The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck
Published by Zondervan on November 17th 2015
Genres: Christian, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
A lonely wedding chapel built as a tribute to lost love just might hold the long-awaited secret to hope and reconciliation. For sixty years, the wedding chapel has stood silent and empty. Retired football hall-of-famer Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook built the chapel by hand, stone by stone, for his beautiful and beloved Collette Greer, whom he lost so many years ago. The chapel is a sanctuary for his memories, a monument to true love, and a testament to his survival of the deepest pain and loss. Photographer Taylor Branson left her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, to make a new life for herself in New York. She had lots to run away from, not least of all a family history of broken promises and broken dreams. Love catches Taylor off guard when she falls for Jack Forester, a successful advertising executive, and their whirlwind romance leads to an elopement—then to second guesses. Jack, in spite of his very real love for Taylor, is battling his own demons and struggles to show her his true self and the depths of his love for her. Taking a photography assignment in Heart’s Bend, Taylor is thrown back into a past of family secrets buried deep beneath the sands of time. When Taylor and Coach’s journeys collide, they each rediscover the heartbeat of their own dreams as they learn that the love they long to hold is well worth the wait.
By now you’ve seen a few of my mom’s reviews here on my blog, and recently, my Aunt Barbara even provided a review because quite frankly, this reading thing runs in our family. Heck, even my 5-year old grandson can’t get enough of reading. That being said, here’s my mom, Gloria’s review:
“The Wedding Chapel was the first book written by Rachel Hauck that I have read. At first, I didn’t think I was going to care for this book; it seemed like there was just too much information. While I did think the story was interesting, I struggled with Ms. Hauck’s telling of it. As the story progressed though – probably about halfway through the book – the story turned out to be a really good one.
I feel that Rachel writes from her heart about real broken family struggles, and the drama that goes along with it. The Wedding Chapel is a complex story of interwoven lives, souls seeking peace, secrets, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters were real and I enjoyed their journey each went on within themselves.
The Wedding Chapel reminds me of something like time-travel because the story moves back and forth from Heart’s Bend, Tennessee in 1948 where it is a lost love story of Jimmy and Colette and then to flash forward to the present where it is a modern love story of Jack and Taylor in New York. Due to the style of this writing, the reader is following the two different couples on their journey of love.
At the heart of this story is the wedding chapel, symbolizing hope and healing, while at the same time conveying that there is no time limit on love and second chances.I loved the location of the chapel and the romances of the four characters. This book is such a great love story and also has a hint of suspense regarding a secret one of the characters held. The Wedding Chapel is a book that I will remember.
If you enjoy books about inspirational romance and learning how to depend on God to help see your blessings I would highly recommend this one. This book would make a really good book club reading book or as a Hallmark movie.”
Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, best selling author of critically acclaimed novels such as The Wedding Dress, Love Starts with Elle, and Once Upon A Prince. She also penned the Songbird Novels with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Booklist named their novel, Softly and Tenderly, one of 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals.
Ms. Hauck serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets. You can visit her website here.
I received a paperback copy of this book without cost from the publisher through The Fiction Guild, a Thomas Nelson/Zondervan book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own – well, they are my mother’s and for that, I am responsible.
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