With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Kristy Woodson Harvey's previous books so was excited about reading her latest, a historical fiction novel. The book flows seamlessly from the contemporary characters to the characters set in the early 1900's. I found the characters to be compelling and the storylines interesting. And now I"m ready to book a trip to Asheville!

4.5 stars!

I just finished reading this wonderful novel. It blends historical fiction surrounding the Vanderbilts and Biltmore Estate and combines a modern story surrounding a treasured family heirloom. I loved the touching family dynamics of both timeframes. This novel is a refreshing must read!

I grew up in NC and went to the Biltmore on my honeymoon. I have always been intrigued by large houses and the people in them. Add to all of this to a wedding veil tradition and you may have made my perfect book. I loved that this book intertwined a fictional story and the real life Biltmore house and Vanderbilts in together. Fabulous story by the fabulous Kristy Woodson Harvey!

I loved this story! I received a Christmas ornament from a friend who visited the Biltmore Estate many years ago and even though it is pretty and I hang it every year, I knew nothing about the estate. I am so glad I read this fictionalized history so now I have some background and I found it fascinating. The dual time line between past and present with the wedding veil as the centering point really works and both stories were wonderful and entertaining. I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction, a bit or romance, and stories with lots of heart.

This was my first read of the 2022. KWH is a sure read for me. I like to start my year with something really good and this one was it for me! It has amazing characters and a wonderful story line. I am not usually a historical fiction reader, but Kristy Woodson Harvey is such a great writer, I wanted to read this one.

There is a historical story line and a contemporary story line. When you are reading you move back and forth between the two stories effortlessly. It is labeled and obvious which one you are reading. Eventually you see how they are connected. I enjoyed the strong women in these stories.

As usual, I am looking forward to KWH's next book.

5 huge stars! Kristy Woodson Harvey truly never ever disappoints! Her latest novel The Wedding Veil is a historical fiction which is a bit of a change from Kristy’s previous novels, but just like I knew it would, this gem completely blew me away!

Throughout this novel we get the history of a wedding veil that has been passed down through several generations. This precious heirloom has so much history behind it and I adored getting the backstory of the fabulous women who have worn it! The storyline is extremely well-written and the historical aspects are so well-researched—love that! I went into this novel with very high expectations, but Kristy Woodson Harvey genuinely exceeded those expectations! The Wedding Veil is most definitely a 2022 favorite and will be a novel I recommend to everyone! As per usual, I am already looking forward to reading anything Kristy comes out with next!

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of KWH’s novels, but The Wedding Veil is my absolute favorite! It is her first historical/contemporary novel. This is a masterpiece fairytale encompassing the Biltmore Estate and the Vanderbilt family while intertwining the contemporary love stories of a grandmother and granddaughter. It was fascinating to learn about the history of the Biltmore Estate and the lives of George Vanderbilt and his family while also solving the mystery of the missing Vanderbilt wedding veil. Thank you so much to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Julia has always looked forward to wearing the wedding veil that has given her entire family good luck. When it’s finally her turn however, she isn’t sure her relationship is truly worthy of the veil, so she runs off on her honeymoon alone. Meanwhile back in 1914, Edith Vanderbilt is trying to run the house after the loss of her husband. Her daughter Cornelia is set to inherit the home, but will she able to keep it from falling during the Great Depression?

It’s no secret that historical fiction and I have had a rough time the last two years. I am not really sure why, maybe its that we are living so much messed up history as it is? That said, this book really hit the spot. I was a bit nervous going into a historical fiction, but I should have known Kristy Woodson Harvey would not disappoint! I will say I found myself drawn more to the present day parts of the story, but I truly enjoyed the entire thing! I had no idea about the veil of the Vanderbilt family, and loved learning more about it! Not super important to this review, but I do have to say Hayes made me so freaking mad. That is all! As always, I can’t wait to see what Kristy Woodson Harvey has up her sleeve next! Every time I read a new book by her I am reminded how versatile she is as an author, which is not an easy feat!

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a dual timeline story of present day and early 1900s centered around a family heirloom wedding veil. The early timeline focuses on the Vanderbilts and establishing and maintaining Biltmore mansion in Asheville, NC. Cornelia Vanderbilt inherits Biltmore and has to work to save it and herself. The present day plot focuses on Julia running away and finding her truth with the help of her grandmother. The grandmother, Babs, was my favorite character out of several interesting women characters. I really enjoyed how the women were the center of their unique storyline and how the veil connected all of the characters. This was my first book by Kristy Woodson Harvey and won’t be the last.

To begin, I enjoy Kristy Woodson Harvey's books but wondered a bit about how she would do with a historic fiction book. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased with the book.

