{"id":25081,"date":"2019-12-20T22:36:48","date_gmt":"2019-12-21T03:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=25081"},"modified":"2019-12-20T22:36:48","modified_gmt":"2019-12-21T03:36:48","slug":"the-wedding-dress-christmas-by-rachel-hauck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=25081","title":{"rendered":"The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-25082\" src=\"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas-150x225.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rachel Hauck has long been one of my favorite authors. The heroes and heroines of her books are often quite ordinary people that I can relate to yet they find themselves in rather extraordinary situations. Each and every one of her romantic tales is richly woven with a strong thread of faith and sometimes tiny touches of the supernatural.\u00a0 <strong>The Wedding Dress Christmas\u00a0<\/strong>was no different.\u00a0 A story of childhood best friends, reunited after each had gone out into the world to follow their dreams, this touching tale demonstrates how dreams can disappoint or change unless one follows the leading of the Lord.<\/p>\n<p>I loved how their friendship renewed itself so naturally as well as JoJo and Buck discovered that they might just want more than friendship. Buck was the perfect hero whose actions helped JoJo to heal from a past trauma. I loved the way he sacrificed his career to be with his seriously ill mother and for JoJo. Of course the somewhat magical wedding dress and the man in the purple coat from the previous novels of this series take center stage once again and help to point the couple in the right direction. It was also fun to catch up with characters from those earlier novels.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Wedding Dress Christmas<\/strong> is a perfect read for an evening at home as the Christmas holidays approach. I recommend it and any other book by Rachel Hauck.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/divider2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-10857\" title=\"divider2\" src=\"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/divider2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"317\" height=\"61\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/divider2.png 317w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/divider2-150x28.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 317px) 100vw, 317px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>ABOUT THE BOOK:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><strong>Book:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The Wedding Dress Christmas<\/p>\n<p><strong>Author:\u00a0<\/strong>Rachel Hauck<\/p>\n<p><b>Genre: <\/b>Romance, Christmas<\/p>\n<p><strong>Release Date: <\/strong>October 22, 2019<\/p>\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/32qFAFn\">here<\/a> to get your copy.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-25083\" src=\"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas-Cover-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas-Cover-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas-Cover-200x300-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas-Cover-200x300-150x225.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>December covers quaint Heart\u2019s Bend, Tennessee with a blanket of white and the glitter of Christmas lights.<\/p>\n<p>For JoJo Castle there\u2019s no place like home. It\u2019s her safe place. Her one-time love of adventure ended when life in the big city shattered her hopes and dreams. Now that she\u2019s returned to Hearts Bend, she never wants to leave again.<\/p>\n<p>Buck Mathews, the biggest country singing sensation in decades, has the world on a string \u2013 his guitar strings, to be exact. However, when news of his mother\u2019s illness sends him back to Hearts Bend for the holiday season, he remembers how good it can be to live among family and friends.<\/p>\n<p>Working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop, JoJo has no aspirations of love. Leaving home, surrendering her heart again, is just too risky.<\/p>\n<p>When she runs into her friend and high school crush Buck Mathews, she discovers Love might have other plans for\u00a0her[BV1]\u00a0.<\/p>\n<p>Buck\u2019s career is on the verge of an momentous leap. But seeing JoJo awakens feelings he\u2019d buried long ago. Falling in love is easy, but winning her heart will take more than one of his melodic tunes and clever lyrics.<\/p>\n<p>JoJo and Buck want opposite things for their lives, leaving no room for compromise. Can love, especially the kind that touches hearts at Christmastime, overcome her fears\u00a0<em>and <\/em>his quest for greatness?<\/p>\n<p>When a very special gown \u2013\u00a0<em>the<\/em>\u00a0wedding dress \u2013 begins to make its presence known, JoJo and Buck\u2019s hearts bend in a way neither ever thought possible.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-25084\" src=\"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rachel-hauck-HR-5-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rachel-hauck-HR-5-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rachel-hauck-HR-5-200x300-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/rachel-hauck-HR-5-200x300-150x225.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>Rachel Hauck<\/strong> is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.<\/p>\n<p>Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.<\/p>\n<p>Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.<\/p>\n<p>A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.<\/p>\n<p>At home, she\u2019s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.<\/p>\n<p>A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she\u2019s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.<\/p>\n<p>She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MORE FROM RACHEL:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hello Royal Rockstar Readers!<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m thrilled to share\u00a0<em>The Wedding Dress Christmas<\/em>\u00a0with you. I\u2019ve\u00a0heard from so many how much\u00a0<em>The Wedding Dress\u00a0<\/em>has touched them, and as I noodled over new story ideas, my thoughts drifted toward the wedding dress and Christmas. What\u2019s more romantic than a Christmas wedding?<\/p>\n<p>This novella is set in Hearts Bend, Tennessee, the fictional town of <em>The Wedding Chapel<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>The Wedding Shop<\/em>. Even if you\u2019ve never read one of books in <em>The Wedding Collection<\/em>, you\u2019ll enjoy this story, the mystery of the dress, and the women whose lives it changed.<\/p>\n<p>I love weddings. They remind us of the purity and the hope of love, the power of commitment. Something powerful is released when two people pledge to spend their lives together, loving and serving one another in both good and bad times. Every wedding I attend reminds me of the vows I made to my husband and I sign up all over again.<\/p>\n<p>Stories are a powerful reflection of life. Yes, fictional stories are often told with wild hyperbole, but that\u2019s what makes them fun to read.<\/p>\n<p>I also love wedding stories because they remind us of God\u2019s love for us, and that one day there will be the grandest wedding of them all. Isn\u2019t it wonderful that God planned a wedding before He created the earth?<\/p>\n<p>In\u00a0<em>The Wedding Dress Christmas<\/em>, JoJo and Buck have their issues, but love proves strong enough to conquer them all.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks for going on this little tour with me and\u00a0<em>The\u00a0Wedding Dress Christmas<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Yours,<\/p>\n<p>Rachel<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-25085\" src=\"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas-banner.