Review: "To Love a Prince" by Rachel Hauck

If someone asks me to recommend a royal romance, my go-to is always Rachel Hauck's Royal Wedding series. So when I learned she had written another royal romance—and I saw that cover 😍—I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I wasn't disappointed!

Excerpt & Giveaway: "The Fifth Avenue Story Society" by Rachel Hauck

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to my stop on The Fifth Avenue Story Society blog tour! While I haven't had a chance to read the novel (yet!), I'm excited to share an excerpt with you. And be sure to scroll down and enter the giveaway while you're here!

Review: "The Wedding Dress Christmas" by Rachel Hauck

I have loved the books in Rachel Hauck's Wedding Collection, and what could be better than a Christmas story set in that world? As soon as I heard about The Wedding Dress Christmas, I added it to my TBR.

Review: "The Memory House" by Rachel Hauck

Rachel Hauck is one of the best at writing time-slip (split time, dual timeline) romances. I love how the two stories end up intertwining ... especially in this case, when it was something I didn't expect!

Preview & Giveaway: "The Memory House" by Rachel Hauck

Rachel Hauck books are always my favorite! I'm so looking forward to reading her new release, The Memory House, and I hope to have a review posted soon. In the meantime, though, check out the book information and a great giveaway!

Review: "The Love Letter" by Rachel Hauck

There's just something special about a Rachel Hauck novel. If I had to pick one thing, I'd say it's the way she weaves the supernatural seamlessly into the story. It's never heavy handed, and it feels like it could really happen ... and who am I to say it couldn't? Read one of her books, and you'll see what I mean.

Book or Movie? "Once Upon a Prince"

Five years ago, I read (and loved!) the first book in Rachel Hauck's Royal Wedding series, Once Upon a Prince. Earlier this year, I heard Hallmark was making it into a movie. It's been so long—and so many books—since I read it that I couldn't remember much about it, aside from the fact that I loved it! I decided a revisit of the book was in order before the movie's premiere. I finished it just in time, as I wrapped up the book Saturday afternoon, and the movie premiered Saturday night!

"A Royal Christmas Wedding" by Rachel Hauck

I have loved (loved, loved!) Rachel Hauck's Royal Wedding series. I thought it was finished after the third book, How to Catch a Prince, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Hauck had written a new Christmas novella, A Royal Christmas Wedding, that serves as the fourth book in the series.

"The Wedding Shop" by Rachel Hauck

A beautiful novel of love, longing, regrets, and redemption, The Wedding Shop captivated me from the first sentence.

"the wedding chapel" by rachel hauck

After taking a much needed break from reading over Christmas vacation, I decided to begin 2016 with Rachel Hauck's latest release. I thought I'd read for an hour or two ... and five hours later, I turned the final page of this wonderful book.

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A lonely wedding chapel built as a tribute to lost love just might hold the long-awaited secret to hope and reconciliation.

For sixty years, the wedding chapel has stood silent and empty. Retired football hall-of-famer Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook built the chapel by hand, stone by stone, for his beautiful and beloved Colette Greer, whom he lost so many years ago. The chapel is a sanctuary for his memories, a monument to true love, and a testament to his survival of the deepest pain and loss.

Photographer Taylor Branson left her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee to make a new life for herself in New York. Taylor had lots to run away from, not least of all a family history of broken promises and broken dreams. Love catches Taylor off guard when she falls for Jack Forester, a successful advertising executive, and their whirlwind romance leads to an elopement – and then to second guesses. Jack, in spite of his very real love for Taylor, is battling his own demons and struggles to show her his true self and the depths of his love for her.

When Taylor takes a photography assignment in Heart’s Bend, she is thrown back into her own past and encounters family secrets buried deep beneath the sands of time. And when Taylor and Coach’s journeys collide, they each rediscover the heartbeat of their own dreams as they learn that the love they long to hold is well worth waiting for.

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From beginning to end, I was completely engaged in The Wedding Chapel. When I realized it would be a dual timeline story, I became a bit uneasy—often in these stories, I care far more for one timeline than the other. Not the case here, possibly because Jimmy's and Colette's stories ran through both timelines, providing a unifying factor. Plus, the stories were just so good!

Somehow, though the main characters were not always likable, I was very invested in each of their stories, and I never minded the shift from one character's point of view to another's. While I enjoyed each of the four main characters, I especially loved Jack's story (though he received less page time than some of the others). His journey, which led him to the father's love he so craved, also represented the strongest faith thread of the novel.

