4.5 Stars TOP PICK
Hauck has penned another gorgeous story about two female writers, separated by time and circumstance. Spiritual content is beautifully integrated and makes the story meaningful. Mistakes and heartbreak are a reality in the tale, as in life, and make the characters relatable. Attention to historical detail places the reader in the midst of early 1900s New York with all of its challenges, especially for young women like Birdie who have dreams that go against the acceptable choices of the era. This superb book will entertain and make readers think.
Tenley Roth has a huge legacy to live up to in the writing world. Both her father and great-grandfather are well-known authors, and she has written one massively successful novel as well. Unfortunately, she is on a deadline and suffering from extreme writer's block. When her estranged mother asks Tenley to come to Florida while she goes through chemotherapy, Tenley reluctantly agrees, and thinks a change of location might help her to write. In 1902, Birdie Shehorn lives a life of wealth and privilege, but this means that her choices are limited by her status. All Birdie wants is to write and become a published author, but this desire is thwarted by Birdie's mother, who wants her to marry a wealthy, titled man. As Tenley struggles in the present, her life intersects with Birdie's through an old writing desk that might give answers to them both.

Solid 3.5 stars. Set both in the present day as well as America’s Gilded age the author does a great job weaving the two stories together. Both main characters are writers. One with writer’s block after a debut hit and a name to live up to. The other trying to be a writer in an era where women were told what to do and who to marry and desperately trying to not be forced into a loveless marriage.

This novel is a Christian romance and Christ and the Bible are talked about. Especially later on in the book.

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book,

While I generally love Rachel Hauck's works (very romantic and she knows that her readers are modern Christian people, so she does not shy away from the real problems), this novel does not sit well with me. Mainly in the area of the moral relativeness, as not all of the conflicts are played with the same moral weight: for example the act of mother to leave her young child is written as a serious evil (and it is!); but the practical stealing of the other person's intellectual property gets away only with a pat in the wrist. And there lies my problem - this novel should be much more centered on forgiveness in truth.

The other problem is in the predictability in the romantic department. Also, the guys do not work for me here. Eli would practically marry for money (the girl needs to be brave to stop him) and Jonas is simply too good to be true as his all-American working guy hero.

So, this is a miss for me. But this authoress is simply too good and too talented for me not to auto-follow her works! One miss (and this is a personal opinions), but many hits!

The writing is professional, but I just couldn't stick with the story. Ms. Hauck writes good stories generally. I wish I could have enjoyed this one more.... it just kept rolling, but nothing seemed to be happening. I'll still pick up other books by this author.

Really great story which is different to what I normally read. Really recommend to others. Would recommend to others.

So this was another book that the book description drew me in. It is about a woman in the present day who had a best selling book and was on a deadline to write another book and had writer’s block. Due to personal family circumstances she ends up going to spend time with her mother who she didn’t know very well and found a family heirloom desk that she was sure would give her inspiration to write. She got more than she bargained for…this story goes back and forth from present day to a couple of generations back and weaves the lives of two woman together. I did really enjoy this book, however there were a couple of times I almost gave up on it, but the story kept me interested. I felt this book was very wordy at times and there were many words/pages that probably could have been left out…but for the most part I enjoyed this read and really enjoyed the storyline.

Love Rachel Hauck’s books. This is a beautiful story of forgiveness, overcoming fear, and developing a deep faith in God.

An intriguing story, set on a dual timeline, featuring two writers a hundred years apart. A stand alone novel with characters whose stories seem unconnected, except by an old desk.

Highly recommended!

Amazing! Each time Rachel Hauck has a new book, I proclaim, "It is her BEST yet"! I will stand by that statement for The Writing Desk.

I have come to absolutely love the dual time line used in Rachel Hauck's recent novels. This one starts with Birdie Shehorn in the Guilded Age of New York. The research of this time period and details added by the author are spot on. Birdie is part of an aristocratic family and required to follow "society rules", though she has other plans.

Tenley Roth is introduced as a character in present day New York. She is quite the jaded character. Being left at age 9 by her Mother, Blanche, has shaped who she became as an adult.

Both characters are finding their way through life and love. As a reader, I was hooked from page 1 and never wanted the story to end.

The intertwining of Tenley's story and Birdie's story are beautifully written. I never like to give the story away in a review, but I was truly blown away by this novel. I will say it again, "Rachel Hauck has topped herself again".

