To Save a King by Rachel Hauck Series: True Blue Royal #2
Published by Hauck House on May 5, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Romance / General, Fiction / Religious, Fiction / Romance / General, Fiction / Romance / Royalty
Pages: 362
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A modern-day fairy tale of hope and rescue from NYT bestselling author Rachel Hauck
After growing up in small-town Hearts Bend, Tennessee, Gemma Stone set off to Hollywood to make her mark in the world.
But her ambition turned into a journey of a "thousand" bad decisions and after twelve years of seeking fame and fortune, Gemma returns home with a limp and a dark secret.
Now she runs a rescue ranch and is raising her friends' orphaned daughter. She's keenly aware these defenseless ones are also rescuing her. She just wants to stay hidden in the safe world she's created.
HRH Crown Prince John has learned a royal title cannot shield him from heartbreak. As heir to the revered House of Blue and married to the love of his life, he believed his future reign would strengthen the royal dynasty of Lauchtenland. Then tragedy changed everything. Can anything save him from his grief?
When he travels to Hearts Bend on a mission for his mother, Queen Catherine, he's drawn into the local life and cajoled into a three-legged race with the beautiful Gemma Stone during the 4th of July festivities.
While the event has a disastrous result, Prince John and Gemma form a quick friendship-one of two wounded souls finding comfort in one other. However, love is absolutely not an option. John desperately wants to hold onto the memories of his wife, and Gemma refuses to trust her heart to any man. Even a prince.
Then Prince John is called home for an emergency. How can he leave the woman who lifted him from his sorrows? But can Gemma join him on a royal stage and risk her secret coming to light?
With a touch of divine help, Prince John and Gemma just might find the kind of love that saves and ultimately write their very own fairy tale.
To Save a King is book two in the True Blue Royal series.
I got to know Prince John and his bride, Holland, in To Love a Prince. The older brother of Gus and heir to the throne. I’ve said before, but I’ll say again, I should really pay more attention to those synopses sometimes. I, for the life of me, couldn’t figure out why a married King-to-be would need saving in a romance book, but here we are, and let’s just say I was heartbroken right along with John. But enter the Queen with a two birds, one stone mission. Go to Tennessee to forge a bridge with the long-hidden half-sister to The Family and get out of your grief. He goes on a promise that he not have to marry to take the oath for the crown. Yeah right. And enter Gemma Stone.
I loved their deep friendship to romance relationship. While their internal monologues should have been enough to drive me batty, they really didn’t, as they felt so real and authentic to their own personal experiences and shadow pasts. Yes, I’m giving a win to romance 😀 I loved that the faith threads were woven in so naturally and that there wasn’t just a Go Jesus mentality but what felt so much more natural of doubt and self-doubt. A feeling of unworthiness that any honest person will identify with, even if they never say it. The supernatural element was back with Adalaide and Emmanuel, and it felt so ethereal, but also a bit humorous, with Adalaide and Gemma.
There’s a lot to unpack here with the Queen, John and Gemma, and even Scottie (that found sister). And it’s all good and cohesive and wonderfully told. I only have one suggestion. Here’s where I ask you to pander to my cold, dark heart. Hear me out. Let’s just say there’s a small little side quest (there is). What if that little situation, mysterious even, took on a little stronger presence in the story and not just some background noise while I fed my herd, also known as The Ferals. Trust me, I get this is a romance, but I’m a mystery girl, but seriously, the two can go together. And this will all make more sense when you read the book, so get on it!
About Rachel Hauck
New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida.
A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie. Her novel, The Wedding Dress, has been optioned for film by Brain Power Studio
She loves to hear from readers. She also loves to encourage new writers and sits on the Executive Board of American Christian Fiction Writers..
A graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism, Rachel is an avid OSU football fan. She hopes to one day stand on the sidelines in the Shoe with Ryan Day.
Visit her web site to find out more and click on the icons to follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Join her NEWSLETTER for exclusive monthly content.
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