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    The Love Letter
    The Love Letter
    The Love Letter
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Love Letter

    Written by Rachel Hauck

    Narrated by Lisa Larsen

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    The daughter of Hollywood royalty, Chloe is determined to make her mark—and find romance. Screenwriter Jesse believes she's perfect to play the role of Esther, the woman whom his Revolutionary War grandfather loved. Will a love letter from the past have change their future?

    Romance has never been actress Chloe Daschle’s forte—in life or on screen. But everyone knows who to call for a convincing death scene . . . and it might be killing her career.

    When Chloe is given a peek at the script for an epic love story, she decides to request an audition for the lead female role of Esther. The compelling tale, inspired by scriptwriter Jesse Gates’s family lore and a one-page letter from his colonial ancestor, just might break her out of this career-crippling rut. Jesse would rather write about romance than live through it after his past relationship ended in disaster. But once on-set together, the chemistry between Jesse and his leading lady is hard to deny.

    Centuries earlier, in the heart of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow fight for love. Esther’s Loyalist father opposes any relationship with Hamilton, but Esther must face her beloved father’s disapproval and the dangers of war in order to convince Hamilton of their future together. Hamilton has loved Esther for years, and on the eve of battle pens the love letter she’s always wanted—something straight from the heart.

    Set in stunning upcountry South Carolina, The Love Letter is a beautifully crafted story of the courage it takes to face down fear and chase after love, even in the darkest of times.

    • Sweet, contemporary and historical romance with a split-time period
    • Also by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck: The Wedding Dress, The Royal Wedding Collection, and The Fifth Avenue Story Society
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateJun 12, 2018
    ISBN9780310351023
    The Love Letter
    Author

    Rachel Hauck

    Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauck.

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    Reviews for The Love Letter

    4.5/5

    76 ratings17 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      This story was so good. I loved the characters-past and present. The author did an amazing job interweaving the history and present day. I loved the fact that the characters were genuine in their relationship with Jesus and the process that was taken to accept Him. A very well written Christian fiction story. I highly recommend this novel.
    • 5/5
      LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. I've never read a Christian romance novel but this was so engaging. I also enjoyed the mix of past and current. Terrific book, I'd read it again.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic book with two stories intertwined perfectly. Loved it so much
    • 5/5
      Such a great love story and so well written I could see it in my mind.
    • 4/5
      It's a story that transcends generations, so deeply embedded in their bloodline that the love found would not let go despite the loss of body and soul. It takes us on a journey from past to present to make-believe, all the while building our hope, strengthening our reserves, and pointing us towards faith in a higher power, instructing us to embrace that endless love and just let it all go, for while our stories are our own, they are guided by the one that created all.

      There are two, nay three story lines that run through these pages...past, present, and the director's cut, so to speak. The present was my favorite, getting lost in Chloe and Jesse's tale as they fought what they felt, while truly trying to open their hurt hearts to one another. You could feel the disconnects, ride the swell of emotion as happier times took hold, and wander through the uncertainties as the ending arrived in all its splendor. The movie angle was my second love, and the way things played out despite the bad influence of the studio was simply stunning. Last place goes to the historical tale being shared, but only just. You see I cared deeply for Esther and Hamilton, but the heartache their tale brought was almost too much to bare...including the conclusion.

      I gotta say, the ending of the true story (the historical one) was absolutely killing me. I mean, I was already thinking... what in the world have I just spent my time reading, allowed my heart to become attached to, only to ultimately be left bereft, adrift, and seriously lacking any benefit from all the torture, separation, and strife?!? I got it, putting trust in Him led to a life well lived, a lot in life that was satisfying, and happiness...but seriously, like that? And they were happy? I just couldn't swallow my disbelief... but lucky for me, the story wasn't quite finished, and a HEA was still in the cards...sorta. (You'll have to read it to see!)

      In the end, it was a wonderfully rich story with so much more to offer then just a well written tale. It shared aspects of history worthy of exploration, tales of the heart in times of war and peace, hope for the romantic in us all, and a reminder that we're not the only one behind our wheel. Whether in the highs or throes of life, we're never truly going it alone.


