Cover Image: The Love Letter

The Love Letter

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Member Reviews

Past and present.
Alternating timelines.
Two love stories in one book.
Redemption.
What more is there to ask for?

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck spans generations by following two couple's love stories one set during the Revolutionary War in South Carolina and the other in modern day in Hollywood. Love, hardship, facing your fears, and redemption are the major themes in this book. This is a Christian novel, but it doesn't push Christianity on the reader. Instead it shows beautifully how God's love redeems us.

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It’s hard to imagine two more contrasting settings than modern-day Hollywood and war-torn 1780s South Carolina, but they pair up exceptionally well in this latest dual-timeline story from Rachel Hauck. Even better, they explore some of my favourite questions about love: Is the idea of ‘one true love’ the stuff of fairy tales, or does it exist in our world? What is ‘true love’ anyway? And what does it take to find it?

Even betterer (don’t tell my children I just used that word!), although the historical and contemporary stories dovetail together into an unexpected and poetic whole, they also leave the reader with a subtle tension to explore when it comes to those questions I just mentioned about ‘true love’. Food for thought and plenty of fodder for book club discussions!

Although both of these stories held me firmly in their grasp, I particularly loved the development of Jesse and Chloe’s relationship. There was an inexplicable and somewhat understated attraction between them from the moment they met, but because of their previous experiences they tried (with varied success) to ignore their chemistry and simply develop a friendship. These moments provided some of the sweetest parts of the book: the back and forth as they shared their past shame, the simple honesty of their friendship, the semi-frequent and oh-so-sweet kisses, and the moments of connectedness when they “sat in silence and simply breathed.”

I also loved the way the two stories paralleled and contrasted one another. Hamilton and Jesse are held back by guilt over past actions, and Esther and Chloe are each forced into a situation they’ve done everything in their power to avoid: In Esther’s case, submitting to her father’s expectations, and in Chloe’s case . . . well, you’ll find out. I won’t say any more except that the unexpected developments kept me turning the pages past my bedtime and pointed the characters toward the freedom and happiness that comes from the truest love of all. And if that sounds like I’ve left out all of the contrasts, you’re right. You’ll have to discover them for yourself, because SPOILERS!

If I may be allowed one small complaint, it would be that the characters seemed prone to stuttering at the beginning of sentences—at least, enough that it became a bit of a distraction for me. Otherwise, I've found my appreciation of this story has actually increased the longer I've allowed it to marinate in my mind.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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The novel switches timelines between the Revolutionary War era and present day. Two love stories mingle together for a nice romantic read. Chloe, a famous "always dies in the end" actress, comes across a movie script about Hamilton's and Esther's Revolutionary Era unending love. She is cast in the movie which leads her to develop a relationship with the writer, Jesse. Their relationship parallels the relationship of Hamilton and Esther as the chapters switch back and forth between the romances. In the beginning of the book, the switching of timelines was difficult to follow, but after the development of the characters, it was easier to understand. Each character is a hero in their own way. In Hamilton's and Esther's story, the author did a nice job portraying the hardship of war on families and communities without overdoing it. The Hollywood romance with Chloe and Jesse came to life with normal events readers can relate to. As a Christian novel, the author weaves God's love and redemption into both romances in a powerful and believable way. This is the first book I read by Rachel Hauck and look forward to reading others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck is an amazing story. At first I was hesitant about reading it because I didn't know it was a "Christian" title. If I've learned one thing about that description it is that just because a book is labeled Christian does not have any bearing on whether it was enjoyable for someone of another religion. Although there were references to God in the story it did not feel at all religious.
A love letter was originally written by Hamilton Lightfoot to his girlfriend, Esther Longfellow, during the early days of the Revolutionary War. Hamilton would prefer not to fight. His parents and sister were killed by the British when he was a young boy and now the uncle that has raised him is also killed by the British Loyalists. Esther's father, however, is a Loyalist. Meanwhile, Jesse Gates, a descendant of Hamilton Lightfoot has come into possession of the love letter and has written a screenplay about it. Chloe Daschle, an actress from a Hollywood family wants to overcome her reputation as " the one that always dies" in movies. Chloe reads for the movie and gets the part. Filming starts and like many Hollywood scenarios, everything is changed mid-movie. The book constantly flips between two stories. I enjoyed them both very much. The Love Letter gives us a love story within a love story with an ending that did not disappoint!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