Hauck wove multiple twists and turns into this engaging story—the kinds of twists that I didn't fully anticipate, yet they made perfect sense once revealed and caused the story to take on new meaning.

While Hauck's recent releases (the Royal Wedding series, which I loved) have been a bit on the fluffy side, The Wedding Chapel has much in common with her wonderful The Wedding Dress. There's a depth and realism to The Wedding Chapel that I found wholly satisfying. This is a beautifully romantic and compelling novel about secrets, sin's consequences, family, and redemption that will stick with you beyond the final page. 5 stars.

Buy the novel.
Read my reviews of Hauck's The Wedding Dress (4-1/2 stars), Once Upon a Prince (5 stars), Princess Ever After (5 stars), How to Catch a Prince (5 stars), A Brush with Love (5 stars), and A March Bride (4 stars).

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Rachel Hauck is an award winning, bestselling author. Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times, and Once Upon A Prince was a Christy Award finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and two pets and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at rachelhauck.com, Facebook: rachelhauck, and Twitter: @RachelHauck.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook blogger program and The Fiction Guild. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

best books of 2015: honorable mention

2015 was a banner year for lovers of inspirational fiction. I can't remember another year when I've had such a difficult time choosing a top 10 list—I read so many phenomenal books this year that I couldn't limit myself to 10. (Goodreads tells me I read 104 books this year—crazy!) We'll start with the honorable mentions today (which were hard to narrow down, too!) and then move on to my 10 favorite books of the year tomorrow. Keep in mind that these are books I read in 2015; a few of them were published in previous years.

One Enchanted Christmas by Melissa Tagg (my review) 

While I loved all three of Tagg's novels/novellas that I read in 2015, One Enchanted Christmas takes the top prize for its humor and adorability.

The Girl From the Train by Irma Joubert (my review) 

Always a fan of World War II-era fiction, I devoured this novel about a German orphan who is adopted by a South African couple.

A Table by the Window and Reservations for Two by Hillary Manton Lodge (my reviews) 

I couldn't read these novels quickly enough, and I can't wait for the third to release! They contain a love triangle that is rare in the fact that I have no idea which man the main character should choose.

Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter (my review) 

I always love Denise Hunter's novels, and Falling Like Snowflakes marks a great start to her new Summer Harbor series.

Somebody Like You by Beth Vogt (my review)

Somebody Like You is the first book I read in 2015, and it remains one of my favorites. The premise—an identical twin the widow didn't know about shows up and falls in love with her—could have been ripped from a soap opera, but the book is not even slightly soapy.

Shadows of Ladenbrook Manor by Melanie Dobson (my review) 

I simply adored this dual timeline story that shows how one secret can affect a family for generations.

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck (my review)

This final book in Hauck's Royal Wedding series is cute, romantic, and thought provoking. It's a definite winner!

I'm sure there are many more books I could list here, but I have to cut myself off somewhere! Check back tomorrow for my top ten list, and be sure to let me know in the comments if you loved any of these books, too!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"how to catch a prince" by rachel hauck

If you love fairy tale romances, you won't want to miss How to Catch a Prince!

best books of 2014: top 10

According to my Pinterest board, I reviewed 88 books in 2014. I'm not sure I remembered to pin all of my reviews, and I did read a few books that I didn't review, so I'm guessing that I read between 90 and 100 books during 2014. That's insane! I enjoyed—even loved—the vast majority of books that I read this year. It really seems like the inspirational market was on fire in 2014—there were just so many great books published, and I still have a bunch of titles on my TBR list. Here's hoping 2015 is just as good!

I had a really difficult time narrowing my list of best books down to ten, but after much debate, I did it ... though I will list some honorable mentions at the end. (Note that these are books that I read in 2014; they may have been published earlier.)

10. An October Bride by Katie Ganshert (my review)

I read each of Zondervan's Year of Weddings novellas, and An October Bride was my favorite. I absolutely love fake dating/engagement stories (almost as much as I love marriage of convenience stories), and Ganshert's novella nears perfection. Plus, it can be read in about an hour, making for a really enjoyable evening.

9. Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck (my review)

I'm absolutely loving Hauck's Royal Weddings series, and Princess Ever After was a pure delight. If you like fairy tales with a side of reality, then this is the book for you! (Also note that you don't need to have previously read Once Upon a Prince in order to enjoy Princess Ever After.)

