline, in today's time, Taylor left Heart's Bend to pursue a career as a photographer. She is living in New York. She and Jack, a media specialist, also from Heart's Bend run into each other and marry after a whirlwind romance. But their marriage is on shaky grounds. Jack comes from a dysfunctional background and has problems believing the marriage is going to work out. He is keeping secrets from Taylor about a job offer in a different city, thinking that she won't want to go with him. When Taylor's job sends her on a photo shoot for the soap opera that Collette is a cast member of, she meets Collette, who is actually her grandmother's sister. About the same time, Taylor's job sends her to Heart's Bend for a photo shoot of the wedding chapel that Jimmy built. As Taylor and her sister clean out their recently deceased grandmother's house, the secrets of years ago begin to slowly unravel as she reads her grandmother's journal.
This is a thought provoking story about the frailties and humanity of people and how misunderstandings and secrets can cause so much damage but also the power of redemption and healing through grace. There is a connection between the characters in the different generations that Rachel Hauck has created and she does a great job of telling an amazing story to tie everything together.
March 5, 2016
A multi-generational story of healing and restoration.
The intricate tapestry of The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck creates a complex picture of interwoven lives. Each character thread is specifically placed. No one thread can shape the image by itself, but together they weave a tale that speaks of the power of healing and restoration.
The story of Taylor Branson and her new husband Jack is juxtaposed to an older tale of aging high school football coach, Jimmy Westbrook and his estranged love, Collette Greer. Battling miscommunication and the damaging toll that keeping secrets can take, these four lives are forever changed through the course of the story and their encounter with the wedding chapel Jimmy built for his true love.
I enjoyed this dual-time story set in past and present day New York and Hearts Bend Tennessee. Of course, the fact that Taylor was a photographer appealed to me as well, seeing as how I am also one. As I've come to expect with Rachel's books, her descriptions painted a vivid image for me and the depth of each character was strong. Emotions came off the page, affecting me in a personal way. I also enjoyed the ending and the strong themes that were wrapped together cementing the importance of restoration.
One thing I did want to see more of was Taylor and Jack's story. I felt like--at a certain point which I won't say so as not to spoil anything--I wanted to see more of why they changed not just how, but maybe I'm being nitpicky ;)
I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Rachel Hauck as well as those who enjoy romance, historical romance, and dual-time novels.
Originally posted on my blog: http://eahendryx.blogspot.com/2015/09...
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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
The intricate tapestry of The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck creates a complex picture of interwoven lives. Each character thread is specifically placed. No one thread can shape the image by itself, but together they weave a tale that speaks of the power of healing and restoration.
The story of Taylor Branson and her new husband Jack is juxtaposed to an older tale of aging high school football coach, Jimmy Westbrook and his estranged love, Collette Greer. Battling miscommunication and the damaging toll that keeping secrets can take, these four lives are forever changed through the course of the story and their encounter with the wedding chapel Jimmy built for his true love.
I enjoyed this dual-time story set in past and present day New York and Hearts Bend Tennessee. Of course, the fact that Taylor was a photographer appealed to me as well, seeing as how I am also one. As I've come to expect with Rachel's books, her descriptions painted a vivid image for me and the depth of each character was strong. Emotions came off the page, affecting me in a personal way. I also enjoyed the ending and the strong themes that were wrapped together cementing the importance of restoration.
One thing I did want to see more of was Taylor and Jack's story. I felt like--at a certain point which I won't say so as not to spoil anything--I wanted to see more of why they changed not just how, but maybe I'm being nitpicky ;)
I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Rachel Hauck as well as those who enjoy romance, historical romance, and dual-time novels.
Originally posted on my blog: http://eahendryx.blogspot.com/2015/09...
_______________
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.
November 25, 2015
This emotional story takes the reader on a journey that spans decades. I find myself reaching for the word “saga” to define the multi-generational novel that is The Wedding Chapel.
