Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Royal Wedding #2

Princess Ever After

Rate this book
Regina Beswick never dreamed of faraway places. She’s happy with her life as a classic car mechanic and owner of a restoration shop.

But an unexpected visitor and the discovery of a fairytale, drawn by her great-grandma, causes Regina to wonder if she might be destined for something more.

Tanner Burkhardt, Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg, must convince the strong-willed Southerner, Miss Beswick, that she is his country’s long-lost princess. Failure could destroy his reputation and change his nation forever.

As Regina and Tanner face the challenges before them, neither are prepared for love to invade their hearts and change every thing they believe about themselves.

However, when a royal opponent nearly destroys Regina’s future, she must lean into God and trust He has sovereignly brought her to her true and final destiny.

358 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2014

234 people are currently reading
4871 people want to read

About the author

Rachel Hauck

74 books4,504 followers
New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida.

A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie.

The Wedding Dress has been optioned for film by Brain Power Studio

She loves to hear from readers. She also loves to encourage new writers and is a retired member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Executive Board.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism, Rachel is an avid OSU football fan. She hopes to one day stand on the sidelines in the Shoe with Ryan Day.

Visit her web site to find out more and click on the icons to follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

www.rachelhauck.com

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,088 (37%)
4 stars
1,996 (35%)
3 stars
1,173 (20%)
2 stars
270 (4%)
1 star
72 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 591 reviews
Profile Image for Rachelle Cobb.
Author 9 books317 followers
January 30, 2014
When I read Once Upon a Prince, I decided that was the most beautiful cover I had ever seen. (In fact, there's a story there: when Casey shared the cover on Facebook, I pre-ordered Once Upon a Prince. In paperback.) That book hooked me on Rachel Hauck. This great writer crafts contemporaries that this historical-romance fan loves!

Then came Princess Ever After, and I changed my mind: this is the most beautiful cover I have ever seen. I mean, can't you tell? That shimmery blue is all over this blog. ;)

Rest assured, the story inside had me cracking the book open to see black and white even more often than silver and blue. This story is very well-done. A woman chasing her dream? Yes, please. That woman discovering she's a long-lost princess? Excellently handled. A love story running up against secrets and political intrigue? Awesome.

What I Didn't Like As Much

As interesting as Regina is, Tanner stole my heart halfway through when a secret from his past comes to light. And the way he wrestled against God for the longest time kept me reading, too. Without giving away too much, I will say that Regina and Tanner allowing their relationship to spark while Regina knew Tanner's faith was tenuous gave me pause. But the author handles it well. *zips lips*

Why I Recommend This Book


Even those who normally stick to historicals (like me) will enjoy this tale of a kingdom bowing beneath the weight of a century-old agreement that drags a car-restorer and a driven career man together.
Profile Image for ✨ Gramy ✨ .
1,382 reviews
May 26, 2019
.
Miss Regina Beswick was 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.

Overwhelmed with opposition, Regina must decide if she’s destined to restore old cars or an ancient nation.


Regina Beswick was born to be a princess, but can she accept the challenge?

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. The trust and faith that the two main characters demonstrate as Christians are amazing and carry them through many unusual circumstances. Regina and Tanner discover the truth of her heritage and the healing power of true love.

You remind me and all of us who we are as a people. I have a renewed appreciation and love for my country and my heritage. I am grateful . . . What you did today, in the midst of chaos, showed true courage and wisdom. I knew then that you are a true princess.

This is a modern-day Christian fairy tale that keeps the reader intrigued, captivated, and entertained from page one all way through to the conclusion.

This is an awesome collection of Christian - Romance stories by Rachel Hauck. These books don't preach, but they do reflect the character's faith that reaches beyond the realm we reside in. Each story is based on a different set of characters, which include some overlapping characters and places. However, each volume is clean and wholesome, conclude with a H.E.A., and easily stand on their own. However, they are even more magical if you read the entire series!

I've rated all three with FIVE STARS! They are captivating, compelling, and fun to read! The characters are so believable and the books are long enough to allow growth and depth.
Profile Image for Alia Ros.
162 reviews31 followers
June 24, 2016
3.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

honestly the ending was great but the starting was a bit slow so i skimmed most of it

but then there were a really sweet moments
but the realtionship btwn the MCs were way fast paced oh well

it was really nice all in all

;--)
Profile Image for Andrea Cox.
Author 4 books1,740 followers
July 13, 2018
While this book was less predictable than the first book in the series and fairly cute, it had some major issues that prevented my enjoying it.

Firstly, there was a transgender comment or “joke” that ran across two chapters and ended up being hysterically laughed about by the lead. There is nothing funny about transgenderism. It has no place in a Christian fiction book, as this genre is supposed to look different than those genres of the general market. I don’t read Christian books to get the junk of the world thrust in my face.

Secondly, I don’t see how a dirty joke about a naked person is funny, let alone someone’s “hardest laugh ever,” but I do see how it rebels against apostle Paul’s admonition to stay away from “filthiness, foolish talk, and coarse jesting, which are not fitting” (Ephesians 5:3-5). Christian fiction isn’t supposed to mock the core values of faith in Jesus.

Thirdly, I don’t think “the good Lord would indulge” anyone simply because a problem “came out of the blue and all.” That’s more like how Aladdin’s Genie worked in the Disney animated movie.

I really wanted to like this book, but it fell really flat for me.

Content:
* many replacement expletives and profanities
* alcohol
* tobacco
* a derogatory term

Rating: 1 star

I was not compensated for my honest review.
Profile Image for Melanie Kilsby.
Author 2 books283 followers
March 24, 2017
Awww, what a happy ending for this modern fairytale.
I loved the main character Reggie, or Regina, and her red-necked royal, reckless, fire. I absolutely loved her character arc. I also loved her Grandmother Alice and the letters she wrote. What a wonderful addition to the story.

A sweet read.
Profile Image for Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany).
2,774 reviews4,686 followers
Read
April 26, 2025
Princess Ever After is basically like if The Christmas Prince [Netflix] and Touched by an Angel had a [immaculately conceived] baby. Which is to say, it's incredibly cheesy, fairly preachy, has an ACTUAL appearance of Jesus [as a mysterious bishop, clearly intended to be Jesus], and ends with a very convenient and quite absurd plot twist/miracle.

It's definitely not good, but I didn't hate the experience of reading it. Much like the aforementioned Christmas Prince, once I accepted that I was just along for a ride, it was kind of entertaining. In a, this is so bad I'm laughing at it sort of way. And I think if this book had been self-aware that's what it was doing, I probably would have rated it higher. As it is, I think it's trying to be something more serious and I just don't think it lands.

So what's the plot? In a nutshell, a very Southern American woman who likes restoring cars discovers she's secretly a princess, descended from her grandmother who fled the country during a war. Now she must go back to this made up country and take her place in order to save it from a very weird and politically unlikely scenario. Oh, and also she's 29 and is saving her first kiss for her first love. Yes, TWENTY-NINE. Sure, why not.

Enter potential love: Tasked with convincing the lost princess of her identity and bringing her back is the new Minister of Culture, an angsty and handsome man with a deep dark secret that makes him unloveable and has also pushed him away from God. When revealed, this secret isn't great, but it says more about the hero being a pushover and kind of an idiot than anything else. Shockingly, the charmingly country princess will have her very first kiss with this man who uses lots of British words. Sometimes used incorrectly. And he of course will fall in love, rediscover God, and cut his long hair as a symbol of his new life. Because men without short hair probably can't be taken seriously.

Then sort-of-Jesus appears, and a highly unbelievable miracle/plot contrivance that solves lots of problems happens. As I said, it's not good but it was so silly it was kind of entertaining.

