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Hello all and join on in as we read Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck. This read will go until September 14th. Here is the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ summary-

Once Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by bestselling author Rachel Hauck, treats you to a modern-day fairy tale.

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn’t going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon’s Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family’s tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna’s aid under the fabled Lover’s Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He’s a royal prince. She’s a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel’s coronation.

So here we go- please remember the reminder to post ***SPOILER*** if you are making a comment that might give anything away for those that have not finished reading the book, or if you want to get fancy Jodie explained that we can use the spoiler under (some html is ok) which is located at the upper right hand corner which will hide your comment. (I will have to try that!)

Anyway, I will start with the regular question- Have you read any other books by Rachel Hauck? And if so, what did you think of them?

I have read several of her other books: The Wedding Dress, Sweet Caroline, Dining With Joy, and the one about Elle - title escapes me at the moment. I have enjoyed all of them.

This was my first Rachel Hauck book, but I also have The Wedding Dress in my eBook library. I was ready for a light romantic book, Once Upon a Prince really satisfied that craving. Likable characters albeit an unrealistic plot, but by the end of the book, I was asking myself how available I am to God. I was moved several times throughout the book. This was the perfect vacation book for me.

I am so behind on here. I know the book last month was one I could not find at the library. All this month, none at the library. Annoying.

Oh man, I am so sorry to hear that Karen. I was fortunate enough to have it at my library, but I know that sometimes the library lets you down. If I had a copy, I would gladly send it to you!

That is so sweet. Thanks.

I haven't read anything by her. I do have The Wedding Dress on my Kindle but haven't gotten to it yet.

I just finished this and thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait to discuss it!

I loved The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hanuck.

My library doesn't have this month's read in; I'm very disappointed as I think Hanuck is a wonderful author.

Cathie wrote: "I loved The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hanuck.

My library doesn't have this month's read in; I'm very disappointed as I think Hanuck is a wonderful author."

I am glad to hear you liked her other book because I am reading that next. I was disappointed that the library didn't have the group non-fiction read. I have really loved the non-fiction books from this group--I even bought the last one! I have definitely found some great new authors here.

ok, I'm gonna start with a question taken from the discussion questions in the back :)

In the opening of the story, Susanna had a plan. One she stuck to for far too long. Is it possible to cling to an idea or want too long? Discuss areas of your life where you might need to let go.

Absolutely. When we get stuck in a plan, that cuts God's plans out because it doesn't allow for Him to decide we need to go another direction. I know right now for me I am stuck in wanting my husband to be back to normal tomorrow. I need to let go of that and realize it is God's will and timing as to when or if he will get back to normal physical health.

Loraine, I know how frustrating that must be for you. We had a plan too. We were going to retire, sell our office building, maybe our house as well, and move on from there. But we live in a rural area and our office building has been vacant and for sale now for 3 years. Since that is a major part of our nest egg, we cannot really move anywhere. No new plan in sight.

That is soo hard, isn't it? To be able to let go of what we think of as the "best plan" and be able to trust God in His plan is truly where our faith kicks in or rather where our faith truly grows. It's so hard to let go of though for sure. To be honest with you I think I have had to let go of certain plans only to see that God's bigger plan was all about him and not me ;)
My background is a theatre background and so I really ,really wanted to be in theatre and on Broadway. However when that didn't work out, I was soo bummed and abandoned that dream.. Years later as I have worked in drama with my church through various plays, skits, etc. I have been able to be a part of productions where we performed at at woman's prison or other various places. I felt God whisper to me "Your plan was to go to Broadway and glorify yourself, but my plan was for you to go to a prison and glorify me."
Some of the productions that I have been apart of at my church have been instrumental in people seeing and understanding the gospel and so they have come to Christ. I felt so thankful and so humbled that God could use such a love of mine as theatre to bring glory to Himself. God's ways truly are so much higher and better than ours!

I haven't read this one this one and don't think I will get to it for a while!
But I just finished The Wedding Dress and absolutely loved it!!! I wish it hadn't taken me so long to read it!!! :-)

I really loved that one too Caitlyn, I just loved the cross generational story time. That was fascinating for me! Glad to hear you liked it!

