I loved the premise of this story. Loved the parallels between modern day, and the 18th century. The story of Esther and Hamilton was very good, if a bit melodramatic. But wartime romances tend to be like that so I didn't mind.

I didn't love the story between Jesse and Chloe. It seemed from the summary that this story would focus more on Jesse, but I thought Chloe was definitely the one that it followed more closely. Some parts of their characters seemed odd and not thought through all the way, including their central conflict with themselves. I could have done without as much of their story, to be honest.

I did like the ending though. It was nice to finally see a romance through, and see that everything worked out for them in the end. The fact that the parallel comes together gives nice closure.

I love the plot line of this story, it's enchanting unlike no other and definitely worth to read! I like the dynamic of the characters. I love that it was set in a parallel universe which makes the reader got more intrigued to indulge in the fantasy of the writer.

This is a very entertaining tale of two love stories separated by generations!! I love the writing style moving back and forth between storylines and time periods. I could see this book playing out as a movie. The author successfully makes you feel for the 4 main characters and root for their happy endings. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance!

This book tells a beautiful story about two couples whose lives are connected by a love letter that was written on a battlefield during the Revolutionary War in 1781. If that doesn’t grab your attention, let me tell you a little more. The first couple are childhood friends who become sweethearts and plan to be married very soon but are tragically separated by circumstances they never could have imagined. The second couple are a modern day actress and a screenwriter who meet by chance only to meet again while working together on a movie loosely based on the first couple’s story. I think it’s an absolutely brilliant idea! I enjoyed the story so much that I read this book a second time and enjoyed it even more. If you’re looking for a book you can really get lost in I highly recommend you read this one, whether you’re a romance fan, a history buff or just someone who appreciates a finely woven tale with characters who will truly touch your heart. I read an early copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

Rachel Hauck is a master storyteller. Her books are always on the best-seller lists. Although I enjoyed the Love Letter it is not my favorite work by Rachel. It took me a while to warm up to the characters. While I did end up liking them and rooting for there dreams to come true, I had to force myself to read the first half. The Love Letter is a dual time novel which I usually enjoy there was just something about this story that made it hard for me to connect. I am giving this book 3 stars, but don't hesitate to grab a copy because you may love it! So grab a cup of tea and settle back for a good read!



I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
As always, Rachel Hauck writes a book that tugs at my heart. It's a dual love story and one of the stories does have a "happily every after."

This is the first book that I have read by this author and it's definitely worth reading. Told in dual timelines, it was just a lovely story.
Chloe is an actress who has been typecast as the one to cast when you have a character that's dying but she very much wants the role of Esther, a woman who lived during the Revolutionary War.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is such a sweet, devastating, and relate-able book. The tragedy of their ancestors being made up in a huge way. It was an emotional book, but great to read. It kept your attention the entire book. The characters connection and love for each other, believing in true love, and holding out for it are so powerful. It's amazing how all the pieces fall together when it's right.

Rachel Hauck has done a wonderful job with this story of combining two timelines and giving us a story that will grab your attention from the beginning to the end. I loved the alternating timelines and found that I ended up loving the historical part of the novel more than the present. The characters are very likeable and made you want to find out where their story was going.

Chloe Daschle is an actor that has had the role of a dying character in all of her roles and believes that she is cursed. When Chloe reads the manuscript for this love story, she is determined to do whatever she has to in order to land the role in this amazing love story.

The story of Hamilton Lightfoot and how he has penned a letter to his love, Esther Longfellow is one that will have you shedding tears and longing for more of these stories from Hauck. This forbidden love is one that you will be rooting for to have an good outcome.

I really enjoyed this read and look forward to more from Rachel Hauck in the near future. If you happen to get stuck on this one in the beginning, keep reading because you won't regret it!

I enjoyed this book alot more than I thought I would! The chapters alternated between the story of Chloe and Jesse during present time, and the story of Hamilton and Esther in the 1800s around the revolutionary war time.

Jesse is an actor and screenwriter and feels compelled to tell his ancestors story after finding a love letter centuries later. After reading the script, Chloe jumps at the chance to be the leading lady. I really liked both their personalities and how they got to know each other better-and their faith in God-by the end of the book.

This story was rich with historical facts and imagery. Well written historical romance.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

This is my first book by this author. And this is a nice book! It alternates between two couples, one in the modern world and the other pair in the period in American history when they were fighting the British for independence.

Chloe is the daughter of Hollywood royalty, an actress in her own right who has been unlucky in love and that bad luck was seen by the whole world (can't hide from social media) and who seem to get parts in films where she always end up dead. Jesse is a brilliant engineer who went to LA to escape a tragedy in his life. Inspired by a love letter written by his ancestor Hamilton during the fight for American Independence, Jesse writes a screenplay that gets picked up by a famous director. Chloe eventually gets cast in the lead, while Jesse has his part in the movie as well. It is here where the two, who both have sworn off love, become friends and later more than that.