Note: Reading other reviews is reminding me that there is a weird transphobic joke/gag in here as well. So content warnings for that.
Profile Image for ✨ kathryn ✨.
270 reviews19 followers
November 22, 2018
More like 3.5 stars, to be honest.
While this wasn't the most horrendous read ever, it was so cloying and sickly sweet (and cringey tbh) in some parts that I was actively recoiling as I read it - I'll be needing a good week away from the tooth-rotting fluff before I continue with the next book (I've invested time in this people, I need my closure about Nathaniel's brother. Ok?). That being said, it was (as with the first book in the series) a nice escape from cold, grey France for a few days! As with Once Upon A Prince, give it a miss if you don't fancy some very preachy, God-related writing at least once a chapter (another reason for some time away..). Super cutesy, fluffy escapism though.
Profile Image for (Katie) Paperbacks.
925 reviews394 followers
April 23, 2025
6⭐ I love this series! it's a reread for me but I still love it!
Profile Image for Gloria.
1,137 reviews160 followers
June 21, 2017
This is a fairytale story of just a regular down to earth girl who is told that she is born of royalty. Regina Bestwick lives in Tallahassee, Florida running a car shop that restores classic cars. She has her dad and friends that help her that make her life special and she is happy with life as it is.
Tanner Burkhardt has been given the job to find the lost princess of Hessenberg and return her Hessenberg to save the nation. So, when Tanner, the Minister of Culture of Duchy of Hessenberg shows up in Tallahassee to confront Reggie with the news, she is blown away. How is this possible? But what Regina doesn't know is that her grandmother was part of the royal family and left many years ago to pursue her own destiny. Regina is talked into visiting the country right away. She doesn't want to leave her dad and friends but she feels like she has to go for a visit at least. She has to decide what she feels she needs to do--follow her roots to save her family's heritage or live her normal life as a small town car restorer. This is a difficult decision for Reggie but she has Tanner to help her through the strange situation that she is thrown in and they develop a relationship that brings them close to each other. Faith plays a big part in helping Reggie and Tanner through this time.
This is a sweet story that is surreal but also lets us see God's hand in the outcome.
Profile Image for Shantelle.
Author 2 books371 followers
February 14, 2017
Now that was real sweet! ^_^ So many tender moments. Humorous moments. Sacred moments between Creator and created. Princess Ever After was a delightful second addition to THE ROYAL WEDDING series by Rachel Hauck. Looking forward to reading more! Rachel Hauck writes Christian contemporary romance in a way that I indeed enjoy!

Note: Though this is a modern-day story, it's also a bit of a fairy tale-retelling, and has some supernatural type happenings.
Profile Image for Andrea Heltsley.
Author 15 books325 followers
January 31, 2014
I LOVED the first book in the series, but had trouble connecting with the characters in this installment. It wasn't a bad book, it just didn't grab my attention like I hoped it would.
Profile Image for Jessica Cleghorn.
206 reviews36 followers
March 3, 2017
3.5 stars

Can't say I enjoyed it as much as the last one, but this was still a lot of fun! While it's linked to the last book in the series, this can definitely be read as a stand alone (though it will spoil you for the first book- but in all honesty, the spoiler is one you should be able to figure out instantly anyway).

Profile Image for Emily (Mrs B's Books).
1,727 reviews83 followers
February 8, 2018
**My thanks to NetGalley and Zondervan Fiction, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

I am grudgingly giving this book three stars. Although the cover and the book description got me to try this book, as a consumer i felt them slightly misleadinging. Why? Because of the amount of country politics and the very hard and clear christian theme throughout the book. If you are going to have such a christian theme in a book, warning would be nice as i was NOT expecting it.

The backbone of the story was good, a 29 year old finds out she is a lost princess and heir to a throne in which if she does not take the crown the country will be absorbed into another country. There is also a love of classic cars going on.

There is love, plotting, a very strong christian theme, diary readouts from her dead grandmother, lots of politics and friendship. The book is also very clean and only has a few kisses dotted around, with our couple skirting around most of the book with their feelings.

Certainly not an author i will be reading again.
Profile Image for Jordan Lynch.
866 reviews11 followers
July 9, 2017
Before I go say anything else, let me say that this cover is gorgeous! I'm a sucker for covers with pretty dresses, and this book certainly fits the bill!

But onto the actual story...

Regina Beswick has finally found what she was meant to do. She gave up her job as a CPA to follow her dream of restoring classic cars, and she couldn't be happier. So when a man shows up claiming she's the lost heir of the kingdom of Hessenberg, Regina laughs in his face. No way is she a lost princess, no matter what Great-Grandma Alice might have pretended once upon a time.

Tanner Burkhardt has been seen by King Nathaniel II to find Regina and bring her back to Hessenberg. As the entail between Brighton and Hessenberg nears its end, only the heir has the ability to establish Hessenberg as an independent nation. Tanner is proud of his home country, and he hopes Regina will accept her heritage and step into the role of princess to save his historic nation. He's prepared for Regina to be shocked, but he's not prepared for her refusal or for her to steal his heart.

After a fairly disastrous first meeting, pieces of history begin to fall into place, convincing Regina of her heritage and of what could be her true destiny. With Tanner as her loyal helper, she makes the choice to become a princess, and despite some serious opposition and political mind games, she's determined to do what's best for her great-grandmother's kingdom, even if that means giving up her old self to become something more.

Whereas Once Upon a Prince reminded me of Cinderella, Princess Ever After is firmly in Rapunzel territory. A lost princess, a kingdom in need, hints and secrets coming to light to show the girl who she truly is--it's a lot like the classical fairytale. Or at least the more recent Disney version of it.

Anyway, Princess Ever After manages to take what could've been a pretty rote story and create a story full of history, self-reflection, and faith in God's plan. Like its predecessor, this book focuses a lot on God's plan and the reality that the things He has destined us for are often far greater than what we could've imagined on our own. Regina thinks she has found her calling restoring classic cars, but her true heritage lands with all the subtlety of a bomb. Tanner thinks he's content living the single life and forgetting about his past sings, but a new marriage beings his past and his twin daughters back into the picture. Both fight against the possibility of change, but they eventually both realize that they're being given the chance to do something bigger than themselves and choose to embrace it.

Regina is such a fun character. She's sassy, independent, and friendly, but also pretty stubborn. Despite a letter from a king and a attache case full of official paperwork, she refuses to believe she's the lost princess of Hessenberg; it takes an old fairytale written by her great-grandmother to convince her that Tanner is telling the truth. I loved reading about Regina's relationship with her great-grandmother Alice. They clearly loved each other very much, and although Alice never revealed her heritage outright, I loved how she slipped the truth in the stories and games she would play with Regina. It was her way of forgetting the horrors and sadness of the past while still telling Regina who she really was. I also loved the entries from Alice's journal, which provided a good look at Hessenberg and showed the sense of despair that pervaded the country with the threat of WWI.

Tanner is also fun in his own way, but he's a bit stuffier and more closed-off than Regina. It's clear why he's the way he is, and this changes as the story progresses, thanks mostly to Regina. I loved seeing the two of them work together, and I was glad that Tanner was there for Regina to lean on as she struggled to fit into her position as princess. I was also glad Tanner's background as a lawyer helped him counter Seamus's plans to abolish the monarchy and rule Hessenberg himself. I liked that the political drama directly stemmed from the old Hessenberg laws instead of from general political scheming, and I was glad that the laws and politics overall were explained very clearly--it really helped me follow what was going on and what was at stake.

Of course, Seamus's games don't pan out and Regina becomes a princess, but the path to get there isn't exactly smooth. Regina deals with all the chaos, though, in her own way, and I loved that she refused to be treated as a royal and insinuated herself with the people. Her dinners in the pub, eating with and talking to the people who would be her subjects, showed how down-to-Earth Regina was and also how seriously she took her position. She doesn't believe she's prepared to rule a country, but she has faith in the people of Hessenberg and she has faith in Alice, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to save her country. The scene where she sings the old Hessenberg evening song, first to the diners in the pub and second to the rioters, really got me, as it reminded the Hessenberg people of their past and of their proud heritage and also showed that Regina was truly one of them. It won the hearts of many who heard her sing and helped Regina herself believe that she was truly meant to be their princess.