Beautiful testimony Cheryl!!! It's always wonderful to look back and see how God's plan is so much better than what we plan for ourselves. I believe it was Corrie tenBoom who said life is like a piece of needlepoint. We see it from underneath with all the loose threads and it doesn't make a lot of sense. But from the top - which is God's perspective - a beautiful picture is taking shape.

Cheryl wrote: "That is soo hard, isn't it? To be able to let go of what we think of as the "best plan" and be able to trust God in His plan is truly where our faith kicks in or rather where our faith truly grows...."

Oh what a wonderful way to use your talents Cheryl!

Sara wrote: "Beautiful testimony Cheryl!!! It's always wonderful to look back and see how God's plan is so much better than what we plan for ourselves. I believe it was Corrie tenBoom who said life is like a ..."

I loved that when I read it in her book.

Cheryl wrote: "ok, I'm gonna start with a question taken from the discussion questions in the back :)

In the opening of the story, Susanna had a plan. One she stuck to for far too long. Is it possible to cling..."

Great question! Like Susanna, I love plans (and rules)--they also make me feel secure and help life seem fair. I am a perfectionist, introvert, and a certified grudge-holder. I value honesty and courtesy which seem to be going out of style. I am a reformed realist. I care too much and do too little. I am 95% aware of my sinful nature and hypocritical ways.

Now that you have heard my confession, it is easy to see how stuck I have been. I really have "Let go and let God" in so many areas of my life this year. Knowing how greatly He loves us and trusting God to take care of everything is something I hope everyone realizes. As Susanna offer up her own heart, I asked myself how available I am to God. 50%? 80%? Shamefully, it was not 100%. Wake up call #42: Be 100% available to the One who loves me beyond my wildest imagination. Forgive! Be open to and accept love. If you cling to anything, cling to God.

Kalena, I love how God can use anything, even a fictional story to turn our attention to something regarding our relationship with Him. And such a great question for all of us to pnder on our availability to God. Thanks for sharing that!

Ok, moving on to a question about our prince....
Nathaniel's life is about to change. he doesn't feel ready to be king. He hopes it's later rather than sooner. Discuss ways to embrace life's changes. If change is hard for you, how can you embrace it with a more willing heart?

Kalena wrote: "Wake up call #42: Be 100% available to the One who loves me beyond my wildest imagination. Forgive! Be open to and accept love. If you cling to anything, cling to God."

I love this statement! It's so true! Reading this book has made me question where I am in my Christian walk and letting God have control of my life. Shamefully, it's not 100%, either. Thank you for this statement. I needed to read that this morning!

Since we are a military family, one buzzword is resilience. However, I fail in the adaptability department. As I said before, I love plans. So, how do I deal with life's changes? Crying (I feel there is no shame in having a good cry). Also, prayer, loads of prayer. I find that asking God to help me be a willing servant and maintain a positive attitude is invaluable in my walk with Him. I also remind myself that there are so many people less fortunate than us (reality check #3). I also require a periodic kick in the pants from my Godly girlfriends. If all else fails, I turn up the music, enjoy some sunshine, snuggle with my family, grab a good book and remember that God is good.

Shannah wrote: "Kalena wrote: "Wake up call #42: Be 100% available to the One who loves me beyond my wildest imagination. Forgive! Be open to and accept love. If you cling to anything, cling to God."

I love this ..."

Thanks! I found that a powerful thread throughout the book.

Kalena wrote: "Since we are a military family, one buzzword is resilience. However, I fail in the adaptability department. As I said before, I love plans. So, how do I deal with life's changes? Crying (I feel..."

Kalena, I loved what you said about crying and prayer! That is my modus operandi (sp.?) as well. I think they go hand in hand! I am a part of a mom's prayer group and trust me it's the only way to go in terms of meeting big changes and all the challenges that present themselves in being a mom :) thanks for your awesome words, they so blessed me!

Cheryl wrote: "Ok, moving on to a question about our prince....
Nathaniel's life is about to change. he doesn't feel ready to be king. He hopes it's later rather than sooner. Discuss ways to embrace life's chang..."