      **copy received for review
    • 5/5
      When Chloe is given a peek at the script for an epic love story, she decides to take her destiny into her own hands and request an audition for the lead female role, Esther Kingsley. The compelling tale, inspired by family lore and a one-page letter from the colonial ancestor of scriptwriter Jesse Gates, just might break her out of this career-crippling rut. Jesse would rather write about romance than live through it after his past relationship ended in disaster. But once on-set together, the chemistry between Jesse and his leading lady is hard to deny.

      Centuries earlier, in the heart of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton Lightfoot and Esther Longfellow wrote their saga off the silver screen. Esther’s Loyalist father opposes any relationship with Hamilton, but Esther must face her beloved father’s disapproval and the dangers of war in order to convince Hamilton of their future together. Hamilton has loved Esther for years and on the eve of battle pens the love letter she’s always wanted—something straight from the heart.

      Set in stunning upcountry South Carolina, The Love Letter is a beautifully-crafted story of the courage it takes to face down fear and chase after love, even in the darkest of times. And just maybe, all these generations later, love can come home in a way, not even Hollywood could imagine.



      My Thoughts:


      This book was wonderful. It is a fast-paced book, the story flows well and keeps the reader interested. The characters are entertaining and easy to identify with. The reader finds themselves in the middle of the storyline cheering the characters on. I enjoyed the mix of past and present in the writing, it helped identify with all of the characters and helped the reader understand each of the main characters; what they were feeling and understanding what their life was like. Full of surprises, twists and fun, this is a great read. I highly recommend this book, giving it a 5-star rating.