Overall, Princess Ever After is a sweet, fun, and faithful read. Once again, the main focus in on following God's plan for your life, and Regina and Tanner's paths twist and turn as they try to follow God's path. The history of Hessenberg, although fictional, feels incredibly real, and I loved seeing how the country was and what it could become again. The ending takes a slight turn towards the unrealistic, but it's a great surprise, and I loved that it brings together Regina the princess and Regina the classic car restorer. Ms. Hauck has written another amazing story that will make you smile, fill your heart with joy, and have you wishing for your own royal adventure.
Profile Image for Loraine Nunley.
Author 27 books102 followers
April 5, 2017
Have you ever finished a book with a heartfelt sigh because the romance was so good? That was exactly how I closed the last page of this book. I loved the characters and the story, but the romance? Ahh, just what I like in a fairy tale. Full review at my website. I received this book in a giveaway. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Nancy Holte.
513 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2021
"Princess Ever After" would be a great Hallmark movie. It's sweet and somewhat predictable yet has a couple of twists that surprise you. I enjoyed listening to it on Audible.

Reggie, and her friend, Al, have just opened a business refurbishing old cars. They are excited when it appears their business is about to take off. But then, Tanner Burkhardt, the Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg, shows up telling Reggie that, because of her heritage, she is a princess. In just a few days, there is a document that needs to be signed by the princess in order for Hessenberg to become a sovereign nation when a hundred-year entail is due to expire. Reggie then has to decide if she will leave everything she knows to help save a country she's never heard of.

It's a fun story that leaves you saying "ahh."
Profile Image for The Literary Maidens.
70 reviews19 followers
January 19, 2014
Wowzers! This book was simply fabulous. I read the first book in the royal wedding series (Once Upon A Prince ) last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Needless to say, when the opportunity to review it's sequel came up. I was thrilled. Rachel Hauck is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Not quite my absolute favorite, but she's definitely working her way up. Her stories are spectacular! What girl wouldn't want to read about a modern-day fairy tale? It got me to thinking how I would react were I put in Regina's place. I assume that I would be thrilled to have someone show up at my house one day with a letter from the king of a far away land stating that I was a long lost princess, but who knows? Regina is forced to choose between her love for her heritage and country and her love for her comfortable Southern home near her family. In a perfect world, she would be able to bring her family and business along with her, but she can't uproot her dad and stepmom, and she certainly won't be able to talk her partner Al into moving to a foreign country to remodel old cars when he can do it where he's spent his entire life. She is forced to come to the realization that being a princess is more than just pretty dresses and eloquent speech, it's about being a servant. But why would she serve a country that she didn't have a single connection to a week ago? She was born and raised in America, she was an American. Why would she travel half way around the world to save a country so small that it hardly warranted a place in her old high school history books? She figures that she might as well see what all the hub-bub is all about, so she agrees to a short trip to scope things out. One thing follows another, and next thing you know, Regina is swearing an oath to be the princess of Hessenberg, wearing pretty dresses, and falling for her chief advisor. What was happening? Her life had gone from comfortably predictable to a zero-to-sixty whirlwind in less than a month! She realized that she can't abandon the country of the great grandmother that she loved so dearly, but she still isn't sure that she is cut out for the job. I totally felt like I was walking through all these struggles right beside Princess Regina (and Tanner (; . . . ). You know what this book REALLY reminds me of? "The Princess Diaries". You know, those movies with Anne Hathaway? When Tanner told Regina of her inheritance to a kingdom, I so saw Mia Thermopalis saying, "Shut. Up!" in my head. I've always been a sucker for fairy tales, and this one roped me in, just as I expected it would. I can't recommend this series enough! Especially if you're a female with a soft spot for princesses (which most girls do, if we're honest with ourselves). READ IT READ IT READ IT.
Profile Image for Renee.
1,387 reviews222 followers
February 17, 2014
“Like restoring cars is a highway to being a princess? Dad, my life is not a Disney movie.” Reggie Beswick, Princess Ever After

