There’s nothing like a good princess book! And it’s even better when that book isn’t just a fun, entertaining read, but has a solid message to back it up.
To the watching world, Princess Alina has it all–maids to serve her, a kingdom to revere her, a prince to marry her, and a wardrobe filled with enough frills, flounces, and shades of pink to rival a flower shop. But behind the smiles and designer clothes, Alina has a secret. She’s barely holding it together.
After a moment of panic almost ends in tragedy, Alina is sent to a refuge far from the palace to recuperate. Her family claims it’s for her own good but–faced with cows, knife-beaked ducks, and far too many of her own insecurities–Alina is pretty sure it will kill her first. And Joha Samson, infuriating man that he is, will laugh as it does.
Only there’s more to Joha than she realizes, and more to herself too. When the time comes to make a stand, will she find the courage?
Alina is certainly a complicated character. In book one, Heart of a Royal, she came off as nothing more than a self-centered, prissy princess. And at first, in this book, Alina seems like she really is nothing more than that–at times I even agreed with Joha’s hard judgement of her. But as the story progresses, you realize that all of Alina’s fluff and sparkle is just a veneer to cover up the fact that she is actually falling apart on the inside. Alina suffers with anxiety attacks and has dealt with them on her own since she was a young girl. She has fallen into such a routine of covering up her pain and fear that she doesn’t even know how to be her true self anymore. She knows nothing but the pink and diamond studded veneer, and since no one knows about her struggles, she doesn’t even know that what she is dealing with is anxiety. Instead, she thinks something is irreparably wrong with her. This ended up opening my heart to Alina and I was startled to realize just how much I could sympathize and even identify with her. People see what they want to see–or what you want them to see–on the outside, but often, they don’t realize what you are going through behind the closed doors of your heart.
It wasn’t just Alina and my understanding of her that surprised me. The plot itself took more turns than I expected and I was truly left wondering how things would play out. At one point towards the end I literally shouted, “WHAT?!” I did not expect this particular twist and I immediately had to find out what would happen next because SURELY Hannah wasn’t going to let this book end like this! Haha!
Joha Samson is also a somewhat surprising hero. He isn’t the kind of person you would think a princess would fall for. He’s not classically good looking, he’s very gruff, scruffy, and usually dirty… but he’s somehow… perfect! He actually reminded me of my own husband, with his say-it-like-is-even-if-it-kinda-hurts attitude. My husband would also much rather be in boots, jeans, and covered in dirt from working than be primped and polished in a suit. But like my own real-life love, it’s Joha’s heart of gold that beats for serving others that shines and makes him a hero worthy of any woman, even a princess.
Overall, I give this book a solid 4/5 Stars! If you like a light, easy read that also has some good “meat on its bones” when it comes to the message, look no further than Heart of a Princess–and it’s predecessor, Heart of a Royal! I can’t wait to read book three, Heart of the Crown, and discover Lady Wenderly’s story!
