That even though the characters were well developed and the book well written, the story it's self fell flat. I couldn't get into the story. It took everything in me to actually finish this one. To me the story wasn't believable to me.

A good read. I would recommend this book.
I received this from Netgalley as an ARC for an honest review.
#The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck
#NetGalley

A current storyline and one from the past intersect from the very beginning and center around an old wedding chapel that was built for a specific wedding that never happened and has never been used. Jimmy Westbrook built this chapel for one bride in mind and when that didn't work out for many reasons it sat empty. Taylor Branson who has long family connections to the small town where this chapel was built is called back to this small town to photograph the chapel for a magazine and as she is trying to build her portfolio she takes the job while in the midst of her own internal demons are brewing.

This book had quite the cast of characters and I would suggest making a few notes at the beginning with some family trees and such to help keep them all straight! Some of the cast is in both the present and past storylines, but there are some that are in just one or the other, so to have some notes could greatly help.

In books with two storylines I always get nervous starting read them and hoping that I will like each one in their own right. I did in this book, partly because they were so interconnected from the beginning. I like when the reader knows very early on who is who and what is what and the reason as to why there would be two timelines. There were still secrets and things to come out and be resolved, but it wasn't why these two were together in one book.

It had been awhile from reading the first book in this series to this one and I still wonder what makes this book in a series with the first as there are no characters that overlapped or location, from what I can remember, so I am intrigued, but not a question that has to be answered. Other than one being about a wedding dress and then about a wedding chapel, I wondered while reading this book why it was the second in a series.

Hauck tells another gorgeously rendered story. The raw, hidden emotions of Taylor and Jack are incredibly realistic and will resonate with readers. The way the entire tale comes together with the image of the chapel as holding the heart- beat of God is breathtaking and complements the romance of the story.
Many years ago, Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook built a chapel in which he and his sweetheart were going to be married. Yet, through some heartbreaking situations, the wedding was never meant to be. Taylor Branson and Jack Forester grew up in the same small town, but met each other again in New York City and married after a whirlwind courtship. Neither is entirely sure of the other’s commitment. It takes a return to their hometown and an encounter with the amazing wedding chapel — as well as the revelation of some family secrets — to help them discover the best choices in life.

4 Stars!
I have read and loved four of Rachel's full length novels as well as two of her novellas! So needless to say I was very excited for this book, and while I didn't love it quite as much as I had hoped to, I still was not disappointed! This book has such a great love story (Two love stories actually!) I loved the romances and how each chapter alternated between the four main characters points of view, and it was brilliantly done, I never found myself wondering who's head I was in! The wedding chapel was such an incredible place, it truly became another character in the book; I found myself wishing it was real because I wanted to go there! As I was reading The Wedding Chapel I kept thinking to myself "My Nana would have loved this book!"
This was a really good book and I recommend it!
However, I'm giving it four stars because I just never felt like I really connected with the story and the characters, at least not as much as in the books of this author's I've read. And there were a couple of things that I didn't personally like or agree with; they were fairly minor and didn't really affect my overall enjoyment of the book, but due to subject matter I wouldn't recommend this book for young teens, while this book is clean I think it's definitely one for adults!
I can definitely see this book having the same kind of multi-generational appeal as Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook and The Longest Ride, I am a big fan of the movie Letters to Juliet and while this book is very different, the storyline reminded me of it in many ways! I think any fans of these books and movie would really love this book!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook bloggers review program in exchange for my honest review, which I have done. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

Rachel Hauck always does a great job in weaving a successful story. She captures her readers interest from the get go as we glimpse from the present to the past into two different love stories. I’m hooked when I read about how Coach builds a chapel from hand and how deep his love is for Collette. And then I read on for the past will catch up with the present “new” couple and some how intertwine itself. I love that about Hauck’s writings. She usually has me hooked by these intriguing story lines and where a newer couple gain wisdom from a past life’s love. They always seem to meet at a crossroads. Same good read as I expected from her precious books. I would recommend.

If you are looking for a romance novel with heart and soul, look no further than The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck. Hauck is one of the best writers of contemporary romance around, but she really outdid herself with this novel. This book is definitely a must read!

The Wedding Chapel spans 60 years and revolves around the love stories of two couples. Told from the perspectives of Jimmy and Colette, high school sweethearts who lost their first love, and Taylor and Jack, newlyweds who are already wondering if their marriage will survive, the book looks at how fragile relationships are damaged without trust and openness. Secrets deceive and destroy and hidden emotions keep real intimacy at arms length. Although the faith message is faint as a heartbeat during most of the novel, it finishes strong at the end — and isn’t that how it often is in our walk with God. God is always there if we take the time to listen for His voice, to sense His heartbeat in our lives. The Wedding Chapel is definitely character driven, and the four main characters are strongly written with relatable motives, actions and emotions. However, Hauck also uses two minor characters in big ways. Peg is at the heart of both discord and reconciliation and is seen only through the perspective of the other characters. Sam appears in only a few pages, but points the characters and readers to tremendous truths.

More than just a romance, The Wedding Chapel will get you thinking about the twists and turns of life and the importance of faithfulness, forgiveness and grace. It is a highly recommended read!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

Great for Book Clubs.

The pain from secrets, broken promises and broken upbringings...and an old chapel, waiting to the fulfillment of the promise of love both from old and modern times.

One of the most romantic books I have read this year. and one of the most wise. Not a common combination!

In 1949, youngsters Jim and Colette promised each other a marriage - if not during a proper ceremony, just privately - but they meant it. So why, a few years away, they live broken-hearted?
And they are still brokenhearted, even in their eighties, Colette a famous TV star, Jim a respected retired football coach. But both living alone.

Taylor and Jack are a modern people - meaning that both of them have experienced the heartbreak and they are unsure that a marriage can work (at least, for them!). But here they are, married to each other after a whirlwind romance - and questioning their capacities for love and the other one’s willingness to stay.

But they are all connected, and even more that they have thought to be. Well, Colette and Taylor are family, Taylor being the granddaughter of Colette’s sister - but there is more secretes to be recovered. The old chapel, a token of love, is waiting and reminding them of love’s power - both human love and God’s.

Ahhh...just what I needed. Romance both movie-sweet and and realistic, perfect for the Christmas time (but any time, really!). Rachel Hauck goes more realistic than her "royal" series this time (even if Meghan Markle can make us believe the royal romance once and again :)). I felt related to Taylor and Jack, as they are exactly what I know young professionals to be - both hoping for love and living with the whisper that love is just a word.
And Jimmy and Colette - the love like the ones from the old movies! And I mean it as a compliment.

This novel is full of wisdom to remind us that there is the need to work for your relationship, to recognize your own shortfallings and not to build yout life on misunderstandings and secrets (while recognizing that there are some cruel and twisted people in life, too - so not everything is a misunderstanding. But one can work out the hurt made by them, too, with God’s help.).

READ THIS. It will gently touch your soul, (maybe) help your wounds to heal and fill your heart with hope. Like a cup of first-class chocolate.

I feel like I can always depend on a Rachel Hauck book to spirit me away to a wonderful place filled with romance. This book certainly delivered. I loved the main character, Taylor, and enjoyed watching her story unfold. At the same time, I loved finding out the history between Jimmy and his lost love, Collette. This one was poignant and intriguing. I enjoyed each moment spent reading it.

DNF 21%
The writing was so slow paced. I felt like reading for hours and I only advanced so little in the %.

Loved it! Perfect for reading groups and book clubs! The story was well written and lovely!