About the Book

Book: To Save A King

Series: True Blue Royal, Book 2
Author: Rachel Hauck
Genre: Christian Royal Romance
Release Date: May 8, 2021

A modern-day fairytale of rescue and hope from NYT bestselling author Rachel Hauck

Growing up in small town Hearts Bend, Tennessee, Gemma Stone had big dreams. So she headed to Hollywood to make her mark in the world.

But dreams have a way of becoming nightmares. When she returns home twelve years later, she’s limping through life and harboring a dark secret.

Running a rescue ranch and raising her friends’ orphaned daughter is her sole mission now. All the while she’s well aware these defenseless ones are also rescuing her.

HRH Crown Prince John has learned a royal title cannot shield him from heartbreak. He had the perfect life as heir to the revered House of Blue, the royal dynasty of Lauchtenland, and married the love of his life. Then tragedy changed everything. Is there any way to be saved from a life of grief?

When he finds himself in Hearts Bend on a mission for his mother, Queen Catherine, he catches up with a good friend–country music great Buck Mathews. He has no intention of joining the 4^th of July fun until he’s cajoled into a three-legged race with the beautiful Gemma Stone.

The disastrous race leads to a quick friendship. They are easy and comfortable around one another because love is absolutely not an option.

John desperately wants to hold onto the memories of his wife while Gemma refuses to trust her heart to any man. Even a prince.

When trouble in Lauchtenland calls the prince home, he realizes how much Gemma has rescued him. Saved him and restored his hope for his role as future king.

For Gemma, falling in love with the prince must be quenched. If it weren’t for her past, she’d give him her heart in a second. How could she risk bringing her shame to the House of Blue and the world stage?

However, she’s not the only one who can rescue and heal the wound. If she saved Prince John, why can’t he save her? And when he tries, will she have the courage to say yes to the best role of her life?

“Another compelling royal story by the master of princely tales!” Susan May Warren, USA Today bestselling, RITA award-winning novelist

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My Thoughts

Once again Rachel Hauck knocks it out of the park! This is the second book in the True Blue Royal series and although you can possibly read it as a stand alone it's so much better if you read the first one. I know for me it was great to visit with the Royal family once again. This time we encounter Prince John and a lot more from his mom the Queen. We also are introduced to Gemma Stone in the town of Hearts Bend which if you have read other books by Rachel Hauck you will definitely recognize this town.. (hint hint... The Wedding Dress).

I loved the story of Prince John. He is the rightful heir of the kingdom and supposed to be the king but nothing can happen until he gets married again. He however is not in a place to do that as he is still grieving the loss of his wife. He tries to get his mom to change the law but she wants to keep it in place not only for tradition but to make sure that the heir of the throne is settled down and taking things seriously. She sends him on a holiday of sorts to Hearts Bend, TN to spend time with friends and also to meet his half sister and be the go-between between her and the queen. I could totally picture the character of Gemma in my head as a no-nonsense southern girl. However she has a past that she's trying to hide and doesn't want to open her heart to anyone, romantically speaking. She is immediately drawn to the prince and vice versa. Their friendship blossomed in such a natural way that it was just dreamy! Goodness that first kiss!! Wowza!!

This is my first book by Rachel Hauck that doesn't include a time slip/dual timeline. But it does include characters and elements from her previous books! So it was nice to see some of the characters again. I truly enjoy her writing and she is one of my favorites. I love how she integrates God into her stories, she definitely has a unique way to do so. It was nice to encounter Emmanuel again and how he guides and directs Prince John and Adelaide with Gemma. The scene at the Hand of God where they experience what I would consider God's spirit was beautiful.

My only complaint is that the story did not keep going! Haha! No, seriously I hope Mrs. Hauck writes another story in this series. I would like to know what happens with Scottie! I also felt like there should be a bit more closure with the Holland debacle. So perhaps there will be more to come! One can hope right?!

Overall I absolutely loved this story. It's a story of about healing, second chances, forgiveness and faith. If you enjoy Royal family fiction stories that have the message of God interwoven into it then this is the story for you.

My Rating: 4 Stars/ Really Loved it!!

Reviewer's Random Thoughts: Mrs. Hauck if you ever read this... who did you base your characters on? Like if you have to pick actors for John and Gemma who do you envision playing them?

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About the Author

Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner. Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie. Three more of her titles are under film contract.

Rachel was awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.

A retired member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Executive Board, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.

In the real world, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.

A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.

She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.

More from Rachel

One of the biggest challenges in a series is keeping the reader interested. Even more of a challenge is writing in a trope like royals.

I never set out to write a second royal series. With five stories in the Royal Wedding Series, I thought I’d explored the topic to my satisfactions.

Yet when readers asked for more, and when I found myself in a season to produce my own stories, another royal series seemed like the perfect fit.

But can I be honest? Really honest? Come close. I’ll tell you a secret. Closer…

Royals can be a bit boring. At least to write. You laugh but I’m serious.

What do we really know of their day to day lives? They attend national functions, patron charities, represent the nation on walkabouts around the world. They are ambassadors with no real political agenda. They champion causes.

But what exactly do they do with their days? What are the inner workings of palace life? What are the real expectations? Do they call the queen “her majesty” when talking among themselves? When talking to her? Are they as formal as it seems on television?

Yet royals are the most documented people in history. So there is a lot to glean from when I make up my worlds.

But at the end of it all, they key for me in writing royal characters is to make them real, everyday people. The prince is the kind of chap you want to chat with over tea. The heroine is the sort of girl you’d love to see become a princess. Maybe even see a bit of yourself in her.

In To Save A King, Crown Prince John is trying to emerge for a year of grief. Gemma Stone is desperate to escape her past.

Gemma’s story has some what of an edge to it. In her attempt to achieve her goals, she walked a path she never thought she’d walk when she was a girl growing up in Hearts Bend, Tennessee. And it proved her undoing.

While we may have never faced a past like Gemma’s, we can all relate to personal betrayal of our values from gossip to immorality. I hope Gemma’s story reminds us the nearness of love and forgiveness.

On a lighter side, I recently learned British society has moved away from chap and bloke, replacing it with the American term “guy.” Isn’t that funny. Louise Lee, my narrator, said it was funny to read those words in To Love A Prince since there were more her parents’ generation. Ah, the signs of a more global society.

Well, I didn’t care if they have gone out of style for young people. I used them anyway. I like them. Maybe we should adopt “chap” and “bloke” over here. What do you say, guys?

I hope you enjoy To Save A King, book two in the True Blue Royal series and find your heart cheering on broken, wounded characters to a happily ever after worthy of a prince and princess.