I’ve long been a fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey, and I daresay this is her best book yet. She does a fantastic job of weaving the stories of two Vanderbilt women with her modern-day characters.

Who sent the video of Julie's fiance canoodling another woman to her- and everyone else- on the day before her wedding? Hayes has an explanation but when it comes to it, she doesn't walk down the aisle but she does go on their planned honeymoon to the BVI, where she meets Connor. This dual time line novel links Julie to Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt via her wedding veil. It's a light overview of Cornelia's life (the time line of events is off) but how does the veil link the two stories? No spoilers. It's a good romantic story which also includes a plot arc for Julie's grandmother Babs. I was all in for Julie until the reason she dropped out of architecture school in her fifth year was revealed- seriously? Don't miss the afterword and it's worth your time to seek out more info on Cornelia and the Biltmore. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of novels where a bereft protagonist changes scene and meets the person they were meant to be with will like this one.

I love the way Kristy Woodson Harvey wove together the stories of four women, connected by an heirloom wedding veil. The chapters are told from the points-of-view of Julia, a contemporary woman about to wed her longtime boyfriend and her grandmother Barbara "Babs". as well as Edith Dress Vanderbilt and her daughter Cornelia. Julia's family has imbued the veil with a mystical status - that it guarantees a long and happy marriage. However, is that guarantee potentially a curse? Does the pressure to live up to the promise of the veil outweigh the right to be happy? These are questions that are addressed along the way.

Interwoven into the narrative is the stories of Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt and the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, North Carolina. Ultimately, the connection between the four women is revealed.

I really liked how each chapter had a different "voice". That Julia's chapters were distinctly more modern than her grandmother's, and that the Vanderbilt chapters read like historic fiction.

All in all, a beautifully crafted novel of life and love and the weight of family expectations. Also, a travelogue for the Biltmore Mansion. I've been there before and now I NEED to go back! .

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review!

I will read anything Kristy writes, I’ve loved all of her previous books that much but I have to admit historical fiction isn’t my favorite genre as of late. So I had a tiny little bit of hesitation before I started this but within a few chapters I knew I was in good hands, I should’ve known better because whatever she writes I now know I’ll love regardless of the genre.

While this one is set in the past it’s also set in current times as well so you get both HF and a contemporary and I adored both timelines. You have women spread over the past and present and they’re all tied together in a mysterious way connected to a gorgeous wedding veil. As usual this is full of rich descriptions of the scenery as well as well drawn characters, a group of strong and inspiring women who you’ll adore. There was something so beautiful about this book, it’s a real treasure and one that I just loved. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A wonderful story of love, hope, dreams and something magical. Author did superb job of connecting Vanderbilt story to modern day family. I have visited Biltmore 3 times and still found the story filled with details I never knew. A major theme is starting over. All the main characters have to risk going forward in a different direction to fulfill their dreams. Thanks to #NetGalley and #TheWeddingVeil
for this advanced digital copy.

Kristy knocks it out of the park, again. I was So excited when I learned one of my favorite authors would be spinning a tale, two tales in fact, at my favorite escape! Biltmore! In this book, present day meets the past via a beautiful wedding veil. Could it be the veil of Cornelia Vanderbilt? Well, you’ll have to read it to find out. I will say, a runaway bride and a runaway wife are both linked to the aforementioned wedding veil.

Whew. This book just held me captive from page one. One of those consuming reads that you won't want to put down. A mix of contemporary fiction with a dash of historical, this book is told in a dual timeline. Typically not my favorite style, but I just adored this one.

Pick this one up! Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4610440700

Start with multiple POVs, add in multiple timelines, and top it off with a strong sense of place and I am all in every time. Kristy Woodson Harvey has done that masterfully with The Wedding Veil, her first mix of historical and contemporary fiction novel.

Continually coming back to the Biltmore Estate and a mystery surrounding a Vanderbilt wedding veil, Harvey weaves together a propulsive tale of love. With each change of POV I was invested. I did not ever find myself wishing to move on to the next POV or timeline. I think that’s very hard to do. Typically when I read multiple timelines, I prefer one over the others.

I’ve never been to North Carolina, but always wanted to visit. Even more so now after reading this book! I want to walk the grounds of the Biltmore. Harvey’s descriptions made me feel like I was there, though. I have pictures in my mind that were confirmed after some Googling.

I can’t say enough good things about this book! Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

Kristy Woodson Harvey has written a book that will make you want to take a trip to Biltmore! While there are plenty of characters to enjoy, Babs may be my favorite. Who wouldn't want a grandmother that will help prevent you from making a huge mistake? This book is one that could be shared with all of the females in your family - no matter their age.

This book is so interesting as it contains many different stories, but yet they all tie together and embrace women's empowerment and the choices women make. While some of the story is improbable (breaking into the Biltmore House Estate) it still goes along with the story, so as a reader I just suspended my disbelief. It was nice to see all the different mother/daughter relationships and how the different generations reacted to their marriages. Being a long-time visitor to Biltmore House, the Creamery, and Biltmore Village I could picture many of the places described in the book and it made it very personal to me. The author admitted that she played fast and loose with the history, but I think it probably only made the book better and I didn't mind one bit (after all it is fiction--not biography).

I am a huge fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey and I am also a fan of historical fiction so when I found out those two worlds collided, I was very excited to get my hands on an arc of The Wedding Veil!

Starting from the very first sentence I was once again pulled into Harvey's story telling and back in time. Harvey captured these women beautifully! This generational saga of hope and love will make any reader happy!