8. All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant (my review)

If you enjoy cooking competition shows like I do (my most recent fave was Food Network's Holiday Baking Championship), you'll love Betsy St. Amant's romance/behind-the-scenes look at a Food Network-ish show. Plus, the cover is to die for!

7. Luminary by Krista McGee (my review)

This may seem like an odd choice, since I also read the wonderful conclusion to McGee's Anomaly series in 2014. I gave both books 5 stars, but I enjoyed Luminary just a bit more. I think it was because it focused on Thalli's introduction to the world outside of the State, and Revolutionary (the final book) takes place almost entirely in the State. Both books are fantastic (as is Anomaly, which was #9 on my best of 2013 list); I just liked Luminary a bit more.

6. Silenced by Dani Pettrey (my review)

Finally in 2014, Pettrey gave us the story we'd been waiting years for—Jake and Kayden's story! (At least I'd been waiting years for it!) Silenced is the fourth book in Pettrey's fantastic Alaskan Courage series. Not only is the romance wonderful (and long overdue!), but the suspense in Silenced felt so much more, well, suspenseful than in the previous novels. Read this book ... but read the others in the series first (Submerged, Shattered, Stranded)!

5. A Promise in Pieces by Emily Wierenga (my review)

Of all the books on the list, A Promise in Pieces surprised me the most. When it arrived in my mailbox, I thought, Why on earth did I request this book? Then I started reading. Not only is the story completely captivating, but this book is also responsible for the top "ugly cry" of the year. I was practically sobbing! A Promise in Pieces is so much more than a romance—it's a beautifully written, life-affirming masterpiece. (And I still say that Hallmark should make it into a movie!)

4. In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin (my review)

Is it any surprise a Sarah Sundin book landed on my list? Each year that I've compiled a list (2011, 2012, 2013), a Sundin book has made the cut. 2014 couldn't be the odd man out! In Perfect Time is the perfect (ha, ha) conclusion to Sundin's Wings of the Nightingale series, and I think it's probably my favorite of the three books in the series. Now I'm eagerly awaiting Sundin's next release!

3. Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter (my review)

Dancing with Fireflies is the second book in Hunter's Chapel Springs series to make one of my "Best of" lists—Barefoot Summer was #10 on my 2013 list. Where Barefoot Summer was wonderful, Dancing with Fireflies was simply phenomenal. In fact, for much of the year I thought it would end up in the top spot. It did get edged out (barely), but it's still one of the best books I've read in a long time.

2. When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren (my review)

The love that I feel for Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series knows no bounds. In fact, this is one series that I think I could happily reread (and I very rarely reread books). While I completely adored Take a Chance on Me and It Had to Be You (though I never reviewed them ...), I fell head over heels for When I Fall in Love. Grace Christiansen is my favorite book heroine of 2014, probably because I see bits of myself in her. Because of the way Warren is writing this series, with one book flowing into the next, you really need to begin with Take a Chance on Me and just dive into the series. Trust me; you want to read these books!

1. Meant to be Mine by Becky Wade (my review)

In 2012, I read Wade's My Stubborn Heart and immediately knew I'd found another writer to watch. (That book ended up in the #1 spot on my Best of 2012 list.) While I enjoyed her follow-up novel, Undeniably Yours, I didn't have the same connection with that book that I'd had with My Stubborn Heart. (Don't get me wrong—I liked it. A lot. But it just wasn't quite as good as My Stubborn Heart.) So I went into Meant to Be Mine a bit cautiously, wondering if Wade could capture the magic of My Stubborn Heart again. And she did! I read Meant to Be Mine in one evening (and early morning)—I simply couldn't put it down! Not only was the romance sizzling hot (without crossing the line), but the characters were some of the most realistic that you'll find in the inspirational market. Celia and Ty were certainly not perfect ... and that made them even more likable. Even now, I'm itching to read the book again. It's so, so good!

Honorable Mention (because I couldn't stop at 10):
A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher (my review)
Take A Chance on Me, It Had to be You, and Evergreen (my review) by Susan May Warren
A May Bride by Meg Moseley (my review)
Friend Me by John Fabion (my review)
Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin (my review)

There are my favorites ... what did you love reading in 2014?

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"a brush with love" by rachel hauck

A woman who bears horrific scars--both internal and external--finds unconditional love in Rachel Hauck's novella "A Brush with Love."

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Ginger Winters is a gifted hairstylist with scars no one can see. The last thing she expects from the New Year is a new chance at love.