I now anxiously await to see what journey Ms. Hauck will take readers on next. Read this one and Thank me later! It is brilliant and beautiful!

Perfectly played out Christian romance. Writing Desk has all the right elements to leave me a satisfied reader. I usually find out which characters will wind up together—it’s sort of inevitable in romances, but Rachel Hauck achieves in keeping my attention throughout the journey. I am not bored as I read—I’m actually captivated and feel like what I read is fresh and not overly complicated nor too simple.

I love the characters. Hauck gives personality and depth that I can easily picture them in my mind. Hauck breathes life into the major and minor characters that they are three dimensional. I cannot tell you enough how often I felt I was watching a movie in my mind! I think about Blanche entering the room in her colorful turbans. I can feel the love and hear the candor of Jonas’s mom. I can feel the warmth and loudness of Jonas’s family as they celebrated the twins graduation or had a low boil on the beach. I can easily feel like I know them and am there.

The story is remarkable as it sort of tells of two love stories. The first is set in the gilded age—Birdie and Eli have obstacles to get through as society pushes so hard for formalities and the rules of society to be observed and followed. I found myself in tears as I was so moved by some parts. The second love story takes place in the present between Jonas and Tenley. I love the story here. There are obstacles she faces and they are equally powerful and this book does so well in just holding so much depth that I can’t help but feel like I am in the midst of the pages.

The book goes back and forth between characters. Most books that do this —I quickly tire of being jolted from one story to the other. In the Writing Desk I don’t feel whiplashed. The book flows and is masterfully connected. One can see that there’s some connection between the two stories but the answer to “how?” doesn’t come easily which is tantalizing.

Hauck keeps me fully engaged throughout this book that I keep reading till the end through the night.

The ending.
What usually bothers me in romances are the abrupt endings.. This one thankfully did not. I throughly appreciated how things wound down. I felt satiated with how this book wove two stories together and managed to tie up loose ends so beautifully.

I love this and would read it again and recommend it to my friends. I would say there is kissing in this book. I would like to say I’d have my daughter read this when she’s 17 or 20. The older she gets the better. Maybe I am a bit like Mrs Shehorn.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was a struggle for me to finish, I started it months ago on a plane ride and just couldn't get into the storyline in the past. I put it aside for a while and when I picked it up again, I had the same issue. So I only really read the storyline in the present, which was more compelling to me, even though the character of Tenley was tough to like. I know that Rachel Hauck writes Christian fiction, however in her other books, that theme was incorporated more seamlessly, and in this book it was very clunky, like an afterthought.
I didn't love this book but did finish it, even though i only really read about half of it since I didn't enjoy the story set in the past.

Rachel Hauck's books never disappoint. It was interesting to see a story around an old desk. I enjoyed the dual timelines and perspectives. I liked how both storylines were woven together. The characters seemed very real, the romance was nice and it was great to have faith woven within the plot.

I greatly enjoyed this book and the two time periods presented. Eli and Birdie in one time period and Tenley and Jonas in another.

Eli and Birdie are to be forced into marriage with people they do not love while being in love with each other. What will they do?

Tenley is facing writers block and leaves NY to help care for her estranged mother who is battling cancer. She meets a man, Jonas, who quickly captures her heart although she is engaged to another man.

Romantic, historical, loss, forgiveness and slight humor are all in this book.

Enjoyed this novel. Took me a few chapters to get into it, but then I was hooked! I did prefer the historical story to the modern-day story.

I was not expecting this great read from Rachel Hauck. The Writing Desk draws you in, and you really find yourself in Tenley's world in a way you might not expect. You'll never believe where the story takes you! Highly recommend.

This was the first book by Rachel Hauck that I have read, but it definitely won't be the last! I enjoyed "The Writing Desk" very much, and I liked how the author made me feel connected; I could related to many of the issues the protagonist was dealing with, so it helped to really draw me into the story. Humorous, down-to-earth, touching. Very well done. I already have a few more Rachel Hauck novels sitting on my book shelf waiting to be read. :)

(I will be back to update the links once I get my review posted on my blog.)

This is a great book about two women that are trying to find their place in the world. One is from the early 1900s and the other is present day. The bond that is created between these two women is something special.

