This book has a double timeline. It pops back and forth from 1780 to the present. Putting Hollywood tied to the War for Independence and in the process managed to create a very dramatic filled storyline. It's a love letter that creates a movie. However, that's when it gets bumpy. The characters can be repetitive and sometimes one story took away from the other one. Separately, the two stories are reasonable ones, if I could just get past the repeated issues that Chole was stuck on. Honestly, just don't take any more "dying" roles and that solves that problem.

While I liked it, it was missing just enough to get a 3.5 star review from me.

Beautiful story written in both the past and present. I really enjoyed how the author was able to link both timelines together. One story is more historical fiction, while the other more contemporary, so it can appeal to more types of readers.I'm a sucker for a good love story!
Ester and Hamilton were once childhood friends who fell in love. Unfortunately Ester's father does not approve of Hamilton, and has put her in the position that she must chose sides. Will she go against her fathers wishes, or follow her heart and chose Hamilton.
Chloe is an actress who has been given a script for a historical love story, and the female lead is Ester Kingsley. The director is Jesse, and he was inspired to write this screenplay after reading the letter.
The connection between the two stories is the love letter from Hamilton to Esther. Such a sweet story, I know fans of Susan Meissner and Kate Quinn will enjoy this book.

Such a sweet story and I loved how the storylines intertwined. The stories were artfully told. While both were enjoyable, I loved the twists and turns in the Revolutionary War story most. A read that will delight those who love a slip time story that ties disparate characters and arcs together.

This was a very emotional story. I liked Eather’s story more than Jesse’s. I love how Esther is torn between her family and Hamilton. I also loved the setting of the Revolutionary War. I thought the author did an excellent job in portraying the political turmoil between a loyalist and a revolutionary. I highly recommend this for fans of Bette Bolte, Lucinda Riley, and Melanie Dobson.

Thank you to netgalley I received this as an ARC. I enjoyed it very much was good solid read. Solid 3.5 Stars for me!

The Love Letter was a great book in that it was a book about the present and the past all at one time. This guy looks back at his family heritage and brings it to the present. I really liked all the switching between the story’s original timing and the present timing of how the family story was being seen and experienced. The romance was fun to watch unfold with all the twists and turns. As a historical enthusiast, the historical Revolutionary War side of this book was really captivating because of the sides that can be taken.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: While I generally love a book where the past meets the present, I had a hard time with that concept in this book. What I found difficult to deal with is the fact that Esther and Hamilton’s story is so compelling it can easily stand on its own as a proper historical fiction. While I liked, Chloe and Jesse well enough, I don’t feel like their contemporary journey added at all to the overall read. I often found myself rushing through the Chloe and Jesse chapters, so I could get back to the Esther and Hamilton chapters. Between the Revolutionary War setting, the emotional conflict, and the inevitable parting of ways, I found Esther and Hamilton to be absolutely fascinating. What’s more, the ending!! I am a huge fan of a good epilogue and the last several chapters really served as a wonderfully extended epilogue. Finding out the fate of Esther of Hamilton, how their lives unfolded was so very, very satisfying. As always, Hauck’s writing style is smooth and easy, punctuated with dialogue that is pointed, precise, and interesting. Hauck’s characters (in this case only Esther and Hamilton!) are so big, they overtake every other aspect of the read, and that is one of my favorite things about reading. Without doubt, Rachel Hauck is stuck with me as I am quickly becoming addicted to her brand of historical fiction.

P.S. I also got the audiobook from my local library and found it to be a disservice to the story. At the halfway point, I gave up on the audiobook and went back to the physical read which was significantly better!

Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest opinion and review.

After reading The Wedding Dress, I knew I had to read all books that Rachel Hauck writes. In the present of this novel, Chloe Daschle, is an actress struggling to find a role where her character does not die and in real life, she is struggling to find her hearts desire, true love. Jesse Gates, is an actor, turned screenwriter, who writes a stunning script based on an old love letter from his great grandfather times six; Jesse is struggling with acceptance and forgiveness from his past. I loved these characters right from the beginning and was engrossed in their story, I hung on every word and watched as their love and faith brought them the things they desired, whether they knew it or not, and their ending was all I could have asked for. The past story revolves around Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow, during the time of the Revolutionary War, and their ill fated love affair. I found that I was not as interested in Hamilton and Esther's story, even though it is the backbone of Chloe and Jesse's story. I am not sure if Hamilton and Esther's story did not hold my attention as much or if I loved Chloe and Jesse's story so much, I could not wait to get back to them.