Told in different time lines--Edith Vanderbilt, her daughter, Cornelia, and present-day's Julia, the reader does have to get the characters straight as you read. The story centers, somewhat, around a wedding veil passed down in Julia's family, a veil supposed to bring good luck and a happy marriage for all who wear it. But there is a story of how the family got it from a mysterious woman on a train. And then the question: Does the veil bring happiness? Woodson-Harvey does a good job of bringing together the story lines. And, there is more information on this story of the Vanderbilts because of course, I had to look up some of it to see if it was true.

There were several good things that the story brought out.
**The author did a good job of using well-known places in NC where the characters lived.
**We saw that when left to their own devices, a young person can take hold of their lives and make it better.
**She showed how senior citizens still had active and productive lives, something not seen in many books. **Family dynamics were shown in the ways families deal with problems they might have.
**And, we saw how everyone looks back, at some point, to an earlier time in their life wondering if the decisions
they made were the correct ones.

I really liked the fact that strong women were at the center of the timelines. Julia, who early on becomes a runaway bride (thank goodness) has the best mentor in her grandmother , Babs. Edith Vanderbilt had been raised believing she could do anything, and she proved she could. She raised her daughter in much the same way. Women, of all ages, need to see that while there are strong women who lead wonderful productive lives.
and have a rather good sense of direction in their lives, they also find themselves questioning where they are going; have they made the right decisions? As I read it, I wondered how different my life would have been had I been raised to believe I could do anything; guess I am of a generation who had to grow into knowing our strength.

As an educator, I am asked by NetGalley if I would use this book in school. In NC, the state history is covered in eighth grade and some students could handle this book. It does have some sexual scenes, not graphic, so caution might need to be used. For high schoolers, it is probably safe. If a class was studying the time period of the Vanderbilts or studying Asheville, NC, this book might be of interest, more to females than males, I imagine. I think the best use of the book, however,would be in a teacher sharing portions to describe the life of the rich and famous in the Vanderbilt's time but more important would be sharing this book as a good example of how to take a real story and turn it into a historic fiction, especially if you live in the state.

I did receive this book early through #NetGalley and #GalleyBooks.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for our free copy of The Wedding Veil. This book comes out on March 29,2022.

Rating 5⭐️
Genre Fiction

The wedding veil takes us through the story of three women. All of which are struggling to find themselves and maybe live along the way. A beautifully written story that makes you a little sad when it’s over. Like all of her books, it’s lovely.

This story follows two families from two generations and flows between both to examine how one family heirloom connects them. This wedding veil is a constant for both families that represents years of luck, hope, and eternity. The four women this story revolves around: Edith, Cornelia, Babs and Julia, are all robust, well developed characters that you come to connect with so well. They each have a distinctive perspective on love, family, and societal pressures. This was Kristy's first historical fiction and as usual with her books, we have beautiful scenery, strong women, and cannot put down story telling. After finishing this book, I went on a deep dive reading more about the Vanderbilt family and Biltmore Estate and was fascinated by their histories!!

Highly recommend this wonderful story - this publishes March 29. Thank you to the author and @gallerybooks for my gifted copy!!

Julia Baxter wedding veil is a family heirloom passed down from her great-grandmother. The veil is intended to bring good luck and a happy marriage. However, Julia is not feeling confident about her impending wedding and is getting cold feet. She escapes to the Virgin Islands to clear her head. At the same time Julia’s grandmother, Babs, is having a rough time as well. She has recently lost her husband and moving into a retirement home. She is shocked to run into an old flame from many years before.

Around 100 years prior, Edith Vanderbilt is in charge of running the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The Biltmore has 250 rooms and an entire village of staff needed to keep it running. It is a difficult job given the fact that the family fortune is not what it once was. Edith’s daughter, Cornelia is being prepared to one day take over the Biltmore operations and carry on the family legacy. However, Cornelia is a free spirit and may have other plans that take her away from Asheville.

I was very excited to read the latest work of Kristy Woodson Harvey because I knew that it centered around the Biltmore Estate. I have visited the Biltmore many times and just love it. It was really cool to be able to picture the setting perfectly as a familiar place. The author certainly did her homework here and it shows. I am also a fan of dual timelines and this one was executed perfectly! All the stars for THE WEDDING VEIL, it was fantastic!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

Kristy Woodson Harvey knocks it out of the park! A beautifully written, well I researched novel. Everything about the Vanderbilt family, and Biltmore, is of particular interest to me. - along with many others. Highly recommended!

What a fantastic blend of history and fiction, sucking the reader into the story the to figure out the mystery -- where DID this veil originate? Following four generations of women through their trials and joys, across North Carolina and into the Virgin Islands, this book will make you feel these women's anguishing lows and amazing highs...and you'll be satisfied with the mystery's conclusion at the end!

