Cover Image: The Love Letter

The Love Letter

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

It isn't too often that I am able to read a book so quickly. This one gripped me right away and didn't let go until I was finished. Hauck was a new author for me, and I am looking forward to reading more.

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable read but not one that will stay with me. This book would be perfect for those who love a light romance book

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book. I like stories that go back and forth between two eras and then find ways to tie them together. I personally was more drawn to the story of the couple in the past, Ester and Hamilton, but I enjoyed the present day couple as well.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the premise of this story. Loved the parallels between modern day, and the 18th century. The story of Esther and Hamilton was very good, if a bit melodramatic. But wartime romances tend to be like that so I didn't mind.

I didn't love the story between Jesse and Chloe. It seemed from the summary that this story would focus more on Jesse, but I thought Chloe was definitely the one that it followed more closely. Some parts of their characters seemed odd and not thought through all the way, including their central conflict with themselves. I could have done without as much of their story, to be honest.

I did like the ending though. It was nice to finally see a romance through, and see that everything worked out for them in the end. The fact that the parallel comes together gives nice closure.

Was this review helpful?

I love the plot line of this story, it's enchanting unlike no other and definitely worth to read! I like the dynamic of the characters. I love that it was set in a parallel universe which makes the reader got more intrigued to indulge in the fantasy of the writer.

Was this review helpful?

This is a very entertaining tale of two love stories separated by generations!! I love the writing style moving back and forth between storylines and time periods. I could see this book playing out as a movie. The author successfully makes you feel for the 4 main characters and root for their happy endings. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance!

Was this review helpful?

This book tells a beautiful story about two couples whose lives are connected by a love letter that was written on a battlefield during the Revolutionary War in 1781. If that doesn’t grab your attention, let me tell you a little more. The first couple are childhood friends who become sweethearts and plan to be married very soon but are tragically separated by circumstances they never could have imagined. The second couple are a modern day actress and a screenwriter who meet by chance only to meet again while working together on a movie loosely based on the first couple’s story. I think it’s an absolutely brilliant idea! I enjoyed the story so much that I read this book a second time and enjoyed it even more. If you’re looking for a book you can really get lost in I highly recommend you read this one, whether you’re a romance fan, a history buff or just someone who appreciates a finely woven tale with characters who will truly touch your heart. I read an early copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

Rachel Hauck is a master storyteller. Her books are always on the best-seller lists. Although I enjoyed the Love Letter it is not my favorite work by Rachel. It took me a while to warm up to the characters. While I did end up liking them and rooting for there dreams to come true, I had to force myself to read the first half. The Love Letter is a dual time novel which I usually enjoy there was just something about this story that made it hard for me to connect. I am giving this book 3 stars, but don't hesitate to grab a copy because you may love it! So grab a cup of tea and settle back for a good read!



I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
As always, Rachel Hauck writes a book that tugs at my heart. It's a dual love story and one of the stories does have a "happily every after."

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book that I have read by this author and it's definitely worth reading. Told in dual timelines, it was just a lovely story.
Chloe is an actress who has been typecast as the one to cast when you have a character that's dying but she very much wants the role of Esther, a woman who lived during the Revolutionary War.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This is such a sweet, devastating, and relate-able book. The tragedy of their ancestors being made up in a huge way. It was an emotional book, but great to read. It kept your attention the entire book. The characters connection and love for each other, believing in true love, and holding out for it are so powerful. It's amazing how all the pieces fall together when it's right.

Was this review helpful?

Rachel Hauck has done a wonderful job with this story of combining two timelines and giving us a story that will grab your attention from the beginning to the end. I loved the alternating timelines and found that I ended up loving the historical part of the novel more than the present. The characters are very likeable and made you want to find out where their story was going.

Chloe Daschle is an actor that has had the role of a dying character in all of her roles and believes that she is cursed. When Chloe reads the manuscript for this love story, she is determined to do whatever she has to in order to land the role in this amazing love story.

The story of Hamilton Lightfoot and how he has penned a letter to his love, Esther Longfellow is one that will have you shedding tears and longing for more of these stories from Hauck. This forbidden love is one that you will be rooting for to have an good outcome.

