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Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

rachel hauck

Timeless love, family secrets & vacant chapel: Review of The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

December 30, 2015

When a wedding chapel in a rural Tennessee town no one knows about is discovered by an architecture magazine, the secrets it holds begin to be revealed. Sixty years prior, a man in love built the chapel for the woman he intended to marry. Then he was sent away to war and forces intervened to keep them apart. Now the chapel  is the gateway to love rekindled for two couples who are bound by more than they know.

wedding chapelThe Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck is an endearing story set across decades, with similarities to the popular Nicholas Sparks book The Notebook (but so much better, in my opinion). (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my review.)

Hauck delivers in-depth characters in retired football hall of famer Jimmy Westbrook and soap opera star Colette Greer,  now both in their 80s, whose lives have been separated by misunderstanding and unforgiveness. And the spontaneous and fledgling love between Taylor Branson and Jack Forester, who reconnected in New York after growing up in the same Tennessee town, is gut-wrenchingly realistic. I was drawn into each character’s point of view individually, and was moved by the journey each one takes to heal from past hurts.

Hauck weaves the storylines seamlessly and creates the right amount of drama to keep the pages turning. This story of hope, love, forgiveness and reconciliation is a must-read for romance readers.

Filed Under: Fiction, The Weekly Read Tagged With: family stories, rachel hauck, reconciliation, secrets, wedding chapel, young love

A royal tale: Review of How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

March 18, 2015

What if you’d secretly married a prince five years ago and thought the relationship had ended only to find that same prince standing in front of you with annulment papers in hand?

how to catch a princeRachel Hauck’s Royal Wedding series wraps up with How to Catch a Prince, the story of American heiress Corina del Rey and Prince Stephen of Brighton, the secret they share (and another one they don’t), and the obstacles they’ll need to overcome to find love between them again. (Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of the book in exchange for a review and blog tour participation through Litfuse Publicity Group.)

Hauck’s previous books in the series, Once Upon a Prince and Princess Ever After, introduced us to the fictional kingdoms and royal families of Brighton and Hessenberg, and while reading those books would help give background for this one, you could pick up How to Catch a Prince and read it without having read the others.

I found the premise of this book interesting, but I must say I was a tad disappointed in the story overall. I loved the first two books in this series, but this one didn’t quite meet my expectations. I just wasn’t as drawn in by the characters, and I wasn’t really surprised by how things played out. Still, it was an entertaining read, and there were some unforgettable moments and lines from the book.

The overall theme of loving people well, even if it’s not romantic love, will stick with me. As will advice like,

“You can play it safe if you choose, but it’s the brave, those who face their fears, who tame the world, who win the day. Walk on waves.”

Corina does a lot of brave and courageous things and learns to fight for what matters to her. That’s inspiring. And Prince Stephen learns that exposing his secrets is the only way to live in freedom.

If you’re a fan of the real royal family and all things British, this is a great series to make you feel like you’re part of that world.

And to celebrate the launch of this book, there’s a royal giveaway! And to find out more about the author, the book and what others are saying, click here.

An American heiress and a crown prince seem destined to be together. Will the devastation of war keep them apart forever? Find out in Rachel Hauck’s new book, How to Catch a Prince. True love has a destiny all its own. With a little heavenly help, Prince Stephen and Corina embark on a journey of truth. But when the secrets are revealed, can they overcome, move forward, and find love again?

Enter to win a “royal” prize pack! 

catchaprince-400

One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A royal-themed Brighton charm bracelet
  • 2 tickets to see the new Cinderella movie
  • The Royal Wedding series (Once Upon a Prince, Princess Ever After, and How to Catch a Prince)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced March 24th on Rachel’s blog.

catchaprince-enterbanner

{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

Filed Under: Fiction, The Weekly Read Tagged With: litfuse publicity group, modern-day fairytales, rachel hauck, royal wedding series

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Hi. I’m Lisa, and I’m glad you’re here. If we were meeting in real life, I’d offer you something to eat or drink while we sat on the porch letting the conversation wander as it does. That’s a little bit what this space is like. We talk about books and family and travel and food and running, whatever I might encounter in world. I’m looking for the beauty in the midst of it all, even the tough stuff. (You’ll find a lot of that here, too.) Thanks for stopping by. Stay as long as you like.

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Occasionally, I review books in exchange for a free copy. Opinions are my own and are not guaranteed positive simply due to the receipt of a free copy.

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