Review of The Orphan's Wish

Title: The Orphan's Wish 

Author: Melanie Dickerson 

Chapters: 34 plus epilogue 

Pages: 352

Series: Hagenheim Series book 8

Genre: Christian fairy tale retelling, Christian Teen Historical 

Rating: 3.5 stars 

     The Orphan's wish by Melanie Dickerson is the 8th book in the Hagenheim series Lady Kirsytn is the youngest daughter of the duke of Hageheim, and Aladdin an Orphan from the Holy Land.  Kirstyn is the daughter of character's from The Healer's Apprentice  the first book in this series  as well as the younger sister of characters from book 3 The Fairest Beauty, book 4 The Captive Maiden, book 5 The Princess Spy and book 6 The Golden Braid. So it is best to read this series in order.  

     I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would mainly because Aladdin was one of my least favorite Disney movies and I had read the original story that it was based on. Melanie was able to put on own spin on the story and make it her own.  With all of her previous novels in this series and her other fairy tale series her characters have a strong Christian faith. While it wasn't my favorite book of the series it was still good. Readers will see aspects of the Aladdin but it is still a new story because Mrs. Dickerson adds to the story and makes it her own.  

     I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retelling and Christian teen historical fiction. I would say that this book is appropriate for older teens about 15 or 16 and up.  I look forward to next book in this series which just happens to be a Mulan retelling. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of The Beautiful Pretender

Title: The Beautiful Pretender

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series: A Medieval Fairy Tale

 

Chapters: 30

Pages: 312

Genre: Fairy tale retelling

Rating: 5 stars

     The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson the second in the A Medieval Fairy tale. To me it seemed like a fairy retelling of both The Princess and the Pea and Beauty and the beast, but it was more of a Beauty and the Beast retelling that anything else.  When the Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride he invites noble ladies from neighboring kingdoms. In order to figure out which one has the best character his friends come up with different contests to test the girls characters. (the princess and the pea aspect.) 

     Avelina isn't a noble woman instead she is a servant, to Lady Dorothea. Sent to Thornbeck by her mistress's father   in order to keep it a secret that Dorothea ran off. She is suppose to keep attention away from herself. But because of her character and her beauty within as well as out draws the scared Margrave to her.  (The beauty and the beast aspect).    They are other aspects and people trying to keep them apart other than Avelina being a servant and his scars and past. 

     Will this two find happiness? But more importantly will they both learn to trust God. I enjoyed this book. It was a fairly quick read but then again I am a sucker for Beauty and the beast retellings. This was my favorite of the trilogy. 


I received a complimentary copy of The Beautiful Pretender  from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

Review of The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

Title: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series: Medieval Fairy Tale Romance book 1

Chapters: 32

Pages: 306

Genre: Christian fairy tale Christian teen historical fiction Christian teen historical romance

Rating: 5 stars

     The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is another great fairy tale retelling by Melanie Dickerson. This one is a cross between Swan Lake(Swan Princess) and Robin Hood. And I loved it.   As a child The Swan Princess and Robin Hood were in my top ten movies.   So I love the fact that Melanie combined the two into one novel.  Also the heroine is not a damsel in distress she can hold her own.  Odette worries about the orphan children of her village.  She wants to do as much as she can to help them. She becomes the Robin Hood of her people.   Jorgen is the forester for the leader of their country. Who is charged with finding the person who his killing deer in the forest.  

     Melanie's books keep getting better.  While The Merchant's Daughter will always be my favorite of hers because it's a retelling of Beauty and Beast. The Huntress of Thornbeck  Forest is tied with The Princess Spy for second.   Odette is a strong heroine in her own right but not so strong that she doesn't need a hero.  I loved Melanie's  twist on the Robin Hood  story.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of The Princess Spy

Title: The Princess Spy

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series: Fairy tales book 5

 

Chapters: 32 plus epilogue

Pages: 293

Genre: Christian fairy tale retelling, Christian romance, teen

Rating: 5 stars

The Princess Spy was a retelling of The Princess and the Frog. Which was one fairy tale I never really liked. But I loved this retelling. Colin the hero of this novel is the grandson of the hero of The Merchant's daughter and Margaretha is the younger sister of the heroes from The Captive Maiden and The Fairest Beauty.

In The Princess Spy the princess moves a little bit beyond the traditional fairy tale role. To the point that in many ways she becomes a hero in her own right.  Proving that she's more than a pretty face.

