Book Review & CelebrateLit Giveaway: To Love A Prince by Rachel Hauck

About the Book

Book: To Love a Prince
Author: Rachel Hauck
Genre: Royal Romance
Release Date: August 11, 2020

An enchanting new royal romance from NYT bestselling author Rachel Hauck

Daffodil Caron is not a princess, even though she once dreamed of being one. After all, she grew up as a playmate to royal princes, running through the halls of Perrigwynn Palace and dining with the queen. But the day she stumbled upon a royal secret, everything changed.

Flash forward eighteen years, and Daffy’s living a sweet, non-royal life. A skilled art curator for the Royal Trust, she has friends, a flat in the heart of the city, and a handsome, successful fiancée. The last person on her mind is Gus, a prince she once called her best mate.

HRH Prince Augustus is no longer “Prince Pudgy,” as caricaturized by the press, he’s charming and gorgeous, possessing a world-famous smile. But when he’s jilted at the altar by an American heiress as millions of people around the world watched, the spare heir to Lauchtenland’s ancient House of Blue escapes, finding solace on a Florida beach.

A year as a regular bloke allows him to rethink his purpose. He’s half decided his calling is to pour pints at a tiki bar, rather than serving his country and the Family.

Until an accident on the beach with a Frisbee changes his course.

Despite his long hair and beard, Daffy recognizes her prince, and their childhood friendship is renewed. She assures Gus Lauchtenland needs him, giving him the courage to return home.

When Daffy and Gus find themselves on assignment to Hadsby Castle in preparation for his brother’s wedding, their friendship blooms into affection.

But Gus cannot, will not, trust his heart again. Daffy’s engaged. And she also remains a royal family outcast because she knows the Queen’s secret.

When affection grows into love and secrets are exposed, trust is destroyed. Gus must choose which is stronger: the lies of his past or the hope of his future. And Daffy must face every fear to prove she will forever love a prince.

“Another compelling royal story by the master of princely tales!” Susan May Warren, USA Today bestselling, RITA award-winning novelist

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.

Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.

A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.

At home, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.

A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.

She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.

My Thoughts

To Love A Prince
by Rachel Hauck
Book 1 in the True Blue Royal series
Rating: 4.5/5

Another winner from Rachel Hauck!!! I do love all her stories about royals. She captures such beautiful, complicated characters on the page. Any time she writes about royalty, I have to read it. LOL. And I can’t wait for the next story either!

Daffodil “Daffy” Caron grew up around the royal family of Lauchtenland because of her mother’s job and had the biggest crush on Prince Gus, the younger son. They were the best of friends and she wrote a diary of fantasy stories about her life with the prince. When security measures change, Daffy is left estranged from her playmates and must learn to keep a secret.

All grown up and on holiday in America with her sister and best friend, Daffy finds herself enjoying the Florida beach. A chance encounter with a frisbee has her meeting Prince Gus but in disguise. After having his heart broken, Prince Gus has been MIA for the past year and been working at a bar in Florida. He feels ready to return home to plan his brother’s wedding ball and attend his wedding.

As part of her job with the Royal Trust, Daffy is assigned to prepare and display all the royal wedding dresses to be displayed for the wedding ball. Prince Gus is also on the premises to plan the wedding ball and can’t seem to keep his mind off his old friend, Daffy. Will the blushes never stop for Daffy when she’s around the prince? Will her secret keep them from true love?

I do love a good mystery. Hauck weaves an interesting tale that I could not put down. I loved Daffy and Gus because they felt so real and flawed. They were broken and needed to heal. As a Christian, I always enjoy when faith is incorporated into stories and Hauck has a way of doing this that is more subtle but still beautiful. I feel like their journey was rushed at the end but it didn’t take away from the overall story. I still want to see more of them and am curious what will happen in the next book.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy royal romances with a twist of mystery and humor. (and quirky characters).

My thanks to the author and CelebrateLit for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

More from Rachel

Hello Royal Rockstar Readers!

I’m thrilled to share To Love A Prince with you. So many of you who loved the Royal Wedding Series have asked for more royals so as I noodled over new story ideas, my thoughts drifted toward princes and princesses. What’s more romantic than a royal wedding?

This royal story, the first book in a new series, True Blue Royal, is set in a new fictional country, Lauchtenland, in the North Sea. I’m really squeezing all those oil wells currently occupying that body of water.

The beauty of royal stories is they remind us of who we really are: princes and princesses. There is always a point in the story where the royal character, as well as the commoner, must come to grips with his and her true identity! Who God says we are!

Stories are a powerful reflection of life and it’s fun to insert ourselves into the tale. While fiction employs a lot of hyperbole we can find ourselves on the page somewhere, somehow.

Thanks for going on this little tour with me and To Love A Prince. You are so vital to my story as an author. Thank you!

