Book Review of Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

I enjoyed book 1 in Rachel Hauck`s Royal Weddings Series, but ...

I loved Book 2!! Princess Ever After was amazing!

Regina Beswick was born to be a princess. But she’s 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. 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. Yet lurking in the political shadows is a fierce opponent with sinister plans to abolish the throne forever. Overwhelmed with opposition, Regina must decide if she’s destined to restore old cars or an ancient nation. Together---with a little divine intervention---Regina and Tanner discover the truth of her heritage and the healing power of true love.

The second book in Rachel`s fairy tale, Royal Weddings Series is fantastic. Hauck goes deeper into the fictional story world of Hessenberg from the first book. This time, even the Prince Nathaniel and his blushing Bride Susanna enter the story line as all come together to convince this small-town, grease monkey to become a princess. 

My favorite character by far was Tanner, the hero, Sir Blue Eyes. He is stoic and classy while also being down to earth and real. His interactions with Regina made for many laughs and smiles. His back story, which I won`t spoil for you was well-crafted and fit into the story line perfectly. 

The intrigue that pushed the story forward was finding all the hints and clues left behind by the last Princess of Hessenberg, Regina`s Gran. Hauck kept the characters, and of course the readers running to catch them all in time for the book to end. A real page turner!

I believe book 2 can be a stand alone as far as the story line goes. My only concern would be the detailed information about the history of the fictional country. It is pivotal to the story. I found the history aspects much easier to follow in this book over the first one. That may (or may not) be related to the fact that I had some understanding of the situation going into Book 2. This is just a very mild warning.

Reading Group guide included as well.

It was a true delight to read and I recommend it to anyone. This is my favorite princess story.

Order your copy from any Christian retailers. Also watch out for another Rachel Hauck book coming out next month, A March Bride.  

Thanks to Booksneeze and Zondervan for the review copy. I received it free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.

What is your favorite princess story

Book Review of To Know You by Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel

This was an incredible read ... hard, challenging and also very intriguing, and inspiring. I love stories that feel real to my heart and this one ranks at the top for that.

Publisher's Blurb:

Julia Whittaker’s rocky past yielded two daughters, both given up for adoption as infants. Now she must find them to try to save her son.

Julia and Matt Whittaker’s son has beaten the odds for thirteen years only to have the odds—and his liver—crash precipitously. The only hope for his survival is a “living liver” transplant, but the transplant list is long and Dillon’s time is short. His two older half-sisters, born eighteen months apart to two different fathers, offer his only hope for survival.

But can Julia ask a young woman—someone she surrendered to strangers long ago and has never spoken with—to make such a sacrifice to save a brother she’s never known? Can she muster the courage to journey back into a shame-filled season of her life, face her choices and their consequences, and find any hope of healing?

And what if she discovers in her own daughters’ lives that a history of foolish choices threatens to repeat itself? Julia knows she’s probably embarking on a fool’s errand—searching for the daughters she abandoned only now that she needs something from them. But love compels Julia to take this journey. Can grace and forgiveness compel her daughters to join her?

In To Know You, Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel explore how the past creates the present . . . and how even the most shattered lives can be redeemed.

To be completely honest, I found the book a difficult read. While the story and plot were very enticing, the constant POV switches made it a challenge for me. The book is set up chronologically, based on a time clock. Therefore instead of POV changes lined up based on scenes, you find yourself whirling to a new plot thread based on the clock. There are also several flashbacks. Eventually, I did adjust to the transitions, but cannot say it was a smooth read for me.

That being said the powerful content of the story still bled through. There are many great characters, each with their own investment in the main plot of the sick boy, as well as their own individual plots that are compelling on their own. It is an immensely deep and invested read covering difficult topics such as infidelity, adoption, intimacy issues in marriage, and even more crucial, the concept of redemption and forgiveness. 

A great book - not a beach/weekend read. Check it out for yourself and download the first three chapters free from Shannon Ethridge's website.

Thanks to Booksneeze and Thomas Nelson for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review - NIV College Devotional Bible

Fantastic Idea! Great grad gift.

College is a unique time in one's life. New issues crop up consistently, challenging what you know and what you think you know. I have a young person planning for college in my home right now. I am excited for her, but I'm also concerned for her. There are so many "other" paths to follow out there and she has led a quiet existence within the walls of our home, our small town school and our church. Soon she will see and experience the BIG, WIDE World.

Zondervan has published a College Devotional Bible. It is intended for those years when young people step out on their own and have to choose to stand for something.

For features, the text within the Bible is New International Version. The layout of the bible is crisp and clear with footnotes italicized at the bottom of the page. At the end of the book there are helpful pages such as:

• Weights and Measurements
• Subject Index
• Read Through the Bible in One Year Reading Plan
• 60 Days Overview of the Bible
• 30 Days for Beginning Your Walk with Christ
• 30 Days with Jesus
• 30 Days in the Psalms
• 30 Days in Proverbs
• 20 Not-So-Famous Bible Stories
• 30 Days With Paul
• 30 Days of Promises
• 30 Days of Leadership
• 30 Days of Prayer
• 30 Days of Knowing God
• 30 Stories of Great Faith

That's nearly 14 months worth of Bible Study - lasting several years of schooling.

As well, throughout the Bible are appropriately placed

Book Review - Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Beautifully written. Beautifully crafted. Just plain ... Beautiful!

