Tag Archives: Rachel Hauck

The Memory House

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Hauck, Rachel. The Memory House. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishing. 2019.

SUMMARY:
Another dual timeline story by award-winning/ best-selling author, Rachel Hauck.  In her newest novel, The Memory House, two women share grief, sorrow, loss, hope, love and faith through a common strong connection. Everleigh Applegate and Beck Holliday, though separated by over 50 years, find solace, answers and a future through the “Memory House”.  Set in the 1960’s yet also the present day, as the timespan starts to shrink between them, the bond grows deeper between the women while they search for forgiveness, overcome guilt, learn to trust again, and listen to their hearts…

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Yet again author Rachel Hauck conquers the difficulty of successfully writing between two timeframes. Leaping back and forth while connecting the women in a common thread, I wasn’t sure she could do it again (but she did)! As a favorite author of mine, I knew I would read The Memory House and am certainly glad I did. With real characters, a strong message, an interesting connection and subtle faith, the newest novel from this author may just be her best. Beautifully written in a readable style, I am already waiting for her next story.  Success…again!

RATING: 4.75 (out of ) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of The Memory House from BookLook Bloggers for my honest review*

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A Royal Christmas Wedding

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Hauck, Rachel. A Royal Christmas Wedding: The Royal Wedding Series- Book 4. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing. 2016.

royalchristmaswedding

SUMMARY:
Volleyball champion Avery Truitt is going through a rough time. Helping her mom with the Barbeque place on the beach, having recently lost her dad, and receiving some disheartening news about her beloved sport of volleyball, Avery is also still nursing a broken heart over the Prince of Brighton Kingdom, Colin. With a sister already in Brighton Kingdom married to the king and experiencing a difficult pregnancy, Avery and her mom decide to visit for the Christmas season. With an old tradition rich in romance yet wrapped in peril, Prince Colin must decide if he could persuade Avery to meet him at the Pembroke Chapel on Christmas morning should he ring the bell, even though he broke her heart…

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Loving the previous stories in the Royal Wedding Series as well as author Rachel Hauck, I knew I had to read this longer novella in the series. Visiting some of the previous characters, and of course, lots of princess glitter, it was a perfect start to the Christmas season and a good continuation of the story. With a beautiful cover, a good storyline and a bit of tradition, A Royal Christmas Wedding was well worth waiting for.

RATING:
4 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of A Royal Christmas Wedding from BookLook Bloggers for my honest review*

The Wedding Shop

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Hauck, Rachel. The Wedding Shop. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2016.

theweddingshop

SUMMARY:
Having finished her time with the military, Haley Morgan returns home to Heart’s Bend, Tennessee. While pondering what direction God may want her to take, Haley visits the remains of The Wedding Shop, a former store building which she and her now deceased best friend, Tammy, pinky-swore they would reopen one day. Through perseverance, faith, confusion, promises, discovery and one very special person, Cole Danner, Haley discovers the connection and parallel lives with the former owner, Cora Scott. At the surprising intersection, Haley must make decisions regarding her future, her faith, her family and her heart…

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Having read the previous two novels by author Rachel Hauck, The Wedding Dress and The Wedding Chapel, as well as The Royal Wedding Series, of course, I was going to read this one. With a well written novel, including a creative storyline, a faith-filled story, clean romance, and timeless characters, I enjoyed it as much as expected. Easily read yet with a deeper message, Rachel Hauck reminds us to follow our dreams and trust in God for His will.

RATING:
4 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of The Wedding Shop from BookLook Bloggers for my honest review*

The Wedding Chapel

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Hauck, Rachel. The Wedding Chapel. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing. 2015.