The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey

As a fan of historical fiction, I was thrilled that Kristy Woodson Harvey decided to tell the story of a family heirloom wedding veil connected to four generations of women. I felt like I was back at the Biltmore with the Vanderbilts as they fought to preserve and maintain the estate. The author creates such vivid, likable characters that handle life’s challenges and decisions with heart. I was cheering them on every step of the way. I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I did!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I so enjoyed the premise of this story. The dual timeline across family generations was a great addition to the allure of the wedding veil. I do wish some of the storylines were explored more, things seemed to end a bit abruptly. KWH is one of my new favorite authors and I really appreciate her writing a story with a historical component.

The Wedding Veil is the perfect book for me. Historical fiction, strong southern women, grandmothers and granddaughters, and surprise romances. There are multiple POV which aren't usually my favorite but I didn't hate it in this book. As in most cases, I liked one point of view better than the others but it all worked together wonderfully. I loved this book about the Vanderbilt women of the Biltmore mansion and the wedding veil that tied them together.

Loved the story of how Edith kept the Biltmore House through the many trials after losing her husband George. Edith always kept George's dream alive with her creative and compassionate ways. The contemporary story was carefully crafted in to 'find' the missing wedding veil but I found the historical more interesting. There's something for both historical and contemporary readers in this lovely story.

Thank you @simonandschuster @gallerybooks
@netgalley for the ebook copy of this book as well.

I thought this book was going to be a light romance read, but it turned out to be an amazing novel with tidbits about the life of two strong Vanderbilt women, too! It was fun how Harvey had parallel stories from different time frames! Loved both and the characters in each! You will absolutely fall in love with 81-year-old Babs! Such great messaging about love (familial and romantic) as well as the art of letting go. Well done, @kristywharvey !

The wedding veil was passed on and worn during many marriage ceremonies. On the verge of her marriage to her beloved fiancé, Julia is terrified she will besmirch the long, successful history of the family wedding veil. Leaving her fiancé practically at the alter, Julia embarks on a journey to re-discover herself and to explore the history of the family wedding veil. A chance photo makes her question the veil's provenance, and makes her question her own family history.

This was a lovely, sweet book. The characters were strong and the turmoil in their lives was real and relatable. The story was intriguing; an intertwining of the fictionalized story of historical figures Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt and their lives after their beloved husband and father George passed away suddenly at an early age. I've never known much about the Vanderbilt family history, or that of Biltmore Estate. I loved the historical tie-in's and really appreciated the fictionalized lives of the family presented here.

The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a magnificent book! The book is broken into two stories from two different times that weave around each other like a vine entangled. We are introduced to two different families of strong women. Each arm of the story focuses on the love and marriage of each of the strong women and the bonds that hold them together. To me this story was really about the strength of women and how they move forward with their lives.

Julia Baxter’s wedding day is upcoming and the wedding festivities are being held, when she decides to take another route. It is through this that we are introduced to the wedding veil and the Vanderbilts. Julia with the help of Babs and her best friend Sarah has to decide what her next step is.

The story also traces a Vanderbilt heritage of how the wedding veil was passed from mother to daughter to daughter to eventually Edith and her daughter, Cornelia. The strength of Edith saving the famous Biltmore House and the legacy from her adored husband George to Cornelia.

I love how the two vines of the story wove together. I always believed the veil was a possession of the Vanderbilts. What I was really wanting to know - is how the viel moved from one family to another. The story of Julia and Cornelia and their search for their path was fascinating. I loved reading the book. I loved the characters of Babs and Julia. I loved the strength of Edith. The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a wonderful story.

The Vanderbilts were American aristocracy in the early 1900’s, with George Vanderbilt creating the unique Vanderbilt Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, including Biltmore, the largest house in America. This story tells how his wife Edith and his daughter Cornelia adapted to having this responsibility after his death. It is also a modern day story of a woman who is a runaway bride and of her family, including prominently her widowed grandmother. It is the fabled wedding veil representing marital happiness that ties these two stories together. Women separated by 100 years face similar challenges and who must leave their experiences and some of their traditional beliefs behind to find out who they really are and what they need to feel content.
The historic bits are interesting, but the modern story line seems contrived and unrealistic in the events that come together to create the characters’ choices and actions.

Name of Book: The Wedding Veil
Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Genre: Chick Lit/ Historical Fiction
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pub Date: March 29, 2022
My Rating: 4

Aww I was drawn to this novel as I like the author, Kristy Woodson Harvey, this cover and title.
I have only read three of her stories and all were great! Stories are typically predictable but have KWH wit, charm, heart and an all-around feel good read.
This story is about four women ~ from two families in two different generations and a blend of modern day fiction and historical fiction

Present Day ~ Julie Baxter is preparing for her up-coming wedding. Her wedding veil (Thus the title) is a family heirloom given to her by her Grandmother Babs and deemed to bring good luck.
Hmm however, something unexpected happens and Julie becomes a runaway bride and Grandmother Babs is driving the get-away car!

Past – 1879 ~ Edith Vanderbilt manages the 250 room Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC. Her story starts when she is nine years old. Story goes on both Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt telling us what happened to the Vanderbilt wedding veil.

Awww….This story definitely left a smile on my face!

I also love reading the ‘Author’s Notes’ and/or ‘Acknowledgements’ and in this case I got BOTH.
To me the info is also the inside scoop to the author’s motivation. In the ‘Author’s Note’ author, Kristy Woodson Harvey tells us that she hopes her novel gave us readers a glimpse behind the curtain – perhaps inspired us to visit or return to the Biltmore Estate.
Yep! Mission accomplished ~ I am ready!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 29, 2022.