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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Who Is Your King, & Why Does It Matter?

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

Will Heart of a Royal turn your heart to the true Royal of this world? Only He knows, but this book does its best to offer a taste of the Lord's goodness. via @chautonahavig

About two chapters into the book, my server brought a fresh glass of Coke and said, “No good?”

I shook my head.  “Well written, but I don’t think the princess trope is my thing.”

Still, at least the book contained a plot.  So, I kept reading…

Who Is Your King, & Why Does It Matter?

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I received a free review copy.

Who Is Your King, & Why Does It Matter?

Sometimes a book comes across your path that makes you nervous but you want to like–hope you’ll love.  In my experience, if you have to “hope” you’ll love it, you usually won’t.  Heart Of A Royal proved to be a lovely exception.

Princess tropes tend to bore me, but the synopsis had intrigued me. It seemed like there might be something… more to it.  The problem was I didn’t know what that “something” actually was.

Now I do.

Well-written with mostly relatable characters–good and bad–and an interesting plotline.,  Heart Of A Royal will keep YA romance lovers’ attention. One of the best things about the story is how the author took familiar tropes and used them when you didn’t expect her to and in the same way you didn’t expect her to use them. Furthermore, Hannah Currie added depth to the story by making the main female character less than perfect.  Seriously, I wanted to smack the girl more than once.  In many ways, Kenna comes off as an overly-emotional, dramatic, teen.

And why should that surprise us?

Why should anyone be surprised that a seventeen-year-old acts like it?  Especially when you consider that the author turns her life upside down in this book.

More than that, however, the book offers subtle depth.  A greater thread weaves itself through the story and ties into heartstrings at the end.  You see it coming, and because of it, you cheer.

Part allegory, part fantasy, part romance, Heart Of A Royal offers a strong story of love, faith, and putting your trust in something greater than yourself.  Or, should I say Someone?

Heart of a Royal

Heart of a RoyalAbout the Book

Book: Heart Of A Royal

Author: Hannah Currie

Genre:  Young Adult/Royalty

Brought to the palace as a newborn, the royal life bestowed upon Mackenna Sparrow was never meant to last forever.

With Princess Alina engaged to be married, Mackenna’s presence as companion is no longer required and, like it or not, she must return to the birthright which should have been hers – that of a commoner. But not everyone at the palace wants her gone.

When the truths she’s based her life on start crumbling as fast as her future, will she find the courage to trust, both herself and the prince she’s fallen in love with?

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Comments

  1. Bea LaRocca says

    December 6, 2019 at 7:49 am

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful review of Heart Of A Royal. This sounds like a must read for my granddaughter and I

    Reply
  2. Melissa Wenger says

    December 6, 2019 at 3:06 am

    Looking forward to reading this one!

    Reply
  3. Trixi says

    December 5, 2019 at 8:12 pm

    Like I said on another blog, I would read this based on that gorgeous cover alone! I bet the story is just as gorgeous inside 🙂

    I love reading your thoughts about this book. I’ve not read many princess stories or YA so this would be a nice change of pace. Definitely going to check it out! If course, I hope to win too, lol!

    Reply
  4. Lila Diller says

    December 5, 2019 at 7:49 pm

    This sounds right up my alley, as I love the royalty trope but would love to see a Christian theme. I hope I win! 😉

    Reply
  5. Amelia says

    December 5, 2019 at 10:33 am

    It’s not usually one I read either but I might try this one. Thanks for the review!

    Reply
  6. Andrea Stoeckel says

    December 5, 2019 at 7:24 am

    Thank you for the opportunity

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d’Entremont
byChautona Havig

When Lara d’Entremont began describing her YA portal fantasy, The Painted Fairytale, I knew this would be right up my alley. Listen in and see how art becomes the portal to other worlds!

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Portal fantasy is my favorite, so I was crazy excited to learn about this one–especially the art tie-in. I can’t wait to dive in myself.

We chatted about her characters, the world, and the faith that connects them.

The Painted Fairytale by Lara d’Entremont

Seventeen-year-old Wren Devine refuses to share her art with anyone-other than her parents and her sister (who died three years prior). But when her mother submits her artwork to a mentorship program, and she gets accepted, Wren is forced to display her artwork for the eccentric Professor Hayes. Despite her fears, Wren hopes this mentorship will finally make her as worthy as her sister.

But this mentorship is about more than painting.

Wren soon learns that she has a magical ability to turn her paintings into portals to travel not only to other places but also to another world entirely. An eerie children’s book in the professor’s classroom reveals a wicked pirate with a vengeance who has her eye on Stefan Branson, a former student of Professor Hayes.

As all four of these lives intersect, it becomes apparent that everyone has a secret–some more deadly than others. The longer these secrets brew, the more deadly and heavy they become, and possibly lead to never seeing her former, earthly realm again. Wren must not only learn to release the shadow of her beloved sister but step boldly into her own world.

Learn more about Lara on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads.or on Subtack.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d’Entremont
Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d’Entremont
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