Once I opened Rachel Hauck’s Princess After Ever, I had to keep reading until I’d wrung the last drop of sweet, romantic, quirky goodness from the story. This book is equal parts Princess Diaries, Roman Holiday, and Tammy and the Bachelor. (Anyone else remember that oldie but goodie?). And I kept picturing Tanner Burkholdt as hunky widowers Tom Winters, aka Cary Grant, from Houseboat or Graham, aka Jude Law, from The Holiday—even though he’s blond.

Princess Ever After is big on charm, and I love how Tanner is totally respectful and virtuous in how he treats Reggie. I can’t wait to share this story with my students. I know they’ll love it!

What’s it about?

The Grand Duchy of Hessenberg is in trouble. It seems the late Prince Francis established a one hundred year entail, at the end of which he intended for his heir to return and reestablish the monarchy. Now the entail is about to end. Yet all members of the monarchy are gone—except for Regina Alice Beswick, a country bumpkin from the States, who would rather be dipped in axle grease than model a tiara. So it’s up to Minister of Culture Tanner Burkholdt to bring Reggie home to Hessenberg. However, Tanner’s old mentor isn’t too keen on giving up his power to the new girl. If only stoic Tanner can keep from losing his heart to Reggie, he might be able to concentrate on how to save his country and Reggie’s crown before it’s too late.

What I liked best (in no particular order) . . .

When Reggie & Tanner tour the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg dressed as a fun, famous couple from the past
“Meadowbluff Palace, with its gables and turrets, framed by the towering Cliffs of White”
Sunset in Wisteria Park
St. John’s Chapel, where Reggie soaked in “The millions of prayers. Peace. The presence.”
Gram Alice’s backstory, told in letters from 1914
Meeting 10-year-old twins Bella and Britta
The spiritual thread invoking the royal roots which belong to every daughter of the King.


When Reggie reminds herself, “Wasn’t that what Gram did? Live the life of a princess by her actions, not her title?”

This quote: "Your grandmother was communicating truth to you with this story. You are her treasure, her heritage. There’s your truth."

***Thanks to Rachel Hauck, Litfuse PR, and Zondervan for providing a copy for me to review.
Profile Image for Chelsey Wolford.
685 reviews110 followers
March 2, 2014
It seems like 2014 is going to the be the year of continuing series for me because it feels like the only books I have read this year are seconds in a series. On a positive note, however, they have all been wonderful. Including this gem from Rachel Hauck, whom I must meet as soon as possible because she is one of the best storytellers ever! (As I say that is a complete valley girl style!) I started this series last year because I have never read a book published by Zondervan that I have not enjoyed and this new series looked and sounded wonderful. After having now finished the second book in this series I can say with confidence that this series, and both of these books, will grab you from the very first words and will not let you go until the very end!

Regina Beswick has quite the interesting life and she is not what I was expecting as our next heroine. She doesn’t quite meet the mold for princess material. However, she quickly won my heart. The plot reminded me a little of The Princess Diaries in the fact that Regina was completely shocked by the information of her royal background. What makes this book even more thrilling is that Regina thinks she finally has her life figured out and has started to find the answers she has been looking for when she realizes that her life is about to become a very fast, high-strung rollercoaster ride. I love when characters are thrown out of their element and into an adventurous new world.

This book has a little bit of everything: fun, loveable characters, a bigger message behind it all, a little bit of love, and a whole lot of having faith! This story allowed me to have a taste of what could seemingly be a realistic fairy tale. Most girls dreamed of either marrying a prince or somehow becoming a princess. Through this book I was able to step in Regina’s shoes and imagine what it would be like for someone to show up at my door and tell me I am the heir to a throne and crown! Not to mention if that someone were half as sweet and honorable as Tanner Burkhardt. He was just as interesting of a character as Regina, and made Regina’s story all the better.

