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amyk2024's review
4.0
A Christmas novella is the perfect addition to one of my favorite series! Cute and sweet. Perfect for Christmas!
jbarr5's review
4.0
The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck
JoJo is back in town and helping out at the wedding dress shop. Haley is about to deliver and her husband is nearby but busy with his business.
She got scared in Dallas and had to come home and her mothers especially as her health is not as good as it used to be. Those are the excuses she used.
We learn throughout the book what scared her and her old friend, Buck, cowboy singer about to go international is home for several weeks around Christmas and he's able to lure it out of her, after proposing.
Things happen fast for them both and each have their own dreams. The dress finds it's bride and no matter what shape or how tall they are, the dress fits. Too similar to the traveling pants of years ago.
The dress does comfort her...
Ends with excerpt and acknowledgements and about the author.
#TheWeddingDressChristmas #NetGalley
JoJo is back in town and helping out at the wedding dress shop. Haley is about to deliver and her husband is nearby but busy with his business.
She got scared in Dallas and had to come home and her mothers especially as her health is not as good as it used to be. Those are the excuses she used.
We learn throughout the book what scared her and her old friend, Buck, cowboy singer about to go international is home for several weeks around Christmas and he's able to lure it out of her, after proposing.
Things happen fast for them both and each have their own dreams. The dress finds it's bride and no matter what shape or how tall they are, the dress fits. Too similar to the traveling pants of years ago.
The dress does comfort her...
Ends with excerpt and acknowledgements and about the author.
#TheWeddingDressChristmas #NetGalley
kdurham2's review
3.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A novella in a series that takes place in the small town in Tennessee in a wedding shop that is quaint and cute. This novella focuses on JoJo Castle who is related to the owner of the bridal shop and has returned to this small town after an incident scared her in the big city. Buck Mathews has returned home for the holidays to be with his family and take a break from his country music life and he remembers JoJo and wonders if their worlds can fit together now.
With romance books, I typically don't enjoy when they are shortened and crammed into a small space like a novella. It can feel like instalove and whiplash fast, so I like when the author adds in a troupe that this couple has known each other and this is a remeeting of sorts because it gives history without extra pages.
A novella in a series that takes place in the small town in Tennessee in a wedding shop that is quaint and cute. This novella focuses on JoJo Castle who is related to the owner of the bridal shop and has returned to this small town after an incident scared her in the big city. Buck Mathews has returned home for the holidays to be with his family and take a break from his country music life and he remembers JoJo and wonders if their worlds can fit together now.
With romance books, I typically don't enjoy when they are shortened and crammed into a small space like a novella. It can feel like instalove and whiplash fast, so I like when the author adds in a troupe that this couple has known each other and this is a remeeting of sorts because it gives history without extra pages.
morgangiesbrecht's review
2.0
I really wanted to love this story, but it just didn’t work for me.
While I enjoyed the cute Christmassy small town atmosphere, the whole romance premise significantly raised my blood pressure.
I’m a firm believer that love is an action, more than an emotion. My heart went out to JoJo and all she struggled with. But Buck? Ugh, that man annoyed me. He claimed to love JoJo, but all I was seeing was attraction. He didn’t truly back up his words with his actions, except that grand gesture in the end which bothered rather than impressed me. Everything was just a rush without a lot of time to get to know each other. Sure they grew up together but they hadn’t really seen each other for 10 years. And you aren’t the same person in high school that you are at nearly 30.
Also, this is an example on how NOT to deal with a trauma victim. I was getting anxiety just reading how Jo was badgered and pressured. Yes, there’s a time to face fear, but being pressured and forced to do so isn’t the way.
I didn’t DNF in hopes it would improve, but sadly, I was disappointed. :(
While I enjoyed the cute Christmassy small town atmosphere, the whole romance premise significantly raised my blood pressure.
