Reviewer's Bookshelf: How To Catch A Prince by Rachel Hauck

Book summary (from Amazon): Behind him, beside him, before him, the synchronized cathedral bells began to ring out.

One, two, three . . .

Then she said it first. The words his heart burst to share. “I love you, Stephen. You are my true prince.”

An American heiress and a crown prince seem destined to be together. Will the devastation of war keep them apart forever?

American heiress Corina Del Rey caught her prince once. But the tragedy of war kept her too long in a fog of grief. Now she’s shifting her life forward, reigniting her career as a journalist. Still, nothing can relieve her of the secret and the love she carries in her soul.

Prince Stephen of Brighton is one of the world’s most eligible bachelors and a star rugby player, trying to make sense of his life. His days in Afghanistan with the Royal Air Command will mark him forever. And he can’t shake their dark shadow.

But when his brother, King Nathaniel, confronts him with a document the prince thought long buried and forgotten, Stephen is forced to face the pain of his past and the love he left behind.

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? 

My thoughts: There are so many great things about this story.  My favorite is the overall theme that is carried throughout the book: love well.  Such a great message, not only in romantic relationships but also in friendships, relationships with family and other loved ones.  In this novel, Corina wants to love Stephen well, even though he has broken her heart and is hurting after his traumatic experience in the war.  She also wants to love her parents well, as they are distant and consumed with grief over the loss of Corina's brother.  Loving them well brings about healing not only for Corina, but also her loved ones.  

I also loved the chemistry between Corina and Stephen.  Although Stephen resists the strong feelings he has for her, it is obvious how much he cares.  Corina humbles herself in order to love Stephen well.  She fights the desire to brush him off and stay angry at him.  Their inner struggles create some great moments of tension between the two of them.  

Although Stephen and Corina are both wealthy and famous, they weren't above facing the situations that occur with everyday people.  That's another aspect I enjoyed...the humanization of two people who could've been portrayed as above all of these struggles because of their social status.  It is a good reminder that no matter how a person may look in the media or tv, they are still people who deal with real issues.

The only aspect of this novel that was hard for me to connect with was the "heavenly help" aspect.  I've read other novels of Hauck's in which the characters get a supernatural nudge, but in this novel it was almost too hard for me to accept.  For example, Corina's hotel reservations were missing.  That I can accept happening...spiritual intervention but in a practical way.  But then she ends up at a hotel that only a few people can see (most people only see an empty alleyway) and that only has one room...for her.  Several other aspects and the people she comes in contact with concerning her stay at this hotel were more like a spiritual fantasy.  Going from real life issues like grief, PTSD, bitterness, heartache...and this fantasy-like supernatural happening....made it challenging for me to stay connected with the story. 

But like I said before, there were so many aspects of this novel I enjoyed and by the end the theme of "love well" was what stuck with me.

Happy reading!

*I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley for an unbiased review, which I gave*