Ramblings-n-Writings

Elle’s living the dream-but is it her dream or his?

Elle loves life in Beaufort, South Carolina-lazy summer days on the sand bar, coastal bonfires, and dinners with friends sharing a lifetime of memories. And she’s found her niche as the owner of a successful art gallery too. Life is good.

Then the dynamic pastor of her small town church sweeps her off her feet. She’s never known a man like Jeremiah-one who breathes in confidence and exhales all doubt. When he proposes in the setting sunlight, Elle hands him her heart on a silver platter.

But Jeremiah’s just accepted a large pastorate in a different state. If she’s serious about their relationship, Elle will take “the call,” too, leaving behind the people and place she loves so dearly. Elle’s friendship with her new tenant, widower Heath McCord, and his young daughter make things even more complicated.

Is love transferrable across the miles? And can you take it with you when you go?

My review:

Love Starts with Elle is a pleasantly surprising book. If I had to choose one word to describe my overall impression, I’d choose healing.

Hauck uses the premise of Girl meets Boy #1, falls in love, throw in Boy #2. To me the choice between Boy #1 and Boy #2 was an obvious one and by page 70, I wondered why I should finish the book – I had it figured out!

Once I made it past thinking I knew where the story was going, I wasn’t prepared for what happened in the remaining 200+ pages. Elle’s character began to challenge me personally. Hauck doesn’t “preach” at her readers, but instead quietly shows how creating a true relationship with God will affect our lives. By the time I finished the book, I wanted my life to be more like Elle’s.

Hauck’s style is easy to read and the storyline flows nicely. She throws in some plot twists, makes your heart break for Heath McCord, and teaches you how to manage the inner struggles when life changes dramatically. Artists and writers will identify with the characters, and those who have been involved in “big ministry” will understand the pressures Hauck portrays.

While Love Starts with Elle isn’t complicated, it’s perfect for a quick read snuggled under a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. Definitely a five star book.