A book that has two stories and two time periods.. I liked both the historical and modern stories. Two broken hearts, a love letter and an actress who only gets casted for characters who die. Chloe is determined to break the mold that Hollywood has placed her in., but is she the only one who cares? Can Jesse find answers to his past, through a screenplay he has written?

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I was enthralled by this book! It was a wonderful book and I enjoyed reading it and following the plot as it went.

This book flipped back and forth from present to past . I thought the story was easy to follow and I thought the history interesting. I like that her books have some light romance and also some religious aspects. I really enjoy her books!!

This is a beautiful love story that reaches into the depths of your soul. It lingers there as you feel the emotions and become one with the characters. I loved the transition from present day with Jesse and Chloe to the past with Esther and Hamilton. The author does an amazing job of transporting readers to the Revolutionary War where we find two people deeply in love. I wanted Chloe to have her forever soul mate so bad I cried though each scene. Have you ever loved someone so much it hurt to be away from them? That is what Esther felt each time she was apart from Hamilton. Their story is powerful and I loved how the author captured their feelings with words, looks and a special letter. Do you know what it is like to want to be with someone you love, but obstacles get in the way? The author makes Esther and Hamilton come alive with her compassionate writing style.

Jesse and Chloe are in the present and their story is just as fierce as Esther and Hamilton's. Chloe has had a hard time as an actress and finally finds a part in a film that could boost her career. This is where the story for me really made an impact. I can't tell you how many times I have lost at love and had my heart broken. When Jesse and Chloe share intimate moments from their past, their vulnerability was the meat of the story. To trust someone so completely with pain from your past, is the start of a true relationship. I loved how their story ran parallel with Esther and Hamilton's.

The story is emotional and one that captures you with a quiet peace. The author explores what happens when pride overtakes you and forgiveness is hard to accept. I loved how the characters were easy to connect with. This is in my opinion the best book the author has ever written. There are so many lessons to be learned throughout the story and shows how love is one of the most treasured feelings we can have and receive.


"When a man loves a woman, nothing can hold him back. The same is true of women. When she is in love, there is no force more powerful."

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck is the author's latest book that connects the past and the present. Ms. Hauck is absolutely brilliant in weaving together two seemingly distinct stories into one cohesive whole. Who else could connect modern day Hollywood with the Revolutionary War. Yet, the author gradually spins a web of clues you won't even notice until she grabs them all together at the end. This is a beautifully written book and it should be on everyone's summer reading list. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher. These opinions are entirely my own.

This is a difficult book to review. Not because I didn't enjoy it, I did, but because it's almost like reviewing two books at the same time.

This is the story of four people. Hamilton and Esther, who lived during the American Revolutionary War. On opposite sides of the battle, they try to find a way to be together. The other two people are Chloe, an actress who is only ever given roles where she dies and Jesse, who has just written his screenplay.

The two couples are linked because Jesse's screenplay is based on a letter that was written by Hamilton to Esther and passed down in his family. Chloe is set to play Esther in the film and as a result, finds herself questioning her ideas about love.

There is a clear link between the two couples, although they are separated by time, which becomes clearer as the story progresses. That said, I think that this worked better almost as two standalone stories. I preferred the historical story and felt that it worked better than the modern one. It did leave at least one key point unanswered at the end though, which was a shame.

Although I preferred the historical storyline, the modern one still, for the most part, worked. The book was a little different to ones that I'd normally read, but I did enjoy it all the same.

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

This book tells two love stories from the Revolutionary war era to the present time. The story is seamless. When I was reading one side of the story I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen on the other side. There wasn't one moment where I was bored or didn't know what was going on. Both stories are separate but weave into one. It was very well written.


** I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review**

The Love Letter follows a modern story of an actress trying to shake her past "dying" roles, a screenwriter, and a historic story of a love that history divides. The two storylines weave together to a surprising outcome. This was my first split-time novel, so it took a little while for me to get into the juxtaposition--at first, I wasn't sure who to care about. As I continued reading, I realized quickly that both storylines are critical to the overall telling and the overall arcs. Rachel Hauck expertly blends in history, loss, and the redemption of love. If you've never read a split-time novel, where both a historical story and contemporary story are being told, I recommend you give it a try. This was a very enjoyable read.

