The Writing Desk

Are you more of a fan of contemporary romances or historical romances like traditional regencies? If you're like me, you truly enjoy them both equally. The latest novel by Rachel Hauck gives romance lovers a bit of both in The Writing Desk. It parallels two vastly different time periods from the late Regency period to present day all revolving around a single piece of furniture, a writing desk. For Tenley Roth, she has been compared to her great-great-grandfather and father Conrad Roth for having the flair to turn out best selling novels. With her latest novel Someone to Love written during the time when she lost her father, she poured out all her emotions into her characters and of course the literary world is loving it. But with every best seller comes the next one and Tenley has just a few short months before her deadline and she is faced with writers block.

Besides facing an unexpected engagement and last minute proposal from her boyfriend Holt Armstrong, she didn't exactly say yes or no to him and has taken his ring and kept it in the same Tiffany box it arrived in. She is facing another dilemma when Holt offers her a trip to Paris to work on his screenplay alongside an award winning actress thinking it may relive whatever has kept her from writing, while at the same time, she is asked by her estranged mother Blanche Hastings to help care for her now that she is facing a cancer diagnosis and must endure chemotherapy treatments with no one else to help her. The only thing keeping Tenley from immediately coming to her mother's aid is the fact she walked out on her and her father and never looked back and now she wants Tenley's help as if nothing happened. Faced with such a choice she believes heading to Florida to care for her mother might give her the time she needs to resolve any issues with her mom in case she should lose her battle with cancer and not have a second chance. Holt however decides to head to Paris without her.

As the novel toggles between present day with Tenley and Blanche, it also goes back in history to Birdie Shehorn, a wealthy American socialite who has been tasked with finding a suitable match to keep the family at the top of the social ladder and possibly the next to replace the Astor family. But Birdie has a fondness for writing but can't seem to find a suitable publisher to take her seriously since when would someone like her need money? She manages to run into Gordon Phipps Roth, a man who is famous for all his romance novels and she believes if she can convince him to consider her writing, maybe she might stand a chance. However her mother keeps her bound to her own plans for marriage and arranges a suitable match with Alfonse Van Cliffs, who will take them to the top of the social ladder. But Alfonse isn't looking for a love match, but more along the lines of the same desires her parents have. If only her childhood friend Elijah Percy who is soon to become the next Earl of Montague, and has his own sets of plans to wed Rose Gottlieb to help shore up his weakening financial state due to mismanagement from his fathers business plans. Why does marrying for love have to be so complicated?

I received The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck compliments of Zondervan Publishing and TLC Book Tours. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. I absolutely love that as a reader, you feel like you are getting two complete novels in one. With Birdie's saga as well as Tenley's they both share a love for writing that transcends generations and ties them both with unexpected surprises found in The Writing Desk. I love Birdie's true determination to stand up to both her mother and father against what society deems is acceptable for her social status as well as Tenley coming to terms with her issues with her mother and being held to such a high standard based on the literature both of her great-great-grandfather and her father. Whether now or the Gilded Age. Women want to be safe, free and loved. They want to provide for their children. In the Gilded Age, woman wanted to climb the social ladder. In the modern age, women want to climb the corporate ladder." But as they will both see, they are not cut out for what the world has in store for them and instead will follow their own hearts even if it means they stand alone instead of with the crowd. I easily give this a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars and includes discussion questions that make this a perfect book club selection.

For more information about The Writing Desk, Rachel Hauck or where you can pre-order a copy of this novel due out in July of 2017.

The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

You can find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Writing Desk, please visit TLC Book Tours page.

The Writing Desk

Are you more of a fan of contemporary romances or historical romances like traditional regencies? If you're like me, you truly enjoy them both equally. The latest novel by Rachel Hauck gives romance lovers a bit of both in The Writing Desk. It parallels two vastly different time periods from the late Regency period to present day all revolving around a single piece of furniture, a writing desk. For Tenley Roth, she has been compared to her great-great-grandfather and father Conrad Roth for having the flair to turn out best selling novels. With her latest novel Someone to Love written during the time when she lost her father, she poured out all her emotions into her characters and of course the literary world is loving it. But with every best seller comes the next one and Tenley has just a few short months before her deadline and she is faced with writers block.

