Love Starts with Elle (A Lowcountry Romance) [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Rachel Hauck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 8, 2008 | Series: A Lowcountry Romance

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?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

RITA-finalist Rachel Hauck lives in Florida with her husband, Tony. She is the author of Dining with Joy; Sweet Caroline; Love Starts with Elle; and The Sweet By and By, co-authored with Sara Evans. Visit RachelHauck.com and SouthernBelleView.com.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595543384
• ASIN: B0023RSZV4
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #418,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller and RITA finalist, The Wedding Dress, as well as the ACFW Book of the Year winner Sweet Caroline, and RITA Finalist Love Starts With Elle, and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, The Songbird Novels.

Her next release, Once Upon A Prince, which received a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly, arrives in stores May 7th.

She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pet.

Rachel earned a degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now serves on the Executive Board. Visit her web site at www.rachelhauck.com to sign up for her newsletter, read her blog, and to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#22 Overall (See top 100 authors)

#1 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#1 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#5 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction

#7 in Books > Romance

#7 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

#1 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#1 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#5 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction

#7 in Books > Romance

#7 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winning read July 16, 2008

By Cara Putman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

One thing I count on in one of Rachel's books is a spiritual thread that will challenge me and often hit me between the eyes. Elle struggles with entering a relationship of deep intimacy with Christ. She's invited to join an older woman for prayer every weekday morning for prayer. She shows up once out of a sense of obligation, but soon can't imagine her days beginning without that time. How I long for a similar sense of relationship -- yet, I have to take that step and draw near to Him, so He can draw near to me. Am I willing to make the sacrifices required to develop what my soul yearns for?

Rachel also presents characters who are fully human and struggle with real-life issues. There's no candy coating on these characters. One of Elle's sisters has to deal with the last fall-out of an earlier relationship that resulted in a daughter. Watching her struggle with real emotions without the veil of fictionalized Christianity challenged me. Am I willing to provide the accountability and support that someone needs when they find themselves confronted by the lingering effects of sin. We all have those areas, so why pretend otherwise.

This book was a joy to read. It impacted me on several levels, while being a real page-turner. If you're looking for a romance with depth, this is a fantastic one to read!

47 of 54 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat Disappointed December 30, 2008

By R.P.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book because of the reviews and I really enjoy Christian Fiction. Though this book is labeled as Christian Fiction and had many references to Christianity, there are several parts of this book regarding the intimacy of the main characer to her fiancee that read slightly like a mainstream romance novel. I usually choose Christian Fiction because there is a purity to the relationships, though the characters are flawed and real. This was somewhat lacking in this book.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Keeper" July 18, 2008

By Peggy Blann Phifer

Format:Paperback

Okay, with this book, Rachel Hauck just jumped into the top tier of my favorite authors--one whose books are labeled 'keepers' and remain on my bookshelf forever.

Elle (pronounced like the letter 'L') Garvey is an artist and art gallery owner living in lowcountry Beaufort, South Carolina. We met and loved her in Sweet Caroline as the slightly wacky best friend of Caroline Sweeney. Now Elle is back with her own story. When pro-football-player-turned-minister Jeremiah Franklin proposes, Elle's dreams seem to have come true. Then she learns Jeremiah has accepted the senior pastorate of a large church in Dallas. Leave Beaufort? Sacrifice and compromise plague the couple as they plan their wedding.

In the meantime, successful New York lawyer, Heath McCord, needs some time away from the pressure-cooker of NY law as well as time to heal from the tragic death of his wife. So, he packs up his four-year-old daughter and heads to--you guessed it--Beaufort, SC, where his family has roots, and moves into Elle's cottage which she has leased out due to her relocation to Dallas.

I'll leave the rest to you to discover. I loved Elle. She's spunky, talented, smart, beautiful and fun, not to mention a gifted gal when it comes to quick repartee. Her character grows as she learns more about prayer . . . and herself. One of a writer's major responsibilities is to show character growth through the story, and Rachel aces it in Love Starts With Elle. I highly recommend this book. It's a great read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for romance lovers... August 17, 2008

By Born Again

Format:Paperback

I love a good romance and this one did not disappoint. I just finished Sweet Caroline a few days ago wishing that it had a sequel. I was pleasantly surprised to find it did! Love Starts with Elle picks up with characters we met in Sweet Caroline.

I think one of the things I like so much about these books are the secondary characters who are so alive with their own stories. From Huckleberry, the environmental activist/artist who needs a clue, to the heartwrenching storyline with Elle's sister...the author really creates characters that you care about.

As a christian romance lover, I found the love story to be spot on; the banter between Elle and Heath was realistic and romantic. Well done Rachel Hauck...you've got another fan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Way to Spend a Day! October 24, 2010

By Dlea

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book and Sweet Caroline, also my the same author, because Beaufort is one of my favorite places and I wanted some reading material for our vacation.

As one reader suggested, I started with Sweet Caroline. Both Sweet Caroline and Love Starts . . . are great ways to spend a day! I enjoy the author's fresh,fun style of writing. I loved that she includes emails and text messages . . . so reflective of life as we know it. Not sure if I quite by the "white feather" thing, but wouldn't it be neat if God really did send that kind of sign?!

I liked the characters in both books and was thrilled that the author choose to keep us posted on Caroline's life in the Love Starts . . . book. I have read that in her new book, Dining with Joy, we will have updates on both Caroline and Elle - can't wait for that book to arrive. (I pre-ordered it!)

I'll be passing these books to my sister to read. It's so nice to have something fun but spiritual to read. (And that Rachel is an Ohio State grad is a bonus!!)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Sequel... June 27, 2009

By Mercedes L. Johnmeyer TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

After reading and loving "Sweet Caroline', I was going to lay off the Christian Fiction for a bit as I'm not generally a fan of the genre. However, I enjoyed 'Caroline' so much, that I just had to jump into it's sequel right away!

Elle is such real and like-able character, and I wanted so bad for her to find love and happiness. I liked how Ms. Hauck also threw in little updates about Caroline and Mitch and others in her previous book without it feeling awkward or forced. I loved the relationship between Heath and Elle, and how it quietly blossomed into something more then friendship. I absolutely couldn't stand Jeremiah, even from the very beginning, and 'bout threw my poor Kindle across the room when he came back into the picture!

Overall, this was another great read from a very talented storyteller. I do recommend reading 'Sweet Caroline' first, just to give yourself a better understanding of some of the characters and the town of Beaufort, though it's not absolutely necessary. I hope Ms. Hauck continues on with the Beaufort clan as I've come to enjoy them immensely, and would love to see who's story she tells next. I'm still pretty uncomfortable with Christian Fiction and 'God-books', but Ms. Hauck writes in a way that I can enjoy it. I absolutely look forward to whatever she's has next in store .