The story is told from the perspectives of four different characters: Taylor, Jack, Collette, and Jimmy. Taylor and Jack’s tale is a modern day struggle to save their marriage, which began with a hasty elopement. I loved their portions of the book! They had so much emotional baggage that they both brought into the relationship. Watching them overcome the things that had haunted them was beautiful.
Collette and Jimmy’s story is one that takes place in the past and in the present. It was interesting to get glimpses into the way things began for them, while understanding that something fell apart somewhere along the way. Little by little, the truth of what really happened is revealed in all of its ugly and messy glory.
I loved the twists and turns in this book and the way the small wedding chapel was at the heart of all of these secrets coming to light. The author did a great job of illustrating the devastating effect that secrets, bitterness, and jealousy can have on many generations of lives.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
The story is told from the perspectives of four different characters: Taylor, Jack, Collette, and Jimmy. Taylor and Jack’s tale is a modern day struggle to save their marriage, which began with a hasty elopement. I loved their portions of the book! They had so much emotional baggage that they both brought into the relationship. Watching them overcome the things that had haunted them was beautiful.
Collette and Jimmy’s story is one that takes place in the past and in the present. It was interesting to get glimpses into the way things began for them, while understanding that something fell apart somewhere along the way. Little by little, the truth of what really happened is revealed in all of its ugly and messy glory.
I loved the twists and turns in this book and the way the small wedding chapel was at the heart of all of these secrets coming to light. The author did a great job of illustrating the devastating effect that secrets, bitterness, and jealousy can have on many generations of lives.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
July 31, 2016
One of the trends that I have noticed in some fiction is to have characters that are married or mature as the main characters. I am loving this! I am not sure if that is my age showing, but it is wonderful to have characters that we can relate to. Ms. Hauck weaves a tale of the past mingled with the future. When the past and the future meet, the lessons they all learn are ones that will touch you in your walk with the Lord.
It is easy to say “It is just a fiction story.” With this story, you will be called upon to dig deeper. You will be asking questions about your marriage, relationships and devotion to the Lord. “Do I hear the heartbeat of God?” and “Does He hear when I cry?”
The Wedding Chapel is a wonderful story, wrought with secrets and imperfect characters, but pure by the redemption of the One who saves us.
It is easy to say “It is just a fiction story.” With this story, you will be called upon to dig deeper. You will be asking questions about your marriage, relationships and devotion to the Lord. “Do I hear the heartbeat of God?” and “Does He hear when I cry?”
The Wedding Chapel is a wonderful story, wrought with secrets and imperfect characters, but pure by the redemption of the One who saves us.
November 13, 2015
An enjoyable Christian romance that spans about 60 years. There is love, but there are also secrets that cause problems in the relationships. Each character has his/her own demons to battle but as they mature in life the problems aren't quite so insurmountable, especially if you believe in God and his calling for each of us.
There are a few characters that you don't like but they are crucial to the storyline and the progression of all of the characters.
There are a few characters that you don't like but they are crucial to the storyline and the progression of all of the characters.
Read
July 1, 2017DNF
September 23, 2023
Gosh I struggled with this book. I started it 3 times on audio then had to go back and start AGAIN physically because I just was not getting engaged. There are a lot of characters introduced and while everyone was distinct, nobody was really relatable or interesting. Jimmy fell in love with Collette in 1949 when they were teens. Now Jimmy owns a wedding chapel that has never been used and he's trying to sell. He built it for Collette. Collette is a soap star whose show is just about to end. She never married or had kids after Jimmy. Taylor is in a troubled new marriage with Jack. She's a photographer who has been tasked with taking pictures of Collette and her former cast. She's also Collette's niece. Taylor wants to convince Jimmy not to sell the chapel because she feels like its something special. The book is really just exploring the relationships between all these people, the histories of the people and the chapel, and thats about it. I just couldn't connect and care very much.
