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disasterchick's review against another edition
3.0
Overall this was a nice escape into they all lived happily ever after. I really didn't connect with the characters, but the plot was interesting enough. I do enjoy a story with a couple of timelines is the focus of this book.
heatherwoodauthor's review against another edition
5.0
"I need to die and stay dead. Then, only then, can I live."
"When love is given and received, at any level along any course, it is never wasted."
It's because of books like this one that I love Christian fiction. I really love how powerfully Rachel Hauck writes the gospel- it's real and true and beautiful, never forced, never weak. And it's because of this that I'm filled with joy when I read her books. There was so much good meat in this book. Did I connect with the main characters? No, not much. I couldn't put myself in Chloe's head or in her shoes at all. But I loved her anyway, and how being a Christian affected the way she viewed things. Boy, Jesse's story was everything, and the way Rachel showed life coming from death. I really loved Jeremiah, the producer of the film Jesse wrote and Chloe stars in. Especially when he said he wanted to go home for 24 hours before going to New Zealand. High five, dude.
The historical part of the time slip had such a beautiful conclusion that I won't spoil but was surprisingly satisfactory. I didn't love the secondary characters here or the amount of frustration the characters went through. Yes, there was plenty of angst in both plotlines but I don't hate angst, and I do thoroughly love where Rachel took this story.
I also loved the pacing; she just didn't weigh this book down with a lot of description. This is a complaint I have with another favorite author I've been reading lately, that I end up skimming to get to the story because of the amount of description and scene setting. This book was light on that. I know some people want more sensory details but I loved that it didn't, it kept me moving along and engaged.
I haven't read all of Hauck's books, but this is the first of her books I've read that I didn't see characters I knew from another book. Maybe it ties into a book I haven't read, but it seemed to be a complete standalone. I wouldn't mind having this one on my shelf. It was romantic and powerful and made me love Jesus and my husband more. Good fruit.
"When love is given and received, at any level along any course, it is never wasted."
It's because of books like this one that I love Christian fiction. I really love how powerfully Rachel Hauck writes the gospel- it's real and true and beautiful, never forced, never weak. And it's because of this that I'm filled with joy when I read her books. There was so much good meat in this book. Did I connect with the main characters? No, not much. I couldn't put myself in Chloe's head or in her shoes at all. But I loved her anyway, and how being a Christian affected the way she viewed things. Boy, Jesse's story was everything, and the way Rachel showed life coming from death. I really loved Jeremiah, the producer of the film Jesse wrote and Chloe stars in. Especially when he said he wanted to go home for 24 hours before going to New Zealand. High five, dude.
The historical part of the time slip had such a beautiful conclusion that I won't spoil but was surprisingly satisfactory. I didn't love the secondary characters here or the amount of frustration the characters went through. Yes, there was plenty of angst in both plotlines but I don't hate angst, and I do thoroughly love where Rachel took this story.
I also loved the pacing; she just didn't weigh this book down with a lot of description. This is a complaint I have with another favorite author I've been reading lately, that I end up skimming to get to the story because of the amount of description and scene setting. This book was light on that. I know some people want more sensory details but I loved that it didn't, it kept me moving along and engaged.
I haven't read all of Hauck's books, but this is the first of her books I've read that I didn't see characters I knew from another book. Maybe it ties into a book I haven't read, but it seemed to be a complete standalone. I wouldn't mind having this one on my shelf. It was romantic and powerful and made me love Jesus and my husband more. Good fruit.
megs2kool's review against another edition
2.0
The story was a little hard to follow in the beginning - who was who, and what era were we in? Once I finally got everything straight, then there was a lot of religious aspects that came in that made me uncomfortable. This wasn't marked as "Christian fiction" on NetGalley (where I got the ARC from), but I feel like it should have been. Someone who is very religious might enjoy it more than I did.
shammons's review against another edition
4.0
If I'm ever in the mood for either a sweet romance or especially a dual timeline book, then Rachel Hauck's books never disappoint! This one is set in modern day, and follows the encounters that famous Hollywood daughter/actress Chloe has with screenwriter/actor Jesse. Jesse has written a screenplay for a blockbuster movie, based on a legendary love letter passed down from his family since the Revolutionary War. In the dual timeline portion, we get to go back in time to read about the story of Hamilton Lightfoot and his childhood sweetheart, Esther Longfollow (whose father was a British royalist/loyalist in South Carolina). I so enjoyed the back and forth storytelling and how each story turned out. A lovely read!
readerturnedwriter's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really average read for me. It had parts I liked, I didn't really hate anything about it, but I also didn't love it.
The love stories were my favorite part. One was a love story between a patriot and a loyalist during the American Revolution and the other was between an actor and a screenplay writer making a movie of the firsts' story. I'm not the biggest fan of books that have perspectives from the past and present
The love stories were my favorite part. One was a love story between a patriot and a loyalist during the American Revolution and the other was between an actor and a screenplay writer making a movie of the firsts' story. I'm not the biggest fan of books that have perspectives from the past and present
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
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.
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.
thehobbitkhaleesi's review
5.0
This is my favorite Rachel Hauck book EVER. And I’ve read almost all of hers, and adored them all because they’re lovely. But this one is special. I read most of it in one sitting, staying up waaaaay too late to finish it. It made me cry, for all the right reasons. I LOVE it, and you should read it. ❤️
elvenavari's review against another edition
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.
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.
melindakay's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I enjoy Rachel Hauck's books for what they are - kind of a beach read mixed with historical relevance, some romance, and a Christian background. This title did not disappoint. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the intertwining storylines, as the chapters switch around to four different characters, but I liked how it all came together at the end.
kfrickle's review
I found the story to be confusing with the way it was written. I lost interest around page 171.