My life changed dramatically three years ago. I thought I never would survive it. But learning to lean on God through everything helped me, if not embrace the change, at least accept it. That didn't make it any easier to deal with, but God was with me the whole way, cheering me on, telling me to just keep going. I think Nathaniel's lesson came from the faith Susanna had in him. It reminded him that even though there are changes in life, God knows what he's doing.

I just finished this book today and I was so happy with it! You can see my full review .

Thanks or sharing hat Shanna, that was so encouraging and you are a model of perseverance, gonna remember your words for sure!

Change is hard for almost everyone. I am a very social,outgoing person who loves to travel. Until a year and a half ago my retirement was full of the things I love to do and packed with lots of travel trips with my husband who also loves to see the world too. Then he developed severe osteoarthritis of the spine on top of the sciatica he already fought for years and a herniated disk in his neck. Although he had a cervical fusion, they have not been able to totally get the pain in the neck and back under control which has basically left him disabled and me a 24/7 caregiver. Not what either of us expected at our age/stage in life as we have both always been healthy. Being housebound and a 24/7 caregiver has been a difficult challenge for me. I remind myself every day that God has a plan. It's definitely not my plan but God has a reason for this, will walk with me through it, and hopefully use it to His glory.

Loraine wrote: "Change is hard for almost everyone. I am a very social,outgoing person who loves to travel. Until a year and a half ago my retirement was full of the things I love to do and packed with lots of t..."

You have a good attitude, Loraine. I am sorry you are having to go through this.

Loraine wrote: "Change is hard for almost everyone. I am a very social,outgoing person who loves to travel. Until a year and a half ago my retirement was full of the things I love to do and packed with lots of t..."

Yes, I know very well what it is to have retirement plans that are suddenly stymied by illness. My husband and I had just about recovered from raising and educating two girls when he began to have mysterious falls. A year later, in 2002, Parkinson's was diagnosed. We did some travel, but by 2011 he was saying that he couldn't do any more journeys, even across Canada, let alone across the Pond. Now he is gone at 78, with much in this world undone. Except that it was his testimony that he was contented to depart, and did not feel that he had left anything undone.

I think that one great strength is that he was a completely dutiful person: work of every kind just poured out of him. He thought that it was infinitely more important to have done all one ought to do than to have enjoyed all one wanted to enjoy. The enjoyment can be waited for in the heavenly life.

My book , though never planned as a tribute to him, has turned out to be exactly that.

Hang onto the truth that the Lord is not surprised by anything that is happening to you.

Thank you Diana- for sharing about your husband. He sounds as though he were a treasure. And as hard as your last sentence is to live out- the idea that the Lord is not surprised by anything that is happening to us- I believe it to be truth and that somehow there is security in that. Blessings to you and thanks again for sharing.

Ok- Here's a light question! Time to judge the book by the cover-

what do you think of the cover of the book?

Cute, but doesn't she need just one glass slipper?

Roger Harned- talkofJesus.com + Christian Social Witness

Diana wrote: "Loraine wrote: "Change is hard for almost everyone. I am a very social,outgoing person who loves to travel. Until a year and a half ago my retirement was full of the things I love to do and packe..."

Diana - my prayers for you as you learn to go on without the light of your life. I truly understand the path you walked and thanks for sharing.

I thought the cover was certainly unusual. When I first took a quick look at it, I thought perhaps she had just gotten out of the bathtub!!!

I agree, it's cute, but the cover did not fit the book really. I wish they had a picture of them dancing at the colors ball, where she wore a white dress anyway...

Ok time for a new question...

What are your thoughts on the character of Aurora and her role in the story?

I loved Aurora! Who wouldn't love an Aurora in their life?? There is something about a personified God nudge that is fantastic to me. Plus, she was likable--a feel-good character and I believe most of us have that person that we just love to be around because we feel inspired, joyful around them.

Kalena wrote: "Cathie wrote: "I loved The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hanuck.

My library doesn't have this month's read in; I'm very disappointed as I think Hanuck is a wonderf..."

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Caleb wrote: "anyone please follow me"

Caleb, please stop soliciting for people to follow you. Engaging in conversation is welcome, so our members may get to know one another. Our Just Talk thread is a good spot for that. Thank you. I hope you have a blessed day.