September 11, 2021
I really enjoyed how Taylor, Jack, Jimmy, and Colette's stories wove in and around each other, and the main setting of Heart's Bend, Tennessee. Though I had figured out a main plot point pretty early on, it was still interesting to see how the pieces started to fit together to help me understand not only the present day story, but also what had transpired 60 years previously.
I especially appreciated the faith thread in the book . . . how we need to listen for the influence of God in our lives, and how if we're not hearing it anymore, something needs to change.
4.5 stars
I especially appreciated the faith thread in the book . . . how we need to listen for the influence of God in our lives, and how if we're not hearing it anymore, something needs to change.
4.5 stars
November 13, 2018
I know one should never judge a book by its cover, but because of the cover for The Wedding Chapel, I expected something quite different from the soul-moving story I encountered. Hauck once again takes the reader to that place they think they might have been but doubted. Her expert weaving of family characters and crises stirs hope in the face of regrettable decisions that result in crushing realities. This book is masterfully imagined and written, bringing, yet again, redemption for the weary.
September 24, 2023
Gosh I struggled with this book. I started it 3 times on audio then had to go back and start AGAIN physically because I just was not getting engaged. There are a lot of characters introduced and while everyone was distinct, nobody was really relatable or interesting. Jimmy fell in love with Collette in 1949 when they were teens. Now Jimmy owns a wedding chapel that has never been used and he's trying to sell. He built it for Collette. Collette is a soap star whose show is just about to end. She never married or had kids after Jimmy. Taylor is in a troubled new marriage with Jack. She's a photographer who has been tasked with taking pictures of Collette and her former cast. She's also Collette's niece. Taylor wants to convince Jimmy not to sell the chapel because she feels like its something special. The book is really just exploring the relationships between all these people, the histories of the people and the chapel, and thats about it. I just couldn't connect and care very much.
February 26, 2016
Though this is the second in Rachel Hauck's "Wedding" series (The third, The Wedding Shop, set to be released this autumn), The Wedding Chapel is not a direct sequel to The Wedding Dress. In fact, I didn't recall coming across any recurring characters from The Wedding Dress here, so this one can easily be read as a stand-alone.
The Wedding Chapel opens in the year 1949 with the introduction of teen Jimmy Westbrook living the small-town life in Heart's Bend, Tennessee. He's hanging with his buddy Clem one day when Clem shows Jimmy a picture of his two cousins from England. Clem's never met them in person but was told the girls were orphaned after World War II and have now made plans to come to Heart's Bend to live with their next-of-kin. The girls are around the same age as Jimmy & Clem and Jimmy is immediately taken with the looks of one of the sisters. Upon their arrival, Jimmy learns the beauty's name is Collette and over time a friendship develops between them, a friendship tainted by the romantic interest Collette's jealous sister, Peg, has in Jimmy. When Collette & Jimmy start to fall for each other, it begins to create a rift between Collette and Peg, but Collette's in love and believes everything will eventually sort itself out. Little does she know just how deep Peg's devious roots run!
Jimmy begins to build a chapel for his love for them to marry in, but the construction as well as the relationship is interrupted with the arrival of the Korean War. Jimmy is drafted. When he comes back, he's surprised to find Collette has up and moved to New York with virtually no explanation. But the truth to this one is a tangled story that takes decades to unravel.
Fast-forward to present time, Collette is now an established soap opera actress in her 80s. The show she's worked on for sixty-five years is coming to a close and the network wants a run of final-season promo shots with the cast. The photographer hired to do the photography? None other than Taylor, Collette's -- grand-niece, is it? the granddaughter of Collette's sister, Peg. The two are virtually strangers, having only spoken a couple times in decades. The family drama gets even more convoluted when Collette gets tied up in a ad-campaign headed by Taylor's ad exec husband, Jack Forester, who has messed up familial ties of his own in Heart's Bend.
