Meet Me at the Starlight by Rachel Hauck: Book Review

 **I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

1987. Supermodel Harlow Hayes seeks solace in a quaint Florida beach town to heal from a heartbreak that shattered her entire world. To her surprise, she encounters Matt Knight--a Hollywood A-lister with a bad-boy reputation--who has returned to his hometown to help his plucky grandmother, Tuesday, save her century-old skating rink, the Starlight.

The Starlight holds a special place in the hearts of the community, once acting as a refuge for Depression-era families and bringing the town together with gatherings and celebrations. Tuesday's determination even protected her beloved rink from her husband's shady business dealings. Yet when the Starlight is threatened with demolition, Tuesday begins to wonder if an era has come to an end.

As Matt and Harlow strategize to save the rink, they find themselves on a journey of surprises, self-discovery, and the kind of healing that leads to love.

The Author

Rachel Hauck is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author.

She is a Christy Award Winner and a double RITA finalist. Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Club. She is the recipient of RT's Career Achievement Award.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was filmed for an original Hallmark movie.

Hauck has been acclaimed for her split time novels and royal romances.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, and a former sorority girl, Rachel and her husband live in central Florida. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

In other news, she's recently learned how to hard boil an egg. She's quite proud.

Visit her at www.rachelhauck.com or www.facebook.com/rachelhauc

Book Review

Meet Me at the Starlight is a dual timeline story, going back and forth between the 1930s and 1980s. Dual timelines can be hit or miss for me, as I sometimes find that one timeline can fall short for me, but I found this one drew me in equally to both, especially as the story went on. The story centers around a skating rink- The Starlight- and I loved that because the timelines aren't too far separated, we actually get to see Tuesday through different stages in her life... that added so much depth to her character and really made me appreciate her and the story all that much more. The characters were imperfect and made their fair share of mistakes, but I enjoyed their growth throughout the story. Skating was one of my favorite things as a child, so I definitely enjoyed the setting for this one too... and while the more recent timeline took place only the year I was born, I definitely enjoyed catching some eighties references throughout as well. (I'm sure this will be even more nostalgic to those old enough to remember it firsthand!) There was a good message of faith and community, and I found the story to be very enjoyable. 

I will say there was a big emphasis on Harlow's weight within her story... which is fitting, given her career as a supermodel and the time it takes place. I do appreciate very much how it all turns out in the end, but this could be slightly triggering for some readers. 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4eBPiui