SUMMARY:
weddingchapelBuilt for a bride who never returned, the beautifully built stone chapel hides quietly in the woods. Football hall-of-famer, Coach Jimmy Westbrook, lovingly erected the chapel for the love of his life. With only memories left, both wonderful and sorrowful, Jimmy must decide if the time to move on has arrived. Taylor Branson, contemporary photographer and newlywed to Jack Forrester, struggles in her new marriage for several reasons, both current and past. As Jimmy and Taylor experience an intersection in their journeys, similarities, questions, answers, and true love await them surrounding the gracefully charming wedding chapel…

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Although it took a bit for me to connect with this story, perhaps due to the preconceived notion that it may be more like Rachel Hauck’s previous fairy-tale type stories, eventually it flowed handsomely and quite delicately for me. An emotionally balanced novel, the changing of the point-of-view between the four characters, as well as the shifting of times from past to present, worked well once I grew to know the characters. Definitely a favorite author of mine, I appreciate the varied direction of her work along with the alluring cover.

RATING:
4.5 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of The Wedding Chapel from BookLook Bloggers for my honest review*

How to Catch a Prince

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Hauck, Rachel Hayes. How to Catch a Prince: The Royal Wedding Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing. 2015.

princeCorina Del Rey, an American-born heiress, meets the love of her life in a whirlwind romance, resulting in marriage. Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom, war-veteran turned rugby-star, has a secret he deems necessary to keep, resulting in a divorce. Forgiveness, honesty, redemption and love must all come to terms within hearts that hurt, carry guilt, and sustain secrets but still love…

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
As the final story to The Royal Wedding Series, I was anxious to read this book. Though different than I originally was expecting, I enjoyed it. Full of “princessy-goodness” yet deeper emotions, messages and faith, it was a wonderful ending to the series. With a message of “love well” running throughout and perhaps a bit of fairy-dust included, I loved this novel from the beautiful, sassy cover to the last word. Though book 3 in the series, previous characters were revisited but How to Catch a Prince works well as a stand alone also. Without a next book to anticipate from this series, I hope Rachel Hauck is busy working on a new series…perhaps just as sparkly?

RATING:
4.5 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of How to Catch a Prince from BookLook Bloggers for my honest review*

A March Bride

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Hauck, Rachel. A March Bride. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2014.

SUMMARY:
marchbrideRoyalty Nathaniel II (of Brighton Kingdom) and Susanna Truitt (of Rib Shack BBQ, Georgia) are set to be married in just under three weeks. Due to an ancient decree still being enforced, Susanna must resign from her United States citizenship in order to serve as Princess of Brighton. Having already given up her home to join Nathaniel in Brighton as well as leaving her family, Susanna struggles with this latest necessary writ. While talking to her Pastor back at home in America, Susanna realizes her identity may be for more than her own use, it may be to serve God. Will Nathaniel and Susanna finally join as King and Princess of Brighton Kingdom?

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Having recently read Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck, I was very surprised and excited to read this continuing novella containing the same characters. As a fan of this author, I knew I was in for a treat…especially as it concerned an already-known princess! Though not necessary to read the books in order, it definitely makes for a more interlinked story if the characters are met in Once Upon a Prince and A Princess Ever After. Perhaps due to my fairy-tale bias, this novella was my favorite so far contained in A Year of Wedding Novellas.

RATING:
4.5 (out of 5)

*I received a complimentary copy of A March Bride from BookLook Bloggers and Zondervan for my honest review*

Princess Ever After

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Hauck, Rachel. Princess Ever After: Royal Wedding Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2014.

SUMMARY:
princessHaving just left her job with an accounting firm to open her own classic car restoration business, Reggie Beswick is stunned to find out she may truly be a princess…not just any princess but Princess Regina Alice Beswick Augustine-Saxon of Hessenberg. Regina soon finds that the ancient nation of Hessenberg relies on her believing who she was born to be while her heart must decide where her loyalties lie. With humor, grace, faith and her grandmother’s hand-painted book of fairytales, Regina finds her happily-ever-after in the most unusual ways.

A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS:
Having read the first book in the Royal Wedding Series-Once Upon A Prince, I was anticipating the next book…much to my delight, I enjoyed this faith-filled fairytale just as equally. Rachel Hauck did a wonderful job of combining modern-life with ancient-life, contemporary problems with past politics, reality with imagination, non-beliefs with grace and prayers, and of course, just good-old-fashioned princess fluff. I only hope the author continues with this series!

RATING:
4.5 (out of 5) pennies

*I received a complimentary copy of Princess Ever After from Zondervan and BookSneeze for my honest review*