Taylor also gets extra work shooting pictures of Jimmy's chapel built for Collette, though she doesn't have any clue of her own ties to the building, only doing the work as a paid gig for an architectural magazine. Jimmy also wants to use the pictures because he feels it's time to make peace with the past and finally sell the chapel since after 65 years it would seem that Collette's probably not coming back... So you can see how everyone's going to end up coming together to finally hash out age-old grievances and hurts.
I ended up not loving this one quite as much as The Wedding Dress -- I just thought the storyline in the first book was just a tad more interesting -- but still really enjoyed this one! There's still a bit of historical fiction here for those who liked that about the first book, but it's not the main focus here. The Wedding Chapel focuses more on the intricacies of relationships (both familial and romantic), making peace with emotional wounds that might never get the resolution you want but will probably heal in their own way and in their own time. It also looks at what true love should mean, as opposed to just heated infatuation or obsession, and what one should be willing to do or sacrifice for those they truly care about. Sweet stuff! There was a tinge of sadness to it for me though. Just the idea of Jimmy and Collette being separated for SO many years without a word. The why of this is explained in the end, but there's still a sense of the tragic to it, so much wasted time! But that idea plays well into the theme of letting go of what's passed and embracing what you have right now in the moment. But dang, it took me back to the first time I watched that Mel Gibson Forever Young movie -- gave me the same happy-sad feelings at the end! Speaking of the ending of this book, it's kind of funny that Collette is an established soap opera actress because those little twists and reveals at the end -- talk about soap endings!
But yes, still having a good time with this series and look forward to the next installment :-)
FTC DISCLAIMER: TNZ Fiction Guild kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.
The Wedding Chapel opens in the year 1949 with the introduction of teen Jimmy Westbrook living the small-town life in Heart's Bend, Tennessee. He's hanging with his buddy Clem one day when Clem shows Jimmy a picture of his two cousins from England. Clem's never met them in person but was told the girls were orphaned after World War II and have now made plans to come to Heart's Bend to live with their next-of-kin. The girls are around the same age as Jimmy & Clem and Jimmy is immediately taken with the looks of one of the sisters. Upon their arrival, Jimmy learns the beauty's name is Collette and over time a friendship develops between them, a friendship tainted by the romantic interest Collette's jealous sister, Peg, has in Jimmy. When Collette & Jimmy start to fall for each other, it begins to create a rift between Collette and Peg, but Collette's in love and believes everything will eventually sort itself out. Little does she know just how deep Peg's devious roots run!
Jimmy begins to build a chapel for his love for them to marry in, but the construction as well as the relationship is interrupted with the arrival of the Korean War. Jimmy is drafted. When he comes back, he's surprised to find Collette has up and moved to New York with virtually no explanation. But the truth to this one is a tangled story that takes decades to unravel.
Fast-forward to present time, Collette is now an established soap opera actress in her 80s. The show she's worked on for sixty-five years is coming to a close and the network wants a run of final-season promo shots with the cast. The photographer hired to do the photography? None other than Taylor, Collette's -- grand-niece, is it? the granddaughter of Collette's sister, Peg. The two are virtually strangers, having only spoken a couple times in decades. The family drama gets even more convoluted when Collette gets tied up in a ad-campaign headed by Taylor's ad exec husband, Jack Forester, who has messed up familial ties of his own in Heart's Bend.
Taylor also gets extra work shooting pictures of Jimmy's chapel built for Collette, though she doesn't have any clue of her own ties to the building, only doing the work as a paid gig for an architectural magazine. Jimmy also wants to use the pictures because he feels it's time to make peace with the past and finally sell the chapel since after 65 years it would seem that Collette's probably not coming back... So you can see how everyone's going to end up coming together to finally hash out age-old grievances and hurts.