Tenley is following in her father's footsteps and has taken up writing. Tenley has recently hit it big with her first published book. Now she is expected to write a second book that will exceed her first book. The only problem with this is that Tenley is having a hard time with coming up with something to write about.

Tenley's estranged mom has contacted her and asked if she can come and help her because she has just found out she has cancer and is going to be going through chemotherapy. Of course Tenley packs up and heads to Florida to help her mom out. Little does Tenley know that she is going to find what she has been looking so hard to find while she is down there. Tenley has some serious writers block going on.

Birdie is a young lady that lived in the 1900s. Birdie's mom was one that had it all figured out for her and had her whole life planned out for her. She wanted Birdie to marry into money and she knew just who she wanted her to marry. Birdie had a desk that she could escape to when she wanted to get away from her controlling mother and she would just write.

When Tenley and Birdie get together, we see an awesome relationship that forms. Both women have had to find their way in the world on their own and understand a lot of the same things. This is a great read that will leave you longing for more. Rachel Hauck did an outstanding job with this one! I can't wait to see what is in store next for us as readers from her.

Everything that Rachel Hauck writes is beautiful and enchanting!

The Writing Desk has inked its way onto my favorites list – for 2017, of course, but also the all-time fave comfort books that I pull out and reread when I’m feeling blah or when I just need the hug of the familiar.

Tenley and Birdie in many ways are versions of each other in another era. At least at their core. When it comes to love. When it comes to their mothers. Connected through time via one man, a host of novels and a writing desk, Birdie and Tenley have a story for all of us. Of what it means to be a woman. Of what it means to love a man. Of what it means to follow your dream, to be honest with yourself and to find ‘home’ in the arms of a Savior.

And then of course there is Elijah. And Jonas. Two men, separated by time and about as opposite from one another as can be. Yet they too are connected through the women they love – and through the men of integrity that they are. Rare in Elijah’s time. Rare in our own. Elijah (Eli) sends readers swooning with his long-held love for Birdie, his commitment to do the right thing, and of course his British accent. And Jonas will have book boyfriend collectors everywhere scrambling to add him to their collections; his heated kisses combined with his commitment to wait ‘for the right girl and marriage’ will tempt even the least romantical reader to read this book from the safety of the nearest fainting couch.

Bottom Line: Two stories. Two women. Connected by time and separated by it, all at once. Tenley’s wit and adorableness (in spite of her searching heart) endears readers immediately, and Jonas’ ability to ‘wit’ right back seals the deal. Her growth through the story is skillfully and gently penned, the simplicity of grace vibrant against the backdrop of faith. The Writing Desk is fun, tender, heartwarming, and inspiring. All wrapped up in a captivating story that you’ll want to hug when finished reading. (Don’t ask me how I know this.) One of Hauck’s best, and that’s a high standard to meet since everything she writes is exquisite. This one will be on my favorites list for years to come!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I feel like I need to start by saying that I love everything written by Rachel Hauck. So, you shouldn't be surprised when I say that I loved this book!

The Writing Desk is a multi-generational story set in the Gilded Age, as well as the present. It is a story of love, loss, regret, faith, forgiveness, and do-overs. The characters are well-developed and lovable with such enchanting story lines that you don't want to stop reading until you know what has happened to each of them. And the plot twists are the cherries on top! I have to cut this review short, or I might give too much of the story away. But that desk, and it's story! I love it!

I love to write, and reading about two writers and their challenges hit home for me. But you don't have to be a writer for it to hit home. The Writing Desk is also about mothers and daughters, life lessons, and love. Ever feel like just staying in your PJs all day? Well, then you will find something to relate to in this fabulous novel.

The Writing Desk featured two young woman from different eras. Both want independence and writing careers. Birdy, the heroine from the past is much more interesting and likeable than the present day character Tenley. Birdy doesn't want an arranged marriage and wants to be able to write her stories and choose her own mate. Tenley could be very annoying, especially during her insistence on wearing an old robe 24/7 in and out of the house during her writers block. Tenley struggles with the pressure of wondering if she will be a one hit wonder or as highly regarded as her grandfather and father. Both were authors, also. There is no profanity or explicit love scenes. It is a Christian novel and the characters expound on their relationship with God. There are themes of forgiveness, mercy, grace and redemption. At times, the book drags. I think a shorter length would have made the book "pop" a little more and kept things moving. Overall, an enjoyable read. I was given an ARC of this book thru Net Galley for an honest review.