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Royal Wedding #1
Once Upon a Prince: A Sweet, Royal-meets-commoner Love Story
The story that inspired the Hallmark Original movie! He’s a royal prince. She’s an ordinary girl. But this holiday could change everything. 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 with her instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life. The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simons Island is the queen of his heart. The prince has duties, and his family’s tense political situation means he won’t be able to marry for love or even choose his own bride. When Prince Nathaniel stops to help Susanna, who is stranded with a flat tire under the fabled Lover’s Oak, he is immediately enchanted by her. And even though he’s a total stranger, Susanna finds herself pouring her heart out to him. Their lives are worlds apart, and soon Nathaniel must face the ultimate his kingdom or her heart?
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2013
1039 people are currently reading
15605 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hauck
76 books4,528 followersNew 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,479 reviews
June 19, 2013
If I had known it was a Christian romance I would have not bought the book. It was a too preachy.
November 18, 2019
.
This is a fictional, modern-day fairy tale that keeps the reader intrigued, captivated, and entertained from page one all way through to the conclusion. The trust and faith that the two main characters demonstrate is amazing and carries them through many tough times. The characters are so believable, even when maybe they are not, and the books are long enough to allow growth and depth inside a rich plot
Prince Nathaniel Kenneth Stratton, "Nate Kenneth for traveling purposes of Brighton is visiting in Georgia, contemplating his life and the changes that will occur when his father succumbs to cancer in the near future. All Suzanna Truitt ever wanted was to find her one true love. Having waited on her high school sweetheart's discharge from the military for 12 years, she was shocked with a startling revelation that blew her carefully planned life out of the water.
Nate and Suzanna just happen to meet under Lover's Oak tree on the same night she lost her longtime beau. Or was it really happenstance? Nathanial returns home to strict regulations, contention, and demanding expectations. However, he left his heart behind and everyone around him notices. So when an invitation to the coronation is sent without consulting the incoming King, heads are turned, lines are drawn, and hopes fall short. Then, maybe . . . I won't add any more that may spoil the storyline.
Drawing aside the sheers, Campbell watched the midnight snowfall drift through the palace lights. Silent, peaceful, magical . . . changing the world without a sound. could she do the same for her son? Guide him toward a peaceful future in silence ..... he was lovesick, everyone around him could see it ...
Aurora whispered: "You have small, small faith . . . but you are going to a palace . . . He is your prince! . . . Don't forget your shoes . . . Remember the shoes! -- Shoes of peace, shoes of joy, shoes of (fade out) . . . He is in control! ... Who? - the Lord of course! -- You told the Lord you were available, it will all work out.
This is an awesome collection of Christian based, contemporary fairytale 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 share 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!
This is not my first time reading this series, but my first review on Goodreads for them. I've rated all three with FIVE STARS! They are captivating, compelling, and fun to read!
This is a fictional, modern-day fairy tale that keeps the reader intrigued, captivated, and entertained from page one all way through to the conclusion. The trust and faith that the two main characters demonstrate is amazing and carries them through many tough times. The characters are so believable, even when maybe they are not, and the books are long enough to allow growth and depth inside a rich plot
Prince Nathaniel Kenneth Stratton, "Nate Kenneth for traveling purposes of Brighton is visiting in Georgia, contemplating his life and the changes that will occur when his father succumbs to cancer in the near future. All Suzanna Truitt ever wanted was to find her one true love. Having waited on her high school sweetheart's discharge from the military for 12 years, she was shocked with a startling revelation that blew her carefully planned life out of the water.
Nate and Suzanna just happen to meet under Lover's Oak tree on the same night she lost her longtime beau. Or was it really happenstance? Nathanial returns home to strict regulations, contention, and demanding expectations. However, he left his heart behind and everyone around him notices. So when an invitation to the coronation is sent without consulting the incoming King, heads are turned, lines are drawn, and hopes fall short. Then, maybe . . . I won't add any more that may spoil the storyline.
Drawing aside the sheers, Campbell watched the midnight snowfall drift through the palace lights. Silent, peaceful, magical . . . changing the world without a sound. could she do the same for her son? Guide him toward a peaceful future in silence ..... he was lovesick, everyone around him could see it ...
Aurora whispered: "You have small, small faith . . . but you are going to a palace . . . He is your prince! . . . Don't forget your shoes . . . Remember the shoes! -- Shoes of peace, shoes of joy, shoes of (fade out) . . . He is in control! ... Who? - the Lord of course! -- You told the Lord you were available, it will all work out.
This is an awesome collection of Christian based, contemporary fairytale 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 share 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!
This is not my first time reading this series, but my first review on Goodreads for them. I've rated all three with FIVE STARS! They are captivating, compelling, and fun to read!
July 2, 2013
Age Appropriate For: 13 and up (thematic material, romance)
Best for Ages: 15 and up
I am going to start this review with the one thing I didn’t like about this book: the cover. For me, the cover gave me pause. It made it look like the book would have content that might not be appropriate It isn’t so much what is shown as what is implied. Thankfully, the cover had nothing to do with the story. I hope this type of cover doesn’t become a trend for Zondervan books.
Thank goodness I chose not to judge this book by its cover, because it was an amazingly wonderful story. The romance in it was so clean and so God honoring that even younger readers might find themselves liking it. Seriously, I don’t think I have read a romance from a traditional publisher that made me jump up and down saying “That is the kind of romance I want!” until I read this book.
Both characters like each other from the beginning, but feelings are not the center of the romance, only a factor. Most of the time Nate and Susanna spend together is spent talking, often about faith. When they are apart, they don’t spend all the time dreaming of kisses, hand-holding, and such, the miss each other’s advice, thoughts, and presence.
Nathaniel was so amazing. There are not many heroes in books who think more about duty and honor than their hormones. He was the type of guy I am looking for – the type who treats girls with respect and honor; the type who cares more about a girl’s heart than her body. That isn’t to say he wasn’t attracted to Susanna. Let’s be honest, it would be weird to have a romance where there was no attraction. It is simply that he thinks more about who she is than the fact that she is pretty.
The fairy-tale aspect was so fun. So maybe it wasn’t 100% believable, but who cares. It was so fun! The settings were so lovely that I could hear the accents, and the history of the fictional country was well presented. Some of the political aspect was murky, but not too bad.
The faith message was awesome. It was well-constructed, not too heavy, and central to the story. Both Suzanna and Nate helped build each other’s faith.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a clean fairy tale, God-honoring romance, and characters that are strong of faith and character.
I received this book from Zondervan through Booksneeze in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
Best for Ages: 15 and up
I am going to start this review with the one thing I didn’t like about this book: the cover. For me, the cover gave me pause. It made it look like the book would have content that might not be appropriate It isn’t so much what is shown as what is implied. Thankfully, the cover had nothing to do with the story. I hope this type of cover doesn’t become a trend for Zondervan books.
Thank goodness I chose not to judge this book by its cover, because it was an amazingly wonderful story. The romance in it was so clean and so God honoring that even younger readers might find themselves liking it. Seriously, I don’t think I have read a romance from a traditional publisher that made me jump up and down saying “That is the kind of romance I want!” until I read this book.