I cannot wait to find out more about the next book in this series! I hope that news is released soon because I do not know how much longer I can wait.

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Zondervan in exchange for my honest review***
Profile Image for Taylor.
88 reviews9 followers
January 26, 2014
I loved Rachel Hauck's first book in her Royal Wedding Series, Once Upon a Prince. After I finished that one I was counting down the days for the release of the second book, Princess Ever After. I'm like the next girl, I love a good fairytale/princess/romance story, but for some reason I felt this story fell flat. Which was a bummer. It was still good, yet it was not all I was hoping and rooting for.

This book is Hauck's baby I'm sure so I don't want to badmouth it. It's still a great read and I whizzed right through the story in a day, but when I finished it I just didn't get the same butterfly feeling of happiness when I closed the book like I did with the first one.

Hauck had a lot of elements in this story. All were very creative and thought out, but sometimes they didn't seem to mix well together. There was the continuing story line of Hessenberg becoming an independent nation, then on the side there was excerpts from Reggie's great-grandmother's diary when she was Duchess. Then there was a scheming Prime Minister on the side. The story had a royalesque feel to it. I just felt some parts of the story were rushed for me. I would have liked to get to know [SPOILER LOOK AWAY FROM THE NEXT SENTENCE] Tanner's twin daughters, but we only got a few lines.

As for the romance. It was very high school. It was cute. When you read the book and get a feel of Reggie and Tanner it makes more sense. Both Reggie and Tanner fit each other, and I liked their playful jibes. Did the romance make my stomach flipped? Not exactly. Did it feel rushed? Yes. But it was a romance I would feel comfortable sharing with my younger sister. So that is a plus in my book!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Disclaimer: I received a free copy for an honest review from Litfuse Publicity Group.

Profile Image for LadyTechie.
784 reviews52 followers
December 10, 2015
I was pretty sure I read this book some time ago but it was still marked as unread on my shelf. Some of it kept striking things in my memory so I guess I did read it but forgot to go back and review it. I hate when I do that because I found this in my Arc shelf which means I owed a review to a very deserving author. I have to admit that this book really resonates with me. It is a story about choices and leaving home. Most of us have to make this decision and even though we find happiness after we make the decision we do not see that happiness when we are making the choice to leave home for the first time. In this case, Reggie Beswick is working in her dream job restoring vintage cars with one her most favorite people in the world, her dad's close friend. She loves her home-town of Tallahassee Florida and the town loves her back. Suddenly she is told that she is the descendant of a princess, her great-grandmother, Alice, whom she knew the first 12 years of her life. It apparently was a closely guarded secret with some memories of hints thrown in here and there. The duchy of Hessenberg needs its royal to come and help them regain their country from an old contract, but it means Reggie has to make a huge decision, step out on faith and go or stay home where things are comfortable. Of course, there is another wrinkle, a great looking man who also happens to be single. Princess Ever After is an endearing story that is great read and, yes, there is talk of faith in God, but that doesn't mean it isn't a great story for everyone! I love great, royal romance stories and this one fits the bill! Review can also be seen at LadyTechie's Book Musing http://ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspo... .
Profile Image for Aimee .
3,072 reviews298 followers
June 20, 2014
This is a series I've had my eye on for awhile. Ever since the first book came out (Once Upon a Princess), I've been wanting to read it. My library has the ebook of the first book so I picked that up and read it and then I came across this second book in the series on NetGalley and knew I had to read it.

What draws me to this series in the first place is that I've read books by Rachel Hauck before and I know what I going to get. She is a Christian Fiction author so I know the book will be clean (no sex, no swearing and no profanity). I know from the cover that I'm going to get a romantic sort of book and (fingers crossed) a happily ever after ending because you cannot put "Ever After" in the title and not make it happily, right?!

One thing I really loved about this book was that even though there was instant attraction, there wasn't an instant relationship or "love". There is a difference between attraction and love and I really enjoyed how this relationship progressed- naturally and slowly.

