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kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
The second in the Royal Wedding Series and I loved this one even more. This book centered around a different royal - Miss Regina Beswick who is living in Florida and has left a safe career of CPA to open a car restoration shop. Her life will be turned upside down as a country comes to find out that she is their long lost queen and she must decide what life she would like to live.
An interesting way to continue a series by taking a different royal and put them at the center. I loved Regina's real debate about whether she wants to move to another country and become a Queen or stay and pursue the new path that she had just started to pave. The love story in this book didn't take center stage and I liked that. I liked the focus on Regina's quest for personal happiness came first and then love kind of fell in her lap!
My only wish for this book was a little more of an appearance of Susanna and King Nathaniel, I loved them so much from the first book. And now I wonder who will be at the center of the third book??
An interesting way to continue a series by taking a different royal and put them at the center. I loved Regina's real debate about whether she wants to move to another country and become a Queen or stay and pursue the new path that she had just started to pave. The love story in this book didn't take center stage and I liked that. I liked the focus on Regina's quest for personal happiness came first and then love kind of fell in her lap!
My only wish for this book was a little more of an appearance of Susanna and King Nathaniel, I loved them so much from the first book. And now I wonder who will be at the center of the third book??
reneesmith's review against another edition
5.0
“Like restoring cars is a highway to being a princess? Dad, my life is not a Disney movie.” Reggie Beswick, Princess Ever After
Once I opened Rachel Hauck’s Princess After Ever, I had to keep reading until I’d wrung the last drop of sweet, romantic, quirky goodness from the story. This book is equal parts Princess Diaries, Roman Holiday, and Tammy and the Bachelor. (Anyone else remember that oldie but goodie?). And I kept picturing Tanner Burkholdt as hunky widowers Tom Winters, aka Cary Grant, from Houseboat or Graham, aka Jude Law, from The Holiday—even though he’s blond.
Princess Ever After is big on charm, and I love how Tanner is totally respectful and virtuous in how he treats Reggie. I can’t wait to share this story with my students. I know they’ll love it!
What’s it about?
The Grand Duchy of Hessenberg is in trouble. It seems the late Prince Francis established a one hundred year entail, at the end of which he intended for his heir to return and reestablish the monarchy. Now the entail is about to end. Yet all members of the monarchy are gone—except for Regina Alice Beswick, a country bumpkin from the States, who would rather be dipped in axle grease than model a tiara. So it’s up to Minister of Culture Tanner Burkholdt to bring Reggie home to Hessenberg. However, Tanner’s old mentor isn’t too keen on giving up his power to the new girl. If only stoic Tanner can keep from losing his heart to Reggie, he might be able to concentrate on how to save his country and Reggie’s crown before it’s too late.
What I liked best (in no particular order) . . .
When Reggie reminds herself, “Wasn’t that what Gram did? Live the life of a princess by her actions, not her title?”
This quote: "Your grandmother was communicating truth to you with this story. You are her treasure, her heritage. There’s your truth."
***Thanks to Rachel Hauck, Litfuse PR, and Zondervan for providing a copy for me to review.
Once I opened Rachel Hauck’s Princess After Ever, I had to keep reading until I’d wrung the last drop of sweet, romantic, quirky goodness from the story. This book is equal parts Princess Diaries, Roman Holiday, and Tammy and the Bachelor. (Anyone else remember that oldie but goodie?). And I kept picturing Tanner Burkholdt as hunky widowers Tom Winters, aka Cary Grant, from Houseboat or Graham, aka Jude Law, from The Holiday—even though he’s blond.
Princess Ever After is big on charm, and I love how Tanner is totally respectful and virtuous in how he treats Reggie. I can’t wait to share this story with my students. I know they’ll love it!
What’s it about?
The Grand Duchy of Hessenberg is in trouble. It seems the late Prince Francis established a one hundred year entail, at the end of which he intended for his heir to return and reestablish the monarchy. Now the entail is about to end. Yet all members of the monarchy are gone—except for Regina Alice Beswick, a country bumpkin from the States, who would rather be dipped in axle grease than model a tiara. So it’s up to Minister of Culture Tanner Burkholdt to bring Reggie home to Hessenberg. However, Tanner’s old mentor isn’t too keen on giving up his power to the new girl. If only stoic Tanner can keep from losing his heart to Reggie, he might be able to concentrate on how to save his country and Reggie’s crown before it’s too late.
What I liked best (in no particular order) . . .