Both characters like each other from the beginning, but feelings are not the center of the romance, only a factor. Most of the time Nate and Susanna spend together is spent talking, often about faith. When they are apart, they don’t spend all the time dreaming of kisses, hand-holding, and such, the miss each other’s advice, thoughts, and presence.
Nathaniel was so amazing. There are not many heroes in books who think more about duty and honor than their hormones. He was the type of guy I am looking for – the type who treats girls with respect and honor; the type who cares more about a girl’s heart than her body. That isn’t to say he wasn’t attracted to Susanna. Let’s be honest, it would be weird to have a romance where there was no attraction. It is simply that he thinks more about who she is than the fact that she is pretty.
The fairy-tale aspect was so fun. So maybe it wasn’t 100% believable, but who cares. It was so fun! The settings were so lovely that I could hear the accents, and the history of the fictional country was well presented. Some of the political aspect was murky, but not too bad.
The faith message was awesome. It was well-constructed, not too heavy, and central to the story. Both Suzanna and Nate helped build each other’s faith.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a clean fairy tale, God-honoring romance, and characters that are strong of faith and character.
I received this book from Zondervan through Booksneeze in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
February 12, 2017
4.5 stars
Was it fluff? Yes.
Did I love it? Yes.
Sue me. :)
Was it fluff? Yes.
Did I love it? Yes.
Sue me. :)
June 14, 2013
Let me start by saying this: I had absolutely NO IDEA that this was a CBA novel. That is, Christian fiction. If I had, I wouldn't have picked it up. I must have missed something in the blurb that would have indicated this. Now, this review isn't a shot at all Christian fiction. I'm not even saying this book represents all books within this genre. All I'm saying is that it's not for me.
I did start to read it. From the beginning, I could tell I wasn't going to connect with this one. I kept getting caught up on the language. By language, I mean the lack of profanity--on every level. The author incorporated such phrases as "by gum" and "hoo boy." Curse words don't bother me, rather the opposite. So, their substitution rubbed me the wrong way, much like nails on a chalkboard. In my world, "hell" is more acceptable than "heck."
Additionally, What's-Her-Name--the female protagonist--struck me as too whiny and self-contradictory. She gave off too many Damsel In Distress vibes. I couldn't understand how Nathaniel falls for her within minutes of meeting her.
Then, I skipped to the end where Nathaniel proposes to What's-Her-Name. She obviously says yes, but only after refusing him for some inexplicable reason (I didn't read the middle, so I couldn't grasp her reasoning). Then, the anticipated kiss. Their first kiss. Again, in my world, the marriage proposal doesn't come before the first kiss. It doesn't even come before sex.
In the end, I love the royal-falls-for-commoner story arc. However, this book wasn't for me. I couldn't bring myself to enjoy it, let alone read it.
I did start to read it. From the beginning, I could tell I wasn't going to connect with this one. I kept getting caught up on the language. By language, I mean the lack of profanity--on every level. The author incorporated such phrases as "by gum" and "hoo boy." Curse words don't bother me, rather the opposite. So, their substitution rubbed me the wrong way, much like nails on a chalkboard. In my world, "hell" is more acceptable than "heck."
Additionally, What's-Her-Name--the female protagonist--struck me as too whiny and self-contradictory. She gave off too many Damsel In Distress vibes. I couldn't understand how Nathaniel falls for her within minutes of meeting her.
Then, I skipped to the end where Nathaniel proposes to What's-Her-Name. She obviously says yes, but only after refusing him for some inexplicable reason (I didn't read the middle, so I couldn't grasp her reasoning). Then, the anticipated kiss. Their first kiss. Again, in my world, the marriage proposal doesn't come before the first kiss. It doesn't even come before sex.
In the end, I love the royal-falls-for-commoner story arc. However, this book wasn't for me. I couldn't bring myself to enjoy it, let alone read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2013
I wanted to love this book. And the first pages immediately drew me in. The premise was good and the writing was skillful, unfortunately it lost me in the details. I knew the premise before going into the story, so I wasn't expecting something completely realistic. I was expecting a whimsical, light, fun story. Who doesn't want to be a princess right? :) And I liked Nathaniel although he could be a bit whiny at times. I had trouble connecting with Susanna or rooting for her. Like I said, it started well, I was with her up to a point. But the split started around the end of chapter one when she actually agreed that the TWELVE year relationship she'd been in was basically just safety and convenience and totally loveless. I wanted her to fight more, I was hoping she knew her own mind better than that. I might have taken this a bit personally, being a military girlfriend turned military wife, but you don't just stay with someone through deployments and stress and danger and separation like it's no big deal. It just seemed completely unbelievable to me that anyone could be in a relationship that dead for that long and NOT KNOW, military or not. I was willing to put that aside, but Susanna kept doing things that didn't make sense and I just got more frustrated with her. Bawling all over Nathaniel and telling him her life story when he stopped to change her tire and was a complete stranger was another strike and it went down hill from there. I couldn't relate to a grown career woman being so completely lost in her own life and not being able to take charge and make her own decisions. I prefer a stronger main character who knows who she is and what she wants I guess. Again, Rachel Hauck can definitely write. Her style is very engaging, and the idea is a cute one. It just didn't work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2014
I’ve wanted to read this one for a while now. I thought the cover was cute and the premise sounded fun. The book starts with our heroine Susanna getting dumped by her longtime boyfriend, who has fallen in love with another woman. Their relationship was weird as well as their breakup. Hardly any emotion.
The historical elements were boring and repetitive. And how did Susanna know so much about his country’s history? The whole story felt repetitive after awhile I lost interest.
I didn’t believe in their love story either. They are hardly together and when they are together all they talk about is weird stuff and how they can’t be together. They don’t even kiss until the very, very end. I did not feel a romantic connection at all. And as far as Susanna being Queen? I don’t think she’d be a good Queen. She did nothing in the story that made me think she could handle that responsibility. She can barely manage her own life, forget about running a country.
I knew this was Christian fiction so I was prepared for some religious elements, but not for the overwhelming preaching that took place. If religious stuff is going to be present I prefer it to be mild and incorporated in such a way that it feels realistic to the characters and the story. I can handle a little preaching, but it was over the top in this. It just rubbed me the wrong way.
Overall, not the book for me. I ended up skimming and skipping a lot.
Content: Boringly clean, G.
The historical elements were boring and repetitive. And how did Susanna know so much about his country’s history? The whole story felt repetitive after awhile I lost interest.
I didn’t believe in their love story either. They are hardly together and when they are together all they talk about is weird stuff and how they can’t be together. They don’t even kiss until the very, very end. I did not feel a romantic connection at all. And as far as Susanna being Queen? I don’t think she’d be a good Queen. She did nothing in the story that made me think she could handle that responsibility. She can barely manage her own life, forget about running a country.
I knew this was Christian fiction so I was prepared for some religious elements, but not for the overwhelming preaching that took place. If religious stuff is going to be present I prefer it to be mild and incorporated in such a way that it feels realistic to the characters and the story. I can handle a little preaching, but it was over the top in this. It just rubbed me the wrong way.
