Hand-Me-Down Princess by Carol Moncado - REVIEWED

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing

About The Book: Prince Malachi Van Renssalaer of Mevendia is getting married. The problem? He’s never even met his bride. His father arranged everything, right down to the marriage contract. Malachi swears to himself that he will be nothing like his father in the ways that count - including his fidelity to his wife. 

Jessabelle Keller would happily spend her entire life in obscurity, but her father once saved the life of a future king. Before he dies, her father is committed to seeing that king make good on his promise to have one of his sons marry her so she would be taken care of for life. 

No sooner than Prince Malachi and Jessabelle return from their honeymoon, they find themselves dealing with both private trauma and the very public drama of groundless accusations from the press. Just as they begin to weave their fragile trust back together, a ghost from the king’s past arrives and threatens everything they’ve ever held dear. 

Secrets have a funny way of coming out and this one could rip the faith of the country in their leaders to shreds. Malachi is determined to protect Jessabelle no matter what it takes, but will it ever be enough for her to not feel like a Hand-Me-Down Princess?
My Thoughts:

“You have value because you are a child of the King.  Your worth has to come from Him, not in your title or statue here on earth.”  (p.  234)

Prince Malachi is a treasure beyond measure!  The tender way he treats his arranged bride from the moment they arrive in their honeymoon accommodations to the last page of this novel is touching and amazing!  Both he and his bride, Jessabelle, find themselves in an arranged marriage, and neither of them are quite sure what that should look like on the inside.  Their character comes to light beautifully as they navigate their royal obligations, and their relationship begins to blossom.

However, there are some serious skeletons that fall out of the royal closet just about the time you think this thrown together couple has a chance of making a real go of their marriage.  What I found fascinating was that their reaction to the devastating news they receive places them exactly where they need to be to receive the truth of their relationship with Christ and with each other!  I loved the ending especially for that reason alone!

This is a modern day royal romance with some very transparent and day to day faith messages woven within the story line.  No family is perfect.  No faith – no matter how small – is too small for God to work miracles in the hearts of His children!  All of us find our identity in Christ alone.  From that identity, we can weather life’s unexpected storms with royal grace!  LOVE THIS BOOK!  It took me totally by surprise!!

About the Author: When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband, four kids, and a dog who weighs less than most hard cover books. She prefers watching NCIS to just about anything, except maybe watching Castle. She believes peanut butter M&Ms are the perfect food and Dr. Pepper should come in an IV. When not watching her kids - and the dog - race around her big backyard in Southwest Missouri, she's teaching American Government at a local community college. She's a founding member and President of MozArks ACFW, category coordinator for First Impressions, blogger at InspyRomance, and represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency.