Once Upon a Prince

I'm one of those girls who wished to be a princess. When I was very young, Princess Diana was the one in the spotlight and I couldn't have been more fascinated with her. I love the movie The Prince and Me and thought of how amazing it would be to become a princess after being a normal girl. This story just reinforced those feelings. What girl doesn't like to dream?

Poor Susanna. The story begins with her being jilted by her boyfriend/almost fiance of 12 years. 12 YEARS!! At first, I was almost appalled at how a girl could waste so much time in her life on one man. If he isn't going to propose after a few, he probably never will, but after reading more about Susanna, it makes sense. She's isn't a stupid girl--she has issues and insecurities and deals with them the best way she knows how. I really did come to like her and enjoyed the journey right along with her.

Prince Nathaniel longs to be ordinary, yet that's not in his future. I love the way this couple first meets. He treats her like a princess and is so sweet. Nate battles with his wants and his duties and I thought he did a great job at compromise and balance.

Some of the other characters were a lot of fun, and strange, as well. I love Avery, Susanna's enthusiastic younger sister and the strange woman in the woods, who almost seems psychic. Such a fun setting and fun story line!

Content: mild, clean romance; moderate Christian themes (talking to and about God). Clean!

Rachel Hauck has a way of writing a modern fairy tale. Susanna finds out that the person she planned on marrying doesn't want to marry her anymore, her car has a flat tire, and some creepy dude won't leave her along. Can the day get any better or worse? Then Nate comes by and helps her change the tire on her car. Unknown to Susanna, Nate is the Prince of Brighton. Nate thinks that he has found love at first sight but there is one issue. His father is dying so he may have to leave soon. Then Susanna finds out who Nate really is and that messes everything up.

I think this is a very sweet tale of two people trying to get to know each other. Then everything seems to come their way. A dying parent, a hidden identity, and a kingdom. What are these two love birds to do? I think Susanna and Nate are two characters that are written very well. I really enjoyed getting to know them and their stories.

Hauck writes such beautiful descriptions. Brighton has such beautiful structures and landscapes. I feel like Hauck really puts her soul into her books with the characters and the setting. Who wouldn't want to escape to Brighton in their minds. I wish I had a gorgeous place to escape to everyday like that. I was swept away. I think this book is great for any woman who just wants to get swept away in romance and love.