Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Wedding Christmas Dress by Rachel Hauck: Review, Note from Author, & Giveaway!

 


About the Book



Book:  The Wedding Dress Christmas

Author: Rachel Hauck

Genre: Romance, Christmas

Release Date: October 22, 2019

December covers quaint Heart’s Bend, Tennessee with a blanket of white and the glitter of Christmas lights.

For JoJo Castle there’s no place like home. It’s her safe place. Her one-time love of adventure ended when life in the big city shattered her hopes and dreams. Now that she’s returned to Hearts Bend, she never wants to leave again.

Buck Mathews, the biggest country singing sensation in decades, has the world on a string – his guitar strings, to be exact. However, when news of his mother’s illness sends him back to Hearts Bend for the holiday season, he remembers how good it can be to live among family and friends.

Working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop, JoJo has no aspirations of love. Leaving home, surrendering her heart again, is just too risky.

When she runs into her friend and high school crush Buck Mathews, she discovers Love might have other plans for her.

Buck’s career is on the verge of a momentous leap. But seeing JoJo awakens feelings he’d buried long ago. Falling in love is easy, but winning her heart will take more than one of his melodic tunes and clever lyrics.

JoJo and Buck want opposite things for their lives, leaving no room for compromise. Can love, especially the kind that touches hearts at Christmastime, overcome her fears and his quest for greatness?

When a very special gown – the wedding dress – begins to make its presence known, JoJo and Buck’s hearts bend in a way neither ever thought possible.

Click here* to get your copy.

About the Author

Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.  Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.  Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.

A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.

At home, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.  A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan (who just had an undefeated season). Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.

She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.
pink tulle long prom/bridesmaid dress

More From Rachel


Hello Royal Rockstar Readers!

I’m thrilled to share The Wedding Dress Christmas with you. I’ve heard from so many how much The Wedding Dress has touched them, and as I noodled over new story ideas, my thoughts drifted toward the wedding dress and Christmas. What’s more romantic than a Christmas wedding?

This novella is set in Hearts Bend, Tennessee, the fictional town of The Wedding Chapel and The Wedding Shop. Even if you’ve never read one of books in The Wedding Collection, you’ll enjoy this story, the mystery of the dress, and the women whose lives it changed.

I love weddings. They remind us of the purity and the hope of love, the power of commitment. Something powerful is released when two people pledge to spend their lives together, loving and serving one another in both good and bad times. Every wedding I attend reminds me of the vows I made to my husband and I sign up all over again.

Stories are a powerful reflection of life. Yes, fictional stories are often told with wild hyperbole, but that’s what makes them fun to read.

I also love wedding stories because they remind us of God’s love for us, and that one day there will be the grandest wedding of them all. Isn’t it wonderful that God planned a wedding before He created the earth?

In The Wedding Dress Christmas, JoJo and Buck have their issues, but love proves strong enough to conquer them all.

Thanks for going on this little tour with me and The Wedding Dress Christmas.


Yours,


Rachel
We are in love with our amazing Christmas window! Thank you so much Hiding in the City Flowers. It is beautiful!  Dress featured: 'Vienna'  #suzanneneville #christmas #christmaswindow #hidinginthecityflowers #floristry #angel #wings #couture #designerweddingdress #london

