Reviews

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck

testar's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful

3.75

kdurham2's review against another edition

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3.0

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

I sit on the fence often when I read Rachel Hauck. Her books have such great plot and story and characters but I am aware they are in the Christian fiction genre they just seem to be a little heavy handed in that area. I am not naive in that I know going into a Christian fiction book that there will be elements of the faith in the book, but I like them to be a little more subtle if I were wanting to give this book to someone and slowly introducing them to the faith, this would not be the book I would recommend.

At the same time, I love the story and the plot. I love the dual storylines that clearly are connected from page one. But got even more connected as the story progresses. I loved Chloe and Jesse. Their story was interesting and kept me hooked on the book. I loved the inside peek into Hollywood and how they were both connected to the industry in different ways. It was also interesting to see inside a filming set and schedule - I know its fiction, but it felt based in reality just a bit!

melissasbookshelf's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this latest book from Rachel Hauck! The story is told from two different time periods, modern day and the Revolutionary War. Chloe is an aspiring actress who has been typecast in dying roles. Determined to change her fate, she decides to try for the lead actress in a movie about the Revolutionary War based on the writer's own family. When she meets the writer at a wedding, she immediately feels drawn to him. Alongside this story, is the story of Esther and Hamilton. Esther is the daughter of a Royalist who is in love with Hamilton who is definitively on the side of the American rebels. Though they each love the other, Esther's father and circumstances of the War continue to pull them apart.

Both stories were very compelling and I found that I was anxious to hear each one. Sometimes when reading stories from two different time periods, I find that I'm liking one story over the other. With this book, I found that I enjoyed both stories equally. The characters were likable and relatable. The religious elements were really good without being preachy.

reneesmith's review

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5.0

One of the things I appreciate about dual timeline stories is how the format gives added weight & meaning to all that happens in the ‘present day’ life of the modern characters. A connection to historical folks can help us understand where we have come from, who we are, and even where we should go from here. All that is true in a very personal way for the present day leads in this charming love story.

For me this story celebrates how the people we love—whether they become part of a happy ever after or not—can help us grow and become better.

I enjoyed how the author made these characters came to life for me. By the story’s end, I just wanted to stay in their world a little big longer.

My students are going to love this one! A must-read for all history/romance story lovers!

whitreadslit's review against another edition

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4.0

I love historical fiction. I also love a great love story. And I love Jesus. Therefore, this book was right up my ally. 🙂

When I saw The Love Letter on NetGalley, I knew that I had to request it. The idea of a connection, via a letter written during the Revolutionary War, between these four incredible characters, which were centuries apart, was just far too intriguing. I have to say, I was not disappointed.

Generally in a novel where there are two simultaneous love stories occurring, I find that I am usually rooting for one couple or the other, but not both. I’m not sure what it is. Maybe there is generally too much love being spread around, so no one couple gets enough attention. But, that didn’t happen in this book. I found myself equally invested in both Hamilton and Esther’s relationship, and in Chloe and Jesse’s. They were vastly different, but each one tugged at my heartstrings. I found myself relating to each character too. The relationships they had, and their character development in general, was very well done.

I especially loved the care with which Hauck researched the South during the Revolutionary War. I felt completely transported to that time and place. I love when a novel can take you with it, and help you to live within that world for a time – that is the mark of great historical fiction.

There were some pacing issues for me. At times, I felt that Hauck rambled a little with the characters’ inner dialogue. It threw off the rhythm of the narrative for me a bit, but she generally got back on track within a page or two. This is the main reason that I had to dock this book a star.

I won’t reveal too much on this score, as it is a bit spoilery, but I also enjoyed the treatment of religion and Jesus’ love for us in this novel. Some Christian fiction can kind of beat you over the head with the point of Jesus. This one was fairly seamless. The characters would talk about their faith organically. It, for the most part, didn’t feel forced into the story. It was something that the characters discovered in the right time for them, which was very realistic, as well as inspiring. I really enjoyed this, and appreciated it. I’m always looking for Christian fiction that is well done, and I can honestly say that The Love Letter falls into that category.

My Rating:
4.0/5.0

I gave The Love Letter 4 STARS. Overall, I thought that this was well-written, and well researched. More importantly, it was a beautiful love story – both for the romantic love story and for the love God has for us.

elvenavari's review

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5.0

Review of the audio book, read by Lisa Larsen.

First of all, Lisa Larsen was an excellent narrator. Her voice was perfect for both the modern day and that of Colonial America.

This was a dynamic romantic read that would make any romance fan swoon. Unlike a previous Hauck book, I felt the inclusion of the Christian theme strengthened the story rather than hurt it. Jesse and Chole were both likable characters. I was rooting for them by the end. The only thing I wanted and didn't get was to hear that the sea monster movie was a total flop haha.

littlebookreader_'s review against another edition

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3.0

I love Rachel Hauck's writing. And I will admit I am not a big fan of historicals. This book jumped back and forth between a love story in the present and a love story from the Revolutionary War. The Rev. War chapters were hard for me to get through. I would get very invested in the modern day love story and then feel like I had to take a detour through the past until I could get to the part I wanted to keep reading. I kinda had an inkling how the 2 stories would intersect about 1/3 of the way through. It was a sweet story, but the historical aspect of it made it hard for me to fully enjoy.

bookworm_girly101's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

chri5ti's review against another edition

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3.0

Really a 3 1/2 stars and only because of the strong Christian element. I don't really like that there was no mention of this aspect of the book in the summary section on goodreads, kindle, or Barnes&Noble descriptions. I did enjoy the past/present aspect and I loved the Revolutionary War background. However, if you are like me and don't like religious story lines then this one might not be for you. God is a big sub plot in this book.

ncrowe8182's review

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5.0

I'm not a person who normally enjoys two stories going on at once, but this story. i couldn't wait to see what was going on with the other story. wonderful detail on characters. she explains why they are the way they are. the ending of this book is incredible i was not expecting the connection. Because of this book I'm going to have to find more titles by this author.