This novella was wonderful! It is a romance story, but it is so much more. Facing your fears and truly living your best life is a theme that runs through the story. Also after achieving goals, at the lost of your core life, was the goal worth what was lost?
The author created an amazing small town in Hearts Bend, Tennessee. The characters are life-like, flawed and spiritual. I cared about them quite early in the story, which I think shows great writing skills. The plot flows very well and I was interested in the story immediately after beginning the book. I love the magic of the Wedding Dress, knowing who it is meant for and adapting to the blessed lady.
I highly recommend this heart-warming book! This was the first book in this series that I have read, and I definitely will be reading the others. I was able to understand the story fully, not having read the previous books in the series.
I also want to add that I was moved by the author’s dedication of her book: To God from whom all blessings flow.
I want to thank NetGalley.com, Hauck House and BookBuzz.net for allowing me to read the ARC. My review is completely my own opinion, not influence by receiving the ARC.

JoJo feels all her worries slip away while looking at the Christmas lights.the family curse has followed her something in the air brings hope for the holidays . Instead of the usual pain ,betrayal,trauma,death at that time of year.jojo lives in a small town in tennessee.she is a volunteer for several organizations.jojo lives at home and works at a wedding shop with her cousin she has no romance in her life.

Thanks to Net Galley and Hauck House for the arc of The Wedding Dress Christmas. This is a perfectly sweet story to get you in the Holiday mood. I enjoy following the drama created around the magical wedding dress that is the main character in this series. A quick read finds you quickly enveloped in the lives of JoJo and Haley and the extended community of Hearts Bend. As the mother of a December 2018 bride.....this story gave me all the sweet, memorable feels that a wedding at Christmas time provides.

If you have not read The Wedding Dress series. Start now. It's so good. This was the perfect novella to read to get you in the Christmas spirit. We learn of Buck and JoJo and how this one simple dress changes their lives for good. Previous characters from the series make and appearance. You definitely can read this as a stand alone but I recommend reading the previous novels. I love the authors simplicity of writing, I felt like the story flowed very nicely. Highly recommend this author and her books.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing to read and review this book.

What’s your favorite part of the Holidays? Is it the fried latkes, decorating the Christmas tree, lighting the menorah, watching your kids/ grandkids open their presents, finding the wooden pickle in the Christmas tree, spiked eggnogs, Holiday parties, the list goes on and on. Mine is reading heartfelt stories like ‘The Wedding Dress Christmas.'
'The Wedding Dress Christmas,' is a heartfelt short story about the power of love. Brutally raped and left for dead, Jojo returns home frightened and vows to never love. Five years later, Jojo has immersed herself in the everyday activities of the small town of Heart Bends, Tennessee. Buck Matthews, a big-time country singer, and an old friend returns home to care for his ailing mother. Buck falls madly in love with Jojo, turning her world upside down, as he shows her the true meaning of love. With the help of the town of Heart Bends, the two discover the true meaning of Christmas.

In this latest novella by Ms. Hauck, readers will continue the journey of the wedding dress. In a previous novel, readers learn the history behind the dress. This novella provides a glimpse of characters from the previous book as well. If you loved the first story, you will love this one as well. If you haven’t read any of Ms. Hauck’s books, this would be a great start (but be prepared to want to read anything from her). This book focuses on JoJo who works at the bridal shop helping ensure that all brides can find the perfect dress for themselves. She helps others with no plan to get married herself. Buck Matthews is worn out and tired of all of the publicity that he receives. He returns home to visit with his mom (who is sick) and take some time to himself. As Buck and JoJo spend time together, they discover how much they enjoy their company. This story takes place during Christmas. As you read, you will discover what happens with Buck and JoJo and the role the wedding dress plays in their story. If you are looking for a great story, then this book is for you! I highly recommend any of Ms. Hauck’s books! I know you will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.

I absolutely love Rachel Hauck's stories!!! This one is a wonderful story that I could not put down! It was a Christmas story about a magical wedding dress! This one was related to some of her other stories, but it could be a stand alone. I enjoyed the easy escape from reality.

It's the first book I read in this series and won't be the last.
I liked this sweet story, engrossing and entertaining.
The romance is sweet, the setting is lovely and I loved the atmosphere.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck
JoJo is back in town and helping out at the wedding dress shop. Haley is about to deliver and her husband is nearby but busy with his business.
She got scared in Dallas and had to come home and her mothers especially as her health is not as good as it used to be. Those are the excuses she used.
We learn throughout the book what scared her and her old friend, Buck, cowboy singer about to go international is home for several weeks around Christmas and he's able to lure it out of her, after proposing.
Things happen fast for them both and each have their own dreams. The dress finds it's bride and no matter what shape or how tall they are, the dress fits. Too similar to the traveling pants of years ago.
The dress does comfort her...
Ends with excerpt and acknowledgements and about the author.
#TheWeddingDressChristmas #NetGalley

First sentence: JoJo In the glow of the town’s newly strung Christmas lights, all her fears seemed to fade. How could anxious thoughts survive in the gold and silver of the most wonderful time of the year?

The Wedding Dress Christmas is a novella set in a popular Christian series by Rachel Hauck. Though I have not read any of the previous books in the series, I was able to enjoy this one. In fact, I found it a bit giddy-making.

The heroine, JoJo, is hiding out in her small hometown of Hearts Bend, Tennessee. Big city life left her feeling ashamed and out of sorts after a sexual assault. She hasn't really been able to trust many men yet (outside her family) but when her high school crush who is now a country super-star, Buck Matthews, returns to town...will this finally be their chance to get it right?

This one does feature the supernaturally magical WEDDING DRESS that somehow manages to fit every single person who tries it on regardless of their height or size. The dress, I'm thinking, is supposed to represent Christ's righteousness which cloaks his bride, the church.