My Thoughts

The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck takes us on a journey to Hearts Bend, Tennessee.  JoJo Castle works at The Wedding Shop that is owned by her cousin, Haley Danner.  JoJo loves Hearts Bend with its special traditions.  JoJo, though, does not believe love is for her especially after what happened in Dallas.  Buck Mathews, country music star, returns home for Christmas when he hears about his mother’s illness.  The last twelve years Buck has spent working on his career and has had little time for his family.  JoJo fell in love with Buck when she was in the ninth grade, but he considered her his good friend.  Buck now sees JoJo in a different light, and he begins to have thoughts of marriage.  While JoJo is happy in Hearts Bend, Buck has tour commitments that would keep him away for months on end.  Is there a way for these two to come together and get their happily ever after?  With the magic of Christmas along with a very special wedding dress, there might be a special miracle in Hearts Bend this holiday season.  I have read every book in The Wedding Collection series and I thought The Wedding Dress Christmas was a lovely addition.  It can be read on its own for those new to this charming series.  I enjoyed reading this heartwarming holiday novella.  It was nice to catch up with Haley and her husband, Cole from The Wedding Shop.  JoJo Castle is a woman who loves living in her hometown where she volunteers for several projects.  But JoJo has fears that keep her from imagining a love of her own while she helps others find the perfect dress, veil and shoes for when they marry their soulmate.  I like the developed characters that were realistic.  I like the magical wedding dress that comes in an unassuming trunk with its special history.  The descriptions of Hearts Bend bring it alive and make it a place that I want to live.  I would avoid Brandi Walsh, though, for fear of being roped into a project.  The ending was enchanting.  We see how fear can hold a person back if they let it.  This is a story that will make you feel happy inside and believe in Christmas miracles.  The Wedding Dress Christmas is a magical Christmas tale with a fairy-tale wedding dress, special shoes, a tattered trunk, a custom Christmas carol, concerned citizens, and pageant pandemonium.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a print copy of the book and a Visa gift card for $25. Swag.  Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.  The Wedding Dress Christmas is available at Amazon* and other major booksellers.  You can find the other novels in The Wedding Collection Series here (The Wedding Dress, The Wedding Chapel, and The Wedding Shop).  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return tomorrow with my review of Code Conspiracy by Carol Ericson.  It is the third book in Red, White and Built:  Delta Force Deliverance series.   I hope you have a joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader
Christmas Wedding Reception Decor with Christmas Tree and Candelabra Centrepieces | Photographer: Antonis Prodromou | Flower Styling and Decoration: Luciana Wedding Creations And Event Planning | Location Agios Sozomenos, Cyprus | Furniture: Party City | Tableware: Party City | Wedding Gifts: Hermann Gourmet | Cosmetics: Be Mine Collection | Wedding Dress: Gala Montenapoleone | Hairstyle: Hair Spray Cyprus Michael Eliades | Makeup: Makeup By NIcolina | Wedding Crowns: Gala Monten Poleone | Persi

Blog Stops



The Avid Reader, December 18
Livin’ Lit, December 18
Robin’s Nest, December 18
By The Book, December 19
Wishful Endings, December 19
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 19
Among the Reads, December 20
Genesis 5020, December 20
Life as Lanhams, December 20
Daysong Reflections, December 21
Bigreadersite, December 21
Simple Harvest Reads, December 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Remembrancy, December 22
Britt Reads Fiction, December 22
She Lives to Read, December 23
Empowermoms, December 23
Inside the Wong Mind, December 23
Mia Reads Blog, December 23
Splashes of Joy, December 24
Christian Bookaholic, December 24
Hallie Reads, December 24
Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 25
Blogging With Carol, December 25
For Him and My Family, December 26
Hebrews 12 Endurance, December 26
Mamma Loves Books, December 27
Betti Mace, December 28
Batya’s Bits, December 28
Quiet Quilter, December 29
janicesbookreviews, December 29
A Reader’s Brain, December 30
Inklings and notions, December 30
Texas Book-aholic, December 30
Carla Loves to Read, December 30
Back Porch Reads, December 31
CarpeDiem, December 31
Reading and book art prints

*This post contains affiliate links.

8 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing your book with us and for the giveaway as well. I appreciate them both.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love Christmas books and this one looks so good!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds like a great holiday read. Thanks for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I loved reading this book. I agree it is a standalone since I had not read the previous books.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've been wanting to read this book. Vivian Furbay jtandviv (at) q (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the idea of a book written about a wedding dress and I’m sure Rachel Hauck does an awesome job with this story.
    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
    Perrianne Askew

    ReplyDelete