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The Love Letter is a split-time novel that follows the lives of strong, unique, and flawed characters.
I loved Hamilton and Esther’s story. It was intriguing reading how a young couple might handle the American Revolution and the trials it brought during their time. As they strive to hold onto each other and their love, they learn about themselves and the God who holds it all together. It was intriguing to watch how Rachel Hauck resolved their story.
I enjoyed Chloe and Jesse’s story, but I couldn’t get on board with it as much as the historical one. Chloe seemed rather overdramatic. However, I liked watching these two characters grow more. Their growth was more measured and I felt like I connected with that more than Hamilton and Esther.
I enjoyed this novel, but it didn’t grip me as many have this year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

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Long lost love and redemption

The Love Letter is told in alternating timelines.

In the past:

Ester and Hamilton are childhood friends who fell in love. Their future appeared bright except for the fact that the Revolutionary War was being waged and people were asked to pick sides. Ester's father is a loyalist and will not hear of his daughter being in a relationship with Hamilton. Ester is put in the position of defying her father and choosing Hamilton or losing Hamilton to make her father happy.

In the present:

Chloe is an actress who has been typecast as dying in every moving in which she stars. When she is given the script for a historical love story, she knows she is meant to play Ester Kingsley. Jesse is the screenwriter who wrote the movie. He has been in a rut but was inspired by a one-page letter written by his colonial ancestor.

I will admit, that I requested this book for two reasons - 1. The cover and 2. It was classified as a romance. I like to throw in a romance once is a while to break up all the psychological thrillers I love to read. An added plus was that there is a historical romance involved which made the book even more enticing! What I did not realize was that this was Christian Romance. Which I have no problem with but goes to show that I did not read the entire description. So, since I mentioned it is Christian Romance, I will say that this book does not feel preachy or overly religious. I don't mind reading books about people of faith regardless of what their faith might be. If it works in the story, then I am fine with it.

Typically, with alternating time lines/story lines I tend to like one more than the other. That was the case here. I enjoyed the past/historical part of the book the most. I enjoyed reading those sections. Perhaps because these characters feel as if they have more obstacles, there is a war, her family is on one side of the war, his on the other. I enjoyed their story and although things did not end as I thought they would, I realize the story ended how it should have ended. I had a harder time connecting with the present-day story set in Hollywood. For whatever reason, I was not as invested in that story-line. Of course, there is a connection between the past and the present. The one-page letter but there is another connection as well. It is not a big stretch but works her nevertheless.

Overall, an enjoyable read but not one that will stay with me. I doubt I will be thinking about this book in months to come. This is a perfect case of it is me and not the book. Many are loving this book and I can see why. I think this book is perfect for those who love a lighter romance book. Had this book just been set in the past, I most likely would have enjoyed it more.

Thank you to Thomas Mercer Fiction and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Favorite Quotes:

Chloe never understood how one could simply fall out of love. Was it an open window, a trap door?

Hollywood is getting tired of me. I’m fifty-seven going on a hundred. I refuse to have plastic surgery and… I refuse to play one of those horny old cougars who makes a fool of herself by falling for some hot thirty-something who only has one thing on his mind.

My Review:

While the premise sounded interesting, I struggled to remain engaged with this book, it wasn’t my cup of tea. Written with two timelines that were 240 years apart, both storylines involved a young couple of ancestral heritage bucking authority and yearning to establish a romantic relationship during a turbulent period. Both timelines were overflowing with heartbreak, grueling disappointments, angst, stress, despair, and conflicts of every sort – which again, not my favorite tropes. As such, my frustration and dissatisfaction were entirely self-inflicted - I chose poorly. There was considerably more religious spirituality than I was expecting and I couldn’t seem to invest or connect to but a few of the characters as I found most of them rather shallow and tedious. Several storylines seemed to lack cohesion - or maybe I just got lost. I probably should have stopped with a DNF but was ultimately glad I continued as despite my disappointment and frustrations with the author’s choices, I needed closure and in due course, I did enjoy the ending, although I doubt it would be an easy read for anyone, nor was it an HEA all the way around.