I’m a firm believer that love is an action, more than an emotion. My heart went out to JoJo and all she struggled with. But Buck? Ugh, that man annoyed me. He claimed to love JoJo, but all I was seeing was attraction. He didn’t truly back up his words with his actions, except that grand gesture in the end which bothered rather than impressed me. Everything was just a rush without a lot of time to get to know each other. Sure they grew up together but they hadn’t really seen each other for 10 years. And you aren’t the same person in high school that you are at nearly 30.
Also, this is an example on how NOT to deal with a trauma victim. I was getting anxiety just reading how Jo was badgered and pressured. Yes, there’s a time to face fear, but being pressured and forced to do so isn’t the way.
I didn’t DNF in hopes it would improve, but sadly, I was disappointed. :(
thekiwibibliophile's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This was the weirdest, cringiest, insta loviest book I’ve ever read. WHO EVEN writes a book like this! NO ONE took Jojo’s feelings into consideration AT ALL..
randikaye's review
5.0
Whether you are already a fan of Rachel Hauck's The Wedding Collection series or have never picked up one in your life, The Wedding Dress Christmas is THE must read holiday novella of the year! Personally, I must admit that I was in that second category. I have read other books by Rachel, but none in that particular series. The good news is that this novella stands alone quite well regardless. It gave enough background about this mysterious dress that I didn't feel lost, but I will say that I was so captivated by this unique concept that I absolutely must go back and read the rest of the series now too.
In this story, we meet JoJo and Buck. Having giving up her dreams of big city life when things ended badly there, we meet JoJo having returned home to the small town of Hearts Bend where she is helping her cousin run a wedding dress shop. Her childhood friend Buck meanwhile has been living out his dream as a country music star. When he returns home for the holidays, they are reunited and...well, you can guess what happens next!
There is just something I love about a Christmas romance. A romance in and of itself tends to be lighthearted and just make you feel good, but throw in some Christmas spirit and something magical happens. Throw in a mysterious and magical wedding dress and it's the recipe for perfection. I absolutely LOVED this story. It was romantic, it was heartwarming, it was magical and it had a great show of God at work in the lives of the characters. The only real downside to this story was that it ended so soon! I would have loved to have had this as a full length novel just because I enjoyed the characters and the story-line so very much.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and one that I am certain I will be revisiting again in Christmases to come. If you love a good Christmas romance, you will not want to miss this one.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
In this story, we meet JoJo and Buck. Having giving up her dreams of big city life when things ended badly there, we meet JoJo having returned home to the small town of Hearts Bend where she is helping her cousin run a wedding dress shop. Her childhood friend Buck meanwhile has been living out his dream as a country music star. When he returns home for the holidays, they are reunited and...well, you can guess what happens next!
There is just something I love about a Christmas romance. A romance in and of itself tends to be lighthearted and just make you feel good, but throw in some Christmas spirit and something magical happens. Throw in a mysterious and magical wedding dress and it's the recipe for perfection. I absolutely LOVED this story. It was romantic, it was heartwarming, it was magical and it had a great show of God at work in the lives of the characters. The only real downside to this story was that it ended so soon! I would have loved to have had this as a full length novel just because I enjoyed the characters and the story-line so very much.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and one that I am certain I will be revisiting again in Christmases to come. If you love a good Christmas romance, you will not want to miss this one.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
meezcarrie's review
4.0
First of all, can we talk about how gorgeous that cover is? It’s everything you want in a cover for a Christmas romance. That dress. That window all decked out for the season. The snow. The colors. Just perfect.
Now let’s talk about The Wedding Shop & Hearts Bend – two of my favorite places in fiction. I love small town Tennessee. I was born in small town Tennessee, so stories set there always have a special place in my reader heart. This particular setting of Hearts Bend is all the more delightful because it seems like the presence of God stirs a little stronger here. And that leaves room for Hauck to work her Christmas magic with some divine twists.