Besides facing an unexpected engagement and last minute proposal from her boyfriend Holt Armstrong, she didn't exactly say yes or no to him and has taken his ring and kept it in the same Tiffany box it arrived in. She is facing another dilemma when Holt offers her a trip to Paris to work on his screenplay alongside an award winning actress thinking it may relive whatever has kept her from writing, while at the same time, she is asked by her estranged mother Blanche Hastings to help care for her now that she is facing a cancer diagnosis and must endure chemotherapy treatments with no one else to help her. The only thing keeping Tenley from immediately coming to her mother's aid is the fact she walked out on her and her father and never looked back and now she wants Tenley's help as if nothing happened. Faced with such a choice she believes heading to Florida to care for her mother might give her the time she needs to resolve any issues with her mom in case she should lose her battle with cancer and not have a second chance. Holt however decides to head to Paris without her.

As the novel toggles between present day with Tenley and Blanche, it also goes back in history to Birdie Shehorn, a wealthy American socialite who has been tasked with finding a suitable match to keep the family at the top of the social ladder and possibly the next to replace the Astor family. But Birdie has a fondness for writing but can't seem to find a suitable publisher to take her seriously since when would someone like her need money? She manages to run into Gordon Phipps Roth, a man who is famous for all his romance novels and she believes if she can convince him to consider her writing, maybe she might stand a chance. However her mother keeps her bound to her own plans for marriage and arranges a suitable match with Alfonse Van Cliffs, who will take them to the top of the social ladder. But Alfonse isn't looking for a love match, but more along the lines of the same desires her parents have. If only her childhood friend Elijah Percy who is soon to become the next Earl of Montague, and has his own sets of plans to wed Rose Gottlieb to help shore up his weakening financial state due to mismanagement from his fathers business plans. Why does marrying for love have to be so complicated?

I received The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck compliments of Zondervan Publishing and Net Galley. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise. I absolutely love that as a reader, you feel like you are getting two complete novels in one. With Birdie's saga as well as Tenley's they both share a love for writing that transcends generations and ties them both with unexpected surprises found in The Writing Desk. I love Birdie's true determination to stand up to both her mother and father against what society deems is acceptable for her social status as well as Tenley coming to terms with her issues with her mother and being held to such a high standard based on the literature both of her great-great-grandfather and her father. Whether now or the Gilded Age. Women want to be safe, free and loved. They want to provide for their children. In the Gilded Age, woman wanted to climb the social ladder. In the modern age, women want to climb the corporate ladder." But as they will both see, they are not cut out for what the world has in store for them and instead will follow their own hearts even if it means they stand alone instead of with the crowd. I easily give this a well deserved 5 out of 5 stars and includes discussion questions that make this a perfect book club selection.

For more information about The Writing Desk, Rachel Hauck or where you can pre-order a copy of this novel due out in July of 2017.

The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

You can find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Writing Desk, please visit Zondervan Publishing's website. 

A Royal Christmas Wedding

As a little girl, I have always been fascinated by fairy tales and happily ever after endings, where the prince finds his princess and love prevails. We can look to England for some of that contemporary royal wedding and romance and see that some fairy tales are not just in books. Perhaps that is why I have absolutely adored Rachel Hauck's Royal Wedding series of novels. It takes those romance feelings of fairy tales long ago and brings them to life in a "Ah moment" whenever you finish one. I could not wait for this one to release and readers will be able to pick this one up in mid-October.

A Royal Christmas Wedding picks up where How to Catch a Prince left off, and now goes to show that just because you might want it to happen, some happily ever afters must wait. Combining a bit of royal wedding history from the early 1800's, the Pembrook chapel bell has not rang out since the death of Prince Michael who fell to his untimely death after ringing the Pembrook Chapel bell announcing his intentions to marry the woman his loved. To this date, the bell has remained silent along with all the traditions that went along with it. Now it has been 182 years since a Prince climbed the 182 steps of the Chapel to ring the bell and all of London is abuzz with the news that Prince Colin Tattersall will do just that and ring the bell for Lady Jordan who he has been seeing recently.

However on the eve of the Harvest Celebration, what the world doesn't realize is that the Prince has been coming to the chapel for quite some time with his friends to toast in the New Year, not ring the bell. But if he could do it, it would be for the one woman who claimed his heart 4 years ago and not Lady Jordan. That is his prayer to God, that the bell would ring for her. However when it does, by some odd reason, Colin believes it to be a prank ushered in by Guy Smoot, his longtime friend and now the entire world believes Colin has rang it for Lady Jordan instead.