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I wish to take this opportunity to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this very entertaining novel in exchange for an honest review. Loved the setting. Its seldom that I find books that are set during the Rev. War. I was immediately engaged in this story which is set partly in modern day, as well as the Rev. War. This was beautifully written with strong characterization as well as plot. This is my first Rachel Hauck book, but it definitely will not be my last.

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I have to say, I usually don’t care for books that go back and forth during time periods, but this was the ultimate exception. I heard a lot about how great it was and they were not wrong! It was amazing in every way. The romance and characters, the story itself flowed beautifully. Very well done. Loved it!

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I enjoyed reading this book, it's the first by this author that I've read. I liked the sound of the book although I don't usually ready historical novels, this book had enough of the present day in it to keep my attention more. I found that I cared more about the present day characters than that of the older ones. I found the ending to be a little predictable, but nevertheless it was still an enjoyable read.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/review/R2FV18TJ0WPCXK?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

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All I can say is, wow. Rachel Hauck sure knows how to twine her characters together in these intricate storylines that somehow fit together and draw you in. You can’t help but keep turning the page to find out what happens next!

Like with most of the split-time novels I read, I was drawn more to one storyline, in this case that of Jesse and Chloe. Their story has its roots in Esther and Hamilton’s, and the Hollywood setting is fascinating. (I’ve never really been a fan of Revolutionary War fiction, so that probably contributed to my opinion.)

I did wish for a bit more resolution between Hamilton and Esther. I wanted to know how their lives ended up after that New York encounter, but the novel does resolve well without that detail. I enjoyed Chloe and Jesse’s romance and the character development they show. I do want to know what happens next for them, so here’s hoping they make a cameo in a future book!

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This is a novel I definitely needed because after being in an awful slump, it brought we right back out into the light of reading. The story was beautiful and the romance had me swooning for hours. I'm also obsessed with the whole two stories in one bit so this was definitely a win for me!

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I thought this was an interesting book. I liked it pretty well. The story line did keep my attention. I did find it a little bit hard to follow as there were several different people's stories going on.  I thought the character's were believable and relatable.  The present day story was more interesting to me. I think Rachel Hauck did a good job weaving a story that bounced back between the Revolutionary war and present day. She wrapped up all the pieces of the story well.

I recommend this book to my family and friends.

I received this book from the publisher to read and give my honest review.

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I really enjoy when a story includes two time eras. It’s like a buy one get one sale, and I love a bargain.
 
It was a little more difficult for me to connect with Esther and Hamilton (the Revolutionary War era) and I kept finding myself wanting to skip to the contemporary era with Jesse and Chloe’s story. Their stories involve the movie industry and overcoming upsets of the past, which carried more depth for me. 
 
The theme of forgiveness weighs heavy and reveals a powerful and freeing conclusion to both stories. 
 
I wanted a faster pace with the Historical side of the story, but overall, I enjoyed the book as a whole.

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Two timelines combined with two love stories and the way Hauck brings them together is better than the best Love Letter ever written.

Chloe Daschle has become known as the queen of the death scene and is in dire need of a change. She doesn’t want to be cast in a movie to just be killed off at the end. She wants to prove she can be deeper than what is shown on screen. Romance has never been successful for her, either on screen or in real life. When Chloe is given the script for the best love story she has ever read, she knows she is perfect for the role of Esther Kingsley. The story is one of romance, war, and finding out if true love can really exist. Jesse Gates, the screenwriter, has written this based off of a one-page letter found from his ancestors. He has had rocky relationships in the past and doesn’t feel he deserves happiness. Jesse wants to be deeply involved in the film and ends up as one of the extras. During a scene with Chloe, the chemistry is undeniable and they both start to play out their own love story.

