[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
Chloe Daschle is tired of playing characters who die. But death scenes have sort of become her bread and butter – all anyone wants her to do, it seems. But not this time. Chloe has read an amazing new script, and she is determined to be the lead. Bound by Love takes place during the American Revolution. It’s based on a letter from the screen writer, Jesse Gates’, ancestor. In the letter, Hamilton asks an old flame if their love might have a second chance after both of their beloved spouses have passed away. Chloe, a big believer in True Love, longs to play the role of Esther in this fictionalized version of the love story represented by the letter.
Hamilton and Esther were very real people in 1781. While Esther was part of British society, she and her father lived in South Carolina where her father managed the land and assets of a wealthy British businessman. Hamilton lived on a nearby farm with the aunt and uncle who raised him after he lost his family. While the two young people are in love, circumstances put them on opposites sides of the growing hostilities in the colonies.
Hundreds of years apart, the stories of Hamilton and Esther and Jesse and Chloe are tied together in ways they can’t begin to fathom.
Review
This is a lovely story of family, forgiveness and faith. This formula of connecting stories in different time periods has been used to great success by this author before, and it works again this time.
The historic pieces from the Revolutionary War are solid. The events of that time period really work against the characters of Hamilton and Esther. The reader gets to see how things develop in the community and threaten to pull the young people apart.
I enjoyed the contemporary story more than the historical one for this book (whereas I enjoyed the historical part more in The Writing Desk.) This isn’t an especially deep or tortured love story, but each character has baggage to overcome. I really enjoyed Chloe and Jesse, and I was cheering for them from the start.
The faith pieces were okay. There are some slightly “mystical” moments that felt out of place to me with the rest of the story. But I loved the conversion stories that explored faith and surrender and unconditional love for some of the characters.
I found a book by this author on my TBR shelves and another on my e-reader. Both are now on my summer reading wish list. I really enjoy Ms. Hauck’s work and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.