A Royal Christmas Wedding is a novella by Rachel Hauck. It's the story of Avery Truitt, an American from Georgia, and Prince Colin of Brighton Kingdom, a fictional European principality. Our protagonists used to be an item when Avery was 17, and Colin was 21, but he broke up with her then because of their youth. Now, five years later, they are reunited when Susanna, Avery's sister, and now Queen of Brighton, invites Avery and their mother to celebrate Christmas with her in Brighton.
Avery hasn't quite gotten over Colin, but Colin is now linked with Lady Jordan Skye, a favourite of Colin's parents and Brightonian society. Hosts of a television talk show hound him about whether he will restart a Brightonian tradition of ringing the ancient bell at Pembroke Chapel. In the past, whoever did this would propose to the woman he wished to marry and that they would marry by Christmas Day.
Apparently Colin hasn't quite gotten over Avery either; he considers her to be the girl who he had given up due to parental pressure. While hiding overnight in the ruins of Pembroke Chapel, Colin prays about his love life: he tells the Lord that he will ring the bell for Avery if she'll become his wife...and the bell spontaneously begins to ring without anyone touching it.
However, the path to the altar is not smooth for Colin. There are many obstacles that he has to overcome before he can convince Avery to become his wife. Will there be a royal Christmas wedding in Brighton?
I really liked this story. It had royalty, ancient ruins with historical folklore attached to it, grand romantic gestures, and God moments. Colin may have gotten direction from the Lord, but he still had to act, and the question was whether he would follow through on the guidance that he received and soldier his way through the obstacles that were blocking his way.
A Royal Christmas Wedding is part of the Royal Wedding Series, which also includes Once Upon a Prince, Princess Ever After, and How to Catch a Prince.
Showing posts with label Rachel Hauck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel Hauck. Show all posts
Saturday, 30 June 2018
Tuesday, 7 April 2015
Review: Hurricane Allie by Rachel Hauck
Hurricane Allie, a cute romantic novella by Rachel Hauck, seems to be a title that reveals a bit of a pun where the story is concerned. There is an actual hurricane named Allie, which appears in the book, and there is our female protagonist, Allie Seton, who turns into a bit of a furious hurricane herself when unexpected obstacles such as the genuine Hurricane Allie pop up and threaten to scuttle her wedding.
The story is set in Florida, which faces the seasonal threat of hurricanes. Allie and Kyle, her groom, wait with baited breath to find out whether the hurricane's path will bring it towards their location, or if it will head elsewhere, but no plans are made to postpone the wedding to a later date. On top of that, Kyle's architectural office is offered a big break; a firm in New York is interested in Kyle's designs for a development, and it wants Kyle to fly up to New York to represent his company. Unfortunately, this trip is to take place on the week before the wedding.
Disaster strikes and Hurricane Allie (the storm) becomes a very real threat in keeping the wedding from taking place. As people in Florida begin to take measures to take shelter or flee from its path, our heroine loses access to her dress, the caterers and the venue. Allie is confronted with the situation of letting go of the wedding that she had carefully planned for. In addition to losing the trappings of the wedding celebration, havoc in flight schedules results with grounded, redirected, and delayed flights. Will Kyle be able to fly back to Florida in time for the wedding?
The question that runs through the story is whether Allie simply wants the wedding of her dreams, or if she wants to be married to Kyle himself. He is determined to return to Florida by the date of the wedding, but will there be a wedding taking place at all?
I found it interesting to read of Allie's struggles in accepting the situation that was unfolding before her eyes. I could imagine how difficult it was for her to let go of all the hard work that she did in putting together her dream. I also could also feel her distress in trying to figure out whether she really wanted to get married or if she really wanted to marry Kyle. On Kyle's part, he is dying to know if Allie truly wants him, or just the wedding, since all he can hear from her is that they might lose the vendors and the venue because of Hurricane Allie.
I liked that the characters prayed. I also enjoyed reading about how one of the characters felt the pleasure of the Lord after a decision was made in accepting a gift from someone who wanted to help in this wedding disaster. The story reminded me of Proverbs 16:9 which says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." This was certainly the case for Allie Seton in Hurricane Allie.
The story is set in Florida, which faces the seasonal threat of hurricanes. Allie and Kyle, her groom, wait with baited breath to find out whether the hurricane's path will bring it towards their location, or if it will head elsewhere, but no plans are made to postpone the wedding to a later date. On top of that, Kyle's architectural office is offered a big break; a firm in New York is interested in Kyle's designs for a development, and it wants Kyle to fly up to New York to represent his company. Unfortunately, this trip is to take place on the week before the wedding.
Disaster strikes and Hurricane Allie (the storm) becomes a very real threat in keeping the wedding from taking place. As people in Florida begin to take measures to take shelter or flee from its path, our heroine loses access to her dress, the caterers and the venue. Allie is confronted with the situation of letting go of the wedding that she had carefully planned for. In addition to losing the trappings of the wedding celebration, havoc in flight schedules results with grounded, redirected, and delayed flights. Will Kyle be able to fly back to Florida in time for the wedding?
The question that runs through the story is whether Allie simply wants the wedding of her dreams, or if she wants to be married to Kyle himself. He is determined to return to Florida by the date of the wedding, but will there be a wedding taking place at all?
