Review: Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck
Reviewed by: Lori Twichell
Genre: Romance, Drama
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: May 7, 2013

Susanna Truitt has her life planned. She’ll marry Adam, the man she’s dated for twelve years, and they will live happily ever after. One day, when she thinks there’s a chance he might propose, he stuns her with a completely different revelation: He’s found the right ring, but not the right girl.

Absolutely reeling with everything that Adam told her, (he’s found someone else, he thinks she was in love with an idea instead of him…there’s a lot for her to process) Susanna isn’t sure about where her next step should take her. Already struggling at her budding career as a landscape architect, she is working at the barbecue restaurant that her parents own. (The Rib Shack.) The last thing she expects is Nate.

Nate Kenneth is the definition of tall, dark, and handsome. He’s also sweet, good natured, and always around when Susanna needs help the most. Oh and did I mention that he’s a prince? I didn’t? Well, that’s okay. Neither did he. When Susanna finally discovers who he really is, she’s put him through a series of spectacularly embarrassing situations – none of which you would normally find a future king doing. She’s also beginning to fall for him but that’s a problem. The King of Brighton is not permitted to be married to a foreigner – let alone an American who is out of a job and just got dumped by her boyfriend of over a decade.

Susanna’s tale is a lighthearted adventure that you could easily see skipping any hope of a deeper spiritual adventure. However, Hauck has woven incredible lessons that we can all use in our lives throughout the story. She doesn’t evangelize or beat the reader around the head and shoulders with the gospel (I’m sorry, but some writers do get a bit heavy with that end of things) – but that, in no way, takes away from the depth in her story. Her characters learn incredibly powerful lessons that we could all apply to our own lives. And she does it with a gentle touch.

These characters are fun to join on their journey and it doesn’t take long to connect with them. Soon you’ll find yourself cheering for them through the various situations and hoping for the best.

This is a fabulously crafted love story with a fun twist. Even in places where some of the situations were expected, it didn’t diminish the pleasure in watching it play out.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves adventure, romance, or comedy. It’s a delightful mixture of all three – with enough depth and beautiful spiritual moments to make it far more than just a throwaway read. This story will stick with you.

Rated PG: This book would work for readers as young as tweens. There is one scene that entails a bit of discussion about pregnancy outside of marriage, but other than that, clear sailing.

This review originally posted here on Radiant Lit.