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas-banner.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/The-Wedding-Dress-Christmas-banner-150x56.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>BLOG STOPS:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com\">The Avid Reader<\/a>, December 18<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/tabithabouldinauthor.home.blog\">Through the Fire Blogs<\/a>, December 18<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livinlit.com\/\">Livin\u2019 Lit<\/a>, December 18<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/robinsnest212.wordpress.com\">Robin\u2019s Nest<\/a>, December 18<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/readingismysuperpower.org\">Reading Is My SuperPower<\/a>, December 19<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/rbclibrary.wordpress.com\/\">By The Book<\/a>, December 19<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wishfulendings.com\/\">Wishful Endings<\/a>, December 19<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/allofakindmom.wordpress.com\/\">All-of-a-kind Mom<\/a>, December 19<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/amongthereads.net\/\">Among the Reads<\/a>, December 20<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.5020genesis.wordpress.com\">Genesis 5020<\/a>, December 20<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/lifeaslanhams.com\/\">Life as Lanhams<\/a>, December 20<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/abbasprayerwarriorprincess.com\/\">Abba\u2019s Prayer Warrior Princess<\/a>, December 21<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/daysongreflections.com\">Daysong Reflections<\/a>, December 21<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com\">Christian Chick\u2019s Thoughts<\/a>, December 21<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bigreadersite.wordpress.com\/\">Bigreadersite<\/a>, December 21<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/simpleharvestreads.com\">Simple Harvest Reads<\/a>, December 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/remembrancy.com\">Remembrancy<\/a>, December 22<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/brittreadsfiction.wordpress.com\/\">Britt Reads Fiction<\/a>, December 22<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.shelivestoread.com\">She Lives to Read<\/a>, December 23<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/empowermoms.net\/\">Empowermoms<\/a>, December 23<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/insidethewongmind.com\/\">Inside the Wong Mind<\/a>, December 23<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/miareadsblog.wordpress.com\/\">Mia Reads Blog<\/a>, December 23<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.splashesofjoy.wordpress.com\">Splashes of Joy<\/a>, December 24<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.christianbookaholic.com\/\">Christian Bookaholic<\/a>, December 24<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pagebypagebookbybook.blogspot.com\">Hallie Reads<\/a>, December 24<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/nannie3.blogspot.com\/\">Jeanette\u2019s Thoughts<\/a>, December 25<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kellybridgewater.blogspot.com\">Where Faith and Books Meet<\/a>, December 25<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.carolkeen.blogspot.com\">Blogging With Carol<\/a>, December 25<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.forhimandmyfamily.com\">For Him and My Family<\/a>, December 26<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hebrews12endurance.com\">Hebrews 12 Endurance<\/a>, December 26<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amoderndayfairytale.net\/\">A Modern Day Fairy Tale<\/a>, December 26<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com\/\">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy<\/a>, December 26<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bookkisses.blogspot.com\/\">Book Bites, Bee Stings, &amp; Butterfly Kisses<\/a>, December 27<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mydevotionalthoughts.net\">My Devotional Thoughts<\/a>, December 27<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amybooksy.blogspot.com\">Locks, Hooks and Books<\/a>, December 27<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mammalovesbooks.blogspot.com\/\">Mamma Loves Books<\/a>, December 27<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bettimace\/\">Betti Mace<\/a>, December 28<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/batyasbits.home.blog\/\">Batya\u2019s Bits<\/a>, December 28<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/christianfictiongirl.blog\">The Christian Fiction Girl<\/a>, December 28<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/karla-hanns-karla.blogspot.com\/\">Quiet Quilter<\/a>, December 29<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mypreciousbitsandmusings.wordpress.com\/\">mypreciousbitsandmusings<\/a>, December 29<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debbieloseanything.blogspot.com\">Debbie\u2019s Dusty Deliberations<\/a>, December 29<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/janicesbookreviews.com\">janicesbookreviews<\/a>, December 29<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/areadersbrain.blogspot.com\">A Reader\u2019s Brain<\/a>, December 30<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/amandanicolle.blogspot.com\/?m=1\">Inklings and notions<\/a>, December 30<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/deana0326.blogspot.com\">Texas Book-aholic<\/a>, December 30<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carlalovestoread.wordpress.com\/\">Carla Loves to Read<\/a>, December 30<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/melissawardwell.com\/category\/backporch\/\">Back Porch Reads<\/a>, December 31<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carpediem.fyi\">CarpeDiem<\/a>, December 31<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stephsceliacdisease.blogspot.com\/\">Stephanie\u2019s Life of Determination<\/a>, December 31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>GIVEAWAY:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-25086\" src=\"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wedding-Dress-Christmas-Giveaway.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"419\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wedding-Dress-Christmas-Giveaway.png 940w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wedding-Dress-Christmas-Giveaway-150x126.png 150w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Wedding-Dress-Christmas-Giveaway-768x644.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away\u00a0a print copy of the book and a Visa gift card for $25. Swag!!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/promosimple.com\/ps\/f1fe\/the-wedding-dress-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway\">https:\/\/promosimple.com\/ps\/f1fe\/the-wedding-dress-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MY REVIEW: Rachel Hauck has long been one of my favorite authors. The heroes and heroines of her books are often quite ordinary people that I can relate to yet they find themselves in rather extraordinary situations. Each and every one of her romantic tales is richly woven with a strong thread of faith and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,57,60,116,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-christmas","category-contemporary-fiction","category-novella","category-romance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25081"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25081\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25089,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25081\/revisions\/25089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}