I ended up not loving this one quite as much as The Wedding Dress -- I just thought the storyline in the first book was just a tad more interesting -- but still really enjoyed this one! There's still a bit of historical fiction here for those who liked that about the first book, but it's not the main focus here. The Wedding Chapel focuses more on the intricacies of relationships (both familial and romantic), making peace with emotional wounds that might never get the resolution you want but will probably heal in their own way and in their own time. It also looks at what true love should mean, as opposed to just heated infatuation or obsession, and what one should be willing to do or sacrifice for those they truly care about. Sweet stuff! There was a tinge of sadness to it for me though. Just the idea of Jimmy and Collette being separated for SO many years without a word. The why of this is explained in the end, but there's still a sense of the tragic to it, so much wasted time! But that idea plays well into the theme of letting go of what's passed and embracing what you have right now in the moment. But dang, it took me back to the first time I watched that Mel Gibson Forever Young movie -- gave me the same happy-sad feelings at the end! Speaking of the ending of this book, it's kind of funny that Collette is an established soap opera actress because those little twists and reveals at the end -- talk about soap endings!
But yes, still having a good time with this series and look forward to the next installment :-)
FTC DISCLAIMER: TNZ Fiction Guild kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.
January 10, 2016
THE WEDDING CHAPEL was another roller-coaster ride of emotions from Rachel Hauck. I always feel like Rachel writes from the heart about real struggles and difficulties that readers can relate to on some level. This story was no different. It was heartbreaking, but also beautifully hopeful for two couples who must face their past and let it go in order to accept a better and brighter future. They must forgive and choose to not repeat mistakes. To open their hearts and risk the possibility of failure. To love in order to see that there is something better and stronger and more for them that God is pushing them towards. It was a book that left my heart full at the end and one I'd definitely recommend to those who have enjoyed this author's other books and who enjoy Christian romantic fiction.
This story was definitely character driven, which worked well since I loved the characters. They had insecurities and faults and histories that weren't perfect or even nice in many ways. They struggled. The faltered. They made mistakes. They also searched their hearts. Prayed. They made good decisions or what they thought was best and they fought for that. I cheered them on. I loved both the historical story of Jimmy and Collette (Oh, that sister Peg!!! How I wanted to strangle her!). I loved Jack and Taylor's story. There were moments that cracked me up or made me want to cry because the emotions and struggles were so true (such as the pregnancy feelings and cravings).
It was honestly just a great story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to book groups and those looking for something that will wring their heart, but be worth the pain for the joyful end.
Content: Some innuendo and closed-door scenes relative to the story and characters - clean.
Source: I would like to thank Zondervan for my complimentary copy through Litfuse Publicity for the book's tour, which did not affect my review in any way.
This story was definitely character driven, which worked well since I loved the characters. They had insecurities and faults and histories that weren't perfect or even nice in many ways. They struggled. The faltered. They made mistakes. They also searched their hearts. Prayed. They made good decisions or what they thought was best and they fought for that. I cheered them on. I loved both the historical story of Jimmy and Collette (Oh, that sister Peg!!! How I wanted to strangle her!). I loved Jack and Taylor's story. There were moments that cracked me up or made me want to cry because the emotions and struggles were so true (such as the pregnancy feelings and cravings).
It was honestly just a great story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to book groups and those looking for something that will wring their heart, but be worth the pain for the joyful end.
Content: Some innuendo and closed-door scenes relative to the story and characters - clean.
Source: I would like to thank Zondervan for my complimentary copy through Litfuse Publicity for the book's tour, which did not affect my review in any way.
November 17, 2015
A beautiful wedding chapel stands hidden in the Tennessee woods, built with loving hands for a bride-to-be who never returned. A redemptive story that shows how nothing is impossible with a touch of Divine help, this dual timeline tale revolves mainly around two couples, whose stories all have a beginning in the small Tennessee town of Heart's Bend. The modern day couple who had a whirlwind romance beginning, struggles with a future together, thinking they're doomed to repeat their family's past; and an older couple, who were separated by the Korean War and a lie, impacting them for sixty years.