Avery Truitt has arrived with her mother in Brighton to be with her sister this Christmas now that there is news she might be giving birth to the soon-to-be-heir. All she knows is the man who broke her heart 4 years ago, will be present during all the celebrations that will take place over the next month and she is bound to run into him. Despite what she feels, her heart has never gotten over Colin and he will always be the one for her. She just needs to keep her emotions and feelings in check during the next few weeks. All that is in the past and she needs to focus on her future and that is not with Colin, no matter how wonderful he may be. He stood her up 4 years ago for prom and she isn't about to just let him waltz back on in.

I received A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck compliments of Zondervan Publishing and Net Galley. This is truly an adult version of all those fairy tales we read as little girls and gives us hope that love will always prevail despite the odds against it. Who wouldn't want to fall in love with a handsome prince during Christmas? Sign me up for sure. This is one for die-hard royal romance fans who love following their hearts instead of their heads when it comes to romance. The only down side is that this marks the end of the Royal Wedding series, with this being book 4. If you haven't read them, please do so in order so you can gain a true understanding of all the relationships you'll encounter in this one, including Susanna and Nathaniel's own royal romance. For me, this is a wonderful 5 out of 5 stars and only hope at some point in the future, we might get a chance to see how their lives have progressed down the road. There is also discussion questions included that book clubs will love.

For more information about A Royal Christmas Wedding, Rachel Hauck or where you can pre-order a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck

You can find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on A Royal Christmas Wedding, please visit Zondervan Publishing's website. 

The Wedding Chapel

"I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not harm you," says the Lord, "plans for a hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

In Rachel Hauck's latest novel, The Wedding Chapel, this scripture is extremely important for the characters in this novel. Each of them are interconnected by a series of events from the pasts and secrets that were kept out of spite and jealous but ultimately would be used for good. Jimmy Westbrook, or "Coach" as he is known by his students is one hard working man. He is a man of integrity and faith believing in the commitment he made one night just before he shipped off to the war. To love the only woman there would ever be for him, a girl he first fell in love with just by seeing her picture as she was slated to arrive to live with her cousin Clem, Jimmie's best friend, along with her sister Peg. They left behind a war that claimed the life of their parents and were looking to start over again someplace where war didn't seem so real.

Taylor Branson, an up and coming photographer, living in New York along with her newly married husband Jack are struggling to find their way forward in their new life together as husband and wife. Their whirlwind romance coupled feelings from their childhood living in Hearts Bend, Tennessee and fate brought them together on the streets of New York for a second chance. They both believed it could work, but also figured if it didn't there would be no real loss if they simply chose to walk away. But now that they are back at work, they are spending less and less time together and fail to communicate their true feelings to one another and instead let actions dictate their words. Taylor and Jack begin to wonder to themselves if they have made a big mistake in getting married. They are both trapped by feelings from their past that neither of them want to confront.

Yet when a photo shoot takes Taylor back to Heart's Bend to photograph an old wedding chapel on the land owned by Jimmie Westbrook, Taylor is brought full circle into a life she never dreamed would be possible. Besides taking the photos for work, she can't help but feel pulled by the feelings that this wedding chapel carries a life and spirit of its own and one she can't help but feel pulled into. But God has a bigger plan in mind as he brings the past, present and future together and those involved that desperately need the healing power of forgiveness and acceptance to become all that He imagined they could be. It's never too late for a second chance at life and at love.

I received The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. I've been a huge fan of Rachel's novels since picking up my first and now I simply need to see her name on the cover for me to pick it up. I've never been disappointed. I love the story between Jimmie and Colette the best, to see someone work so hard to show someone how much he truly loves them and holds on to his faith that one day God will restore to him what believes is truly meant to be. I found myself walking around the dusty walls of the old wedding chapel as Rachel describes it and feeling a sense of holiness and promise there and was thrilled at how it all came to a conclusion. For me this one was worthy of all 5 out of 5 stars as the book toggles between present day and the past to convey the stories of the characters lives. A Discussion Guide is included at the conclusion of this book that is perfect for book clubs.

For more information about The Wedding Chapel, Rachel Hauck or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

You can find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Wedding Chapel, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page.


Is sixty years too long to wait for love? Two stories of romance, one in 1949 and one in the modern day, meet in Rachel Hauck's The Wedding Chapel. When Taylor Branson takes an assignment in Heart’s Bend, the job does more than send her back to her hometown, but into a world of family secrets buried beneath the sands of time. When Taylor’s journey intersects with Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook's, they rediscover the heartbeat of their dreams and that the love they long to hold is right in front of them. And worth every waiting moment.