I found it interesting to read of Allie's struggles in accepting the situation that was unfolding before her eyes. I could imagine how difficult it was for her to let go of all the hard work that she did in putting together her dream. I also could also feel her distress in trying to figure out whether she really wanted to get married or if she really wanted to marry Kyle. On Kyle's part, he is dying to know if Allie truly wants him, or just the wedding, since all he can hear from her is that they might lose the vendors and the venue because of Hurricane Allie.
I liked that the characters prayed. I also enjoyed reading about how one of the characters felt the pleasure of the Lord after a decision was made in accepting a gift from someone who wanted to help in this wedding disaster. The story reminded me of Proverbs 16:9 which says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." This was certainly the case for Allie Seton in Hurricane Allie.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Review: A March Bride by Rachel Hauck
When I first read about the novella series, "A Year of Weddings," which is released by Zondervan/Harper Collins, I glanced through the blurbs provided for each novella to see what the hubbub was about. The description for, "A March Bride," was the one that caught my eye. I have not read anything by Rachel Hauck before, but a Christian story, and a description about a king who takes an ordinary woman to be his bride automatically made me think about Christ and His Bride, the church.
The novella is actually a short sequel to "Once Upon a Prince," which is Book 1 of the Royal Wedding Series. That novel, which was published in 2013, was about how Susanna Truitt came together with the then-Prince Nathaniel. In "A March Bride," the story is about their wedding and whether it will actually happen or not.
Susanna is having doubts about her upcoming marriage to Nathaniel, who is now king of Brighton. Most of her extended family and dear friends cannot attend the wedding in Brighton, and she feels awkward with Nathaniel's inner circle of friends. Nathaniel has been distant with her for the past couple of months and she is concerned that he no longer loves her. She is feeling the strain from giving up her life in America and becoming a transplant in Brighton; in other words, she is deeply homesick.
Through a phone call home to her family, Susanna finds out that her grandmother, and her best friend/maid of honour, are not able to attend the wedding because of health concerns. The final blow that drives her over the edge is that Nathaniel's political enemies are demanding that she give up her American citizenship before the wedding to satisfy the laws of Brighton.
Susanna's turmoil over her identity rises to the forefront and she cannot handle the pressure and disappointment that have been foisted upon her. She informs Nathaniel that she needs to return to the States to think over matters. Nathaniel is fearful that if Susanna returns to America, she will never return to marry him. His fears are justified; one of his staff discovers Susanna's engagement ring by her bedside after she has left for the States. Will there be a royal wedding?
I enjoyed the Scriptural allusions to Queen Esther, to the Bride of Christ, and about how Christ gave up His heavenly citizenship so that He could identify with humankind. I also appreciated the ideas about how believers in Christ are also citizens of heaven and of the Kingdom of God, in addition to being citizens of the country that God has planted them.
I also enjoyed the message that one of the characters gives to Susanna which can also be directed to a believing reader: "He's (referring to Christ) entrusting you to be a Christian example to people around the world. For such a time as this."
You don't need to read "Once Upon a Prince," to follow the story in, "A March Bride." It can be read as a stand alone book. I haven't read, "Once Upon a Prince," but I'm probably going to keep my eye out for that book and also for "Princess Ever After," which is being released in February, 2014.
Disclaimer: An e-copy of "A March Bride" was provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
The novella is actually a short sequel to "Once Upon a Prince," which is Book 1 of the Royal Wedding Series. That novel, which was published in 2013, was about how Susanna Truitt came together with the then-Prince Nathaniel. In "A March Bride," the story is about their wedding and whether it will actually happen or not.
Susanna is having doubts about her upcoming marriage to Nathaniel, who is now king of Brighton. Most of her extended family and dear friends cannot attend the wedding in Brighton, and she feels awkward with Nathaniel's inner circle of friends. Nathaniel has been distant with her for the past couple of months and she is concerned that he no longer loves her. She is feeling the strain from giving up her life in America and becoming a transplant in Brighton; in other words, she is deeply homesick.
Through a phone call home to her family, Susanna finds out that her grandmother, and her best friend/maid of honour, are not able to attend the wedding because of health concerns. The final blow that drives her over the edge is that Nathaniel's political enemies are demanding that she give up her American citizenship before the wedding to satisfy the laws of Brighton.
Susanna's turmoil over her identity rises to the forefront and she cannot handle the pressure and disappointment that have been foisted upon her. She informs Nathaniel that she needs to return to the States to think over matters. Nathaniel is fearful that if Susanna returns to America, she will never return to marry him. His fears are justified; one of his staff discovers Susanna's engagement ring by her bedside after she has left for the States. Will there be a royal wedding?
I enjoyed the Scriptural allusions to Queen Esther, to the Bride of Christ, and about how Christ gave up His heavenly citizenship so that He could identify with humankind. I also appreciated the ideas about how believers in Christ are also citizens of heaven and of the Kingdom of God, in addition to being citizens of the country that God has planted them.
I also enjoyed the message that one of the characters gives to Susanna which can also be directed to a believing reader: "He's (referring to Christ) entrusting you to be a Christian example to people around the world. For such a time as this."
You don't need to read "Once Upon a Prince," to follow the story in, "A March Bride." It can be read as a stand alone book. I haven't read, "Once Upon a Prince," but I'm probably going to keep my eye out for that book and also for "Princess Ever After," which is being released in February, 2014.
Disclaimer: An e-copy of "A March Bride" was provided by NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
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