A Writer's Review of “Princess Ever After” by Rachel Hauck

{About Princess Ever After}

Regina Beswick was born to be a princess.

But she’s content to be a small-town girl, running a classic auto restoration shop, unaware a secret destiny awaits her. One that will leap from the pages of her grandmother’s hand-painted book of fairytales.

Tanner Burkhardt is the stoic Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg. When he is tasked to retrieve the long-lost princess, he must overcome his fear of failure in order to secure his nation’s future—and his own.
Yet lurking in the political shadows is a fierce opponent with sinister plans to abolish the throne forever. Overwhelmed with opposition, Regina must decide if she’s destined to restore old cars or an ancient nation. Together—with a little divine intervention—Regina and Tanner discover the truth of her heritage and the healing power of true love.

Purchase a copy and learn more at Rachel’s website.
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{My Review}

Princess Ever After was a sweet, well-written book. It was very much the same sort of situation and plot as Meg Cabot's young adult novel, The Princess Diaries, which was also made into a movie starring a teenage Anne Hathaway.

The writing is good, the characters were engaging, and I was pulled through the book quickly enough... but for some reason I was never really personally invested in what was going on in the book. 

The two books in this series have been the only two books I've read by Rachel Hauck, so I might have walked into the series with my expectations a little off. The books in The Royal Wedding Series are good... just not my cup of tea. I'm not sure if it was the fictional setting in current-day Europe/Britain or the fact that they were just too sweet. I never felt great emotion from the writing or the characters, but I have a feeling that isn't something everyone else is always looking for in a book. Sometimes readers just want to be entertained... and if that's you, this would probably be a very enjoyable book for you to read. 

Rachel Hauck’s Princess Ever After currently has a rating of 4.22 out of 5 stars (from 161 ratings) on Goodreads. I was given a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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{More About Rachel Hauck}

Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, best selling author of critically acclaimed novels such as RITA nominated “The Wedding Dress” and RITA nominated “Love Starts with Elle,” part of the Lowcountry series, the Nashvegas series and the Songbird Novels penned with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Their novel “Softly and Tenderly,’ was one of Booklists 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals. A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, she worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in an uncomfortable chair to write full time in 2004. Rachel serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker. Rachel writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.
Find out more about Rachel at http://www.rachelhauck.com/.

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{Princess Ever After $200 “Princess” Giveaway and Facebook Party with Rachel Hauck!}

Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of her latest "swoon"-worthy romance,  Princess Ever After, with a fun $200 "Princess" prize package giveaway and a Facebook "Princess" party on March 6th. Grab your tiaras and RSVP today!

  One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card (buy your very own "princess ever after" gown or tanks of gas for your "royal" ride)
• Princess Ever After, Once Upon a Prince, and The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 6th. Winner will be announced at Rachel's "Princess" Facebook Party on March 6th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of "royal" book chat, princess-themed trivia, laughter, prizes, and an exclusive look at the next book in the Royal Wedding series!

So grab your copy of Princess Ever After and join Rachel and friends on the evening of March 6th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

 

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

Dawn Crandall's Review of “Once Upon a Prince" by Rachel Hauck

{My Review}

I've never read this author before, but I've been trying new and new-to-me authors a lot more in the last year or so... a plan which kind of backfired on me a bit. There were a few I ended up adoring... and a few I didn't. 

Once Upon a Prince was one I liked a lot but still wasn't completely blown away by. I really liked the characters and the friendship/romantic relationship, though everything did seem to develop rather quickly. The parts I skimmed through were the scenes involving the politics and mandates of the fictional country it was set in for the last half of the book. The ending was also pulled together a little too tidily for my taste.

Rachel Hauck is definitely a great writer, and I will read the follow up book to this series (The Royal Wedding Series) called Princess Ever After. I'll probably even look up a few of her others because I've also heard that her book The Wedding Dress is phenomenal. 

Once Upon a Prince currently has a rating of 3.82 out of 5 stars (from 2,091 ratings) on Goodreads. I own this book.

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{About the Author}

RITA finalist and award winning author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida. Rachel loves to encourage new writers and is the book therapist for My Book Therapy and writing community founded by Susan May Warren. Visit her web site to find out more and click on the icons to follow her on Twitter and Facebook. www.rachelhauck.com

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May New Release Clash Winner

We had some amazing stories come out this past month. Each one poised to captivate your imagination, from overcoming great odds together, to chance meetings with a dashing earl, switchboard encounters of the handsome kind, a mysterious vanishing, and a prince's choice.

Thank you to Joselyn Vaughn author of Climbing Heartbreak Hill, Vanessa Riley author of Madeline's Protector, Lorna Seilstad author of When Love Calls, and Deborah Raney author of The Face of the Earth for participating in our clash.

And Now, Clash of the Titles presents the May New Release Winner...

Once Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by bestselling author Rachel Hauck, treats you to a modern-day fairy tale.

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn’t going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon’s Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family’s tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna’s aid under the fabled Lover’s Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He’s a royal prince. She’s a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel’s coronation.

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{Comments From Readers}

“Once Upon a Prince has all the ingredients needed to make for a wonderful summer read!”

“Loved loved loved Once Upon A Prince! I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads!”

“I couldn't stop reading this one! Wonderful love story! Love the cover!”

“Absolutely LOVED it! A perfect summer (or fall or winter or spring, for that matter) read. It was the best book I have read in a l-o-n-g time! You have set the bar high!”

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{What Reviewers Are Saying}

“Hauck spins a surprisingly believable royal-meets-commoner love story. This is modern and engaging tale with well-developed secondary characters that are entertaining and add a quirky touch. Hauck fans will find a gem of a tale.” 

– Starred Review Publisher’s Weekly

 

“Hauck has written a Princess Diaries for grown-ups that will please readers…” 

– Library Journal

 

“Hauck has created an enchanting novel featuring a charming hero and heroine as well as interesting secondary characters, such as a woman who leaves her job as a lobbyist to live in a tent in the woods.”

– Starred Review Booklist

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*To read the first chapter of Once Upon a Prince, click HERE.

**To take a look at the book's discussion guide, click HERE.

   

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{About Rachel Hauck}

 

Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, best selling author of critically acclaimed novels such as RITA nominated The Wedding Dress and RITA nominated Love Starts with Elle, part of the Lowcountry series. She penned the Songbird Novels with multi-platinum recording artist, Sara Evans. Their novel Softly and Tenderly, was one of Booklists 2011 Top Ten Inspirationals.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, she worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in uncomfortable chair to write full time in 2004.

Rachel serves on the Executive Board of American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker.

Here next book, Princess Ever After, releases in February 2014.

Visit her web site at http://www.rachelhauck.com