When Reggie & Tanner tour the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg dressed as a fun, famous couple from the past
“Meadowbluff Palace, with its gables and turrets, framed by the towering Cliffs of White”
Sunset in Wisteria Park
St. John’s Chapel, where Reggie soaked in “The millions of prayers. Peace. The presence.”
Gram Alice’s backstory, told in letters from 1914
Meeting 10-year-old twins Bella and Britta
The spiritual thread invoking the royal roots which belong to every daughter of the King.
When Reggie reminds herself, “Wasn’t that what Gram did? Live the life of a princess by her actions, not her title?”
This quote: "Your grandmother was communicating truth to you with this story. You are her treasure, her heritage. There’s your truth."
***Thanks to Rachel Hauck, Litfuse PR, and Zondervan for providing a copy for me to review.
agbrewer's review against another edition
2.0
This book was picked purely for a fluff book to listen to during a road trip. It definitely serves its purpose and entertained me well for the first half. It had a good main character and an interesting conflict when she was trying to decide how to proceed. I even appreciated that she had strong faith and used it in her decision making because I feel that is missing from a lot of pop culture today.
But then, the second half kind of spiraled into predictability and extreme "returning to the Church" theme. The religion got to be overbearing in the main character too. The only real conflicts were barely knee high hurdles.
Overall it was enjoyable enough to keep me reading until the end. But I'm not sure I'd recommend.
But then, the second half kind of spiraled into predictability and extreme "returning to the Church" theme. The religion got to be overbearing in the main character too. The only real conflicts were barely knee high hurdles.
Overall it was enjoyable enough to keep me reading until the end. But I'm not sure I'd recommend.
sarah_reading_party's review against another edition
5.0
Unbelievably sweet. I love this series and hope it never ends!
mnboyer's review against another edition
2.0
There are two things I should mention up front. First, I did not read the book that came before this. This book came to me as a randomly picked retailer clearance book. To be honest, it has a pretty cover, a cute concept, and a fun name. Secondly, I was not aware this was a "Christian romance" until about 80 pages in when Reggie started talking about God a lot.
That being said: Not my cup of tea.
I have problems with the dialogue, which often seems overworked and clunky in areas. As much as I also wanted to enjoy a red-neck princess that doesn't necessarily want to be a princess--this was all bland to me. I never really bought into the connection between Tanner and Reggie either, which was the most problematic for me. That deep connection just did not strike, as much as the novel attempted to try and make it so.
Unfortunately, the novel reminds me of [b:The Princess Diaries|38980|The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)|Meg Cabot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355011082s/38980.jpg|2073907] even though this is meant for, theoretically, an older group of readers. Perhaps because it is well known, [b:The Princess Diaries|38980|The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)|Meg Cabot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355011082s/38980.jpg|2073907] has cornered the marked for "princess out of nowhere" literature. But as much as I wanted to enjoy this book, and see it for something new, even though it might not have been a book I would have chosen for myself--it all just fell flat. It has a pretty cover and pretty font but no true character development that I believe in or follow along with. Perhaps the first book was better (from reviews, others seem to be saying this) and this was a rushed follow up, but I don't see it as being more than a quick 2-star read.
That being said: Not my cup of tea.
I have problems with the dialogue, which often seems overworked and clunky in areas. As much as I also wanted to enjoy a red-neck princess that doesn't necessarily want to be a princess--this was all bland to me. I never really bought into the connection between Tanner and Reggie either, which was the most problematic for me. That deep connection just did not strike, as much as the novel attempted to try and make it so.
Unfortunately, the novel reminds me of [b:The Princess Diaries|38980|The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)|Meg Cabot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355011082s/38980.jpg|2073907] even though this is meant for, theoretically, an older group of readers. Perhaps because it is well known, [b:The Princess Diaries|38980|The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries, #1)|Meg Cabot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355011082s/38980.jpg|2073907] has cornered the marked for "princess out of nowhere" literature. But as much as I wanted to enjoy this book, and see it for something new, even though it might not have been a book I would have chosen for myself--it all just fell flat. It has a pretty cover and pretty font but no true character development that I believe in or follow along with. Perhaps the first book was better (from reviews, others seem to be saying this) and this was a rushed follow up, but I don't see it as being more than a quick 2-star read.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I just could not get into this book, which made me sad since I love these kinds of storylines. I may try it again later.
elisabethd8a's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
caity1987's review against another edition
5.0
If you want a modern day fairy tale then this is the book for you. Going from greasy hands to wearing a tiara is never easy for someone who had never been given or put in charge of anything but one's own life.