Book Review: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress comes a new captivating novel of secrets, romance, and two women bound together across time by a shared dream.

Tenley Roth’s first book was a runaway bestseller. Now that her second book is due, she’s locked in fear. Can she repeat her earlier success or is she a fraud who has run out of inspiration?

With pressure mounting from her publisher, Tenley is weighted with writer’s block. But when her estranged mother calls asking Tenley to help her through chemotherapy, she packs up for Florida where she meets handsome furniture designer Jonas Sullivan and discovers the story her heart’s been missing.

A century earlier, another woman wrote at the same desk with hopes and fears of her own. Born during the Gilded Age, Birdie Shehorn is the daughter of the old money Knickerbockers. Under the strict control of her mother, her every move is decided ahead of time, even whom she’ll marry. But Birdie has dreams she doesn’t know how to realize. She wants to tell stories, write novels, make an impact on the world. When she discovers her mother has taken extreme measures to manipulate her future, she must choose between submission and security or forging a brand new way all on her own.

Tenley and Birdie are from two very different worlds, but fate has bound them together in a way time cannot erase.

GENRE: Inspirational Timeslip Romance
PUBLISHER: Zondervan
RELEASE DATE: July 11, 2017
PAGES: 352

“All of life is about a romance.”

The Writing Desk has inked its way onto my favorites list – for 2017, of course, but also the all-time fave comfort books that I pull out and reread when I’m feeling blah or when I just need the hug of the familiar. When I need to appreciate a well-turned phrase, a witty retort, a quirky character, and the beauty of faith and romance intertwined. Add in Hauck’s seamless narrative between the Gilded Age past and the present? Icing. On. The. Cake.

Tenley and Birdie in many ways are versions of each other in another era. At least at their core. When it comes to love. When it comes to their mothers. Connected through time via one man, a host of novels and a writing desk, Birdie and Tenley have a story for all of us. Of what it means to be a woman. Of what it means to love a man. Of what it means to follow your dream, to be honest with yourself and to find ‘home’ in the arms of a Savior.

And then of course there is Elijah. And Jonas. Two men, separated by time and about as opposite from one another as can be. Yet they too are connected through the women they love – and through the men of integrity that they are. Rare in Elijah’s time. Rare in our own. Elijah (Eli) sends readers swooning with his long-held love for Birdie, his commitment to do the right thing, and of course his British accent. And Jonas will have book boyfriend collectors everywhere scrambling to add him to their collections; his heated kisses combined with his commitment to wait ‘for the right girl and marriage’ will tempt even the least romantical reader to read this book from the safety of the nearest fainting couch.

Bottom Line: Two stories. Two women. Connected by time and separated by it, all at once. Tenley’s wit and adorableness (in spite of her searching heart) endears readers immediately, and Jonas’ ability to ‘wit’ right back seals the deal. Her growth through the story is skillfully and gently penned, the simplicity of grace vibrant against the backdrop of faith. The Writing Desk is fun, tender, heartwarming, and inspiring. All wrapped up in a captivating story that you’ll want to hug when finished reading. (Don’t ask me how I know this.) One of Hauck’s best, and that’s a high standard to meet since everything she writes is exquisite. This one will be on my favorites list for years to come!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 5 stars / In a class by itself!

KissingBook Level: 4 / Hubba hubba

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 two pets and writes from her ivory tower.

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