I was initially attracted to this novel because of the theme: a wedding dress worn by 4 different women and the mystery of how they are all connected. I didn't notice that it was classified inspirational, but that quickly became evident in the gentle tone of the narrative and the frequent references to scripture throughout.
Charlotte Malone owns a bridal boutique in Brimingham, Alabama, yet, with just two months to go before her own wedding to Tim, she is unable to commit to wedding dress for herself. While visiting the grounds of a local mansion to think about her life and upcoming marriage she is drawn to an old trunk pointed out to her by a stranger in a purple tie. After purchasing the trunk she is faced with a dilemma: how to open it, since the lock has been welded shut.
Despite having broken her engagement to Tim, Charlotte enlists his aid in opening the trunk. Inside Charlotte finds a perfectly preserved vintage wedding dress and she resolves to find both the perfect bride for the dress and information about its history. Hauck intertwines Charlotte's quest with the story of Emily, the young bride-to-be who commissions the dress from a prominent black seamstress over to objection of her social-climbing mother. Emily is having doubts about the fidelity of her husband-to-be and frustrated over her mother's control in this age of women's suffrage.
Hauck has created a lovely story full of hope, intrigue, and romance mixed in with a little bit of magic.
From the outside it doesn't look like much, but once you step inside, you're immediately drawn to the lovely setting. The place is very intimate and cozy.
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