Overall, not the book for me. I ended up skimming and skipping a lot.
Content: Boringly clean, G.
February 3, 2021
I read a Novella from Rachel Hauck last year that was included in A Year of Weddings that covered Susanna and Nathaniel's engagement and wedding. Throughout the story all I could think about was that wanted so much to read their story and see how they got to that place. Well, I was not disappointed by Once Upon A Prince! I really enjoyed this modern day fairy tale that totally had me wanting to turn the page to find out more and see how it all unfolds their story. Such a great book!
April 5, 2016
“And tonight, and forever, he held her in his arms”
MAN THIS BOOK I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN AT ALL!! What a lovely read!!
MAN THIS BOOK I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN AT ALL!! What a lovely read!!
April 22, 2014
I did not know that this was a Christian novel, if I had known then I would have not started reading it. I found the Christianity in the novel to be tolerable, however there were many more elements that prohibited my enjoyment of the book.
I found many problems with this book, due to the characters, narrative and storyline. This book held the promise of an enjoyable read, yet sadly it did not deliver.
From the beginning of the book I encountered issues that ruined the novel for me. The book opens with Susanna being dumped by her boyfriend of twelve years with him so kindly telling her he "found the right ring, just not the right girl". I expected more of a reaction from Susanna than Hauck gave us. Personally, I found that there was not enough fight in Susanna's character. After devoting twelve years of your life to a man I believe it is a woman's prerogative to be angry and upset when told he loves someone else. Instead Susanna accepts Adam's reasoning and actually agrees with him! I found myself getting angry with Susanna, asking 'Where's the backbone to this character?'
Hauck then cleverly devises a way for Susanna to meet the Prince, but yet again I found myself questioning the book. Who would really divulge their heartbreak and life story to a complete stranger with a dodgy accent? No one.
So Rachel Hauck was clearly trying to create a pseudo-British Prince, I can comfortably say that NO ONE SPEAKS LIKE NATE. His ridiculous English accent really annoyed me. It became very clear to me that Hauck is American as she displayed an idealised and entirely fake English accented gentleman in the form of Prince Nathaniel. Furthermore, Brighton Kingdom is perhaps the most ridiculous name for a country I have ever encountered in a novel. It is almost as if Hauck was struggling to think of a name and so decided to look at a map of the United Kingdom for inspiration, discovered the coastal city of Brighton and whacked Kingdom on the end to make the country sound more regal.
In the novel there was an over complicated political situation between Brighton Kingdom and the neighbouring island Hessenberg, this added little to the plot and was a bit of a non story that had no affect on the novel. Nate's mother, the Queen, took an instant dislike to Susanna before even meeting her, however she championed Ginny, who it was very clear was a manipulative and scheming woman. I could not comprehend this decision, clearly the Queen did not want her son abdicating, as the law would require if he were to marry a foreigner, yet the plotting against him I found unbelievable. Furthermore, a Queen should be a good judge of character, yet the Queen favours Ginny, and it is not until considerably far into the book that she realises the error in her judgement. I found the character of the Queen to be contradicting itself, and she is another example of a character created by Hauck that I did not like.
I adore love stories, a happy ever after and a Cinderella-esque tale, however I do not believe that in conventional modern day romances an engagement comes before sex, and especially not before a first kiss. I fully appreciate that the Christian element to the novel required the chastity, however I do not believe it fitting to the time. Furthermore, there was a serious lack of cursing in the novel, I had no problem with this, however I found the substitutions used, for example "by gum", irritating. Hauck is clearly deeply religious. I found the preaching element to the novel annoying as whole chapters were dedicated to the discussion of God and faith. The concept of offering oneself to God for Him to direct your life according to His plan is alien to me, and I believe that it was this concept that lead to what I believed to be the weak character of Susanna.
Overall I would not recommend this book, I found it infuriating and ridiculous. I loved the premise of a Cinderella story, however for me the book did not deliver. Books such as Suddenly Royal and To Marry a Prince were far more successful as reads about royals.
I found many problems with this book, due to the characters, narrative and storyline. This book held the promise of an enjoyable read, yet sadly it did not deliver.
From the beginning of the book I encountered issues that ruined the novel for me. The book opens with Susanna being dumped by her boyfriend of twelve years with him so kindly telling her he "found the right ring, just not the right girl". I expected more of a reaction from Susanna than Hauck gave us. Personally, I found that there was not enough fight in Susanna's character. After devoting twelve years of your life to a man I believe it is a woman's prerogative to be angry and upset when told he loves someone else. Instead Susanna accepts Adam's reasoning and actually agrees with him! I found myself getting angry with Susanna, asking 'Where's the backbone to this character?'
Hauck then cleverly devises a way for Susanna to meet the Prince, but yet again I found myself questioning the book. Who would really divulge their heartbreak and life story to a complete stranger with a dodgy accent? No one.
So Rachel Hauck was clearly trying to create a pseudo-British Prince, I can comfortably say that NO ONE SPEAKS LIKE NATE. His ridiculous English accent really annoyed me. It became very clear to me that Hauck is American as she displayed an idealised and entirely fake English accented gentleman in the form of Prince Nathaniel. Furthermore, Brighton Kingdom is perhaps the most ridiculous name for a country I have ever encountered in a novel. It is almost as if Hauck was struggling to think of a name and so decided to look at a map of the United Kingdom for inspiration, discovered the coastal city of Brighton and whacked Kingdom on the end to make the country sound more regal.
In the novel there was an over complicated political situation between Brighton Kingdom and the neighbouring island Hessenberg, this added little to the plot and was a bit of a non story that had no affect on the novel. Nate's mother, the Queen, took an instant dislike to Susanna before even meeting her, however she championed Ginny, who it was very clear was a manipulative and scheming woman. I could not comprehend this decision, clearly the Queen did not want her son abdicating, as the law would require if he were to marry a foreigner, yet the plotting against him I found unbelievable. Furthermore, a Queen should be a good judge of character, yet the Queen favours Ginny, and it is not until considerably far into the book that she realises the error in her judgement. I found the character of the Queen to be contradicting itself, and she is another example of a character created by Hauck that I did not like.
I adore love stories, a happy ever after and a Cinderella-esque tale, however I do not believe that in conventional modern day romances an engagement comes before sex, and especially not before a first kiss. I fully appreciate that the Christian element to the novel required the chastity, however I do not believe it fitting to the time. Furthermore, there was a serious lack of cursing in the novel, I had no problem with this, however I found the substitutions used, for example "by gum", irritating. Hauck is clearly deeply religious. I found the preaching element to the novel annoying as whole chapters were dedicated to the discussion of God and faith. The concept of offering oneself to God for Him to direct your life according to His plan is alien to me, and I believe that it was this concept that lead to what I believed to be the weak character of Susanna.
Overall I would not recommend this book, I found it infuriating and ridiculous. I loved the premise of a Cinderella story, however for me the book did not deliver. Books such as Suddenly Royal and To Marry a Prince were far more successful as reads about royals.
May 21, 2018
About this book:
“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 an ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation. It's the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own?”