Overcoming a childhood tragedy, Ginger emerges from the pain and trauma with a gift for bringing out the beauty in others. From the top big city salons to traveling the world as personal stylist to a country music sensation, success was almost enough to make Ginger forget her she would never be one of the beautiful people.

Almost. Now that she's back home in Rosebud, Alabama, and running her own salon, the truth remains: Ginger is still that girl, forever on the outside looking in. But she needs her confidence this weekend. She's the acclaimed "beauty-maker" for the Alabama society wedding of the decade.

When high-school crush Tom Wells Jr. also returns to town and shows up at her shop looking for a haircut, Ginger's thinly veiled insecurities threaten to keep her locked away from love, Despite Tom's best efforts, Ginger can't forget how he disappeared on her twelve years ago and broke her heart. Can she ever trust him again?

When Tom challenges her to see her own beauty, Ginger must decide if she will remained chained to the past or move freely into a new, exciting future.

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I absolutely loved Zondervan's first year of the Year of Weddings novellas, and I've been eager to continue with the entries in this second year. While the first entry this year, "Love at Mistletoe Inn," wasn't my cup of tea, "A Brush with Love" more than made up for it.

My favorite aspect of "A Brush with Love" is that, while it does feature a man-woman romance (and a sweet one at that), the main love story is between a scarred woman and the Savior who pursues her heart.

Tom Wells Jr. makes a great hero (who, in my mind, looked like Tom Welling), and the chemistry between him and Ginger was palpable. Yet he was more concerned about Ginger's spiritual state than winning her heart, and that made him even more attractive.

I also loved that there is some genuine meanness in the novella—people aren't always nice to one another, and some hold grudges, just as in real life. It's not a happy-go-lucky love story, but it is incredibly moving. 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of the Year of Weddings (year 1) (year 2) novellas.
Read my reviews of Hauck's Once Upon a Prince (5 stars), Princess Ever After (5 stars), The Wedding Dress (4-1/2 stars), and "A March Bride" (4 stars). 

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Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, bestselling author of critically acclaimed novels such as The Wedding Dress, Love Starts with Elle, and Once Upon A Prince.

She also penned the Songbird Novels with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Booklist named their novel, Softly and Tenderly, one of 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, Rachel worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in an uncomfortable chair to write full-time in 2004.

She serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker.

Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets, and writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

Find Rachel online: website, Facebook, Twitter

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"Fire" up the romance in the new year with Rachel Hauck's newest book, A Brush with Love, by entering her Kindle Fire giveaway! And be sure to catch a sneak peek of the soon-to-be-released How to Catch a Prince!

 One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A Brush with Love by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway only runs for a week, 12/30 – 1/5. Winner will be announced January 6th on Rachel's blog.
{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"A March Bride" by Rachel Hauck

As someone who read and enjoyed Once Upon A Prince, I was eager to read this continuation of Susanna and Nathaniel's story.

"Princess Ever After" by Rachel Hauck

In Princess Ever After, book two in the Royal Wedding series, Rachel Hauck transports the reader back to the wonderful world of Brighton and Hessenberg that she created in Once Upon a Prince. Though the two novels are only remotely connected and easily stand alone, they carry the same romantic, fairy tale-like quality. And they're both so much fun to read!

"Once Upon a Prince" by Rachel Hauck

Once Upon a Prince feeds into our little girl fantasies—who among us didn't dream of growing up to be a princess? If you take a pinch of The Prince and Me, a dash of The Princess Diaries, and throw in a healthy dose of the British royal wedding, you have Once Upon a Prince.

"the wedding dress" by rachel hauck

About the book (provided by Litfuse): One dress. Four women. An amazing destiny.

Charlotte Malone is getting married. Yet all is not settled in the heart of Birmingham's chic bridal boutique owner. Charlotte can dress any bride to perfection—except herself. When she discovers a vintage mint-condition wedding gown in a battered old trunk, Charlotte embarks on a passionate journey to discover the women who wore the gown before her.

Emily in 1912. Mary in 1939. And Hillary in 1968. Each woman teaches Charlotte something about love in her own unique way. Woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte's heritage, the power of faith, and the beauty of finding true love.

My take: This book turned out to be nothing like I expected ... and I loved it! After reading the back of the book (when will I learn not to do that?), I assumed that Charlotte would break up with her fiancé and end up with a wonderful new man. I was way off in my assumptions, though I won't go into specifics and spoil it for anyone reading.

I loved the characters of Charlotte and her fiancé Tim. And while I didn't like her, I did understand Katherine, Tim's sister-in-law who believed Tim could do better for himself that Charlotte. (As a big sister, it's very easy to convince myself that I know what's best for my siblings, when in actuality, I don't know as much as I think I do!)

Most of the story flips back and forth between Charlotte in the present and Emily in 1912. For me, the Emily story line wasn't quite as good as everything else. It was written well, but I simply could not connect with Emily or understand her choices. For example (SPOILER ALERT!) Emily sees—with her own two eyes—that her fiancé is cheating. Then he kisses her, and she convinces herself that what she saw must not be real and continues planning the wedding. I could understand a weaker woman just going with it. But Emily? The woman is having a black seamstress make her wedding dress on the sly! She's not a weakling, so her actions (or really non-action) toward her fiancé just don't ring true.

In the end, though, Emily's story is satisfying enough—and the way Hauck weaves Emily's story into Charlotte's is pretty masterful. Despite my qualms about Emily, I really did enjoy reading the book, and I definitely recommend it! 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.

Click here to see what other bloggers are saying, and you can buy the book here.

About the author: Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner Sweet Caroline, RITA Finalist Love Starts With Elle, and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, The Songbird Novels. She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets.

Rachel earned a degree in Journalism form Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor. Visit her web site at www.rachelhauck.com to read her blog and to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

About the giveaway: 
What is "true" beauty? Join the conversation at Rachel's Author Chat Party Event Page. On the eventing of 4/19 we'll gather to talk about inner and outer beauty and share moments of beauty in our lives.

In the meantime, celebrate with Rachel by entering her True Beauty Giveaway!

One "beautiful" winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend get-away!)
• The Wedding Dress (by Rachel Hauck)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 4/18/12. Winner will be announced at Rachel's "True Beuaty" Author Chat Facebook Party on 4/19. Rachel will be hosting an evening of beauty (inner/outer) chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Rachel via Skype.)

So grab a few of your friends and your copy of The Wedding Dress and join Rachel on the evening of April 19th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 19th!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

12 pearls, day 12: rachel hauck

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas!

Merry Christmas from all of us at Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoyed these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom" from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you missed a few posts, I hope you'll be able go back through and read them on this blog over the next few days. If you'd like to keep up with Pearl Girls and our new book project, Mother of Pearl, coming this spring, just click this link and sign up for our newsletter (lower left sidebar).

Also, just a reminder that today is the last day for the pearl necklace and earrings giveaway! Enter now by filling out this {form}. The winner will be announced on 1/1 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

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Jesus -- The Reason For the Season
By: Rachel Hauck

Through the narrow scope of 2000 years, Mary, the mother of Jesus, appears to be one lucky woman. Chosen by God to give birth to His son, the Savior of the world? All right, Mary, way to go.

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you,” Gabriel said.

How many of us would like a declaration like that? Highly favored. The Lord is with you. But Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

The angel told her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Mary’s seems confident and resolved when she responds, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

She’d just been told the Holy Spirit will come upon her, that God’s power will overshadow her, that she’d become with child even though she wasn’t married, and she said, “I’m the Lord’s servant. Let your words be true.”

I find this amazing! A young woman. Ancient Bethlehem. Unwed mother. They stoned women for such things in her day. But Mary believed in God. And submitted to His will. He gave her the Holy Spirit – the same Holy Spirit given to us. If He gave her confidence, He will give us confidence. Even though, like Mary, our situation seems impossible.

Listen to Mary’s song later on in the first chapter of Luke.

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me Holy is his name…”

Conceiving a child out of wedlock, by Divine intervention. Not a girl’s every day existence. Yet she had a Yes in her heart to God. She rejoiced. She boldly said, “Generations will remember me!”

How we struggle to trust God with our children. Our finances. Our emotional well-being. We worry. We fret. And wonder why we have no peace.

Christmas is the season where words like joy, peace and love are bantered around like Christmas candy. Let’s not take them as just words, but as truth. Let’s be like Mary and embrace God’s favor on our lives. Boldly declare "He’s done great things for me!”

Out of the grit of our own souls, we can reach His heart, and feel Him reaching for ours. No matter the pain of our past, present or future, God is there for us. He is able. Best of all, He is willing. “My soul glorifies the Lord this Christmas!”

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Rachel Hauck is an award winning, best selling author who believes God has done great things for her. She lives in Central Florida with her husband and ornery pets. Her next release is Love Lifted Me with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, January 2012. Then in April, look for The Wedding Dress. www.rachelhauck.com.