I have to admit I had just a little bit of trouble getting into this book, a fact that surprised me since I have loved Rachel Hauck’s previous books. Luckily, I didn’t give up on the story and loved how it played out in the end. The love stories, both in the past and present played out in such a way that worked beautifully for the characters and settings they were in. There were some really special moments between some of the characters, in particular between Chloe and her dad and even Jesse and Chloe’s Dad. A few moments felt a little slow, especially towards the beginning, but once the story was part way in it really picked up the pace and captured my attention until the very end. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but the ending is well worth sticking with the story. Rachel Hauck is quickly becoming one of the best romance writers out there and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. I recommend this to readers that love historical romance and a love story that spans time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

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I love Rachel Hauck and this book was one of the best I've read all summer. I usually do not care for books that switch back and forth between time periods, but this one was an exception.

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Four stars. The Love Letter from Author Rachel Hauck
I did enjoy this book. It does go back and forth from modern day Hollywood to the heart of the Revolutionary War. A show is fashioned from a love letter passed down through the family to Jesse who writes a screenplay based on the love affair of Esther and Hamilton. The letter was written by Hamilton who finally writes of his love for Esther. Her Father wanted her to have nothing to do with Hamilton who she knew from childhood. He just didn’t feel Hamilton was appropriate especially as Hamilton joins the war, fighting on the opposite side as Esther’s Father supports. Esther is head over heels in love with Hamilton and can’t get him out of her heart. Chloe who is to play Esther finds herself sharing a compelling attraction to Jesse, neither wants to be involved with anyone, but they can’t seem to help themselves. This story is mainly about two star-crossed lovers from the past, with links to the present…..and there is the mystery all through the book what was in the letter and will they end up together.

I received this book free from Netgalley.com in kindle format in exchange for an honest review which you see above.

Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress comes a story of long-lost love and its redemption in future generations.
Romance has never been actress Chloe Daschle’s forte—in life or on screen. But everyone knows who to call for a convincing death scene . . . and it might be killing her career.
When Chloe is given a peek at the script for an epic love story, she decides to take her destiny into her own hands and request an audition for the lead female role, Esther Kingsley. The compelling tale, inspired by family lore and a one-page letter from the colonial ancestor of scriptwriter Jesse Gates, just might break her out of this career-crippling rut. Jesse would rather write about romance than live through it after his past relationship ended in disaster. But once on-set together, the chemistry between Jesse and his leading lady is hard to deny.
Centuries earlier, in the heart of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow wrote their saga off the silver screen. Esther’s Loyalist father opposes any relationship with Hamilton, but Esther must face her beloved father’s disapproval and the dangers of war in order to convince Hamilton of their future together. Hamilton has loved Esther for years, and on the eve of battle pens the love letter she’s always wanted—something straight from the heart.
Set in stunning upcountry South Carolina, The Love Letter is a beautifully crafted story of the courage it takes to face down fear and chase after love, even in the darkest of times. And just maybe, all these generations later, love can come home in a way not even Hollywood could imagine.

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This is the first book I have read by this author and I definitely will be looking for more of her books. I am a fan of historical fiction, so the dual time-line aspect of this book grabbed me right away.

When Chloe and Jesse (the modern day characters) meet, they are both struggling to find healing from relationships in their pasts. Chloe dreams of finding her one true love while Jesse feels he is unworthy of being loved or of loving someone. The back stories to these feelings are shared as the book progresses.

The backdrop of this book is a love story of two people, Esther and Hamilton, during the Revolutionary War and their story is told in flashbacks. Jesse has written a screenplay of their story and the current and the past collide in an interesting fashion.

The author has created believable characters who struggle with their faith and with forgiveness. I found that the faith element of the book added to the story-line. It is a book I enjoyed and would recommend without hesitation.

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I feel like this book takes me thru 4 people. I dont know why the author felt the need to make us read about script or the story from his grandpa side, I did not get to finish the book. I felt nothing, no chemistry no lust kinda rushed romance, the shifting for me were kinda unnecessary. I would've preferred more focus on the present events that what I got from the description anyway, I wish I could finish the book because A I hate unfinished anything B. I feel like I own it to the author to at least since they gave me chance to review the book. However,I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to live in both world, and read about many characters
Also the writing is beautiful

I was given free copy for honest review

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To be completely honest, this one took me a little bit to get into. Split time books generally interest me, but I end up only liking one time period and not getting into the other. This one kept me engaged with both time periods once I got into it. I have never read any other books by Hauck, but that is definitely going to change!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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