Join Rachel in celebrating the release of The Wedding Chapel by entering to win a copy and a $100 cash card—perfect for finishing up your Christmas gift shopping!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Wedding Chapel
• A $100 cash card

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 31st. The winner will be announced January 4th on Rachel's blog.

The Wedding Chapel

"I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not harm you," says the Lord, "plans for a hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

In Rachel Hauck's latest novel, The Wedding Chapel, this scripture is extremely important for the characters in this novel. Each of them are interconnected by a series of events from the pasts and secrets that were kept out of spite and jealous but ultimately would be used for good. Jimmy Westbrook, or "Coach" as he is known by his students is one hard working man. He is a man of integrity and faith believing in the commitment he made one night just before he shipped off to the war. To love the only woman there would ever be for him, a girl he first fell in love with just by seeing her picture as she was slated to arrive to live with her cousin Clem, Jimmie's best friend, along with her sister Peg. They left behind a war that claimed the life of their parents and were looking to start over again someplace where war didn't seem so real.

Taylor Branson, an up and coming photographer, living in New York along with her newly married husband Jack are struggling to find their way forward in their new life together as husband and wife. Their whirlwind romance coupled feelings from their childhood living in Hearts Bend, Tennessee and fate brought them together on the streets of New York for a second chance. They both believed it could work, but also figured if it didn't there would be no real loss if they simply chose to walk away. But now that they are back at work, they are spending less and less time together and fail to communicate their true feelings to one another and instead let actions dictate their words. Taylor and Jack begin to wonder to themselves if they have made a big mistake in getting married. They are both trapped by feelings from their past that neither of them want to confront.

Yet when a photo shoot takes Taylor back to Heart's Bend to photograph an old wedding chapel on the land owned by Jimmie Westbrook, Taylor is brought full circle into a life she never dreamed would be possible. Besides taking the photos for work, she can't help but feel pulled by the feelings that this wedding chapel carries a life and spirit of its own and one she can't help but feel pulled into. But God has a bigger plan in mind as he brings the past, present and future together and those involved that desperately need the healing power of forgiveness and acceptance to become all that He imagined they could be. It's never too late for a second chance at life and at love.

I received The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. I've been a huge fan of Rachel's novels since picking up my first and now I simply need to see her name on the cover for me to pick it up. I've never been disappointed. I love the story between Jimmie and Colette the best, to see someone work so hard to show someone how much he truly loves them and holds on to his faith that one day God will restore to him what believes is truly meant to be. I found myself walking around the dusty walls of the old wedding chapel as Rachel describes it and feeling a sense of holiness and promise there and was thrilled at how it all came to a conclusion. For me this one was worthy of all 5 out of 5 stars as the book toggles between present day and the past to convey the stories of the characters lives. A Discussion Guide is included at the conclusion of this book that is perfect for book clubs.

For more information about The Wedding Chapel, Rachel Hauck or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

You can find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Wedding Chapel, please visit Thomas Nelson's website. 

How To Catch A Prince

"I pledge to you my love and fidelity, my honor and trust, to cherish you until death part us.

The heiress and the prince. They were meant to be. In love. Forever. They were going to make it, defeat the odds of wealth and power pulling a modern couple apart." (pg. 51).

I don't know of one woman who hasn't dreamed of some day even if it's only in her dreams of capturing the attention of a handsome prince. I guess we get that notion from all those fairy tales our parents read to us as a child, but best selling author Rachel Hauck has managed to captivate on that notion in a way that garners those fantasy dreams once again as an adult in her Royal Wedding Series of novels.

I mean who hasn't watched Princess Diana marry Prince Charles or even lately the marriage of Kate and William and hasn't in the back of her mind longed for that same dream. In her latest novel How to Catch a Prince, the third novel in the series, American heiress Corina Del Rey had managed to do just that, win the heart of Prince Stephen of Brighton. While they knew the implications of such a secret love and how it might impact their futures, love still prevailed and their wedding took place in secret just before Stephen was slated for deployment to Afghanistan.