The love letter which is the central theme of the book, is written by Hamilton, an great great (I lost count) grandfather of Jesse. Hamilton is in love with his childhood friend Esther, who is back from her debut in London and who loves Hamilton in turn. Sadly, things end up differently for both of them.

And in the end, it's ultimately Jesse's and Chloe's love story, who brings everything into full circle.

There is an underlying Christian theme here, of faith and love and forgiveness, not at all hidden, which isn't bad but something I am not used to. So it took me awhile to finish because of that. But it is a nice story and it makes me want to see if there's anything like that in my own family tree. Also, to take up writing letters again because really, an email isn't the same at all.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the copy of this book.

The Love Letter, I have read some incredible books lately and I know when I come off of an excellent stellar book that it is difficult to read one that is not of that caliber, unfortunately that would be the case with this one. I had been watching the reviews and did expect more.
We have a lot going on in the present tense between Chloe, her actress life and Jesse Gates, the movie writer. Then the book jumps us on a journey back in the 1800’s between Hamilton and Esther, the Love Letter part that was the most interesting. We also have a Christian factor that enters the dialogue and I felt it was thrown in, sometimes out of context. The characters were shallow and I had a hard time following if I was in the present with Chloe or back with Esther. If you missed the name at the beginning of the chapter, it took a few minutes to catch up.
I wouldn’t say the book was unbelievable, I would say it was more far-fetched in some instances. Not a bad book, but it did not invoke a lot of emotion one way or the other. Maybe the more I read, the more critical I get of books that don’t give me the wow factor.
I was allowed the opportunity to receive this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets 3***’s.

Two timelines, Ester and Hamilton during the Revolutionary War, and Chloe, an actress in the present who wants to play Ester in a film. Overall it was a bit difficult to remain engaged in the stories, and there was an true HEA for everyone which was a disappointment, but it was an intriguing read in parts.

This was a hard book to read for me.

It follows two couples: Chloe and Jesse are the contemporary couple and Hamilton and Esther are the couple from the 18th century. The narrative goes back and forth among these four characters (apart from one scene or chapter in Hamilton's mother's POV, which didn't need to be included).

For some reason, I really couldn't get into the historical narrative. Maybe because this is an historical period that doesn't interest me too much and therefore I didn't connect with the characters. I did like the update on Hamilton and Esther toward the end.

The contemporary narrative with Chloe and Jesse was easier to follow up, despite the uneven relationship between them. There's kind of a revelation towards the end that was interesting as a resolution to both stories.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a great, sweet book. The character development was fantastic, and I loved the ending ;) I will definitely be reading more of Rachel Hauck in the future--you have a devoted fan!

It’s hard to imagine two more contrasting settings than modern-day Hollywood and war-torn 1780s South Carolina, but they pair up exceptionally well in this latest dual-timeline story from Rachel Hauck. Even better, they explore some of my favourite questions about love: Is the idea of ‘one true love’ the stuff of fairy tales, or does it exist in our world? What is ‘true love’ anyway? And what does it take to find it?

Even betterer (don’t tell my children I just used that word!), although the historical and contemporary stories dovetail together into an unexpected and poetic whole, they also leave the reader with a subtle tension to explore when it comes to those questions I just mentioned about ‘true love’. Food for thought and plenty of fodder for book club discussions!

Although both of these stories held me firmly in their grasp, I particularly loved the development of Jesse and Chloe’s relationship. There was an inexplicable and somewhat understated attraction between them from the moment they met, but because of their previous experiences they tried (with varied success) to ignore their chemistry and simply develop a friendship. These moments provided some of the sweetest parts of the book: the back and forth as they shared their past shame, the simple honesty of their friendship, the semi-frequent and oh-so-sweet kisses, and the moments of connectedness when they “sat in silence and simply breathed.”

I also loved the way the two stories paralleled and contrasted one another. Hamilton and Jesse are held back by guilt over past actions, and Esther and Chloe are each forced into a situation they’ve done everything in their power to avoid: In Esther’s case, submitting to her father’s expectations, and in Chloe’s case . . . well, you’ll find out. I won’t say any more except that the unexpected developments kept me turning the pages past my bedtime and pointed the characters toward the freedom and happiness that comes from the truest love of all. And if that sounds like I’ve left out all of the contrasts, you’re right. You’ll have to discover them for yourself, because SPOILERS!

If I may be allowed one small complaint, it would be that the characters seemed prone to stuttering at the beginning of sentences—at least, enough that it became a bit of a distraction for me. Otherwise, I've found my appreciation of this story has actually increased the longer I've allowed it to marinate in my mind.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

The novel switches timelines between the Revolutionary War era and present day. Two love stories mingle together for a nice romantic read. Chloe, a famous "always dies in the end" actress, comes across a movie script about Hamilton's and Esther's Revolutionary Era unending love. She is cast in the movie which leads her to develop a relationship with the writer, Jesse. Their relationship parallels the relationship of Hamilton and Esther as the chapters switch back and forth between the romances. In the beginning of the book, the switching of timelines was difficult to follow, but after the development of the characters, it was easier to understand. Each character is a hero in their own way. In Hamilton's and Esther's story, the author did a nice job portraying the hardship of war on families and communities without overdoing it. The Hollywood romance with Chloe and Jesse came to life with normal events readers can relate to. As a Christian novel, the author weaves God's love and redemption into both romances in a powerful and believable way. This is the first book I read by Rachel Hauck and look forward to reading others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck is an amazing story. At first I was hesitant about reading it because I didn't know it was a "Christian" title. If I've learned one thing about that description it is that just because a book is labeled Christian does not have any bearing on whether it was enjoyable for someone of another religion. Although there were references to God in the story it did not feel at all religious.
A love letter was originally written by Hamilton Lightfoot to his girlfriend, Esther Longfellow, during the early days of the Revolutionary War. Hamilton would prefer not to fight. His parents and sister were killed by the British when he was a young boy and now the uncle that has raised him is also killed by the British Loyalists. Esther's father, however, is a Loyalist. Meanwhile, Jesse Gates, a descendant of Hamilton Lightfoot has come into possession of the love letter and has written a screenplay about it. Chloe Daschle, an actress from a Hollywood family wants to overcome her reputation as " the one that always dies" in movies. Chloe reads for the movie and gets the part. Filming starts and like many Hollywood scenarios, everything is changed mid-movie. The book constantly flips between two stories. I enjoyed them both very much. The Love Letter gives us a love story within a love story with an ending that did not disappoint!

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

The Love Letter is a split-time novel that follows the lives of strong, unique, and flawed characters.
I loved Hamilton and Esther’s story. It was intriguing reading how a young couple might handle the American Revolution and the trials it brought during their time. As they strive to hold onto each other and their love, they learn about themselves and the God who holds it all together. It was intriguing to watch how Rachel Hauck resolved their story.
I enjoyed Chloe and Jesse’s story, but I couldn’t get on board with it as much as the historical one. Chloe seemed rather overdramatic. However, I liked watching these two characters grow more. Their growth was more measured and I felt like I connected with that more than Hamilton and Esther.
I enjoyed this novel, but it didn’t grip me as many have this year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Long lost love and redemption

The Love Letter is told in alternating timelines.

In the past:

Ester and Hamilton are childhood friends who fell in love. Their future appeared bright except for the fact that the Revolutionary War was being waged and people were asked to pick sides. Ester's father is a loyalist and will not hear of his daughter being in a relationship with Hamilton. Ester is put in the position of defying her father and choosing Hamilton or losing Hamilton to make her father happy.

In the present:

Chloe is an actress who has been typecast as dying in every moving in which she stars. When she is given the script for a historical love story, she knows she is meant to play Ester Kingsley. Jesse is the screenwriter who wrote the movie. He has been in a rut but was inspired by a one-page letter written by his colonial ancestor.

I will admit, that I requested this book for two reasons - 1. The cover and 2. It was classified as a romance. I like to throw in a romance once is a while to break up all the psychological thrillers I love to read. An added plus was that there is a historical romance involved which made the book even more enticing! What I did not realize was that this was Christian Romance. Which I have no problem with but goes to show that I did not read the entire description. So, since I mentioned it is Christian Romance, I will say that this book does not feel preachy or overly religious. I don't mind reading books about people of faith regardless of what their faith might be. If it works in the story, then I am fine with it.

Typically, with alternating time lines/story lines I tend to like one more than the other. That was the case here. I enjoyed the past/historical part of the book the most. I enjoyed reading those sections. Perhaps because these characters feel as if they have more obstacles, there is a war, her family is on one side of the war, his on the other. I enjoyed their story and although things did not end as I thought they would, I realize the story ended how it should have ended. I had a harder time connecting with the present-day story set in Hollywood. For whatever reason, I was not as invested in that story-line. Of course, there is a connection between the past and the present. The one-page letter but there is another connection as well. It is not a big stretch but works her nevertheless.

Overall, an enjoyable read but not one that will stay with me. I doubt I will be thinking about this book in months to come. This is a perfect case of it is me and not the book. Many are loving this book and I can see why. I think this book is perfect for those who love a lighter romance book. Had this book just been set in the past, I most likely would have enjoyed it more.

Thank you to Thomas Mercer Fiction and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.