Friday, September 11, 2020

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!

MY REVIEW

I love reading stories about the Royal Family and as a little girl I dreamed of being a princess. Reading this enchanting story stirred my interest once again in all things Royal. The author delivers a breathtaking account of a Royal Family and gives us a look at their protocols. I loved being swept away in a place where ball gowns, lavish food and spectacular sceneries adorned the pages.

Daffy is such a great character and it is easy to see why Prince Gus was smitten with her even as they were children. Daffy grew up around the Royal Family and played in the palace . One day while hiding in the Queen’s closet, she overheard something that she knows must be kept secret. I had a diary when I was younger and in that diary were my secret thoughts that I didn’t want anyone to know. Daffy writes down the conversation she overheard while hiding and then over the years forgets about the diary. That diary will fall into the wrong hands and thus begins a story of a secret that could crush the Royal Family.

Gus is trying to get over being left at the altar and travels to America to escape the hurt he feels. I loved how Daffy and Gus bump into each other after many years apart. I could sense they still had sparks for each other. Gus is a wonderful character and is happy to see his childhood friend. I won’t say how they end up back at the Royal Palace together but it will bring secrets, surprises and lots of fun reading.

I loved how the author brought faith in the story in a subtle way. Gus and Daffy both have a few things they must work on in their personal lives. I enjoyed the interaction between Daffy and the Queen. There were a few tense moments between them, but God had a way to bring hidden things to the surface. We think our secrets will be hidden forever, but this story reminds us that “all things hidden will be revealed.”

The story has a good message of forgiveness and it shows how letting go of bitterness can set you free. I especially liked the special place called “The Hand of God.” It is significant in the story as someone finds themselves drawn to God while in this spot where peace is found. I would love to have a place like this to go to to be alone and rekindle my faith. The ending is spectacular and fills readers with hope that dreams do come true. I look forward to the next book in this exciting series.

I received a copy of this story from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

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.

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