The Wedding Dress

by Virginia Ellis

“We began the dress on the last evening in October.” For three sisters, it will become a banner of hope, spun from delicate memories of genteel tradition and woven with threads of possibility. Through the desolate landscape of winter, it will act as a beacon of unexpected fortune and faith in a world void of promise. It will inspire the noble heart that lies dormant beneath layers of grief. Together, the stalwart ladies of Oak Creek, Virginia will fashion their impossible dreams into . . .

THE WEDDING DRESS

Virginia Renfro Ellis’s extraordinary work of historical fiction evokes the tattered essence of the post-Civil War South, where widows, children, and scarred veterans were left to reconstruct a country. There is little to wish for in the lives of the Atwater women. Julia and Victoria were barely brides before their husbands marched off with the doomed Confederate army. Now alone, with scarcely enough money to see them through until spring, they embark on an impetuous mission to bring a sparkle of joy back into their youngest sister’s eyes. Seventeen-year-old Claire has always wanted to be married. And though she has no intended groom, her sisters decide to sew her a wedding gown.

As the dress takes shape, the gates of their meager plantation home welcome the arrival of Sergeant Monroe Tacy. He has come to fulfill a dying man’s last request, but his presence begins a series of remarkable events that will transform the Atwater sisters forever.

The Wedding Dress is an unforgettable lesson in hope, written with the natural simplicity and beauty of a born storyteller.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Book Club, Historical, Adult, Historical Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Virginia Ellis, aka Lyn Ellis, was a professional photographer who had traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and the world. With her camera she learned how to tell a visual story. In her Harlequin books, she was translating the visual into words, creating memorable characters, vivid settings and compelling romances. Her first book, Dear John, won a Maggie Award for Best Short Contemporary, the Waldenbooks award for Bestselling Series book from Harlequin in 1994, and was nominated in two categories for the prestigious RITA award. Her second book, In Praise of Younger Men, was also nominated for a RITA. Gin also wrote two women’s mainstream fiction novels under her own name, Virginia Ellis. Her novel The Wedding Dress was optioned by Dolly Parton Productions for Sony Pictures Entertainment. Gin was one of the five founding partners of Belle Books, along with authors Deborah Smith, Deb Dixon, Sandra Chastain, and Donna Ball.

Gin Ellis, the versatile and award-winning writer, passed away 18 January 2006.

Reviews

[Ang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quick and nice read. I was wary of the "Romance" designation because of the ripped bodices and obsessed sex books that get lumped into this category. This book is the kind of romance novel I like. Clean, realistic, sweet, and believable. The characters are great and the flow of the story is smooth and surprising. I will definitely be recommending this book and reading more from the author.

[Marla Milligan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - when I first started it I thought it was slow but ended up liking it - very sweet. Civil war story with ghosts :)

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming story about three sisters in Virginia who are trying to make their way in the aftermath of the Civil War. Two of the sisters have lost their husbands to the war and they plot to sew their younger sister a wedding dress in hopes that they can find a groom.

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of three sisters in the Civil War, two who lost their husbands and one who fears she will never get married since most of the men went away and never returned. The sisters decide to sew a wedding dress for the youngest to help her dream come true. A few interesting characters kept me going on this. I felt the plot was a little contrived, very predictable and the writing itself wasn't fantastic. But the fact that the author was a war widow herself softened me towards it a little and made me more interested in how the women in the story were feeling.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good story. It dealt with the women left behind by the Civil War...war widows, those whose husbands returned broken in body and spirit, those so young they thought the war stole their future. They dealt with their trials with strength, humor and dreams. I loved that I've never read of a similar approach to finding a husband. I was glad the women came to know themselves and didn't allow themselves to be stuck in a box...

I recommend this as a wonderful inspiring story...have your hankies ready, but happy tears.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun, easy read. It is set in the post civil war, when three sisters are left alone to survive without fathers or husbands. There is a severe shortage of men, but they start sewing a wedding dress for the youngest daughter to keep her spirits up, and hope that a man will come along for her to marry before it is complete. A good love story with a ghostly twist.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book and how all the sisters came together for a wedding and how important the least little detail was and how each of the sisters chose one important detail to work on . awesome book .

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
Not a bad story but definitely not a good one either. It's a light read based on the premise that two widowed sisters are going to make a wedding dress for their single sister in hopes that she will find a man to marry by spring. The story takes place in the post-Civil War South. There is a bizarre combination of supernatural phenomena (ghosts) and religion. It's as though this novel can't decide whether it is a ghost story or Christian fiction. Apparently, the religious references (church, pastor, prayer, etc) place the story in a cultural context of the Southern US in the 1800s.

[Bev · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of this book, but it was okay. As a general rule I just don't care for romance novels, or romance movies for that matter. There are exceptions, of course. I think it would be really hard to write a romance story that was not predictable in plot or cheesy in narrative. This did have an interesting twist with the ghosts and dreams. My library copy said that this book was chosen by Romance Writers of America as one of the Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year, so I'm not surprised that it is so well liked. It was very clean and moral- five stars for that!