Series: Book #1 in “The Royal Wedding” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, & read; Prayers; Church going; Many talks about God; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, ministers, & hymns/songs; Mentions of Christmas & hymns; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of faiths; A few mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of Heaven; A mention of thanking God; A mention of a Christian group;
*Note: A mention of a woman seeing an angel or a demon from time to time; A mention of a she-devil; A mention of Medusa.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘be jacked’ (a replacement for the d---- word), a ‘blooming’, a ‘dang’, a ‘flipping’, an ‘idiot’, an ‘OMG’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘son-of-a-gun’, a ‘what the heck’, two ‘darn’s, two ‘jackals’s, two ‘jack wagon’s, two ‘sucker’s, two forms of ‘what the blazes’, three ‘blasted’s, three ‘shoot’s, four forms of ‘blast it’, five ‘oh my gosh’s, and seven ‘stupid’s; Mentions of curses & cursing (said, not written); A bit of sarcasm & eye rolling; Mentions of terrorists, wars, fighting, & bombs/explosions; Mentions of threats; Mentions of Susanna’s parents fighting & “failed divorce”; Mentions of another (possible) divorce; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of a pipe, smoking, & the smoke; Mentions of drinking & alcohol/wine (mainly at a social gathering); A few mentions of a flask, whatever is in it, & a drunk; A few mentions of tattoos & piercings; A few mentions of jealousy/envy; A couple mentions of drugs; A mention of a murdered family; A mention of a serial killer;
*Note: Mentions of brand names & pop culture references; Mentions of singers & songs; Mentions of a designer brand; Mentions of Disney; A few mentions of Starbucks.
Sexual Content- a thumbs-to-lips touch, a (brotherly) cheek kiss, a cheek kiss, and a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Wanting to kiss (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed at one point); Quite a bit of Touches, Hand holding, & Dancing (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); a ‘sexy’, two ‘babe’s, and five ‘hot’s; A woman tries to get near Nathaniel & give touches (barely-above-not-detailed, he pushes away her advances); Mentions of rumors of a couple sleeping together (nothing happened, though, our main couple is thought to have had a one-nighter); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of romances, dating, dates, breakups, exes, girlfriends, & boyfriends; Mentions of flirting & flirts; Mentions of blushes; A few mentions of young women (not) getting pregnant outside of wedlock & rumors of it happening (also a mention of having to have intimate relations to become pregnant); A few mentions of mistresses & a woman gossiped to be one; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of a (possible) affair; A couple mentions of a female assistance spending a lot of time with her (married) boss; A couple mentions of chaperones; A couple mentions of crushes; A mention of a girl living her with boyfriend; A mention of sleeping around; A mention of a creepy man’s wolfish grin; A mention of a young man looking at a girl like a “very thirsty man”; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of a woman’s strapless dress showing her chest; A mention of kissing someone’s grits; A mention of a door hitting someone somewhere.
-Susanna Truitt, age 29
-(Prince) Nathaniel, age 32
P.O.V. switches between them & Campbell (a handful of times)
343 pages
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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{Add ½ star for older girls interested in royalty.}
In honor of the recent royal wedding, I decided to finally re-read this one and (hopefully) finish up the series this year.
“Once Upon a Prince” was still a cute one in my eyes, but there were many things I had forgotten since reading it over four years ago. It’s instant love/attraction, but not so lovey-dovey, which was nice. There also was much more faith content that I recalled, so that was a lovely surprise. I will admit that the royal politics boggled me down a bit when reading and there were a couple other comments could have been left out in my opinion, but overall, it’s a cute contemporary read. :)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“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 an ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation. It's the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own?”
Series: Book #1 in “The Royal Wedding” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, & read; Prayers; Church going; Many talks about God; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, ministers, & hymns/songs; Mentions of Christmas & hymns; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of faiths; A few mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of Heaven; A mention of thanking God; A mention of a Christian group;
*Note: A mention of a woman seeing an angel or a demon from time to time; A mention of a she-devil; A mention of Medusa.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘be jacked’ (a replacement for the d---- word), a ‘blooming’, a ‘dang’, a ‘flipping’, an ‘idiot’, an ‘OMG’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘son-of-a-gun’, a ‘what the heck’, two ‘darn’s, two ‘jackals’s, two ‘jack wagon’s, two ‘sucker’s, two forms of ‘what the blazes’, three ‘blasted’s, three ‘shoot’s, four forms of ‘blast it’, five ‘oh my gosh’s, and seven ‘stupid’s; Mentions of curses & cursing (said, not written); A bit of sarcasm & eye rolling; Mentions of terrorists, wars, fighting, & bombs/explosions; Mentions of threats; Mentions of Susanna’s parents fighting & “failed divorce”; Mentions of another (possible) divorce; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of a pipe, smoking, & the smoke; Mentions of drinking & alcohol/wine (mainly at a social gathering); A few mentions of a flask, whatever is in it, & a drunk; A few mentions of tattoos & piercings; A few mentions of jealousy/envy; A couple mentions of drugs; A mention of a murdered family; A mention of a serial killer;
*Note: Mentions of brand names & pop culture references; Mentions of singers & songs; Mentions of a designer brand; Mentions of Disney; A few mentions of Starbucks.
Sexual Content- a thumbs-to-lips touch, a (brotherly) cheek kiss, a cheek kiss, and a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Wanting to kiss (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed at one point); Quite a bit of Touches, Hand holding, & Dancing (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); a ‘sexy’, two ‘babe’s, and five ‘hot’s; A woman tries to get near Nathaniel & give touches (barely-above-not-detailed, he pushes away her advances); Mentions of rumors of a couple sleeping together (nothing happened, though, our main couple is thought to have had a one-nighter); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of romances, dating, dates, breakups, exes, girlfriends, & boyfriends; Mentions of flirting & flirts; Mentions of blushes; A few mentions of young women (not) getting pregnant outside of wedlock & rumors of it happening (also a mention of having to have intimate relations to become pregnant); A few mentions of mistresses & a woman gossiped to be one; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of a (possible) affair; A couple mentions of a female assistance spending a lot of time with her (married) boss; A couple mentions of chaperones; A couple mentions of crushes; A mention of a girl living her with boyfriend; A mention of sleeping around; A mention of a creepy man’s wolfish grin; A mention of a young man looking at a girl like a “very thirsty man”; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of a woman’s strapless dress showing her chest; A mention of kissing someone’s grits; A mention of a door hitting someone somewhere.
-Susanna Truitt, age 29
-(Prince) Nathaniel, age 32
P.O.V. switches between them & Campbell (a handful of times)
343 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{Add ½ star for older girls interested in royalty.}
In honor of the recent royal wedding, I decided to finally re-read this one and (hopefully) finish up the series this year.