    • 5/5
      The Love Letter by Rachel HauckSource: NetgalleyMy Rating: 4½/5 stars**MINI-REVIEW**The Bottom Line: While I generally love a book where the past meets the present, I had a hard time with that concept in this book. What I found difficult to deal with is the fact that Esther and Hamilton’s story is so compelling it can easily stand on its own as a proper historical fiction. While I liked, Chloe and Jesse well enough, I don’t feel like their contemporary journey added at all to the overall read. I often found myself rushing through the Chloe and Jesse chapters, so I could get back to the Esther and Hamilton chapters. Between the Revolutionary War setting, the emotional conflict, and the inevitable parting of ways, I found Esther and Hamilton to be absolutely fascinating. What’s more, the ending!! I am a huge fan of a good epilogue and the last several chapters really served as a wonderfully extended epilogue. Finding out the fate of Esther of Hamilton, how their lives unfolded was so very, very satisfying. As always, Hauck’s writing style is smooth and easy, punctuated with dialogue that is pointed, precise, and interesting. Hauck’s characters (in this case only Esther and Hamilton!) are so big, they overtake every other aspect of the read, and that is one of my favorite things about reading. Without doubt, Rachel Hauck is stuck with me as I am quickly becoming addicted to her brand of historical fiction. P.S. I also got the audiobook from my local library and found it to be a disservice to the story. At the halfway point, I gave up on the audiobook and went back to the physical read which was significantly better!
    • 4/5
      The charm of a Rachel Hauck book lies in the familiarity; the look to the past where a love does not quite go as it should. The move to the present where the two that we all know belong together either haven’t met yet or are denying their attraction. And the item – the dress, the desk, or in this case – the letter – that brings them together. I personally love the mix of contemporary and historical fiction that the author weaves together so well.Esther Longfellow is the daughter of a wealthy (if slightly troubled) loyalist to the Crown. She has just returned from her Season in London – her mother insisted but Esther loves South Carolina and didn’t want to remain. She also loves Hamilton Lightfoot, the nephew of the neighboring farm owner and a man who commits to the American cause. Their story drives the historical half of the book.Chloe Daschle is the daughter of Hollywood royalty looking for the role that will make her career. Jesse Gates is a first time screenwriter who has produced a script that has attracted attention and is going to be directed by a friend of Chloe’s father so she begs an audition. She feels this will be the part she needs to explode her career. She meets Jesse at a friend’s wedding and there is an immediate spark between them – but neither one of them is looking for a relationship.The chapters bounce between the four main characters slowly rolling out the story of Esther and Hamilton’s love and Chloe and Jesse’s attraction. You’ll just have to read the book to see if one or both couples succeed and what happens to them.I did enjoy this book, as I enjoyed Ms. Hauck’s other novels. The mix of past and present is something I do enjoy and as is par for the course with me I did enjoy Esther and Hamilton’s story more but that is because I always tend to like the historical tales more than the contemporary ones. Each one though makes for very good reading. I read the book in one afternoon and it made for a lovely way to spend the day. I will look forward to the next book from Ms. Hauck to see where in the past she chooses to go.
    • 4/5
      This religious historical fiction novel takes place in two time periods. One is Revolutionary War America and the other is present day in Hollywood. There is a connection between the two time periods that is known throughout the book but it is solidified with a surprise ending. I enjoyed the stories from both time periods but preferred the Revolutionary War couple because their relationship seemed more real. The current day Hollywood couple were both living with extreme guilt from situations that had happened earlier in their lives and continued to adversely affect their day to day lives.Hamilton and Esther grew up on neighboring farms and their relationship deepened as they got older. But when it came time to choose sides for American's fight for freedom from England, their love became more difficult. Hamilton fought with the Americans and Esther's father continued to support the King and would not allow her to see Hamilton. She was forced to choose between her love for Hamilton and her love and respect for her father.Chloe and Jesse live in Hollywood where she is an actress and he has just sold his first screenplay to a studio. The movie is about a letter that his great great...grandfather (Hamilton) wrote to his love Esther. Chloe gets the role of Esther and she and Hamilton begin a tentative relationship. She is looking for 'happily ever after' and he is consumed with guilt over something in his past. They must decide whether they will move forward or let their pasts affect their future happiness.The characters in the two time periods are connected by a love letter and both have decisions to make about life and love and finding happiness.Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
    • 5/5
      What a sweet story from Rachel Hauck. As she weaves a contemporary Hollywood-based storyline with a historical American Revolution-based one, The Love Letter is destined to delight readers of both genres. Amidst the turmoil of the Revolution, Esther Longfellow and Hamilton Lightfoot find themselves pleasantly in love, but facing countless challenges determined to divide them. In the present day, after finding a love letter from Hamilton to Esther, Jesse Gates bases an inspiring screenplay on their romance, which gives Chloe Daschle the chance to change the course of her career. Separated by hundreds of years, with unique sets of struggles, the stories of these four characters blend deftly together and beautifully tell of faith, family, forgiveness, and romance—but not without a few surprises. The Love Letter is a pleasure to read, like all of Hauck’s books, and I quite loved it. I highly recommend it.Thanks to the publisher, I received a complimentary copy of The Love Letter and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      I loved how the author’s mind worked as she wrote this story, a love story that spans centuries, and six times greats.We are spending time in the fight for America’s Independence the 1700’s and then we are in modern day Hollywood and making movies.We are shown that love can have its problems, especially if is a one-way affair, but we are also shown God’s hand in the lives of these individuals and forgiveness.Wait until you see how it is possible for a love of 1780 to come to a conclusion in 2018, Rachel Hauk has successfully melded these two-time periods into a tale that will stay with you long after the last page is turned.I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 5/5