When he returned however the secrets persisted and he told Corina that their wedding was a mistake. One that could very well cost him the future throne. It seemed there was more there than what he was willing to tell Corina so they parted and went their separate ways for the next five and a half years. When Stephen is confronted with a marriage certificate he believed was destroyed, he is told he is still legally married by his brother Nathaniel. He has to find Corina and manage to convince he to sign annulment papers to legally end the marriage they both believed was over. But Corina isn't about to give up that easily especially when she knows that Stephen can provide the answers to her brother Carlos' death when he served with Stephen during his deployment, something the government wants to keep covered up. Is all fair in love and war? You're about to find out!

I received How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck compliments of Zondervan Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is the fairy tale series for women who love the idea that a happily ever after does in fact exist in real life. I have read this entire series from beginning to end and my hope is that it doesn't end with this novel. These have been too good to be true and one that I will be reading again and again. They are a permanent addition to my book collection and personal library. A Reader's Discussion Guide is included at the conclusion of this novel that is perfect for book clubs that would love to host this novel. In my opinion, this one is another home run and well deserving of all 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about How to Catch a Prince, Rachel Hauck or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

You can find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on How to Catch a Prince, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.

An American heiress and a crown prince seem destined to be together. Will the devastation of war keep them apart forever? Find out in Rachel Hauck's new book, How to Catch a Prince. True love has a destiny all its own. With a little heavenly help, Prince Stephen and Corina embark on a journey of truth. But when the secrets are revealed, can they overcome, move forward, and find love again?

Enter to win a "royal" prize pack! 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A royal-themed Brighton charm bracelet
• 2 tickets to see the new Cinderella movie
• The Royal Wedding series (Once Upon a Prince, Princess Ever After, and How to Catch a Prince)

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced March 24th on Rachel's blog.


{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

Princess Ever After

What would you do if someone you never met before came up to you with news that you are a royal heir to the throne? That's right a bonafide princess! Would you believe him? Would you be willing to give up your current life right now and head for a country your grandmother used to talk about but one you never had though had any significance to your family before today?

Welcome to Regina Beswick's world as of today? While she insists that everyone call her Reggie, she finally believes that she is following the dream she was always meant to have, restoring old vintage cars. While her father wanted her to pursue a career as a CPA, it wasn't her life calling and she walked away from the accounting firm. Now while she has successfully restored her first car, a 1971 Dodge Challenger and is dreaming of the day when she'll have more opportunities, in walks Tanner Burkhardt. He's been sent on behalf of the King Nathaniel II to locate the only heir to the throne, the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg, which leads to Reggie.

They have only less than a month remaining to convince Reggie to come back to Hessenberg and assume her throne or the island country will revert back to Brighton as the one-year entail ends. But how can you convince someone like Reggie that her duty is to assume the throne when all her life, she has never heard of anything more than fairy tales her grandmother Alice shared with her. She's just suppose to walk away from her home, her family, friends and her promising new business and leave it behind to be a princess? She always dreamed that fairy tales would come true but she never for once considered it just might be true and happening to her!

But perhaps she can just fly over to Hessenberg, restore the country to it's proper order and then walk away leaving the responsibility to someone else, but when Tanner learns that the governor of Hessenberg is challenging Reggie's ability to manage the country, it might mean that the country will default to no government after all. The new governor is trying to use the media to create a fire storm of controversy that Reggie is American born and thus has no right to rule over a country and people she cares little for. Will Tanner be able to convince Reggie to do what she can to help the country or will it fall into history as being a city no more?

I received Princess Ever After by best selling author Rachel Hauck compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Zondervan Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions are strictly my own. This is the second novel in the Royal Wedding Series and I loved it just as much as I did the first one. I think every little girl grows up with the fantasy of being a princess some day and that is why I believe this novel really appeals to women. It creates the possibility that fairy tales can come true and perhaps there is a handsome prince just waiting out there for the right girl to come along and save the day being just the person she is without having to change. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. There is also a reading group guide at the end that is perfect for book clubs! I can't wait for A March Bride coming soon!

For more information about Princess Ever After, Rachel Hauck or where you can pick up this novel today, please click on the links below:

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

You can also find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Princess Ever After, please visit Litfuse Publicity's Book Tour Page. 


Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of her latest "swoon"-worthy romance,  Princess Ever After, with a fun $200 "Princess" prize package giveaway and a Facebook "Princess" party on March 6th. Grab your tiaras and RSVP today!

  One winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa cash card (buy your very own "princess ever after" gown or tanks of gas for your "royal" ride)
• Princess Ever After, Once Upon a Prince, and The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 6th. Winner will be announced at Rachel's "Princess" Facebook Party on March 6th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of "royal" book chat, princess-themed trivia, laughter, prizes, and an exclusive look at the next book in the Royal Wedding series!