The first half of the book felt a bit like an emotional roller coaster, as the married couple struggled to communicate and trust each other. The hopeful infusion of faith later on in their relationship made me want to cheer, showing that "with God all things are possible"; the impact on their lives and their family's was so uplifting. I found some of the "God talks" so encouraging that I reread the pages several times. The Divine touch, which this author does so well, showed how we are never unloved or abandoned by God, no matter how difficult the circumstances seem. The little nods to other characters and places from the Royal Wedding series added a bit of fun too.
Readers who enjoy redemptive, Christian fiction will enjoy this bit of a departure from the author's other series. I hope the wedding chapel shows up in other books, now that its secrets have been revealed. 4.5 stars
(Book provided by NetGalley and Zondervan Publishing in exchange for my honest review.)
The first half of the book felt a bit like an emotional roller coaster, as the married couple struggled to communicate and trust each other. The hopeful infusion of faith later on in their relationship made me want to cheer, showing that "with God all things are possible"; the impact on their lives and their family's was so uplifting. I found some of the "God talks" so encouraging that I reread the pages several times. The Divine touch, which this author does so well, showed how we are never unloved or abandoned by God, no matter how difficult the circumstances seem. The little nods to other characters and places from the Royal Wedding series added a bit of fun too.
Readers who enjoy redemptive, Christian fiction will enjoy this bit of a departure from the author's other series. I hope the wedding chapel shows up in other books, now that its secrets have been revealed. 4.5 stars
(Book provided by NetGalley and Zondervan Publishing in exchange for my honest review.)
December 21, 2015
This was certainly a cute read. I really enjoyed it. :) Normally I don’t pick up too many contemporary books, but having read one of Rachel Hauck’s other books and enjoying it, I wasn’t hesitant to try another, and I’m glad I did! This one had pieces of the story that were set in the late 40’s/early 50’s, and it was all so delightfully depicted.
The only thing I didn’t care for and would warn others about is the amount of ‘intimate’ moments there were. I don’t think they were necessary at all, at least in any detail.
The faith strand was very powerful at the end, and had me a tiny bit water-eyed I admit. :) Though I didn’t “agree” that once you’ve heard God’s heart, it stops and becomes solely part of walking by faith. Yes, we are definitely to walk by faith (amen to that), but we can also hear the heart of God no matter what.
The characters were very real – their flaws and all. I enjoyed the journeys each went on within themselves. Not sure I could pick a favourite…Jimmy and Collette in their teen years especially, and I really enjoyed Taylor’s character. And Jack. At the first introduction of him, I wasn’t sure, but as we got to read from his point of view, my heart ached for him.
I really like Rachel Hauck’s writing – oh! And there was a mention of one of her previous books that I thought was cute. :)
All in all, I found this to be quite an enjoyable book! Recommended for ages 18+
I received a complimentary copy from the publishers/Litfuse/FictionGuild in exchange for my honest review which I have given.
The only thing I didn’t care for and would warn others about is the amount of ‘intimate’ moments there were. I don’t think they were necessary at all, at least in any detail.
The faith strand was very powerful at the end, and had me a tiny bit water-eyed I admit. :) Though I didn’t “agree” that once you’ve heard God’s heart, it stops and becomes solely part of walking by faith. Yes, we are definitely to walk by faith (amen to that), but we can also hear the heart of God no matter what.
The characters were very real – their flaws and all. I enjoyed the journeys each went on within themselves. Not sure I could pick a favourite…Jimmy and Collette in their teen years especially, and I really enjoyed Taylor’s character. And Jack. At the first introduction of him, I wasn’t sure, but as we got to read from his point of view, my heart ached for him.
I really like Rachel Hauck’s writing – oh! And there was a mention of one of her previous books that I thought was cute. :)
All in all, I found this to be quite an enjoyable book! Recommended for ages 18+
I received a complimentary copy from the publishers/Litfuse/FictionGuild in exchange for my honest review which I have given.
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