“Once Upon a Prince” was still a cute one in my eyes, but there were many things I had forgotten since reading it over four years ago. It’s instant love/attraction, but not so lovey-dovey, which was nice. There also was much more faith content that I recalled, so that was a lovely surprise. I will admit that the royal politics boggled me down a bit when reading and there were a couple other comments could have been left out in my opinion, but overall, it’s a cute contemporary read. :)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
March 12, 2020
Once Upon a Prince (2013, Zondervan), first in the Royal Wedding series by Rachael Hauck, is a Christian modern day fairy tale and won a Christy award for Contemporary/Romance/Suspense. I read this book because I received it as a Mother’s Day gift from my family. Ironically, I had book two in my to-be-read pile, so that worked out beautifully. I don’t read much contemporary fiction, but I’m much more willing to do so in Christian fiction.
The heroine: Susanna Truitt is a struggling landscape artist and works at her mother’s restaurant. She has been dating her boyfriend for twelve years (when he’s in town), and the book opens with him dumping her! While he was looking for an engagement ring for Suz, he realized that he had the right ring, but the wrong girl. How awful! I just couldn’t believe the opening to this book. Susanna is just having a bad day, and then she ends up with a flat tire. Nathaniel Kenneth drives by and comes to her rescue.
The hero: Nathaniel Kenneth is visiting from the country of Brighton. He is actually the prince of Brighton, in line to be king. His parents have sent him on this vacation to give him a respite. His father’s health is failing, and Nate may be the king soon. He is being persuaded on many fronts to marry Lady Genevieve to help defuse a looming political issue.
What I liked:
*I liked Prince Nathaniel, his family, and the multiple settings. They were very well done.
*I liked the political backdrop of the story. The events seemed plausible to me, and I wonder if there have been any historical examples of something similar.
*I liked the story because I just really wasn’t sure how things could possibly work out on three different fronts.
What I didn’t like:
*Susanna wasn’t my type of heroine. She seems to have been unwise in her 12-year relationship, and appeared to be immature in other ways as well. Granted, I believe that characters should have flaws, but a lack of maturity was difficult for me to relate to.
*I didn’t love the wealthy woman living in a tent. On one hand, it demonstrated a strength of Susanna’s - tolerance of people different than her. On the other hand, I felt that it was a bit odd for her to be receiving advice - some all-knowing, some Godly, some seemingly both - from someone who is not quite right in the head. I feel the reader needs clarification on this character.
*I didn’t see much basis for Nathaniel falling in love with Susanna.
*This book had God in it, but I felt a Bible verse or two would not have been amiss.
I’d recommend this book to fans of fairy tales and of Christian contemporary romance. I will be reading book number two!
The heroine: Susanna Truitt is a struggling landscape artist and works at her mother’s restaurant. She has been dating her boyfriend for twelve years (when he’s in town), and the book opens with him dumping her! While he was looking for an engagement ring for Suz, he realized that he had the right ring, but the wrong girl. How awful! I just couldn’t believe the opening to this book. Susanna is just having a bad day, and then she ends up with a flat tire. Nathaniel Kenneth drives by and comes to her rescue.
The hero: Nathaniel Kenneth is visiting from the country of Brighton. He is actually the prince of Brighton, in line to be king. His parents have sent him on this vacation to give him a respite. His father’s health is failing, and Nate may be the king soon. He is being persuaded on many fronts to marry Lady Genevieve to help defuse a looming political issue.
What I liked:
*I liked Prince Nathaniel, his family, and the multiple settings. They were very well done.
*I liked the political backdrop of the story. The events seemed plausible to me, and I wonder if there have been any historical examples of something similar.
*I liked the story because I just really wasn’t sure how things could possibly work out on three different fronts.
What I didn’t like:
*Susanna wasn’t my type of heroine. She seems to have been unwise in her 12-year relationship, and appeared to be immature in other ways as well. Granted, I believe that characters should have flaws, but a lack of maturity was difficult for me to relate to.
*I didn’t love the wealthy woman living in a tent. On one hand, it demonstrated a strength of Susanna’s - tolerance of people different than her. On the other hand, I felt that it was a bit odd for her to be receiving advice - some all-knowing, some Godly, some seemingly both - from someone who is not quite right in the head. I feel the reader needs clarification on this character.
*I didn’t see much basis for Nathaniel falling in love with Susanna.
*This book had God in it, but I felt a Bible verse or two would not have been amiss.
I’d recommend this book to fans of fairy tales and of Christian contemporary romance. I will be reading book number two!
March 31, 2016
This book is so close to being a five star that I may come back later and upgrade it. I started in on the first few chapters and was pretty sure it wasn't going to be my thing...and then suddenly I got hooked. I couldn't put it down! I read until 1am to finish it! It's a love story with two strong Christians for main characters, something very delightful.
I loved it so well that I trotted out today and bought a copy of "Princess Ever After", the next book, which happily was half off at Barnes and Noble this week! :)
I loved it so well that I trotted out today and bought a copy of "Princess Ever After", the next book, which happily was half off at Barnes and Noble this week! :)
April 6, 2018
4.75⭐️
Her life was perfect sort of, until her boyfriend since forever dumped her, her father ended up in the hospital, she quit her job and had to move out of her house. Through all the bad she looked to God and a knight in shining armor (not literally) Nate kept popping up when she needed help the most.
Nate aka nathaniel a prince next in line for the throne decided to keep his real identity a secret because he liked the idea of a normal life and he liked the idea of a normal life with her even more. But his real identity is soon found out and it puts a slight strain on their friendship but that soon disappears and they find each other alwayd on the othermind. But he is a prince and she is just a regular american. He is to marry someone of higher rank someone that benefits the crown even though all he wants is her.
It was adorable and funny and i loved every minute of it.
I want a Prince Nathaniel.
Her life was perfect sort of, until her boyfriend since forever dumped her, her father ended up in the hospital, she quit her job and had to move out of her house. Through all the bad she looked to God and a knight in shining armor (not literally) Nate kept popping up when she needed help the most.
Nate aka nathaniel a prince next in line for the throne decided to keep his real identity a secret because he liked the idea of a normal life and he liked the idea of a normal life with her even more. But his real identity is soon found out and it puts a slight strain on their friendship but that soon disappears and they find each other alwayd on the othermind. But he is a prince and she is just a regular american. He is to marry someone of higher rank someone that benefits the crown even though all he wants is her.
It was adorable and funny and i loved every minute of it.
I want a Prince Nathaniel.
Read
August 17, 2015Royal fun! If you're a fan of royals (who isn't?) then you'll enjoy this book and this series. The hero of Once Upon a Prince is Nathaniel, an honest to goodness European prince. And the heroine, Susanna, is a down to earth girl from St. Simon's island, Georgia. Nathaniel is restricted from marrying anyone not from his kingdom of Brighton, so duty and love collide in this charming romance. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes peek into the life of a modern day royal. And the ending was swoon-worthy!
Great job, Rachel!
Great job, Rachel!
May 12, 2016
3.5 Stars
Cute story...almost has a Cinderella vibe. Some heavy spirituality...almost too convenient that everyone is so reverent. I'm interested to see how this plays out in the next book. Things are set up for drastic changes.
Cute story...almost has a Cinderella vibe. Some heavy spirituality...almost too convenient that everyone is so reverent. I'm interested to see how this plays out in the next book. Things are set up for drastic changes.
