The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck

Reading this series of standalone time split novels has been a wonderful experience! Here’s my review of The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck.

about the book

Two women separated by decades. Both set out to help others find their dreams when their own have crumbled.

It’s the early 1930s, but Cora Scott is walking in stride as a career woman after having inherited her great aunt’s wedding shop in Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, where brides come from as far away as Birmingham to experience her famed bridal treatment. Meanwhile, Cora is counting down the days until her own true love returns from the river to make her his bride. But days turn into months and months to years. All the while, Birch Good continues to woo Cora and try to show her that while he is solid and dependable, he can sweep her off her feet.

More than eighty years later, former Air Force Captain Haley Morgan has returned home to Heart’s Bend after finishing her commitment to military service. After the devastating death of her best friend, Tammy, and discovering the truth about the man she loved, Haley is searching for her place in life.

When Haley decides to reopen the romantic but abandoned wedding shop where she and Tammy played and dreamed as children, she begins a journey of courage, mystery, and love.

As Cora’s and Haley’s stories intertwine through time in the shadow of the beloved wedding shop, they both discover the power of their own dreams and the magic of everyday love.

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My Thoughts

Mercy, this book! I’ve been doing the ugly cry here over this one but they were all tears of joy! Cora and Haley’s stories are set apart by eighty years yet fused together by The Wedding Shop.

Cora Scott wants to believe in true love. She loves her little community of brides yet longs for her own walk down the aisle. I admire her loyalty and heartfelt generosity. Cora’s faith matures as she experiences abandonment, betrayal, and paralyzing fear and self-doubt.

Birch Good has loved Cora for years and he is one of my favorite fictional heroes! He has a Corinthians Chapter 13 love for her and he finds the most beautiful ways to show her. She turns him away repeatedly but he just keeps loving her. Wow, that man!

Haley Morgan was drawn to the empty shell of The Wedding Shop even as a young girl. After a long and often painful eight years away from her hometown, God calls her back. Her determination and drive are inspiring and my favorite traits of her personality.

Haley is genuine and authentic and I wish I could go visit her and give her a great big hug. I would love to keep gushing about this book but that would put you at risk for spoilers! (I won’t do that to you, precious reader friends!)

The Wedding Shop is rich and full to the brim of history, family, forgiveness, and healing. I highly recommend this beautiful treasure! It is joining The Wedding Dress (my review) on my all-time favorites shelf and I am eagerly diving into The Wedding Chapel as soon as possible!

I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed are my own.

 

About the Author

Rachel Hauck is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and award-winning author.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, Rachel worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in an uncomfortable chair to write full-time in 2004.

She serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker.

Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets, and writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

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The Wedding Collection

Have you read The Wedding Shop? If not, add it to your tbr!