A very sweet tale from a wedding veil and the women who wore it. The book combines elements of historical fiction (very well-researched) combined with the story of a modern young woman, Julia Baxter. Both women are connected to the veil and to the Vanderbilt mansion, BILTMORE.

The author did a wonderful job of researching the history, though I thought the modern section was predictable. Certainly an enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me this ARC in return for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey since her first book. She writes contemporary Southern fiction with wonderful characters in beautiful locations. This is her first historical/contemporary novel. I have loved every one of her books and she just keeps better. Her new novel had me engrossed from the first page and I didn't want to put it down once I started reading it.

The Wedding Veil is a dual time line novel that takes place in and near Biltmore House in Asheville North Carolina. Sometimes when I read dual timeline books, I enjoy one story more than the other but both time periods are wonderfully written and are skillfully woven together.

In 1898, Edith Dresser married George Vanderbilt. When he took her to Asheville to see the home he was building, she was in awe of the 250 room castle in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She decided that she would get to know the workers in Biltmore Village and become part of the day to day life. Edith and George had a baby-
Cornelia, in 1900 and they tried to give her the world and keep her happy. When George died unexpectedly in 1914, Edith was determined to uphold the Vanderbilt legacy until Cornelia inherited it. As the economy began to deteriorate in the 1930s, it became more and more difficult. Edith begins to wonder if her wedding veil, passed down through the years is really the good luck that it was promised to be.

Present Day: Julia Baxter’s wedding veil, given to her great-grandmother by a mysterious woman on a train in the 1930s, promises to guarantee a happy marriage. When something happens at her wedding shower, she knows it will take more than a wedding veil to make her marriage a success. She runs away on her wedding day and goes to the Virgin Islands to clear her head. Her mother is shocked by what she did but her grandmother supports her decision.

As usual with Kristy's books, we get fantastic characters and beautiful scenery. The writing is exquisite and the characters are well written that I felt like I knew them.

After I read this book, I had to goggle the Vanderbilt family because I knew very little about the history of the family that built Biltmore house. I love a book that teaches me something while I enjoy reading it. Its time to pack my bags and make a trip to Biltmore House - it's only a few hours away from me.


Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review.

The mere mention of the Biltmore House had me intrigued from the first time that I heard about this book! In her first venture into the world on historical fiction, Kristy Woodson Harvey treats her readers to a truly captivating book about love, family, chance meetings, perseverance and so much more.

This is a dual timeline book which starts in the present day with Julia at her bridal luncheon. Everyone is sent a video that will definitely have an impact on this day. Julia’s grandmother, Babs is one of the best characters in the book. Her humor and love of her family is amazing.

The past timeline begins in 1898 when Edith Dresser marries George Vanderbilt. Edith wears a family wedding veil that will become an integral part of this story. Their daughter, Cornelia will wear this same veil when she marries. The descriptions of the Biltmore House are so vivid that I could clearly place myself right there as I read this book.

The two timelines are seamlessly woven into a beautiful story. I wanted to read this book slowly and savor it but I do needed to know what happened next!!

Thank you Gallery Books and Kristy Woodson Harvey for an early digital copy.

The Wedding Veil. Oh How I love Kristy Woodson Harvey and have read all her books. I was drawn to this book because of the history in it. In the past, I have not read a lot of historical fiction. I was very excited about this book because of the Biltmore, The Vanderbilts, and the wedding. I really loved how Harvey intertwined two stories. The one between the wedding veil and how it went through the generations. How prominent it was in society to be a Vanderbilt mixed with grief and the bond between women.

KWH does it again!! This book was such a masterpiece and shows what a versatile author KWH is. This story follows two different families from two different generations and flows seamlessly back and forth.

In the early 20th century, the story alternates between chapters narrated by Edith Vanderbilt and her daughter Cornelia, who are challenged with running the Biltmore Estate after Edith's husband passed away. In the present day, the chapters alternate between Babs, a recently widowed 80-year-old who may have a second chance at love and her granddaughter Julia, a young architect-to-be who's always had her dream wedding and man planned out. The lives of the two families intermingle through a wedding veil that has been passed down within each family.

I love how this story examines Edith, Cornelia, Babs and Julia's perspective on love, family and education and discusses the societal pressures and challenges one faces when they are expected to follow a certain path, despite the time period. I am not one for historical romance, so at first, I only wanted to read about Julia and Babs' story in the present day, which were both so great. However, once I got to know a bit more about Edith and Cornelia, I found their lives fascinating to read about, especially during the Roaring 20s and start of the Great Depression. Overall, the story flew by quickly, and I wasn't ready for it end to end.

I will literally read anything and all that KWH writes. Thank you so much Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC! Pub date: 3/29/22