So grab your copy of Princess Ever After and join Rachel and friends on the evening of March 6th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!

Once Upon A Prince

As a young girl I can remember all those fairy tale stories my mother used to read to me. A handsome prince would rescue his damsel in distress, whisk her away from her previous life, take her away to his castle, marry her and live happily ever after. Yet those were the fairy tales for little girls, but thankfully Rachel Hauck is introducing a new series of novels, The Royal Wedding Series and begins with the first book, Once Upon a Prince.

We all know that fairy tales can really come true! Take for example Princess Diana, the average American girl who falls in love with Prince Charles. They get married and live in a castle where everyone falls in love with the idea that fairy tales really can come true. Now we can see evidence of the generational love story with Prince William, Diana and Charles oldest son, who falls in love with Kate Middleton, your average girl with no royal ties or upbringing and once again they marry and are spending their futures living the fairy tale dream.

In Once Upon A Time, we meet Susanna Truitt who has spent the last twelve years waiting for the man she had hoped would marry her and they would begin their own fairy tale future, but that was not in the cards she would be dealt. After serving four tours in Afghanistan, Adam Peters had come home to realize that Susanna wasn't the right girl. He had fallen in love with someone else and now needed to convince Susanna that her future plans did not involve her. Could her life get any worse?

After being dumped quite literally on the beach where she had hoped Adam was taking her to propose, she finds herself with a flat tire and dealing with a homeless man beginning for money. Armed with a tire iron and a strong will, no matter how much she pleads with the man to leave her alone, he won't take no for an answer. That is when Susanna's "prince" arrives to save the day. Armed with knowledge on how to change a tire, he simply instructs the homeless man to take the $20 he offers and leave them alone. She is relived and broken at the same point and breaks down in front of Nate. He listens with a kind ear and offers to help her change her tire. What he can't understand is why Adam would leave her to marry another?

Susanna learns that Nate Kenneth is on holiday in St. Simons Island and is involved in politics back in Brighton. She finds herself being drawn to him in unremarkable ways when it seems like fate keeps intervening to enable Nate to come to her rescue again and again. When Susanna's father has a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital, Nate is there for her. Armed with running the family business, The Rib Shack while her father is recovering Nate offers to help out with whatever he can do to help the family out, even if it means cleaning toilets and taking out the trash. Never in her wildest dreams did Susanna believe that true love was waiting for her at the end of her darkest road and that a fairy tale was about to be unleashed on her life when she learns that Nate is the Prince of Brighton. Will she have a fairy tale ending after all?

I received Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck compliments of Zondervan Publishing and Litfuse Publicity Book Tours for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. I inhaled this one and fell in love over and over again not only with Nate, but also with Susanna's fate in life. It seems like things go from bad to worse at every opportunity and you just hope with fingers crossed and baited breath that she and Nate will find that "happily ever after".  I think my favorite part in the book was when Susanna needed a ride at a fundraiser to go to the hospital as her dad was being rushed there for his heart. She knew that the fund raiser was hosting a special guest but had no idea who it was.

As Nate was making arrangements for a ride, she looked at him and said, "You're from Brighton. Wouldn't it be funny if you were their special guest?"

"Downright hilarious. Shall we get you to the hospital?"

The saddest part of this novel was finishing it too soon. I even interrupted my husband several times to share parts of this book with him. "Oh babe, she finds out he's really a prince. I hope they fall in love and get married!" I look forward to many more in this series. Finally a big girls fairy tale series I can fall in love with time and time again. This wasn't my first Rachel Hauck novel and it won't be my last. This one rate a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and has found a permanent place on my personal library shelf. I highly recommend this one to your "Must Read List" for the summer.

To find out more information about Once Upon A Prince, Rachel Hauck or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Once Upon A Prince by Rachel Hauck

You can also find Rachel Hauck on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Once Upon A Prince from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here.

Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of Once Upon a Prince with a fun "Royal Wedding" Giveaway and connecting with readers at her May 28th Facebook Party.








One "royal" winner will receive:




• A Kindle Fire


• Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Once Upon a Prince" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 28th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of book chat, wedding trivia, laughter, and more! Rachel will also be sharing a sneak peek at the next book in the series and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.