I enjoyed this book and there was a scene in chapter eight that reminded me a bit of The Princess Bride. Melanie's books keep getting better. I can't wait for her next book.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

Top 14 Books Read in 2014

The Following is my top 14 books that I have read in 2014
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1
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Review of The Captive Maiden

Title: The Captive Maiden

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series: YA Romance Fairy Tales series

Chapters: 31

Pages: 284

Genre: Christian teen romance, fairy tale retelling

Rating: 4.5 stars

The Captive Maiden is another fairytale retelling by Melanie Dickerson. This one is a Cinderella retelling.  It is the sequel to The Fairest Beauty which was a Snow White retelling. I didn’t think I would like this because Cinderella has always been my least favorite fairy tale. But I loved The Captive Maiden, though it wasn’t my favorite of Melanie’s that will always be The Merchant’s Daughter because Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite fairy tale.

Valten the hero in this one is Gabe’s brother.  Gisele is the Cinderella character.  While it is a fairy tale retelling Melanie doesn’t focus on the magic of fairy tales instead her stories point to the power of faith and God’s amazing love.  While the stories are about love and true love she points towards the ultimate true love, the love of God. The love that God had for us to send his only Son to die for our salvation now that’s true love.

I am looking forward to reading Melanie’s next book The Princess Spy.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

Favorite Books of 2013

 This book because it is a reminder of my teen years. I first discovered Katie when I read the Christy Miller series. But Katie was always a favorite of mine because I could relate to her more. I was thrilled when she got her own series. Finally and Forever wraps up the series pretty good but leaves it open for another book if the author wanted.

  Just a cute Historical fiction read by one of my favorite Christian Historical fiction author.

 A Sweet retelling of Snow White that I loved. I liked the retelling better than the original fairy tale.

 A cute teen read

A Sweet Christian romance in which the hero is a cowboy and a Marine

 A nonfiction that focus on the three woman of Christmas Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna
A sweet Christmas novella.


  The first two books in the Paige Alder series by my favorite Christian Chick lit author. These books will have you laughing and crying along with the characters. If your like me it will make you want to pick up your Bible as soon as you put the book down for the night.

 The second book in the Ballantyne legacy. It was an emotional read  that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. But not as emotional as the first book.  Silas will always be my favorite hero that Laura has written but Jack is a close second. 

  another emotional historical fiction read, that kept me on the edge of my seat. But so good. Another book that makes you think. I cannot wait to read the prequel and the sequel. Amber has quickly become a favorite author of mine after only one book.
 A sweet cozy mystery starring a Librarian and a sweet dog.
  The newest Nicholas Sparks book that has two different romances in it. Young and old.

Review of The Fairest Beauty

Title:  The Fairest Beauty

 Author:  Melanie Dickerson

Chapters:  29 plus Epilogue

Pages: 335

Genre:  Christian Teen Historical Fiction, retold fairy tales

Rating: 5 stars

          The Fairest Beauty is the sequel in many senses to The Healer’s Apprentice Gabehart or Gabe is Rose and Wihelm’s son. He decides against his parents’ wishes to go recue Duke Baldwin’s daughter Sophie who just happens to be his brother’s bride to be.

          The Fairest Beauty is a retelling of Snow White. That I enjoyed more the actual fairy tale I love that Melanie focuses on faith in God and Jesus as the ones who help to fight off evil. Not the magic that is in the fairy tales that her novels are based on.

Review of The Healer's Apprentice

Title:  The Healer’s Apprentice

 Author:  Melanie Dickerson

Chapters: 28

Pages: 261

Genre: Christian Historical teen fiction fairy tales retold

Rating:  5 stars

          The Healer’s Apprentice is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty that I loved more than the actual fairy tale. Just like with The Merchant’s Daughter Melanie Dickerson makes sure that faith is at the center of the story.  Who needs fairy tales when you can have a story that it full of God’s love.

          Rose is a healer’s apprentice  who doesn’t realize that she is a princess.  A quote at the end that Rose makes sums it up, that regardless of who her parents were she was God’s daughter and a princess all along. I loved that quote and I loved The Healer’s Apprentice. 

Review of The Merchant's Daughter

Title: The Merchant’s Daughter

Author: Melanie Dickerson

Series:   sort of she has one other book out with similar themes.

Chapters: 21 plus epilogue

Pages: 270

Genre: Teen Christian Historical Fiction, Fairy tales retold

Rating: 5 stars

     The Merchant’s Daugther by Melanie Dickerson is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a Christian theme. It is the first book that I have read by Melanie Dickerson.

     Annabel Chapman is a Merchant’s daughter whose father has died and her family can’t pay the debt they owe. Annabel agrees to go in her brother’s place. She becomes a servant in lord Randulf Le Wyse house in order to escape the advances of Ballief Tom Atte Water. Annabel is taken under the wing of Mistress Eustacia. Annabel only planned to be a servant but she finds so much more.

I loved The Merchant Daughter, mainly because Beauty and the Beast was my favorite fairy tale growing up. Since Beauty and the Beast was the fairy tale that stressed the importance of what was on the inside. Which makes it the perfect fairy tale to retold with a Christian theme.

I enjoyed The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson and I plan to read more of her books