Review: How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck

I've enjoyed this series and am a little sad for it to end. There's just something about the mix of Southern gals and royalty that has really endeared me to this series. You can see my reviews of Once Upon a Prince here and Princess Ever After here.

How to Catch a Prince (Royal Wedding, #3)How to Catch a Prince
(Royal Wedding #3)
by Rachel Hauck
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback368 Pages
February 24th 2015 by Zondervan

Summary

Prince Stephen came to America to escape responsibility. But what he found complicates his life more than ever.

Corina Del Rey is happy with her life in Melbourne, Florida. She spends her days engrossed in her career as a journalist and has her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder if for no other reason, to distract herself from her dissolving family. But when she is confronted with the past she fought so hard to put behind her, she struggles to make sense of her future.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom has moved on since the tragic death of his buddies in Afghanistan. A star professional rugby player, he has no intention of looking over his shoulder at what could ve been.

But when a notice arrives in the mail requiring his and his wife's appearance before the courts to dissolve their marriage, he must deal with the questions rumbling around in his heart. He thought his marriage had been annulled long ago, but his memories of Corina Del Rey remain close. Does he still love her? Can he even find her? Above all, can he tell her the truth about that fateful night in Afghanistan seven years ago? If he does, he might really lose her forever."

     

My Review

This has been such a sweet and fun series! I really loved in How to Catch a Prince that there were parts where the main characters from the first book, Once Upon a Prince, showed up since they're related to the hero in this book, Prince Stephen. I also liked that the heroine is another gal from the South with spunk and Southern charm. This was another great combination in a couple. There was plenty of tension, spark, and a few twists that kept the story interesting while also containing a sweetness and sincerity that kept the story grounded amongst all the propaganda surrounding the royalty and the fact that the heroine is/was married to a prince.

I really loved Carina and really felt for her as well. She was sweet, charming, and fierce when she needed to be. I also loved Stephen and could definitely understand the guilt that he carried. There were a lot of sweet moments between these two played out in conversation, in just a touch or look, and many times from one character without the other knowing (such as her/him realizing how much love was still there, but hiding it from the other). The story was also really heartbreaking when both these characters were so hurt and were trying to rectify things as they saw they should. I was really pulling for them to forgive and mend their relationship.

Then there were some other characters that I really loved seeing again and getting to know. There was Susanna and Nathaniel from the first book, along with the queen. There was Thomas, who I absolutely loved, who worked for the royal family. There was Carina's parents and best friend Daisy, but I especially loved Ida Mae. There was Gigi, who I wanted to strangle at points who worked as somewhat of an adversary. Overall a great set of characters who all added to the story.

There was only one thing that was overdone for me in this story and rubbed me the wrong way and I'm going to mention it briefly. The part with the hotel where Corina stayed and the characters associated with it were just too much. Too weird and a little out there. I'm sure that this is a little bit of a personal preference. I tend to like inspiration when it's more internalized, either just in the character's thoughts or prayers, or with conversations between preacher and follower, friends, or family. There was a part where Stephen sits down with his former religious leader and I really enjoyed that, but the parts with Corina and her friends at the hotel just felt a little forced, vague, and unrealistic.

How to Catch a Prince was a roller-coaster of emotions for me. The sweetness, heartbreak, family relationships (good and rough), inspiration, and romance all pulled me in different directions at different times but also all worked together to form a beautiful story that I really enjoyed. I'm sad for this series to end, but looking forward to seeing what the author tackles next.

Content: Clean

Source: I would like to thank the author and Zondervan, the publisher, for my complimentary ARC of this book, which did not affect my review in any way.


Have you read any of the books in this series? Do you plan to?

22 comments

  1. Hmm. Judging by your review, I don't think I will read this one. It just doesn't appeal to me anymore. So thank you for the review, and therefore helping me make a decision to read this one or not.

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  2. I like the sound of this one. I don't think I heard of the first book before either. I will need to check these ones out! Great review :)

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  3. Cali Willette1/22/15, 10:23 AM

    What a great series and it sounds so cute. :)

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  4. I also adored the first two books in this series and am looking forward to reading this one. I think these are stories I could read again, and again.

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  5. I think I am on the rails on this one not sure if I want to and not sure if I don't..lol. Question about the gay aspects..does that mean there is a gay character or a romance? I don't mind characters but I don't read books about M/M romances..just my own preference. :)

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  6. I have read the first 2 and really enjoyed them. I'll have to make sure this is on my tbr list.

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  7. This series sounds so sweet! I've always found royalty to be quite interesting. In fact, The Princess Diaries series is one of my all time favourites! I mean, this one is obviously more mature, but you need to move up! Great review! Thank you for making me aware of the series. :)

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  8. Looking forward to whatever Rachel write's next. Whatever it is, it promises to be wonderful! Great review, Tressa.

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  9. I liked all three of these, but the second one I LOVED! I think you'd like these ones. I mean, who doesn't want to dream about a prince, right? Lol!

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  10. It's really cute and (I think) a fabulous idea.

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  11. I really liked this series. The second book was my favorite, but all of them were good.

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  12. I was thrilled to get an ARC. I hope you enjoy it!

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  13. Lol! It is fun to read about the royal family and particularly these princes. ;) As long as you enjoy Christian Fiction you should enjoy these.

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  14. I am kind of sad to let this royal family go. Maybe she could find another royal family to write about... ;)

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  15. I just finished her Legend trilogy a few weeks back and I wasn't that impressed with the series, especially the plot and the writing. I've heard plenty of good things for this book but I'm still on the fence on this one.

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  16. I think it would suck it in against your will, but for me, it wasn't worth it.

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  17. I thought I would love it. Those darn expectations. ;)

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  18. I really loved Legend, but this was a whole different ballgame. I can't really say if you'd like this or not. It was pretty dark. You might really like it.

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  19. This sounds like a fun read! I have it on my kindle as well :-)

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  20. Hopefully you'll get to it soon. I did like it. :)

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  21. That would be wonderful! I'd be one of the first in line to read it. :)

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  22. Me too. Or, how about a series based on these characters' children who feel pressured to have great love stories like their parents... See, there is a lot of potential to give readers more.

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