So grab your copy of Once Upon a Prince and join Rachel on the evening of May 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

The Wedding Dress - Giveaway and Review

Charlotte Malone is the proud owner of Malone & Company, a bridal salon that features in something besides the ordinary wedding dresses the local chain stores carry. If you're looking for something truly one of a kind and unique, then you will want to shop at Malone's, where Charlotte guarantees she find the perfect dress for you.

However when Charlotte finds herself avoiding locating her own perfect dress and attending to her upcoming wedding details, she wonders if perhaps her engagement isn't to Mr. Right after all. When Charlotte attends a local auction at the Ludlow estate, she finds herself bidding on an antique chest that is welded shut. The problem is that she doesn't have the money in her budget to make such an extravagant purchase yet when she learns that some of the higher bidders plan on using it for parts, she outbids them all.

Now if she can only figure out what it may contain and why someone would want to weld it shut. When she does get it open, she discovers an extraordinary dress that appears to be perfect preserved after being locked away in the chest for 100 years. Wondering about the original owner of the dress, Charlotte finds herself wondering just what stories the dress could tell if it could talk, and maybe, just maybe she'll find out.

The novel, The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck is enchanting because its divided into different chapters moving forward and backwards in time returning to the dresses origin in 1912 where another soon-to-be bride is facing a similar situation as Charlotte herself is dealing with in modern day times. What Charlotte will soon discover as she researches the dresses origin is that it belonged to three different women and they each have a story to share with her, one that will help her move forward and hopefully find the love we all search for in the end.

I received, The Wedding Dress compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and being a hopeful romantic knew I had to read this one. I was not disappointed and found the storyline to be unique and engaging as you discover the women who wore the dress and what lessons they learned along their own romantic journey. I rate this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great historical romance!

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the link below:

The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

What is "true" beauty? Join the conversation at Rachel's Author Chat Party Event Page. On the eventing of 4/19 we'll gather to talk about inner and outer beauty and share moments of beauty in our lives.



In the meantime, celebrate with Rachel by entering her True Beauty Giveaway!



One "beautiful" winner will receive:

• A $200 Visa Cash Card (Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend get-away!)


• The Wedding Dress (by Rachel Hauck)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 4/18/12. Winner will be announced at Rachel's "True Beauty" Facebook Party on 4/19. Rachel will be hosting an evening of beauty (inner/outer) chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Rachel via Skype.)



So grab a few of your friends and your copy of The Wedding Dress and join Rachel on the evening of April 19th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 19!

Dining With Joy Giveaway and Review

Imagine all the cooking greats you've seen on TV, from Emeril to Rachel and more. What if behind all the lights and camera, they really couldn't cook? Not even boil water?

In the latest Lowcountry Novel by Rachel Hauck, "Dining With Joy", is the premise for the storyline. Joy can't cook. In fact the only reason she even has her own cooking show was to replace her father, Charles on the former, Dining With Charles show when he died. They knew Joy couldn't cook but since the show was so successful they didn't want to see it end.

Now Duncan Tate, the executive producer to her show is selling her show to TruReality without disclosing the one thing that would destroy it all, her inability to cook. Duncan convinces Joy that they don't really need to know because they are buying it based on how it's been going up to this point.

Enter Wenda Devine, Joy's cooking show rival that wants nothing more than to have a "cook off" to show the public who is truly the better cook. When she stages one on national TV with an up and coming local hunk/chef, Luke Redmond, her ultimate plan is to switch competitors without Joy knowing about it.

Will the network executives really find out about Joy's cooking secret? Will Wenda rise to the ranks of the best chef after exposing Joy? Will Luke come to Joy's aid and save the day in more ways than one?

To find out you will need to read, Dining with Joy, a classic for those cold, winter nights. I received Dining With Joy, compliments of TLC Book Tours for my honest review and found it to be beyond my wildest expectations and worthy of a 5 star rating!!!

This book is available in paperback and eBook formats. For more information about this amazing book, talented author, where to purchase a copy or read even more reviews from wonderful bloggers, click on the link below:

Dining With Joy by Rachel Hauck

Thanks to TLC book tours, they are offering a giveaway copy of the book to one lucky follower of my blog.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Must be a follower of Reviews From The Heart

2. Must be a resident of the US and No P. O. Boxes please.

3. I must have a way to contact you via email if you are the winner so please include it with your comment.

4. Leave a comment and let me know why you would love to win a copy. The giveaway will end on December 16th. I will notify the winner by email.