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fiction. Three women in the South at the end of the Civil War, two are widows and one young woman who has never married, are trying to hold onto their family farm. The youngest is despairing of ever finding a husband (because most of the men have died in the war). The older two decide to sew her a wedding dress to give her hope.

Interesting premise -- a la if you build it, they will come!

[Kathryn Tikkanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was gifted to me and although not my usual genre I enjoyed the story. Its full of ghosts which always captures my attention and paints a picture of the old south immediately after losing the civil war. The romance was kept to a minimum which makes me happy - no bodice rippers for me since I was a teen and wading through too many Harlequin romances and Danielle Steele novels - bleck. 😁

[Virna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline is good the characters ok but somehow the author lost it halfway through. It became tedious and at some points boring, dragged on. The sisters spoil too much Claire, it just annoyed me by the time this one finally ended.

[Arnetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting read. 3 sisters on their own trying to stay alive and staying on their plantation home. A multitude of other characters enter their lives and there is drama... sums it up. I really liked this book. Quite fascinating.

[Mary Kinietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during reconstruction, the book is dedicated "To women who wait...then stand up and go on."

[Kathryn Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Civil War story. Three sisters preserver against great odds, and there are ghosts. Loved this story.

[Sandy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and sweet. A definite distraction from our crazy world right now.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, you don't see it at first but then you do and then you can't wait for it, lol. Liked all the characters, like the pace of the story.

[Lawana Sisam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book about second love!

[Sandra Swartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!! One of the best books that I have read in a while. Great story of family loyalty and enduring faith set in post Civil War times. Good characters, even better writing! I highly recommend!!

[MBenzz · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this wasn't a bad story, it was just a bit sugary for me. This was one of those books that you completely forget about 2 hours after you've finished reading it. It's the story of three sisters...Victoria, Julia, and Claire Atwater, trying to make ends meet on their Virginia plantation after the Civil War. Victoria and Julia lost their husbands to the war very soon after they were wed, and their parents were also killed, but how or why was never explored.

The youngest, Claire, is afraid that she'll never get married and have a family since the war killed off most of the eligible men in the area, so the older sisters come up with a plan to make Claire a wedding dress to cheer her up and give her hope. As the three girls begin the dress they make a promise to each other to have faith, and to believe that things can turn around for them.

As the dress begins to take shape odd things start happening. Strange visitors appear and miracles happen that forever change the fates of the three women. A kind of mushy read, it really wasn't half bad, I just felt like there wasn't any 'meat' to it. It just moved along from crises to solution, heartache to joy and so on. I also have 'The Photograph' from this author, which I'm about to start reading, and while this book didn't totally disappoint me, I have higher hopes for the next one.

[Jenben8426 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is 1865 only two years after the Civil War has ended. The Atwater sisters are in trouble. They are running low on money, supplies, and have no man to protect them during a time of reconstruction in the South. Victoria and Julia are widowed but they are determined that 17 year old Claire will not feel the distress that has taken hold of so many people. They promise Claire she will be married and begin to sew a wedding dress and pray that the groom will eventually show himself. Throughout the making of the dress the girls learn more about themselves than ever before, unexpected guests teach them lessons, and the girls learn what it means to uplift and support one another.

I enjoyed the book and the feel good messages it brought to the table. I loved the relationships between the sisters. It felt as though Virginia Ellis was taking a page from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women at times, but I still felt very connected to each girl. The hope and faith that these girls had was very refreshing. I did think the ghosts were a bit off and would have related more if only one of the girls had seen them or if Ellis had kept it to just William. I knew the ending about 30 pages into it, but still was fun to read.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three sisters struggle to survive after the Civil War devastated the south. Two of them widowed, they focus on their remaining unwed sister, promising Claire she’ll find a husband. They begin to sew her wedding dress while wondering where to get a groom. Then Sergeant Monroe Tacy shows up with a missive for Julia from her dead soldier husband. Monroe stays on, working himself into the household and into their hearts. But does he have his sights set on Claire or on one of the other ladies? A surprise arrival takes sister Victoria out of the marriage market, but Julia’s only thought is for her younger sister’s happiness, even if she has to sell their family homestead to succeed.

This poignant story will immerse you in the harsh details of the post-war era. You’ll love it if you like relationship stories, plus there’s a ghost element. I wouldn't call it a romance in the classical sense because you don't get the hero's viewpoint nor do you know who is interested in whom until the very end. My personal tastes in the historical romance genre prefer more adventure, more witty dialogue between the main characters, and more page-turning tension than is evident in this sweet, downhome tale. I'd categorize The Wedding Dress as women's fiction.