All in all, lovely novel, and wonderful ending. Looking forward to many more books by this talented author.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Chloe Daschle hates that she has been dubbed “queen of the death scene,” and when she reads the script for Bound By Love, she just knows the role of Esther will break her out of that stereotype. She becomes friends with Jesse Gates, the screenwriter for Bound By Love and an actor in the movie. Bound By Love is a fictionalized version of Jesse's great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Hamilton Lightfoot's, love for Esther Longfellow. As Chloe and Jesse's story unfolds, so does the “true” story of Hamilton and Esther.

I have been a fan of many of Rachel Hauck's previous books, but this one disappointed me. I didn't really connect with either story line or the characters. The surprise twist with Oliver near the end was creepy to me, while I think it was meant to be romantic. There were several small things that bugged me throughout the book, as well. Every character seemed to have a stuttering problem. Also, there were multiple scenes where the main characters chose to share their deep, important stories at the same time, i.e. “I'll tell a sentence of my story; now you tell a sentence of your story; then I'll tell another sentence of my story.” It made me feel like they weren't really listening to each other. The sum of all the little things made me glad when this book was over.

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck is a beautiful romance. Similar to other books by Rachel we have dual time frames revealing a beautifully woven story. The historical story is about the war of 1812. It reveals how it tore families apart. Made me think of the politics of today. The contemporary story is about 2 couples in Hollywood.

Hamilton and Esther are the two historical characters. Hamilton ends up fighting in the war. Esther’s father is totally against the war and is not a good character. Their story is heartbreaking.

Chloe and Jesse are the modern day couple. Jesse is a screen writer and dealing with guilt from his past. His story was also heartbreaking. I felt it could happen to any of us. Chloe is an actress that has had a string of bad luck and playing parts where she dies. She is determined to not die in her next film.

Rachel does not disappoint. She delivers a touching love story from both time periods.

Such a fan of Rachel’s! This book was exciting,romantic,beautiful and perfect read! Thanks for the ARC!!

Set in the war torn time of the Revolutionary War and in the present, this book follows the lives of Eleanor Longfellow and her love Hamilton Lightfoot as they try to maintain their relationship in spite of Esther's Loyalist father. In the present day, Chloe Daschle auditions for a role in the movie about Esther and Hamilton and meets Jesse, Hamilton's descendant and the screenwriter of the movie. She is tired of her image in Hollywood as a character who always dies and falls in love with the role that might save her career. Told in alternating storylines, these characters must make hard decisions and eventually realize that God is more than enough. Can these characters find love in the midst of difficult circumstances, or will the past be too much for their relationships?
I enjoyed this book very much, and I liked both storylines equally, which is rare for me when reading a book in this format. Even though the characters went through heartbreaking circumstances, they did what was right and followed God. The backstory of Esther and Hamilton was gut wrenching and historically described, and the modern day romance between Chloe and Jesse was sweet and genuine. The lessons about love and relationships were important and well written, and Chloe's description of the way a marriage should be was one of the best I've ever read in Christian fiction. I didn't agree with some of the views expressed that seemed like watered down Christianity and acceptance of casual drinking, but faith in God and salvation was presented well and made the book more realistic than some inspirational fiction out there. Other than prolific kissing, the book was clean. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a Christian emphasis.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book was very easy to just sit back and get into. I have two kids and it was hard not to put this book down! I love the way the author goes back and forth between two love stories—one from the past and one from the future. It is exciting to read till the end—and I love the twist!

Our main heroine is in the middle of a career crisis. She wants to grow
And become more as an actress but finds herself stuck. She’s young but sees herself as average and doubts herself a lot. A new screen play comes out that gives her hope to redeem her “dying” career. She finds that his is her hope to redeem and revamp who she is as an actor.

