Once Upon A Prince (Royal Wedding #1)

Title: Once Upon A Prince
Author: Rachel Hauck
Series: Royal Wedding #1
Genre: Christian Fiction
Publishing Date: May 7, 2013

 

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

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

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

Their lives are worlds apart. He’s a royal prince. She’s 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?

Review:
I originally read this book when it was first released, but upon hearing that it was set to be aired as a movie on the Hallmark channel I decided to re-read it. This book reminds me a lot of the 2004 film The Prince and Me (which I confess is one of my favorites), but with an added Christian perspective.  Every girl loves a good “secret prince” story!

Prince Nathaniel is pleasantly surprised that Susanna doesn’t know who he is, and he enjoys getting to know her as a “normal” person. Knowing that the Marriage Act of 1792 in his country prohibits him from marrying a foreigner, Nathaniel is caught off-guard when he realizes he’s fallen in love with Susanna. Just getting over a break-up, Susanna wasn’t expecting to be able to give her heart to another man so soon, especially one she discovers she’s not allowed to love.

If you love fairy-tale romance, this book is a must-read. You have to love a story that leaves you with a smile on your face 🙂 I didn’t realize how much I’d forgotten from the book until I re-read it now but I’m glad I did just in time to watch it on the Hallmark channel tomorrow night! As an avid reader I always prefer the book to the movie, but I also can’t help but be excited for the movie either. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts after watching the film tomorrow what you think!

Rating: 

Age Appropriateness: This was a good clean read. If you’ve seen the movie The Prince and Me (rated PG) it’s very similar as far as the content and age-appropriate level. If they are at a high enough reading level I can see readers as young as 10 or 11 enjoying this book.