The Love Letter is one of the BEST books of 2018. I devoured this story in two days! This book spans 250 years, illustrates the pain of unrequited love, details several bittersweet journeys to forgiveness, demonstrates God’s immense love for us all, and shows just how small this world truly is. The plot is HIGHLY engaging — be prepared to lose a day or two in this extraordinary book. The characters are wonderful, realistic, and endearing. I absolutely love this book, and want to reread it right now.

One of my most favorite aspects to this story is Chloe’s take on love and marriage. There is a moment when Chloe considers love. She is a Hollywood starlet, so she is surrounded by the glitz and glamour of love. Many people in her circle see love as a feeling in the moment, but not Chloe. To Chloe, love is a verb. It is a choice made daily. I love this because it is so true. Anyone who has been married for any length of time will tell you that after the honeymoon period, loving your spouse is a choice. Some days it’s a really easy choice, and some days it’s one of the hardest choices ever. Even the best of marriages have moments of frustrations, discouragement, and pain. But, the best marriages are the ones where the couple has CHOSEN to love even when they would rather take a day off. In this, Chloe is SO correct. Another idea Chloe espouses that I love is the notion that marriage is a covenant between two people. Once entered into that covenant, there is a special bond that makes the two a super team. I love this concept because it is so true. My husband is my person. I can go to him for anything. We are definitely a team, and I can depend on him, trust him, and kiss him anytime I want! It’s a beautiful privilege to be a part of this team, but I can only do it with God’s daily help.

The Love Letter, time and time again, reminded me of Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Throughout this story, the reader watches as Esther and Hamilton, and Chloe and Jesse, attempt to make plans for their futures, but are constantly thwarted by war, parents, bad timing, etc. It is such a human thing to make plans, but God has other ideas. I very much enjoyed the many illustrations of God leading these characters where HE wanted them to go, and then seeing how each character reacted as their plans fell through. It is a great reminder to me that I am not in control of my life, so I better lean into the One who is truly in control. It has to be HIS will — not mine!

I could not help but be reminded of a fabulously crazy family story of mine as I read The Love Letter. Before I tell you the story, you have to know that my mother’s name is Catherine Ann Pace and my father’s name is Nicholas Patrick Durso III. I promise, it’s important.

When I was little, we had a knickknack that used to sit atop our coffee table. It was a small dish in the shape of Australia. I liked to play with it because it had a handle affixed to it and on top of the handle was a silver kangaroo. I thought it was cute, and I would often envision myself having adventures in Australia with this kangaroo. I was five and imaginative!

Inscribed on the dish is the following message:

To: Nicholas Patrick Durso

From: Katherine Ann Pace

With Love

As I got older and learned to read, I often wondered why my mom’s name was misspelled. Catherine should be spelled with a “C” and not a “K.” One day I asked my mother why the dish didn’t have her name spelled properly. She chuckled a little and then proceeded to explain the dish’s story.

During WWII, my grandfather, Nicholas Patrick Durso II, was severely injured. I actually know very little about his time in WWII because the Durso men do not talk about their times in war. All I know is that my grandfather was part of the US Cavalry, and he and his group were hit by enemy fire. My grandfather was injured and shipped out to Australia for surgery and to convalesce. One of the nurses assigned to my grandfather was named Katherine Ann Pace. Over the course of his time in hospital, my grandfather and this woman fell in love. When cleared by the doctors, and subsequently honorably discharged, my grandpa made plans to head back home to the US. Before he left, he asked Katherine to marry him. She wanted to accept my grandfather’s proposal, but did not have any desire to move to the US, so she declined his offer. My grandfather was heartbroken, but understood. The day he was set to leave, Katherine gifted the knickknack to my grandfather so he wouldn’t forget her.

When my grandpa came back from WWII in 1945, he met my grandmother, Madelyn. They got married, and in 1947 they had my father, Nicholas Patrick Durso III. My dad, at the age of 34, married my mother, Catherine Ann Pace. I don’t actually know how we came to possess the little dish. All I know is that my family’s story is proof that man makes plans, but God maneuvers our steps…just like Esther and Hamilton, and Chloe and Jesse in The Love Letter. And, I’m super glad my grandpa met and fell in love with my grandma, Madelyn, because I really love the life God has blessed me with!

