One month. That’s all the time Prince Laurent Vellineuvre has to find a bride and secure his throne for the good of the people. If not, his uncle Mathis will take the throne, and all hope may be lost.  Yet, just when opportunity seems to be favoring him, Laurent is struck with a huge blow to his plans. Does God have another way to save the kingdom, or is it His will that Laurent vanish into obscurity and let Mathis rule? 

One month. That’s how long Annette Beaumont needs to thwart the prince’s plans and save her sister, Rose. She’s seen the devastation of his previous decisions – how could this one be any better? Annette is determined to do what is right for her sister and the suffering people of the kingdom. Yet, when tragedy strikes, Annette finds herself in a precarious situation. Will God hear her desperate pleas for joy, love, help in her time of need, or will Annette watch everyone she loves suffer?

This is A Noble Grace by E.G. Bella – a non-magical, Christian retelling of Beauty and the Beast! Although this book is in the Cornerstone series, it reads as a stand-alone.

I was quickly immersed into the dual settings: the charming castle with its abundant gardens and the bustling town with its poverty-stricken corners. Both held intrigue, trials, unexpected joy, and the villainous shadow of a usurper.

Bella created a world in which the crucial elements of the fairytale are played out with creative, Christian twists – such as the dance in the grand ballroom, the gift of the library, and time crunch to find a bride. I’ll let you read to enjoy the twists yourself. 😉 

The character development was superb! Laurent and Annette were relatable in their own ways – we are able to understand and appreciate each standing point and root for them. The book is written in first person, present tense, which gives a very “in the moment” feel. 

It was interesting being able to root for Laurent in one chapter, then switch to Annette in the other, grasping both sides of the story with each hand until they finally meshed together. The tension and spark between them was genuine and realistic. There was one scene where I felt like doing something to make Laurent understand Annette! Definitely immersed in the story line.

The plot twist had me wondering, if Rose becomes the princess, what about Annette?! However, just when you think the story is set – another shift takes place, thrusting the characters into an even more conflicting scenario. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

Oh, and the scene when Laurent comes just in time to save the soon-to-be-princess was wonderful! I like how he had a very reasonable explanation for being there, one that showed God was orchestrating, and it’s always so triumphant when the hero gets to stand up for his bride!

One underlying theme that I loved was that all of the things we seek in times of trouble (peace, protection, joy, assurance) are found when we seek the Lord. 

I’m raising a Hallelu Yah!  I praise You, Yahweh, for You have promised that if we seek You with all our hearts, we will find You – even in the darkest valley! The Lord is our joy, our peace, our purpose, our loving God in whom we take refuge. He will humble us to lift our eyes to Him and find unfailing love, unwavering protection, and unending grace. Hallelu Yah!

All-in-all, A Noble Grace is certainly a princess story worth reading!