The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

Genre: Historical & Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Zondervan
Released: July 11, 2017
352 pages

About the Book:

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.

My Rating & Thoughts:    🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟  (4 stars)

“The best things in life are simple and free.”

This is a dual-timeline story featuring two writers, one is being forced to marry someone and the other is dealing with writers block while on a deadline. Before beginning I wondered how a desk would weave the stories of these two ladies together but as it progressed I began pick up on some of the hints and loved the way they weaved together.

I was immediately drawn to Birdie’s story, her situation had me hurting for her and rooting for things to turn around. I had to keep reading to find out what happens to her. Even though she ended up marrying the person I was hoping for and she was able to continue pursuing her passion, her life was not easy. She endured many struggles that had me hurting for her, but she was positive and saw the good in everything. It took me a bit longer to connect with Tenley, I struggled appreciating some of her quirks, but she grew on me. She is in a rut and even with the change of scenery she struggles to get out of it, but then she finds something that offers a solution. But it is the right thing? She deals with a few difficult decisions and might not make all the right choices at times, but in the end I was proud of her. She took responsibility for her decisions, tried to make things right, and began to embrace God’s love for her and start to see that He could change her life. The progression of her relationship with Jonas felt just right and not rushed. I loved how welcoming his family was.

The men in the story were easy to love. Eli was torn between his heart and his duty, but decided to put aside his wants to do what was required of him and in the end he was blessed. Jonas also tries to put aside his personal wants in order to do right for Tenley, I enjoyed his personality and his willingness to be there for her even when it was hard for him.

This story will get you thinking about the moral decisions these characters make and what you would do in their place. Another great book by Ms. Hauck that I recommend and it has left me with the desire to watch the tv show Newhart again.

“It seemed so simple. Writing romance. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Something happens and they break up. Boy makes grand gesture and wins the girl’s heart and ta-da, happily ever after.”

 

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley;

opinions expressed in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)