The Love Letter is a remarkable story that I cannot recommend enough. I feel strongly that after you finish reading this review, you run to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of this book. You will NOT be disappointed!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read most of Rachel Hauck’s books and she never fails to amaze me. Every time I pick up her book, I come away astounded. The same is true of her newest offering. The Love Letter is beautifully written with an intricately detailed dual timeline plot that fits together like a puzzle. The characters are relatable, human, oh-so-flawed with painful pasts and incredibly lovable. If you love dual timeline romance, this book is definitely for you!

Rachel Hauck has the ability to write emotionally-charged, heady romantic stuff without saccharin and with plenty of life-altering, soul-hurting events in her characters’ lives. As in most of her dual timeline novels, there is intrigue (as the delicious storyline slowly reveals itself), plenty of romance and angst, and gasp-inducing plot line twists.

Chloe, our contemporary heroine, is a unique actress who is down-to-earth, sweet, kind, and thoughtful though she is born and bred in Hollywood. Her quest to find true love lands her at rock bottom and she meets Jesus there. Jesse, our contemporary hero, is a brilliant techie turned actor/screenwriter who is still battling his demons from the past and hides out in Hollywood. He is gentle, loving, and so tender-hearted but can’t let go of his past. Jesse’s first screenplay about his ancestor Hamilton and his first love Esther gets made into a movie and brings Jesse and Chloe together. Hamilton and Esther, the historical hero and heroine, get their own story through the screenplay as well as flashbacks.

The lessons of faith that all four main characters learn throughout the book are applicable to all of us. Chloe’s faith is admirable and she finally learns to have freedom from fear. Hamilton and Esther’s faith that propels them to “come and follow Me” even when it means leaving everything they hold dear is a calling for all of us who believe.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

I'm not a fan of historical fiction, but Rachel Hauck has been winning me over with her dual time period novels. In The Love Letter, we are thrust into the life of Hamilton Lightfoot as he faces a decision-does he fight for the British Crown or the Independence of America? As he gets ready for battle, he writes a letter to Esther, the woman he loves.

Jump to present day as we meet the actress who is dubbed “the queen of the death scene”. Chloe Daschle want's to change her “dying” reputation and accepts the role on a revolutionary war film.

Jesse Gates moves to LA to write and sell a screenplay based on the events surrounding the lost love of previous generations. As he and Chloe meet and work together on the film, the story develops, both in the past and present day.

Hauck brought this story together in a beautiful way. While there were parts that moved a little slower at times, the story was thoughtful and charming. I enjoyed the dual time aspect of this story and the way the letter fit into the story.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and the moment I read the blurb, it really caught my attention. I loved the sound of this one and always love when a love story has a Hollywood side to it.

This one started off okay for me, getting a bit of an intro to both Chloe and Jesse's characters but then began to go between the two timelines, the distant past and current day. I really struggled with this, at times the jump felt choppy and felt like the two storylines weren't connecting for me, was just two different storylines playing out in the same book.

I liked both Chloe and Jesse's as well as Hamilton and Ester's but I really struggled to connect with them and their storyline. I wasn't truly feeling it and struggled to stay engaged in the storyline, finding myself at times skimming pages at a time trying to move things along to a part I could be engaged with

This was a sweet loved story but was one that overall fell flat for me. I know I will be in the minority but this one just wasn't for me.

An interesting read albeit a little drawn out and tedious at times. Grateful to the publishers and Netgalley for this book. It was a book enjoyable enough to read once but not one that I would recommend to anyone strongly

Chills. Tears. Happy Sighs. I experienced all of those while reading The Love Letter. From the second Chloe appeared on the page, I knew I was going to love her as a main character. Her chemistry with Jesse was palpable, and I loved the way Hauck wrote their stutter-step romance, which had a frustrating yet real feel to it. The faith thread in both of their stories was incredibly relatable and completely rang true. Basically, I could not get enough of the pages written from Chloe's and Jesse's viewpoints.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Hamilton and Esther. The Love Letter is a split time novel, with part of the book in the present with Chloe and Jesse and part in the past with Hamilton and Esther. For probably two-thirds of the novel, every time I was reading about Hamilton and Esther, I just wanted to get back to Chloe and Jesse. The story was written well, but I just didn't particularly connect with either Hamilton or Esther. However, Hauck does weave their story into Chloe and Jesse's story in surprising and ultimately satisfying ways (see the aforementioned chills), and I loved seeing how Hamilton's and Esther's stories ended up.