Yours,

Rachel

Blog Stops

Worthy2Read, September 10
Captive Dreams Windows, September 10
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 10
Genesis 5020, September 10
Novels Corner, September 10
Connect in Fiction, September 11
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 11
deb’s Book Review, September 11
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 11
Remembrancy, September 12
Breny and books, September 12
Texas Book-aholic, September 12
Inklings and notions, September 12
For Him and My Family, September 13
Artistic Nobody, September 13 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 13
The Book Chic Blog, September 13
Among the Reads, September 14
Soulfully Romantic, September 14
Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 14
Sara Jane Jacobs, September 14
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 15
lakesidelivingsite, September 15
All-of-a-kind Mom, September 15
Reflections From My Bookshelves, September 15
Betti Mace, September 16
Where Faith and Books Meet, September 16
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, September 16
Blossoms and Blesssings, September 16
She Lives To Read, September 17
Wishful Endings, September 17
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, September 17
Life of Literature, September 17
Life, Love, Writing, September 17
Book Love, September 18 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Maureen Timerman, September 18
Batya’s Bits, September 18
Labor Not in Vain, September 18
Bigreadersite, September 19
Hallie Reads, September 19
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 19
Splashes of Joy, September 19
Christian Bookaholic, September 20
Musings of A Sassy Bookish Mama, September 20
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, September 20
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 20
Inside the Wong Mind, September 21
By The Book, September 21
Mary Hake, September 21
Godly Book Reviews, September 21
Hebrews 12 Endurance, September 22
Melissa Wardwell’s Back Porch Reads, September 22
Livin’ Lit, September 22
Writing from the Heart Land, September 22
Simple Harvest Reads, September 23 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Mamma Loves Books, September 23
Daysong Reflections, September 23
Black ‘n’ Gold Girl’s Book Spot, September 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a royal gift box of Pampering Princess items that includes bath balms, tea, tiara and other surprises!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10098/to-love-a-prince-celebration-tour-giveaway

September 21, 2020 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson

The Christmas Swap
by Melody Carlson
Rating: 4/5

I’ve been a fan of Melody Carlson for a while and I absolutely devoured this story. It was beautifully written with lots of humor and romance. This lighthearted and charming Christmas story was just what I wanted to escape for a few hours.

Emma Daley finds herself in the Colorado Rockies to celebrate a white Christmas with her friend’s family who decided to do a house swap for the holidays. Instead of hot Arizona, Emma gets to see snow for the first time for Christmas. She is a part-time substitute teacher and struggling singer-songwriter who is not interested in getting involved with her friend’s brother or his friend. After arriving at the house, Emma meets West who says he’s the caretaker of the house but he’s really the owner of the house and award-winning songwriter, TW Prescott. He offers to teach her to ski and the rest is history. Sparks fly and shenanigans ensue to make a perfect holiday story come to life.

This story definitely reads like it could be a Hallmark holiday movie, so if you love those, then you will love this story. It’s not super deep but it has heart and is a quick chairlift view into a Christmas romance where two souls find each other. I found myself rooting for Emma and West. I really wanted the book to be a movie so I could hear both of them sing and play together. Haha. I enjoyed the setting and am now eager to start skiing again. Maybe. 😉

Although the timeline is short (like almost every Hallmark movie) the romance doesn’t feel too rushed. As a musician myself, I understand the connection that occurs between creatives, so the short timeline actually didn’t bother me as much. Fun times in a Christmas setting.

I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a cute, clean Christmas romance.

My thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

September 13, 2020 by Kim Book Reviews

Book Review: Until I Met You by Tari Faris

Until I Met You
by Tari Faris
Book 2 in the Restoring Heritage series
Rating: 4/5
Release date: September 8, 2020

Tari Faris definitely knows how to portray such heartfelt characters with their own strengths and weaknesses. The reader is once again drawn into the small town charm of Heritage and it’s fun to “see” characters from the first book. For me, this story was not only about romance but it was about the relationship between two brothers.

Austin temporarily moves to Heritage to do a landscaping job but refuses to live with his brother, Nate, who already lives there and is the local pastor. Austin meets Libby, his neighbor who also just arrived to become the new librarian. The two have their own pasts to deal with and overcome in order to move on with their lives. Nate is battling his own demons of the past and finds it hard to give himself a chance at love with Olivia, Libby’s new roommate. Olivia is tired of waiting for Nate to make up his mind about them and tries to find a journalism job out of state. Can these two couples find a way to work together and find forgiveness and love?

These intertwined love stories were masterfully written and the depth of brother’s characters was very well done. The incorporation of faith and forgiveness was vital for the characters and I was impressed with how the author dealt with the effects of holding onto unforgiveness.

My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Purchase the book here.