This one packs a LOT of charm and tenderness. It would make a super lovely holiday film. I think it would translate to film well. I would recommend it to anyone--Christian or not--who enjoys watching romantic Christmas movies.

This is my first book by this author and while it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the previous book, but had no trouble following this story.

I love small town romances, because they tend to have great and sometimes quirky characters and there is such an amazing feeling of warmth and togetherness. This book was no different.

his was a sweet and magical story with wonderful characters. The author did a great job of bringen the town and the people come alive.

The perfect christmas story.

Short and sweet, this is the story of JoJo, a woman who tasted the world outside her little home town, and came back to her nest. JoJo made a career as a PR manager in Dallas but something happened there that has shaken her to the core… to the point that a joking phone call from her Uncle can send her flying down the main street, veil on her head, forgotten. 🙂 She isn’t even the bride!

JoJo moved back from Dallas about five years ago and since then, has been helping her cousin, Haley, at The Wedding Shop, selling wedding dresses and accessories to brides. I love reading stories about destiny and childhood romances that did not happen. Yes, you read that right! JoJo and Buck were best friends when they were teenagers but life drifted them apart. But now he is back in town and their paths cross… will they be willing to share their true feelings?

Small town stories are one of my favorites, when everything happens within a couple miles radius. Every one knows every one and nothing is a secret – which can be good and bad, but the sense of community is so powerful, that you can’t quite not take it in your stride. Rachel did a great job of presenting the community at Hearts Bend (isn’t the name of the town romantic?) and what’s even better is that The Wedding Dress Christmas reminded me of Christmas time in Gilmore Girls so many times! I love that show so it is not surprise that I loved this book.

How far would you go to be with someone you love? That seems to be an underlying theme in romances – hard choices, careers on the line, distance – and I think overcoming these obstacles and making things work is one of the reasons I turn to romances. They have a way of making things better. Buck and JoJo both face some hard choices and have to reevaluate their dreams and where they want to be in life. Both are equally intelligent and open to listening to each other. Who would not like to have a chemistry like theirs?

Destiny arrives in the form of a wedding dress, a legendary one at that! A dress that chooses its next fit and clears all doubts away. Who would not love to have such a dress?

This book is full of heartfelt moments, life and joy. There is so much packed in the 150-ish pages and I am sure you will love it as much as I did. Funny, sweet and a story that will leave you warm and comfy, I am thankful to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for making this book available to me. I enjoyed a pleasurable evening with it, and look forward to reading other books by Rachel in the future!

A wonderful romance that continues with the special wedding dress that not only fits the right bride perfectly each time, but is also very insistent! Enduring characters and great escape to the small town Christmas.

This is a sweet story. I haven't read any of the other Wedding Dress books, and am fairly certain that the parts I wasn't sure about in this book were allusions to these previous books, but it didn't detract from the plot itself. The protagonist has had some hard knocks, but is back home and putting herself back together. The leading man is a famous country singer with his own fan base, but also an old friend of our leading lady. Together they heal the hurts and find out about second chances...

Wedding dress magic returns in The Wedding Dress Christmas. This time Jo is the recipient of the dress’s magic. As a teenager, Jo was secretly in love with her best friend Buck. However, she and Buck were never romantically involved. She went away to college and moved to Dallas to begin her career. However, a tragic event led Jo back home.

Buck pursued his dream of becoming a country music singer. Like his mother before him, he became a hit. After learning of his mother’s cancer diagnosis, her returns home just before Christmas. On his first day back, he runs into Jo and realizes that he may have been in love with her since they were kids.

After telling Jo that he “thinks” he loves her, Jo runs from her feelings, still traumatized by the events that happened in Dallas. Can the love of a good man and a magical wedding dress help heal those wounds?

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Short, sweet and romance

A quick and easy novella, which I would give 3.5 stars. Part of a series, which is probably why I felt lost a few times, and wish more details would have been there. I liked Buck and JoJo, but more on their past and more on why she was back would have been nice earlier. Overall though, an easy Christmas read and one I would recommend. Especially if you have read the others in the series.

Thanks, Netgalley.com, for giving me a chance to read a free copy of "The Wedding Dress Christmas" by Rachel Hauckin exchange for my honest and fair review.
"The Wedding Dress Christmas" is a novella in the middle of a series. You can read it out of order, but in my opinion, I would like to read them in order. This novella is taking place before Christmas Ev, and it brings you all your warm fuzzies of the holiday seasons. I can see it as a Hallmark or Netflix Christmas movie.
I like the idea that the boding of the wedding collection series is a magical bride dress that finds the next to wear it for her wedding. Jojo and Buck are to Heart Bend, Tennessee, because of different circumstances that happened to them.
This story is a quick read that has moments of humor along with dealing with serious issues, overcoming fears, faith, and a little bit of magic & miracles. "The Wedding Dress Christmas is a book for romance readers who enjoy the rich history of a timeless heirloom passed through the years.
I want to thank again, Netgalley.com for allowing me to read a book for free from an author that I look forward to reading her other books and start The Wedding Collection series in order.

#TheWeddingDressChristmas #NetGalley

3.5 stars. Very quick story. I would have given higher if it would have been more developed. It seemed a wham bam thank you and Merry Christmas. Concept great characters needed more. It was so short you really couldn’t get to like the characters

A chance to catch up with the ongoing story of an historic wedding dress, although this book also works as a ‘stand alone’. Nice as a piece of escapism between heavier books, & especially at this time of year. A pity it wasn’t longer, as the characters would have had more time to develop & the whole book would have had more depth – the potential was there. Everything just happened rather too fast to be credible...