So, while I didn't enjoy Hamilton and Esther too much while I was reading about them, I did end the novel with an appreciation for them and their story. And Chloe and Jesse definitely rank right up there with some of my favorite book couples ... so overall, I'd say this book is a win. (And can we please get a book featuring Chloe's costar Chris? I feel like he has a great story to tell.)

Note: For fans of Hauck's Royal Wedding series, there's a nice little tie-in to that world in a blink-or-you'll-miss-it scene.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a time hop book that goes back and forth between present day and the revolutionary war times. I liked the characters on both sides and was quite invested in their stories which always makes such a difference in whether I like a book or not! These characters are real. I love the way both sides come together in the end! It's just a great and very satisfying read!

I really loved the romance in this story. I did not want to put this book down. I loved the story within a story. Esther and Hamilton and Chloe and Jesse. Both stories were never confusing and each story worked well together. All the characters were easy to like. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I have to admit, I struggled with the story. Couldn't understand where the author was. I enjoyed the beginning but then got lost among the characters. I only made it a few pages in hoping that it would get better. For me I just lost interest. I know this is a very short review, but when I struggled so much and forced myself to turn the pages. I kept hoping it would start making sense and the two different stories would come together. I may pick the book up again one day and try to give it another read. But I had to close the book. 

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

A Novel

by Rachel Hauck

Thomas Nelson–FICTION

Thomas Nelson

Christian , Romance

Pub Date 12 Jun 2018

I am reviewing a copy of The Love Letter through Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:

Chloe Daschle is an actress whose forte is not romance on life or on the screen, but she knows how to play a convincing death scene, the very thing that may be killing her career.

Chloe is given a sneak peek at an epic love story. It is then she takes matters in her own hands and auditions for the lead female role Esther Kingsley. The tale is inspired by family Lore and a one page letter by the ancestor of the screenwriter Jesse Gares. If she lands this role it may well break her out of the rut she finds herself in. Jesse would rather write about romance than live it but there’s no denying there’s a chemistry between him and Chloe.

,Hamilton Lightfoot and Ester Longfellow wrote their own script in the days long before the Silver Screen even existed. In the midst of the Revolutionary War.

Esther’s father a loyalist opposes her relationship with Hamilton but Esther must face her beloved fathers disapproval and the dangers of war to convince Hamilton they have a future together.

Hamilton loved Esther for year’s and pens a letter to Esther on the eve of a battle a letter that comes from his heart.

I give The Love Letter five out of five stars!

Happy Reading

This is another great book to read from Rachel Hauck. She is an author that does dual time lines so well.

The historical time line is from the 1780s. I had always thought that because the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1775, that’s when the fighting stopped. I enjoy reading fiction and learning to know more about history. The history is a real part of this story, but yet, it is not the kind that has too many details that it gets bogged down.

And then, there’s the contemporary story. The present day time line takes you into the lives of Hollywood folks. I found Chloe to be down-to-earth and realistic. I really enjoyed getting to know her, and seeing the progression of events in her life…

If you enjoy Christian romance (both contemporary and historical), you will enjoy this one. And if you’re already a fan of Rachel Hauck, than so much the better!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

This is an absolutely incredible contemporary/historical romance!

The characters in this novel are so well developed that I felt I could sit down for a cup of tea and visit with them. I was especially captivated by all four of the main characters. It was like I could get right inside their heads at any moment.

The way the story flowed between the two time periods was wonderful. I don’t read very many duel-time-period books so it did take me a couple of switches to get used to it.

The historical portion really brought to life for me what the conflict between Tories and Patriots was like during the Revolutionary War. I had never really considered that they would be living in close proximity with each other. The fact that Esther and Hamilton had grown up as close friends and then found themselves on opposite sides was heartbreaking for me.

All four of the main characters had personal journeys to grow closer to God and mature. There was past baggage that they had to sort out and move on from. I love it when the characters grown throughout the story. That is what life is all about.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinions.