Welcome back, Rachel. You have a lot of
books out now. What is your favorite setting to use in your books?
Of
course I love to write books set in the south since I live in Florida ,
but I really loved the Royal romance book setting of Brighton Kingdom
I’ve loved all your books, and the royal
romance books are my favorites. What do you look for when you’re shopping for a
book to buy for yourself?
Premise
and opening line are key for me. If the opening line doesn’t catch me, or the
premise, I won’t keep reading. I look for well written, well told stories.
While I write romance, I do love fiction with a literary, even epic, feel like The Girl On The Train, Nightingale, Me
Before You, A Hundred Summers.
Give us a little tour of the setting for
this book.
A Royal Christmas Wedding was set in fictionalBrighton Kingdom which I placed in the North Sea between England and Germany . It’s an old country with a
rich history so I tried to create an ancient as well as modern feel. Lots of
traditions. While it’s an island, it’s also mountainous, with high rocky cliffs
leading down to the sea. It’s quite beautiful.
A Royal Christmas Wedding was set in fictional
I love the stories of the royal series, but
the setting is wonderful, too. What other books do you have coming out soon?
The Wedding Shop, part of The Wedding
Collection, released in August. I’m working on a book for next summer! Stay
tuned!
I’ve loved The Wedding Collection, too,
especially The Wedding Chapel. Please
give us a glimpse inside your home.
Ah,
I love my house. A gift from the Lord. It’s an older brick home that’s been
remolded on the inside. The best part is the office. A two story turret built
off the garage by the previous owners who also happen to be friends. We’re
blessed.
Is this novel part of a series or a
stand-alone book?
A
Royal Christmas Wedding is the fourth in the Royal Wedding Series.
Tell us about the story.
Royal
Wedding fans will remember Avery, Susanna’s sister, from Once Upon A Prince. She was a senior in high school when Susanna
married King Nathaniel of Brighton
Kingdom
Colin
walked into the story as a hero, befriending Avery, and almost falling for her
right away.
I
knew their story had to be told.
The
book opens five years later and well, things haven’t turned out quite the way
either of them planned.
Will
there be another royal wedding in the Truitt family? Stay tuned!
Please give us the first page of the book.
Ah,
this is tricky but fun. I open with a prologue!
Prologue
The
night was moonless, the color of black ink, with not one star twinkling from
the heavens. The air, cold and brisk, swirled with snow.
The
ancients called such darkness the Boot of God. But for Prince Michael, the glow
of gaslights lined along the palace grounds and the love beaming in his heart
showed him the way.
Lady
Charlene offered a challenge. And he aimed to take it.
Running
along the perimeter, past the reach of the gaslights, Michael aimed for
Pembroke Chapel and its notorious bell tower. “Mick, ole chap, what’s lit your
fire?” The voice of his mate Paulson slipped over his shoulder. “The music, the
food, pints of bitters, and all the pretty ladies are back in the ballroom, the
latter just waiting for a dance with us.”
“Don’t
slow me, Pauls. I’m going to ring the chapel bell.”
Michael
worked the heavy iron latch of the tower’s door until it sprang open.
“What?
You jest. And what unsuspecting damsel will be the object of your unwanted
affection?” Paulson’s steps neared, his breathing heavy, his lantern giving
some light.
“If
I tell you, what will be the mystery?” Michael started up the slick stone steps
of Pembroke Chapel bell tower in the dark, feeling his way and balancing with
his hand on the rickety wood railing.
Tonight
he wanted nothing more than to ring the chapel bell at midnight—according to
the Harvest Celebration tradition—declaring his love for Lady Charlene and
intention to marry her on Christmas Day.
One
hundred and eighty-two narrow steps and he’d arrive at the top of the tower.
Paulson’s
voice echoed from below. “If you ring that bell, everyone will want to know who
is your intended. You won’t escape, ole man. What of your father? He’ll have a
word or two to say.”
“He’ll
discover the truth on Christmas morn. Like everyone else. Who am I to break
with a good Brighton tradition by revealing
the woman of my affection?”
At
the top, Michael butted against a door, forcing the rusty hinges to give way
until he stood under the four-hundred-year-old bell.
Paulson
arrived a moment later, the lantern swinging from his hand, the golden light
reflecting in his wide smile. “There’s your bell. What seems to be the delay,
my good man?” He motioned to the bell cord. “Or did you knock some sense into
yourself banging against the door?”
“The
cord . . .” Michael yanked on the twisted hemp rope attached to a hook in the
tower stone. “It won’t budge. It’s frozen.”
“Thank
the heavens, you’re saved.”
“I
don’t want to be saved.” Michael, determined, rubbed his hands together,
gripped the rope, and leaned, pulling his muscles taut under his winter coat.
Since my book hasn’t arrived, I am eager to find out what
comes next. How can readers find you on the Internet?
Go
to www.rachelhauck.com and from there,
connect with me on social media.
Thank you, Rachel, for allowing me to feature another royal wedding series book on my blog. I love them and I know my readers do, too.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
A Royal Christmas Wedding - Christianbook.comA Royal Christmas Wedding (Royal Wedding Series) Amazon paperback
A Royal Christmas Wedding (Royal Wedding Series)
- KindleA Royal Christmas Wedding - Audio
Comment conversation starter questions: Have you read any of Rachel's Royal Wedding series? If so, which is your favorite?
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