Though sometimes romance stories are incredulous —I’m okay with that. I love how she weaves the two stories together and how it ties up in the end— I recommend this book! It’s a refreshing ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely loved this book! I don't usually read Christian fiction, but this book is on my best read list. It was so refreshing. It follows the story of two love stories, one in present time and the other from colonial times. I really like historical fiction and this book gave me exactly the right amount with a twist at the end. I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between Hamilton and Esther and seeing their love grow in leaps and bounds. The story between Chloe and Jesse just made this book even better. The twist at the end was touching. I will definitely pick up more books like this one! Thanks to Rachel Hauck for writing such an awe-inspiring novel.

A decent read. This is a dual storyline that alternates in the past & present. The past story is set during the American Revolution and the love story between the characters, Hamilton & Esther, was a forbidden & complicated one. In the present story, a descendant of Hamilton named Jesse, a screenwriter, is inspired by a letter that Hamilton wrote to Esther in the 1700s. He uses that letter to write a screenplay involving the characters. Jesse meets Chloe, a well known actress who came from Hollywood royalty. Chloe plays Esther in his film.

Anyways, I typically liked dual storylines of the past and present equally but I enjoyed the historical aspect so much more than the contemporary one. I thought Jesse & Chloe’s feelings for each other were a bit rushed. Because of that I couldn’t connect to them as a couple that much. But I did like how they both cared for each other despite their struggles. The characters alone weren’t bad. They were both relatable. The revelations the end in regards to Chloe was surprising as well. I liked how both love stories connected to each other.

Hamilton and Esther’s story took a surprising turn at the end. You’ll either love it or hate it. Both hope prevails at the end. I did wished their story didn’t to have end a few chapters earlier. Their story was more complicated and a lot more dramatic than the present. They were both great characters as well. Hamilton was a good hero. Esther was a good heroine.

I like how the Christian message was woven into both story. It was thru Jesus that all 4 characters were able to move on with their lives & let go of past regrets, hurts, etc so they can truly live

This book wasn’t as great as “The Writing Desk” but still a good read that I’d recommend.

This is my first book from Rachel Hauck and definitely won't be my last!
I liked the premise of it being a contemporary story mingled with an historical one. I love historical novels and this one didn't dissapoint, it was well written and seemed realistic and well researched. The coming to and back from two eras was very well done and it didn't feel confusing as it sometimes does in other similar books.
Jesse is a scriptwriter and they're about to film his story about Hamilton (his ancestor) and Esther, set during the Revolutionary War, and based an a real love letter (that Jesse owns) that Hamilton wrote Esther before leaving for war. Chloe is an actress with a wellknown fame for her roles as a character who "always dies". She wants to change her status, so when she reads Jesse's script she envisions it as the opportunity of her lifetime and inmediately auditions for Esther's role...
I loved how the two stories intertwine and I also liked both set of characters. They felt real and relatable, especially Jesse and Chloe, who both had personal issues and baggage to redeem and heal throughout the story.
The story has drama (especially the historical part), sweet and clean romance, danger, intrigue and even humor.
It was very hard to put this book down! The ending surprised me and pleased me at the same time. I was rooting for both set of characters the whole time!
I definitely recommend this book, very worth reading. I look forward to reading more books from Rachel Hauck.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received this book on NetGalley for review. I thank NetGalley, Author Rachel Hauck, Thomas Nelson, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. for the opportunity to review this book.
Review of The Love Letter -
The Love Letter is a Christian Fictional Romance Novel. There are two romantic stories in two different timelines. The first story is about Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow, set up in the 18th Century in upcountry South Carolina. Hamilton lost his family to the Revolutionary War and has chosen his side to revenge and fight for Freedom of America. Esther's father works for a British lord and is against Esther and Hamilton's love. Esther tries to take a stand and fight for her love.
The second story is about Chloe Daschle and Jesse Gates, set up in the present day Hollywood where Chloe is an actress and Jesse is a scriptwriter-cum-MIT Postgraduate Techie-cum-actor.

My feelings about the book -
I loved how the book begins, the plot seemed very interesting and I was eager to know how these stories will converge. After reaching almost 45% of the book I had lost all interest in reading this book. The story moved too slowly, which bored me and I left the book many a time. I had to finish this book just because it was a review copy and I had to provide an honest review of it.
There are a lot of loopholes and unsatisfactory explanation of the chain of events in the story.

The plot of the book -
Chloe is a supporting actress in Hollywood, she is typecasted in Hollywood as the girl who dies in every role. Jesse is a scriptwriter and Chloe lands in the lead role of this movie. Jesse and Chloe are attracted to each other. The movie Jesse wrote is about his ancestor's love story which they could not complete. Jesse's grandfather Hamilton Lightfoot loved Esther Longfellow and wrote her letters but never sent them.

Characters in the book -
Chloe Daschle
Chloe Daschle is an actress by profession but acts in her real life too. In one moment she will be blaming herself and talking about she being a curse and people will tell her that's not true and convince her out of it. She has momentarily accepted it that she is not a curse and in the very next scene, she will repeat the same thing again. This happens until she finds her faith. She is a character who does not take a stand for herself. Her parents are Hollywood royalty but she is a struggling actress. The novel defends her surrendering behavior by saying that she does not use her parent's fame for getting a role, that's true but Chloe is such a weak person, she does not believes in herself and is not ready to fight for herself to achieve anything. She is 21st-century women but is waiting for her fate to do the magic for her.

Esther Longfellow
On the contrary, Esther Longfellow being an 18th Century women fought for what she believed in and even took huge risks. I loved the character of Esther. Her character was the only thing that helped me finish the book.

Hamilton Lightfoot
Hamilton Lightfoot starts as an amazing character in the book. He is about to make a big decision of fighting in the war. He is willing to sacrifice anything for his love. Even when the war is going on he is optimistic about meeting Esther and getting married to her, start a family. Hamilton's faith is another pushed story.

Jesse Gates
Jesse Gates is a perfect man in looks and talents. He completed his Postgraduate at MIT when he was just 20 years old, his intelligence is mostly just described in words and not in actions. He wrote a script based on just letters from his grandfather. His intelligence, research, and drive should be visible in his work, which is not. The MIT techie guy tag is used just to magnify his sacrifice.

Very conveniently the writer defined some extra characters for the sake of not providing extra information. These extra characters came into the picture just to provide that particular information and there is no more detail about them or their relationship with the main characters.

For example, Aunt Pat did all the research on Jesse's ancestor(great times six grandfather). She finds the letter, she gave it to Jesse, she does all the research. Aunt Pat's character never comes back in the story, when Jesse's script is picked for making a Hollywood movie, or when he leaves Los Angles and starts working with his brother in his tech company. Also, the story never explains how much of research did Jesse do for writing this script, he can't be relying on just some letters. She was only introduced to fill the gap of how Jesse found the letter and why he did not research about Esther's side of the story.
Another example is Oliver, the producer of the movie is another such character.

What I didn't like -
There are a plenty of things that I didn't like in this book. I have explained them in other sections.

Predictability -
Very very predictable story. The chain of event which leads to the ending had to just to make it a good story. The ending was meant to happen. Unfortunately, I found those chain of events forced into the story.

Narration -
Just for the sake of a war in the plot, the backdrop of the Revolutionary war is used. There isn't even a chapter dedicated to the happenings of the war. Thus, it should not be called as historical fiction. The alternating timelines made the story a little interesting. The narration does not flow well and many things could have got handled through better narration.

Verdict -
It's a 2.5-star read. If you love romance stories, you can read this novel. The plot was interesting and it lags in the storytelling. All pieces did not come together.

A fantastic book from the talented hands of Ms. Hauck! She has managed to once again capture the hearts of her readers with her beautiful story line, and her perfectly chiseled characters. The pull of the plot line is instant and I loved every minute of this 4 star novel! Well done, Ms. Hauck!

An enjoyable read but not one that will stay with me. This book would be perfect for those who love a light romance book

I enjoyed this book. I like stories that go back and forth between two eras and then find ways to tie them together. I personally was more drawn to the story of the couple in the past, Ester and Hamilton, but I enjoyed the present day couple as well.