I really enjoyed this read and look forward to more from Rachel Hauck in the near future. If you happen to get stuck on this one in the beginning, keep reading because you won't regret it!

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this book. The dual time lines were written expertly and the ending was amazing. Such a great timeless love story. Rachel Hauck did an awesome job.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book alot more than I thought I would! The chapters alternated between the story of Chloe and Jesse during present time, and the story of Hamilton and Esther in the 1800s around the revolutionary war time.

Jesse is an actor and screenwriter and feels compelled to tell his ancestors story after finding a love letter centuries later. After reading the script, Chloe jumps at the chance to be the leading lady. I really liked both their personalities and how they got to know each other better-and their faith in God-by the end of the book.

This story was rich with historical facts and imagery. Well written historical romance.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I liked the story's juxtaposition storylines even though they happen centuries apart. The story is believable and I found myself completely immersed in the story's conclusion.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book by this author. And this is a nice book! It alternates between two couples, one in the modern world and the other pair in the period in American history when they were fighting the British for independence.

Chloe is the daughter of Hollywood royalty, an actress in her own right who has been unlucky in love and that bad luck was seen by the whole world (can't hide from social media) and who seem to get parts in films where she always end up dead. Jesse is a brilliant engineer who went to LA to escape a tragedy in his life. Inspired by a love letter written by his ancestor Hamilton during the fight for American Independence, Jesse writes a screenplay that gets picked up by a famous director. Chloe eventually gets cast in the lead, while Jesse has his part in the movie as well. It is here where the two, who both have sworn off love, become friends and later more than that.

The love letter which is the central theme of the book, is written by Hamilton, an great great (I lost count) grandfather of Jesse. Hamilton is in love with his childhood friend Esther, who is back from her debut in London and who loves Hamilton in turn. Sadly, things end up differently for both of them.

And in the end, it's ultimately Jesse's and Chloe's love story, who brings everything into full circle.

There is an underlying Christian theme here, of faith and love and forgiveness, not at all hidden, which isn't bad but something I am not used to. So it took me awhile to finish because of that. But it is a nice story and it makes me want to see if there's anything like that in my own family tree. Also, to take up writing letters again because really, an email isn't the same at all.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

The Love Letter, I have read some incredible books lately and I know when I come off of an excellent stellar book that it is difficult to read one that is not of that caliber, unfortunately that would be the case with this one. I had been watching the reviews and did expect more.
We have a lot going on in the present tense between Chloe, her actress life and Jesse Gates, the movie writer. Then the book jumps us on a journey back in the 1800’s between Hamilton and Esther, the Love Letter part that was the most interesting. We also have a Christian factor that enters the dialogue and I felt it was thrown in, sometimes out of context. The characters were shallow and I had a hard time following if I was in the present with Chloe or back with Esther. If you missed the name at the beginning of the chapter, it took a few minutes to catch up.
I wouldn’t say the book was unbelievable, I would say it was more far-fetched in some instances. Not a bad book, but it did not invoke a lot of emotion one way or the other. Maybe the more I read, the more critical I get of books that don’t give me the wow factor.
I was allowed the opportunity to receive this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets 3***’s.

Was this review helpful?

Two timelines, Ester and Hamilton during the Revolutionary War, and Chloe, an actress in the present who wants to play Ester in a film. Overall it was a bit difficult to remain engaged in the stories, and there was an true HEA for everyone which was a disappointment, but it was an intriguing read in parts.

Was this review helpful?

This was a hard book to read for me.

It follows two couples: Chloe and Jesse are the contemporary couple and Hamilton and Esther are the couple from the 18th century. The narrative goes back and forth among these four characters (apart from one scene or chapter in Hamilton's mother's POV, which didn't need to be included).

For some reason, I really couldn't get into the historical narrative. Maybe because this is an historical period that doesn't interest me too much and therefore I didn't connect with the characters. I did like the update on Hamilton and Esther toward the end.

The contemporary narrative with Chloe and Jesse was easier to follow up, despite the uneven relationship between them. There's kind of a revelation towards the end that was interesting as a resolution to both stories.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great, sweet book. The character development was fantastic, and I loved the ending ;) I will definitely be reading more of Rachel Hauck in the future--you have a devoted fan!

Was this review helpful?