Regina and Tanner were both realistic characters, each with shortcomings and weaknesses but both trying hard to make good decisions and become better. Regina never expected to be pulled out of her dream come true of owning her own garage. It was just getting started when she was so suddenly uprooted and thrown into a life completely foreign to her. Regina shows courage through all the challenges. Tanner is patient and strong. I really liked him and his role in this book.

I think this book could easily stand alone but I was glad to have the first book in my head before I read this book. It helped me understand other characters in this book who were prominent in the first book.
Profile Image for JaneReads.
974 reviews120 followers
March 17, 2017
You can read this review on my blog at: http://cjaneread.blogspot.ca/2017/03/...

First off I have to say this hurts to give a Rachel Hauck book this rating. But I really enjoyed the first book of this series and had trouble connecting with this one that. The storyline didn’t capture my attention and I didn’t connect with the characters very well. There were parts of the story that felt very unbelievable such as the characters reactions to overwhelming situations was underwhelming, loose-end situations were wrapped up too quickly and easily, and the unexplained glow in the forest that leads to the discovery of a something that seems to have been hidden but is discovered at just the right time just pushed it too far for me. The romance felt rushed and didn’t seem to have much substance. There were times that the main characters annoyed me, but there were other times where I wished things would work out for them. I did like Tanner in that he was trying to make right a mistake he had made in his past. I think my biggest struggle with this book was that I couldn’t connect with Reg. I also enjoyed the inserts of the diary entries from Reg’s great-grandma. There are entertaining and sweet moments throughout and the characters from the previous book make appearances. Readers who enjoy all things royal or romantic will probably enjoy this, but for those who want a more realistic story with characters who are memorable this probably won’t hit the mark. This is the first Rachel Hauck book that I haven’t fully enjoyed and I’ve read quite a few.
Profile Image for JoJo Sutis.
Author 1 book43 followers
February 19, 2014
I absolutely love a sweep you off your feet fairy tale and Rachel Hauck is top notch!
I totally fell in love with these characters- Regina (er…Reggie) was not at all what I expected…she was a delightful, refreshing surprise of a character! And Tanner…well, I’ll let you get to know him on your own!
I was also happy to catch up with some characters from Book 1, but don’t fear…even though this is a series- it can be thoroughly enjoyed on its own.
Princess Ever After is a swoon-worthy, romantic, intriguing escape of a read and I will keep and enjoy my copy again and again.
PS- if you’re a fan of The Princess Diaries, don’t miss this one!!!
Profile Image for Laura.
623 reviews135 followers
April 26, 2017
Once again, I have been swept off my feet into a magical, contemporary fairytale written by Rachel Hauck. It sounds like it should be a book composed off nothing but fluff, but Hauck has a talent for writing fun, magical stories that truly cause you to stop and reflect upon your own life and your relationship with Christ. No, it is nothing earth shattering, but it sure does make for a wonderful escape read.
Profile Image for Marguerite Gray.
Author 24 books615 followers
September 19, 2016
This is my first read by Racehl Hauck. I'm always drawn by the word "Princess." Reggie is a modern-day royal, born an American, who has the opportunity to venture into the life of a princess. The kingdom seems realistic and the situation plausible. I've put her other books in this series on my reading list.
Profile Image for Happy Reading Watching.
1,106 reviews41 followers
January 24, 2022
If Princess Diaries but Christian and she's in her late 20s. I know this story is super corny and alot of unbelievable themes but I still love it. It's my favorite book by Rachel Hauck and the series ♡♡♡

Honestly I need to own this book! I have reread it about 3 times now. The rooms, the story and this cover 🥰❤️
Profile Image for Robin.
31 reviews
June 7, 2022
The tom-boy persona is so forced and makes the book less enjoyable. I couldn't get through the book because the writing for Regina, the main character, was not written or developed well. It seems the author has difficulty developing a non-traditional female protagonist.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 591 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.