One dress. Four women. An amazing destiny.
Charlotte Malone is getting married. Yet all is not settled in the heart of Birmingham’s chic bridal boutique owner. Charlotte can dress any bride to perfection-except herself. When she discovers a vintage mint-condition wedding gown in a battered old trunk, Charlotte embarks on a passionate journey to discover the women who wore the gown before her.
Emily in 1912. Mary in 1939. And Hillary in 1968. Each woman teaches Charlotte something about love in her own unique way. Woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte’s heritage, the power of faith, and the beauty of finding true love.
Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner Sweet Caroline, and RITA Finalist Love Starts With Elle, and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, The Songbird Novels.
She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets.
Rachel earned a degree in Journalism form Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor. Visit her web site at www.rachelhauck.com to reader her blog, and to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
My Impressions:
Billed as a romance, The Wedding Dress delivers with not just one bride and her story, but 4! But Rachel Hauck has penned a book that is so much more than mere romance. This book has well-developed characters, a mystery filled plot that will have you guessing and turning the pages and a faith message that leaves you satisfied. I loved The Wedding Dress and I am betting you will too.
Charlotte, owner of an up and coming bridal salon in Birmingham is full of doubts. Not a good thing when your wedding day is just two months away. She goes to the one place she always feels at peace, Red Mountain and the Ludlow estate, a place her mother shared with Charlotte as a young child. Charlotte is an only child raised by her deceased mother’s friend. With no family, she is somewhat intimidated by fiance Tim’s close-knit, large family. Her trip to Red Mountain doesn’t give her any insight into her future, but rather opens up a lot of questions about the past, including her own. Charlotte purchases an old trunk from a funny man in purple, and what she finds inside, a beautiful, mint condition wedding dress purported to be 100 years old, starts her on a journey to find the original owner of the dress and perhaps what her own heart desires.
I fell in love with the characters in this book — Charlotte, a bridal shop owner who feels God has called her to find the perfect dress for each bride that comes her way, Dixie, Charlotte’s sassy assistant who calls her husband Dr. Hotstuff, Tim, the lovable, but clueless fiance, and the other brides that wore the mysterious dress — Emily, Mary Grace, and Hillary. In fact Emily’s story runs along with Charlotte’s, giving this book both a contemporary and historical feel. The story contains the perfect amount of mystery and suspense. And the underlying spiritual message of the bride of Christ is subtle, not preachy.
The Wedding Dress is for anyone who likes a romance. It is also for anyone who really likes a well-told story.
Highly Recommended.
(I received The Wedding Dress in conjunction with LitFuse. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
To read what other reviewers have to say, click HERE.
What is “true” beauty? Join the conversation at Rachel’s Author Chat Party Event Page. On the eventing of 4/19 we’ll gather to talk about inner and outer beauty and share moments of beauty in our lives.
In the meantime, celebrate with Rachel by entering her True Beauty Giveaway!
One “beautiful” winner will receive:
- A $200 Visa Cash Card (Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend get-away!)
- The Wedding Dress (by Rachel Hauck)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 4/18/12. Winner will be announced at Rachel’s “True Beauty” Facebook Party on 4/19. Rachel will be hosting an evening of beauty (inner/outer) chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement – bring your friends! She’ll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Rachel via Skype.)
So grab a few of your friends and your copy of The Wedding Dress and join Rachel on the evening of April 19th for an evening of fun.
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Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 19!
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