April 11, 2025
I still love this book as much as the first time I read it over a decade ago. the sweet fairytale get your prince story is swoon worthy and sweet. Still one of my favorites. 6⭐
October 5, 2017
by Andrea Renee Cox
This is a tough review to write. I liked the story, but at times it was too predictable. Other moments seemed to be intentionally drawn out when the outcome was obvious and could have been gotten to several pages quicker. I did not appreciate the flirtation during a prayer (page 78 in the paperback version). That was disrespectful to God and the people trying to pray. The leading lady seemed about as mature as a young teenager at times, which really confused me since she was supposed to be a businesswoman launching a career. At one point, all of a sudden, things turned very sexual with innuendo and blatant talk about a "love child." This came out of nowhere and clouded the enjoyment of the story for me. It also came on the heels of an overly predictable media madness scene that seems to be in nearly every "famous person" story line I read.
That being said, I did enjoy at least half of the story. It was light and breezy, a quick read, while also carrying a lot of heart and being complex. It had endearing characters that I could root for. I really liked how Susanna's life got turned completely upside down, because that's generally when I know in my own life that God is up to something pretty amazing and I should just open my eyes and watch for His movement in my life. That came across very well throughout the story.
I enjoyed Once Upon a Prince much better than the other Hauck book I had tried, which I had to give up on because of a homosexual comment. I was pleased that this book didn't contain any such nonsense. Probably, I will try the next book in this series.
I was not compensated for my honest review.
This is a tough review to write. I liked the story, but at times it was too predictable. Other moments seemed to be intentionally drawn out when the outcome was obvious and could have been gotten to several pages quicker. I did not appreciate the flirtation during a prayer (page 78 in the paperback version). That was disrespectful to God and the people trying to pray. The leading lady seemed about as mature as a young teenager at times, which really confused me since she was supposed to be a businesswoman launching a career. At one point, all of a sudden, things turned very sexual with innuendo and blatant talk about a "love child." This came out of nowhere and clouded the enjoyment of the story for me. It also came on the heels of an overly predictable media madness scene that seems to be in nearly every "famous person" story line I read.
That being said, I did enjoy at least half of the story. It was light and breezy, a quick read, while also carrying a lot of heart and being complex. It had endearing characters that I could root for. I really liked how Susanna's life got turned completely upside down, because that's generally when I know in my own life that God is up to something pretty amazing and I should just open my eyes and watch for His movement in my life. That came across very well throughout the story.
I enjoyed Once Upon a Prince much better than the other Hauck book I had tried, which I had to give up on because of a homosexual comment. I was pleased that this book didn't contain any such nonsense. Probably, I will try the next book in this series.
I was not compensated for my honest review.
May 27, 2015
Oh fuck me sideways there's way too much Jesus in this book. If I had known it was going to be a leave-room-for-Jesus kind of book I would have never even thought about getting it.
DNF @ ~25%, which I think was way more than a fair shot for such a preachy book.
DNF @ ~25%, which I think was way more than a fair shot for such a preachy book.
December 31, 2017
Een heerlijk romantisch verhaal was dit. De schrijfstijl van Rachel Hauck is erg prettig dus het leest vlot weg. Alleen de politieke kwesties snapte ik niet helemaal en ik moest soms erg nadenken wie nou ook alweer wie was. Voor de hoofdpersonen wist ik het wel, maar vaak met alle subpersonages moest ik even goed nadenken. Uiteindelijk werd het meestal wel weer duidelijk maar ik had liever gehad dat ik het sneller weer snapte. Verder vond ik het mooi hoe het geloof in dit boek werd verwerkt. En vond ik dit ook goed tot zijn recht komen in het boeken. Al met al een prachtig verhaal.
June 21, 2017
What a fun, dreamy story! This is a great story to read and escape into another world of love and adventure.
Susanna Truitt moves back to her home on St. Simon's Island when her job in Atlanta ends. As the story begins, her longtime boyfriend, Adam, is home from a tour with the Marines. They are meeting on the beach and she is expecting a proposal but all she gets is a breakup. She throws herself into trying to get her job as a landscape architect going and also helps out with her family's restaurant, the Rib Shack.
Prince Nathaniel of the Kingdom of Brighton is spending vacation time at his family's American vacation cottage. He and Susanna met near Lover's Oak in nearby Brunswick when she is trying to get a shady looking man to leave her alone. She is stuck with a flat tire where she had hoped that Adam would propose to her. Nathaniel comes along and helps her out.
Later Nathaniel and Susanna would see each other at a fundraiser for the hospital right after she gets a call that her father has been taken to the hospital. Nathaniel once more steps up to help her. This time he gets her to the hospital. At this point, she doesn't know that he is a prince.
The two are drawn to each other and but there are obstacles to prevent their happily ever after. His country does not allow a royal to marry a person from another country. Susanna has her commitments as well helping her family with the restaurant and she is very close to her parents and sister. The wonderful thing that Susanna and Nathaniel have in common is their faith as they work through their situation is relying on God's guidance. This is another inspiring and great story of faith and love by Rachel Hauck.
Susanna Truitt moves back to her home on St. Simon's Island when her job in Atlanta ends. As the story begins, her longtime boyfriend, Adam, is home from a tour with the Marines. They are meeting on the beach and she is expecting a proposal but all she gets is a breakup. She throws herself into trying to get her job as a landscape architect going and also helps out with her family's restaurant, the Rib Shack.
Prince Nathaniel of the Kingdom of Brighton is spending vacation time at his family's American vacation cottage. He and Susanna met near Lover's Oak in nearby Brunswick when she is trying to get a shady looking man to leave her alone. She is stuck with a flat tire where she had hoped that Adam would propose to her. Nathaniel comes along and helps her out.
Later Nathaniel and Susanna would see each other at a fundraiser for the hospital right after she gets a call that her father has been taken to the hospital. Nathaniel once more steps up to help her. This time he gets her to the hospital. At this point, she doesn't know that he is a prince.
The two are drawn to each other and but there are obstacles to prevent their happily ever after. His country does not allow a royal to marry a person from another country. Susanna has her commitments as well helping her family with the restaurant and she is very close to her parents and sister. The wonderful thing that Susanna and Nathaniel have in common is their faith as they work through their situation is relying on God's guidance. This is another inspiring and great story of faith and love by Rachel Hauck.
Read
June 2, 2022I didn't actually finish this book. LOL. This may come as a shock to some of you, but it was just a bit too Hallmarky for me....*runs and hides for fear of getting attacked by diehard fans*
I do have the other book in this series, so maybe I'll try that one! Only time shall tell. Haha. But I at least wanted to check them out! :)
I do have the other book in this series, so maybe I'll try that one! Only time shall tell. Haha. But I at least wanted to check them out! :)
May 19, 2013
4.5
Ok, I pretty much loved all of this book. It did get a tad too preachy in some spots, hence the .5 star taken away, but overall it was a great book. Fun, clean, girl falls in love with an honest to goodness prince. What's not to like!
Moral Note: Can't think of anything bad in it.
Ok, I pretty much loved all of this book. It did get a tad too preachy in some spots, hence the .5 star taken away, but overall it was a great book. Fun, clean, girl falls in love with an honest to goodness prince. What's not to like!
