Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Fiction

A royal tale: Review of How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

What if you’d secretly married a prince five years ago and thought the relationship had ended only to find that same prince standing in front of you with annulment papers in hand?

how to catch a princeRachel Hauck’s Royal Wedding series wraps up with How to Catch a Prince, the story of American heiress Corina del Rey and Prince Stephen of Brighton, the secret they share (and another one they don’t), and the obstacles they’ll need to overcome to find love between them again. (Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of the book in exchange for a review and blog tour participation through Litfuse Publicity Group.)

Hauck’s previous books in the series, Once Upon a Prince and Princess Ever After, introduced us to the fictional kingdoms and royal families of Brighton and Hessenberg, and while reading those books would help give background for this one, you could pick up How to Catch a Prince and read it without having read the others.

I found the premise of this book interesting, but I must say I was a tad disappointed in the story overall. I loved the first two books in this series, but this one didn’t quite meet my expectations. I just wasn’t as drawn in by the characters, and I wasn’t really surprised by how things played out. Still, it was an entertaining read, and there were some unforgettable moments and lines from the book.

The overall theme of loving people well, even if it’s not romantic love, will stick with me. As will advice like,

“You can play it safe if you choose, but it’s the brave, those who face their fears, who tame the world, who win the day. Walk on waves.”

Corina does a lot of brave and courageous things and learns to fight for what matters to her. That’s inspiring. And Prince Stephen learns that exposing his secrets is the only way to live in freedom.

If you’re a fan of the real royal family and all things British, this is a great series to make you feel like you’re part of that world.

And to celebrate the launch of this book, there’s a royal giveaway! And to find out more about the author, the book and what others are saying, click here.

An American heiress and a crown prince seem destined to be together. Will the devastation of war keep them apart forever? Find out in Rachel Hauck’s new book, How to Catch a Prince. True love has a destiny all its own. With a little heavenly help, Prince Stephen and Corina embark on a journey of truth. But when the secrets are revealed, can they overcome, move forward, and find love again?

Enter to win a “royal” prize pack! 

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One grand prize winner will receive:

  • A royal-themed Brighton charm bracelet
  • 2 tickets to see the new Cinderella movie
  • The Royal Wedding series (Once Upon a Prince, Princess Ever After, and How to Catch a Prince)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced March 24th on Rachel’s blog.

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{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

When women are heroes too: Review of Dauntless by Dina Sleiman

When I first saw the cover for Dauntless by Dina Sleiman, my initial reaction was, “Oh, so like Robin Hood only for girls.”

After reading the book, I’m happy to say that was a shallow assumption and a horrible first impression. (Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for my review.)

dauntlessDauntless does feature a strong female lead in Merry Ellison, a former noblewoman who has been forced into outlaw living because of the fickle and ruthless King John who ordered the murder of her family. And Merry does lead a band of fellow outcasts, mostly children, who steal to survive. But her story is much more than a retelling of Robin Hood. The similarities to that legend are few, but if you like Robin Hood, you’ll probably like this one.

This is the first in Sleiman’s Valiant Hearts series and each book will feature a strong, young female lead. (The next book has an aspiring knight on the cover!) Set in Medieval times in fictional parts of England and Britain, the books are classified as juvenile fiction, but I think they have a wider appeal.

I enjoyed the story and appreciate tales where the female is not always the “damsel in distress.” Merry has a leadership role among her group but learns that she cannot, nor does she need to, handle everything all by herself. She leads with wisdom but lets others in. She learns to trust her instincts but also to delegate and trust others.

These are valuable lessons for women of any age. I’m excited for what this series has to offer.

Yes, there is a love story in this also, and while Merry tries to deny any ideas of romance because of her situation, she discovers it is a natural part of life. The romance is not what carries the story nor does it give false impressions for younger readers.

Overall, this is a great book to share with younger readers (and then read for yourself!).