I loved reuniting on the page with Haley & Cole from The Wedding Shop and just Hearts Bend in general, as I’ve already established. But if you haven’t yet read a book in this series, you should still be able to enjoy The Wedding Dress Christmas – you’ll just enjoy it on a whole other level if you’ve at least read The Wedding Shop … and even more so if you’ve read them all. I will say that I missed the dual timeline that weaves so beautifully through the rest of the books – so often what touches me the most from this loosely-tied-together series is how the past & present parallel each other in the story. Still, a novella length means some elements have to go, so I understand why this is solely a contemporary timeline.
There are some funny moments in this story – such as JoJo and the veil – which help break up the tension between JoJo and Buck, as well as the emotional baggage each of them bring to the table. Country music star Buck will have you swooning from the get-go… and hold on to your Stetson when he falls in love & turns on his heart full force! JoJo is relatable and quick to like, her struggles and her flaws both easily relatable to a lot of women. I especially loved her friendship with Haley and their scenes together at The Wedding Shop.
Bottom Line: The Wedding Dress Christmas is a lovely return visit to a fan favorite setting – the quaint Hearts Bend, Tennessee – and (except for the dual timeline that’s such a big part of the previous books) delivers all the elements that readers love so much in The Wedding Collection novels. The hint of the divine. The sweet and swoony romance. The layered and likable characters. Add in the magic of the Christmas season & a gorgeous cover and you’ve got a must-read addition to your holiday TBR pile.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
Now let’s talk about The Wedding Shop & Hearts Bend – two of my favorite places in fiction. I love small town Tennessee. I was born in small town Tennessee, so stories set there always have a special place in my reader heart. This particular setting of Hearts Bend is all the more delightful because it seems like the presence of God stirs a little stronger here. And that leaves room for Hauck to work her Christmas magic with some divine twists.
I loved reuniting on the page with Haley & Cole from The Wedding Shop and just Hearts Bend in general, as I’ve already established. But if you haven’t yet read a book in this series, you should still be able to enjoy The Wedding Dress Christmas – you’ll just enjoy it on a whole other level if you’ve at least read The Wedding Shop … and even more so if you’ve read them all. I will say that I missed the dual timeline that weaves so beautifully through the rest of the books – so often what touches me the most from this loosely-tied-together series is how the past & present parallel each other in the story. Still, a novella length means some elements have to go, so I understand why this is solely a contemporary timeline.
There are some funny moments in this story – such as JoJo and the veil – which help break up the tension between JoJo and Buck, as well as the emotional baggage each of them bring to the table. Country music star Buck will have you swooning from the get-go… and hold on to your Stetson when he falls in love & turns on his heart full force! JoJo is relatable and quick to like, her struggles and her flaws both easily relatable to a lot of women. I especially loved her friendship with Haley and their scenes together at The Wedding Shop.
Bottom Line: The Wedding Dress Christmas is a lovely return visit to a fan favorite setting – the quaint Hearts Bend, Tennessee – and (except for the dual timeline that’s such a big part of the previous books) delivers all the elements that readers love so much in The Wedding Collection novels. The hint of the divine. The sweet and swoony romance. The layered and likable characters. Add in the magic of the Christmas season & a gorgeous cover and you’ve got a must-read addition to your holiday TBR pile.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
finnelyslibrary's review
3.0
It was fun revisiting Hearts Bend, but the characters were a personal miss for me. Specifically Buck, how he handled learning about JoJo's story really put me off. Being a survivor, if the man I was interested in ever responded by immediately proposing and then later yelling what he did. That's for close family member to say to pull you out of your funk, not a significant other to throw at you because you're struggling to not give into their desires. I don't know, maybe this ones hitting me closer because I could put myself in her shoes and that wouldn't have flown for me. Other than those things, it was sweet and as always well written.
melmo2610's review
3.0
Sweet Story
This was a sweet Christmas visit back to Heart’s Bend Tennessee. I enjoyed getting to catch up with Haley and Cole and to see Jojo and Buck find their happily ever after. Good story overall.
This was a sweet Christmas visit back to Heart’s Bend Tennessee. I enjoyed getting to catch up with Haley and Cole and to see Jojo and Buck find their happily ever after. Good story overall.