Moral Note: Can't think of anything bad in it.
May 15, 2013
Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you…”
The familiar lyrics made famous by Frank Sinatra came to mind from the moment I picked up Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck. A contemporary love story with threads of “Once Upon a Time” weaved throughout, this first book in The Royal Wedding series is Cinderella meets Sweet Home Alabama.
Susanna Truitt’s dreams of “Happily Ever After” are seemingly shattered when longtime fiancé Adam dumps her without a warning. As her familiar and organized world begins to crumble, Susanna begins to question God’s plans for her. And then Nate Kenneth steps onto the scene. A modern day “Knight in Shining Armor”, Nate comes to Susanna’s aid on more than one occasion. Kind, handsome, and easy to talk to, Nate seems like the perfect distraction. There’s just one catch—Nate is next in line for the throne of the European Kingdom of Brighton.
Hindered by a law against marrying foreigners, Nate must force himself to forget the beautiful Susanna. The only problem is he just can’t get her out of his head. Will Nate abdicate his title in pursuit of true love? Will Susanna be able to stand by as the lovely Lady Genevieve takes her place as Queen of Brighton? Wedding bells are sure to ring, but which bride will wear the gown?
What I liked…
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot was one of my favorite series when I was younger. I am calling Rachel Hauck’s Once Upon a Prince, The Princess Diaries for women. Every little girl dreams of being a princess at one point or another. We all want to be swept off of our feet by our own personal “prince”, and be whisked away to an enchanted castle. What I liked about this story was that it didn’t feel fake. Writers have the mountainous task of making their stories enjoyable as well as believable. I want to be able to relate to the characters while still escaping from everyday life. Rachel mixes the perfect amount of life and fantasy in Once Upon a Prince and I’d like to applaud her for a job well done.
I also enjoyed watching Susanna and Nate continuously turn back to God for the answers. Anytime they got stuck, they turned to the Almighty for direction. This aspect really spoke to my heart as a Christian woman. I cried with Susanna when she felt like things couldn’t get any worse, and I rejoiced with her in her triumphs. I really felt like I got to know her character and imagined sitting and having a cup of coffee with her. Susanna is the kind of character you’ll want to root for until the very end.
Recommendation…
I think it’s clear where I stand with Once Upon a Prince. It’s a touching and humorous read, perfect to tuck away in that carry-on bag during your summer vacation. It is very much a woman’s read, but I think even a teenage girl might enjoy this one. Thanks, Rachel for writing the best fairy tale I’ve read in a long time.
Disclosure:
I received a review copy of Once Upon a Prince from LitFuse Publicity Group. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own. I received no compensation other than a digital copy of Once Upon a Prince, which is mine to keep.
The familiar lyrics made famous by Frank Sinatra came to mind from the moment I picked up Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck. A contemporary love story with threads of “Once Upon a Time” weaved throughout, this first book in The Royal Wedding series is Cinderella meets Sweet Home Alabama.
Susanna Truitt’s dreams of “Happily Ever After” are seemingly shattered when longtime fiancé Adam dumps her without a warning. As her familiar and organized world begins to crumble, Susanna begins to question God’s plans for her. And then Nate Kenneth steps onto the scene. A modern day “Knight in Shining Armor”, Nate comes to Susanna’s aid on more than one occasion. Kind, handsome, and easy to talk to, Nate seems like the perfect distraction. There’s just one catch—Nate is next in line for the throne of the European Kingdom of Brighton.
Hindered by a law against marrying foreigners, Nate must force himself to forget the beautiful Susanna. The only problem is he just can’t get her out of his head. Will Nate abdicate his title in pursuit of true love? Will Susanna be able to stand by as the lovely Lady Genevieve takes her place as Queen of Brighton? Wedding bells are sure to ring, but which bride will wear the gown?
What I liked…
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot was one of my favorite series when I was younger. I am calling Rachel Hauck’s Once Upon a Prince, The Princess Diaries for women. Every little girl dreams of being a princess at one point or another. We all want to be swept off of our feet by our own personal “prince”, and be whisked away to an enchanted castle. What I liked about this story was that it didn’t feel fake. Writers have the mountainous task of making their stories enjoyable as well as believable. I want to be able to relate to the characters while still escaping from everyday life. Rachel mixes the perfect amount of life and fantasy in Once Upon a Prince and I’d like to applaud her for a job well done.
I also enjoyed watching Susanna and Nate continuously turn back to God for the answers. Anytime they got stuck, they turned to the Almighty for direction. This aspect really spoke to my heart as a Christian woman. I cried with Susanna when she felt like things couldn’t get any worse, and I rejoiced with her in her triumphs. I really felt like I got to know her character and imagined sitting and having a cup of coffee with her. Susanna is the kind of character you’ll want to root for until the very end.
Recommendation…
I think it’s clear where I stand with Once Upon a Prince. It’s a touching and humorous read, perfect to tuck away in that carry-on bag during your summer vacation. It is very much a woman’s read, but I think even a teenage girl might enjoy this one. Thanks, Rachel for writing the best fairy tale I’ve read in a long time.
Disclosure:
I received a review copy of Once Upon a Prince from LitFuse Publicity Group. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own. I received no compensation other than a digital copy of Once Upon a Prince, which is mine to keep.
May 26, 2013
Once Upon a Prince
Author Rachel Hauck
Publisher Zondervan release May 7.13
I really was attracted to this book's published storyline and a totally fun cover. Unfortunately, it was more charade than fairy tale.
As much as I expect to like the leading lady of a story, I never came to any liking for Susanna. Unrealistic, lacking any depth of character or development, unbelievably immature for her stated age of 29; I couldn't imagine a 29 year old business woman acting, believing and speaking as she was portrayed. Her sister Avery was perfect for her age, but Susanna at 12 years her senior, didn't have as much wisdom or maturity as her sister.
Neither did she have characteristics that would have attracted any male of nobility, let alone be considered for the constraints, responsibilities and requirements of the role of Queen. When confronted with a barrage of photographers and reporters after a night out with Nathaniel, does she regard him with trust or honour his wisdom to NOT respond? No. Headstrong and determined she causes even more damage by feeding the 'jackals' as she blunders on. She offers herself to God for anywhere, anything, yet when the doors open she doesn't trust God to walk through or obey the action she's being called to.
It quickly became apparent this had moved far past fiction into the realm of fantasy. And not an enjoyable one at that. Everything was past the point of believability.
Wearing 4 inch heels to the airport, jumping onto an airport chair to address the papparazzi? Not likely. There was just nothing realistic that would keep me connected to or cheering for her. I repeatedly had to lay the book aside to take a break from the frustration. Including the far fetched ending. She couldn't even stop talking in the face of her "one love's" proposal!? Seriously, what guy would put up with that? Sadly, rather than a moment of redemption, one more reading disappointment.
Editing was confusing and/or non-existent in many parts. Nathaniel walks past a 'wall of white gowns' on his way into the Colors Coronation Ball. Next paragraph opens with Susanna being 'the only one' wearing white! Spelling, grammar, dialogue often seemed haphazard and unedited.
Overall, a sorry read I'm sorry to have to say.
I received this book to read and review in exchange for sharing my perspective.
Author Rachel Hauck
Publisher Zondervan release May 7.13
I really was attracted to this book's published storyline and a totally fun cover. Unfortunately, it was more charade than fairy tale.
As much as I expect to like the leading lady of a story, I never came to any liking for Susanna. Unrealistic, lacking any depth of character or development, unbelievably immature for her stated age of 29; I couldn't imagine a 29 year old business woman acting, believing and speaking as she was portrayed. Her sister Avery was perfect for her age, but Susanna at 12 years her senior, didn't have as much wisdom or maturity as her sister.
Neither did she have characteristics that would have attracted any male of nobility, let alone be considered for the constraints, responsibilities and requirements of the role of Queen. When confronted with a barrage of photographers and reporters after a night out with Nathaniel, does she regard him with trust or honour his wisdom to NOT respond? No. Headstrong and determined she causes even more damage by feeding the 'jackals' as she blunders on. She offers herself to God for anywhere, anything, yet when the doors open she doesn't trust God to walk through or obey the action she's being called to.
It quickly became apparent this had moved far past fiction into the realm of fantasy. And not an enjoyable one at that. Everything was past the point of believability.
Wearing 4 inch heels to the airport, jumping onto an airport chair to address the papparazzi? Not likely. There was just nothing realistic that would keep me connected to or cheering for her. I repeatedly had to lay the book aside to take a break from the frustration. Including the far fetched ending. She couldn't even stop talking in the face of her "one love's" proposal!? Seriously, what guy would put up with that? Sadly, rather than a moment of redemption, one more reading disappointment.
Editing was confusing and/or non-existent in many parts. Nathaniel walks past a 'wall of white gowns' on his way into the Colors Coronation Ball. Next paragraph opens with Susanna being 'the only one' wearing white! Spelling, grammar, dialogue often seemed haphazard and unedited.
Overall, a sorry read I'm sorry to have to say.
I received this book to read and review in exchange for sharing my perspective.
July 23, 2017
*An update to my previous review* I have read this book a few times, because it is a favorite of mine. But this time I listened to the audio version. At first, Susanna's thick accent caught me off guard. But then I realized that it made perfect sense for the Georgia girl she is. The narrator did a very good job of creating different voices for the characters, both male and female, and providing appropriate accents depending on where they were from. I loved listening to this audiobook!
What a wonderful book! It is definitely a new favorite. When I first picked up this book to read, I wondered if it would be a "cute" story that I would enjoy, however, I was curious how "real" it could seem. The author did an amazing job of merging real life with what could be called a fairy tale scenario. The characters are real people with real problems. The story follows a middle class young woman, Susanna, who falls for a prince. Nate, or Prince Nathaniel, is also a very well written character. You realize that he is human with all the normal emotions we all have, however, he also has many added burdens upon his shoulders that only someone in his position would have. Loved reading this book and seeing these two fall in love, even when it appears throughout most of the book that they can never be together. I received a copy of this book from Zondervan in exchange for my honest opinion.
What a wonderful book! It is definitely a new favorite. When I first picked up this book to read, I wondered if it would be a "cute" story that I would enjoy, however, I was curious how "real" it could seem. The author did an amazing job of merging real life with what could be called a fairy tale scenario. The characters are real people with real problems. The story follows a middle class young woman, Susanna, who falls for a prince. Nate, or Prince Nathaniel, is also a very well written character. You realize that he is human with all the normal emotions we all have, however, he also has many added burdens upon his shoulders that only someone in his position would have. Loved reading this book and seeing these two fall in love, even when it appears throughout most of the book that they can never be together. I received a copy of this book from Zondervan in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 13, 2023
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First off, I may have liked this book a little more if the audiobook narrator was a little better. Her doing a southern accent was a little bad. It was hard to get through.
What I did like:
I liked the Christian aspect of it. The story is set in Georgia where a southern girl gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend. Asking God what to do next in her life. Through crappy circumstances, God used the situation to bring about something better. The story is clean in a way that show physical attraction but not in a smutty way. In a way it's a cute fairy tale love story but just feels cookie cutter.
What I didn't like:
This story in my opinion wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't that if felt like a Hallmark movie you seen few times already. It seems like all the time, the prince is covering up his identity because he wants to be normal. Girl founds out who he really is by the media. She goes over to his country to see that maybe they aren't really "in love" and it turns out that they are. Then they can't be together because he is a prince a heir to a throne to be king. He follows her back to the US and professes his love for her. Happily Ever After. The End.
EDIT: I just looked this up.... THIS IS A HALLMARK MOVIE!!! 😲
June 22, 2015
The whole book I was like "JUST KISS ALREADY!!!!"
February 3, 2018
Ik vond het echt heel fijn om eens een christelijke roman te lezen. Ik lees ze eigenlijk nooit, terwijl het wel een groot deel van mijn leven is. Dus besloot ik dit boek maar eens op te pakken. Het klonk als een romantisch verhaal en dat was het ook zeker!
Maar daarnaast zat het boek vol met politieke kwesties en wetten die best ingewikkeld waren. Ik vond die stukken dan ook een stuk minder interessant om te lezen dan het verhaal van Suzy en Nate.
De politieke kwesties zorgden er dan ook voor dat het middenstuk ontzettend langzaam ging in mijn ogen. Het begin was lekker vlot en tegen het einde ging het tempo weer omhoog. Maar dat middenstuk... Ik heb er zelfs een paar keer over na gedacht om het boek gewoon aan de kant te leggen en te DNF'en. Toch ben ik blij dat ik dat niet gedaan heb.
Het boek zat goed in elkaar en de christelijke overtuiging kwam duidelijk naar voren, maar van mij hadden er wel iets minder politieke dingen in gemogen.
Maar daarnaast zat het boek vol met politieke kwesties en wetten die best ingewikkeld waren. Ik vond die stukken dan ook een stuk minder interessant om te lezen dan het verhaal van Suzy en Nate.
De politieke kwesties zorgden er dan ook voor dat het middenstuk ontzettend langzaam ging in mijn ogen. Het begin was lekker vlot en tegen het einde ging het tempo weer omhoog. Maar dat middenstuk... Ik heb er zelfs een paar keer over na gedacht om het boek gewoon aan de kant te leggen en te DNF'en. Toch ben ik blij dat ik dat niet gedaan heb.
Het boek zat goed in elkaar en de christelijke overtuiging kwam duidelijk naar voren, maar van mij hadden er wel iets minder politieke dingen in gemogen.
September 17, 2020
Oh my gosh!!! This book was so cute! I loved Nate. He was the sweetest most thoughtful guy ever, and he’s a prince. You can’t go wrong with that. Susanna was very passionate about her work, and I liked how she wanted to do what God wanted for her. My only problem is I felt like Susanna was a little whiny at times other than that it was super cute.I loved Brighton. I wish it were real because it sounds so magical, and I want to go. This was my first book by Rachel Hauck, and it won’t be my last. I’m excited to read the other books in the series.
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