Synopsis: Once Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by bestselling author Rachel Hauck, tells a modern-day fairy tale as fetching as the recent nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton. When a jilted girlfriend meets a reluctant crown prince, they discover the power of God’s love to heal hearts and change a nation.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rachel Hauck's book. She's done a splendid job of crafted a world that is both realistic and other-worldly. The opportunity to see life through the eyes of a Crown Prince doesn't pass through my little Town much. The characters, Susanna and Nathaniel felt real, bold and inspiring. They touched my heart as they traversed the unknown within the circumstances they found themselves in. And they did it all through the eyes of faith.

The setting of the book was also beautifully crafted. Susanna's beach-front world of the family owned business and Nathaniel's made-up but realistic world of a Monarchy ruled European Nation were beautiful compliments to each other; Hauck weaving the love of gardens into both.

The ending was greatly anticipated and delightfully sweet.  I was uncertain all the way to the end if the two would be able to blend their worlds and be together after all. It was very satisfying. Thanks Rachel!

The only down side for me was

Book Review - Intentional Parenting by S. Goff, D. Thomas and M. Trevathan

This is about you, not just your child.

Regardless of age, parenting requires a certain amount of uncertainty. But you can be certain that your children look to you to help them discover who they are. And you can only offer that to the degree that YOU know who you are.

Over the years, Sissy Goff, David Thomas, and Melissa Trevathan have helped countless families through their ministry known as Daystar Counseling in Nashville, TN. Due to the unique setup of Daystar, each is frequently counseling not only the child but the parent as well. Having both perspectives provides an opportunity to speak into some of the most common struggles that parents face in today's fast-paced society.
Intentional Parenting is built around 12 chapters that each dispel some of the most common parenting myths and reminds all parents of truths that can empower them to be not only the parents that their children need but that God has called them to be. The book helps you discover first who you are and then takes that healthy person into a discovery of being more intentional, playful, consistent, merciful, and connected to your children.

Understanding your child. Understanding you.

*****

I absolutely loved the idea of this book. A healthy parent produces healthy children, right? I had no idea the depth this book would go in with its 229 pages. You are paying for a book to sit on your shelves, refer back to at times as well as your own mini counseling service. It was extremely insightful.

Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of parenting from the general sense. Most parenting books have

Book Review - Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo and Lyn Vincent

Pastor Todd Burpo had no idea that his picture and outlook on Heaven would change once his 4 year old son Colton was rolled into the operating room for a life-saving surgery to correct an infected appendix.   Heaven was about to become very real.   As Colton recovered from the invasive surgery he began to share glimpses of a journey he took to heaven and back.  Over the coming months Todd would document the stories told by his son Colton.  Stories that would bring hope and comfort to those who chose to listen and believe.

As I read this story I made two observations in this easy to read true story.  First, Heaven is for Real is certainly not a book to rely on for a biblical picture of heaven.   I am in no position to determine if Colton really did or did not go to heaven.  However I will say that some of the stories told left me scratching my head and wondering if that was truely a match for what is presented in the Bible.

On a more positive note, my second observation is that of a lesson learned from reading this book.  A child’s faith is something to behold.  Little Colton has no reservations or doubts when it comes to the validity of heaven and life-after-death.  I wonder, do I live with this type of confidence from the knowledge I have gained in scripture?  Whether the reader believes this story or not, there is no disputing that the boy portrayed within the pages has a faith that is strong and certain. 

Heaven is For Real is not a hard book to read.  While some may find it somewhat of a stretch to believe, I choose to digest it for the lessons I can learn.  I would recommend this book to people looking for a casual but interesting read.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

Book Review - There You'll Find Me

“If weakness is just a wound that no one wants to speak of, then cool is just how far we have to fall.”

                                                                          “I’m Not Alright”, Sanctus Real

There is so much I could say about Jenny B Jones’ latest book, there you’ll find me  but I need to start with this.  It is completely not what I expected and completely and magnificently what I needed.

Finley, a young girl starting her senior year accepts a foreign exchange program placement to Abbyglen, Ireland.  The exact same country and town as her late brother, Will had visitied during his senior year.  So Finley sets out, armed with bravado, wit and a journal marking every location that Will ever set foot near during his time there.  Only the journal he wrote speaks not just of landmarks, cuisine and culture of this Irish treasure; it is riddled with his personal and poignant journey with his Saviour.  How he met God in a very real sense during his time in Ireland.  How Will saw, heard and felt the hand of God as he walked through the beauty of a nation dressed in green.  Aching inside, Finley hopes to recapture the same love her brother Will felt from Jesus, and let it seep into her doubts, fears and gaping holes of loneliness.   

I wasn’t prepared for many things about this new novel.

It came . . . I cried.

I was not planning on posting today, but I could not miss the opportunity to tell you of my stupendously strange reaction and amazingly awesome feeling.

Yesterday I picked up the mail on my way home.  There was a parcel in the mailbox for me.  I assumed it was a book I had won on a blog that I follow called Girls With Pens.  (I love that blog and was so excited when I found out I won a contest.)  I tossed the parcel and the mail on the passenger seat and drove home.

After parking my van in the garage, I reached over and scooped the mail up in my arms.  My eyes caught the sight of the return address.  I stopped breathing.

Thomas Nelson Publishers
1151 Martin Grove Rd
Etobicoke, ON
M9W 4W7

I squealed from my front seat, "I-it`s here.  M-m-my book came!"  I tore through the yard, into the house and dropped everything but the prized parcel on the linoleum floor.  I hugged the parcel as I walked to the desk that held my scissors.  With a shaking hand I cut open the plastic protector and gently, with the grace of an antique`s dealer, I slid my book out of the envelope.

I held the book up, sniffed the pristine cover and gently flipped back the first pages.  It was beautiful.  I couldn`t believe my eyes. I was holding my book.