      What could two romances, one set in modern-day Hollywood and the other in the rural South during the Amercian Revolution, possibly have in common? That’s the set-up for Rachel Hauck’s newest dual timeline romance, The Love Letter. A page-turner for sure, this novel kept me up way too late! But it was worth the lost sleep as I fell into Esther and Hamilton and Chloe and Jesse’s stories. This one earns a highly recommended rating from me.It can’t be easy writing not just one, but two storylines and making them not only credible but ones that the reader comes to care about. Hauck does a wonderful job of making both story worlds real. As her research into everyday life in the South Carolina colony brought Esther and Hamilton’s lives to life, so did her research into film-making and the Hollywood lifestyle produce a real and relatable couple in actor and screenwriter, Chloe and Jesse. The Love Letter is told in alternate points of view of the four main characters allowing the reader to get a complete look into their feelings, doubts, struggles, and hopes. And what great love stories these two couples have! For fans of romance set in any time, this novel certainly satisfies. But the most satisfying part of this book is the revelation of the love God has for people. I loved how God’s love and plan played out across the centuries separating the two couples. The love between a man and woman, of a parent for a child, and of a God who by nature is love is expressed throughout the book — Love broke chains. Unlocked doors. Healed wounds. (p.345) The Love Letter is a declaration of the power of love in times when war and political strife divided and in times when love is cheaply expressed.Because The Love Letter is a romance, a happily-ever-after is expected, but delivered in a most unexpected way! You’re also going to want to talk about this book once you are done, so grab some friends or your book club and dig in and enjoy!Highly recommended.Great for book clubs.Audience: adults.(Thanks to Celebrate Lit and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 4/5
      I enjoy reading duel time line stories, multiple POVs, and Rachel Hauck’s writing, but I toiled with the choppiness of The Love Letter from time to time. A letter written by Hamilton Lightfoot to Ester Longfellow in 1802, but never mailed, brings the two generations together. Jesse Gates, Hamilton’s 6 times great grandson, writes a screenplay for a movie based on the letter which stars Chloe Daschle as Ester. There is much to tell about Chloe and Ester, however, my lips are sealed, as not to give away the ending. You will have to read this stirring story for yourself and trust me you will not be disheartened.What drew me to this story was the historical side as little is written about the southern states involvement in the War of Independence. Here Rachel did not disappoint with her research and attention to detail. Picking the Cowpens battle a turning point in the American reconquest of South Carolina from the British was genius. I felt the animosity and conflict between Hamilton Lightfoot, Ester Longfellow’s father, Sir Michael Longfellow, and Lieutenant Twimball at each and every meeting, and Ester’s dilemma loving both Hamilton and her father who were on opposite sides of more than just the war. Rachel Hauck’s stories are always filled with messages of wisdom. One such message in The Love Letter is: “Marriage is the only place where two lovers can exist in a world all their own”. This is such a divine sentiment and one every couple should always remember.I received a complimentary ARC ebook of The Lost Letter from Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins Christian Publishing via NetGalley as part of the Celebrate Lit book tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
    • 5/5
      This is actually two stories. One is present day and the other deals with the screenwriter's 6 greats grandfather during the war for independence from England. It's a love story and a sad story all in one.The present day deals with the relationship between the screenwriter and an actress who had only ever died in all her films. Her one big hope is to live to the end of the film.I absolutely loved this book. I did guess Chloe's part in the history, but still that didn't stop me from really liking this book. I even shed a tear or two at the end.Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
    • 4/5
      The Love Letter is the latest novel by Rachel Hauck. Chloe Daschle is auditioning for a role that could change her career. She has become stereotyped into roles where she dies, and it is time to change her fate. She gets the role of Esther Longfellow in Bound by Love written by Jesse Gates. The other thing Chloe longs for is her one true love. After several disastrous romances, she wonders if the right man is out there for her. Then Chloe meets screenwriter and actor, Jesse Gates at a friend’s wedding. Based on a letter from an ancestor, Jesse wrote Bound by Love. When Jesse meets Chloe, he wonders if she is the woman for him. He is not sure that he deserves a happily ever after because of what happened eight years prior. Esther Longfellow has been in love with Hamilton Lightfoot for many years. She has returned from two years in London with the hopes of marrying him. However, war is breaking out and their families are on opposite sides. Esther’s father, Sir Michael is a loyalist who will not allow his daughter to marry someone unworthy of her much less a patriot. After a devastating death, Hamilton goes off to war and sees many horrors. One night before a big battle, he pens a love letter to Esther. Four people, two stories, one letter.The Love Letter is a novel about finding someone who will love you, complement you, be there for you during the good times and the bad times. Finding someone to love can be easy but finding your soul mate is a different matter. I thought the story was nicely written and the author takes readers on a journey. The Love Letter is a dual storyline novel that is told from four point-of-views. I did find it jarring with the four POV’s in the beginning (trying to keep the characters and their stories straight). It became easier as I progressed through the book. I found Esther and Hamilton’s storylines more compelling. The author did a wonderful job at capturing the time-period (starts in 1781) with the descriptions of the area, the clothing, the various Revolutionary War battles and attitudes. It was clever how the author connects the four people together (I do not want to spoil it for you). The Christian elements are light but present throughout. Having faith is the main theme. You need to have faith that God has the best plan for your life. I appreciate that the author did not make the characters perfect. She made them realistic with their own flaws and struggles. My rating for The Love Letter is 4 out of 5 stars. It is a lovely story, but I did find the pacing to be slow and the transitions were not smooth (as we switched from character to character). The Love Letter is a satisfying romantic Christian story with an unpredictable, heartfelt ending.