[Barb Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WEDDING DRESS

Virginia Renfro Ellis’s extraordinary work of historical fiction evokes the tattered essence of the post-Civil War South, where widows, children, and scarred veterans were left to reconstruct a country. There is little to wish for in the lives of the Atwater women. Julia and Victoria were barely brides before their husbands marched off with the doomed Confederate army. Now alone, with scarcely enough money to see them through until spring, they embark on an impetuous mission to bring a sparkle of joy back into their youngest sister’s eyes. Seventeen-year-old Claire has always wanted to be married. And though she has no intended groom, her sisters decide to sew her a wedding gown.

As the dress takes shape, the gates of their meager plantation home welcome the arrival of Sergeant Monroe Tacy. He has come to fulfill a dying man’s last request, but his presence begins a series of remarkable events that will transform the Atwater sisters forever.

The Wedding Dress is an unforgettable lesson in hope, written with the natural simplicity and beauty of a born storyteller.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, the author's writing is notably simplistic and unpolished. However, I liked the concept of this story most of all. It is about three sisters trying to survive on their plantation just after the end of the Civil War. Their parents are dead and two of the three sisters are now young widows. The third sister, Claire, is seventeen with few prospects for marriage because so many men were killed in the war. Julia and Victoria decide to make Claire a new wedding dress. The new wedding dress, instead of their mother's dress, is a symbol of a new beginning in many ways. They hope that by making this dress they will find a groom in time for a Spring wedding. For them, it is an act of faith. The book is an exceptionally easy, clean romance read, much like watching a gooey Hallmark movie. I am a fan sweet, predictable romance stories and I loved the setting/time period for this tale.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the Civil War ended and parents and husbands gone, three sisters try to keep the run-down family farm going in tough times of the reconstruction era. They also set out to sew a wedding dress for the youngest sister in the hopes that a groom will appear by the time the dress is completed. Help comes from unexpected avenues and things don't quite turn out the way they're envisioned.

This was a very enjoyable book. It was an interesting look at what post-Civil War life would have been like. I like the characters and feel that they are believable. I like the resourcefulness and determination they demonstrate. I like the theme of hope that runs throughout the book. I also appreciate that the war stories were not gory, the love stories were not graphic, and the language was non-offensive. (only a couple of swear words -- safe for anyone to read)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Loved it! Three sisters during the civil war lose their parents and two of them lose their husbands. The other sister was never married and they all decide to make her a wedding dress, even though there are no men around. The have the faith it will happen. The crazy things that happen after they decide to do this are amazing. I loved every turn and heartbreak. They are strong together.
One of the sister, Julia, who lost her husband in the war said this to her other sister Claire.
"What Claire didn't understand was that no matter how much one loved, maintaining or falling into an unfathomable depth of grief ultimatelt killed the soul. I had come very close to that point before recognizing it. Grief could, if left unfettered, become the purpose of a life rather than a tribute to lost love. I was determined not to be tempted into it again."

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a post civil war story about 3 sisters who have lost nearly everything, including 2 spouses in the civil war. They are determined however not to give up hope for their youngest sister and so they set out making a wedding dress for their sister with no prospects and little hope of marrying. It's a story of faith and the miracles that occur when we believe they will. It's an interesting story and I mostly enjoyed it. The writing is pretty simplistic and sometimes I felt deflated after expecting a good passage and finding that it just fell flat. It has ghosts in it which may turn some people off. It seemed fitting to me, seeing as how its almost Halloween and this era often seems associated with ghosts. Anyway....it was good. You might like it.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is the kind of love story I really like. I really liked all of the characters in the story, and appreciated the trials they went through. Having taken History last fall and learning about the Civil War and the battles mentioned and the hardship of reconstruction, I enjoyed (in a subdued way) reading about those events.

I loved reading about the faith Julia and her sisters had. They used their faith much in the same way I do. I don't just wait for things to happen; I work towards them and if they work out, I know it's the right thing. I loved how they pushed forward, and took things as they came, and the miracles as they happened. It was a beautifully told story of faith, hope and love.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though the book does a great job of addressing women's concerns, its post-Civil War setting feels too contemporary and the romances aren't strong enough to save it. If you're searching for a strong historical novel, I would look elsewhere. However, if you'd like a quick, light read, and aren't too bothered by things like "historical accuracy," then this sappy novel would be perfect to wile away a few hours at the beach or in your general spare time. The book earns bonus points for having chaste romances and strongly promoting the virtue of hope, but you can still probably do better for a more serious read.

Full review on my blog: http://splinteredfragmentsoflight.blo...

[Tara Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing and easy to read book. It takes place a few years after the end of the civil war, and 3 sisters are left to fend for themselves. The 2 older sisters decide that they are going to make a wedding dress for their youngest sister. Once they decide to make to dress, it is so much fun reading about all the adventures that find them while they are making the dress. This book gives a real sense of what it was like to live in the South after the end of the war, and how hard times do not mean unhappiness. It's about family, no matter what, and finding love when you thought it was lost forever.