The Beautiful Pretender Book Review

A Medieval Fairy Tale

SUMMARY:  After inheriting his title from his brother, the margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride.  What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise?

     The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast.  He invites ten noble born ladies who meet the king's approval to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

     Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn't select her as his bride.  Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught.  No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

     Despite Avelina's best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice.  And try as she might, she can't deny her own growing feelings.  But something else is afoot in the castle.  Something sinister that cold have far worse - far deadlier - consequences.

REVIEW:  This is magnificent book very loosely based on the fairy tale of The Princess and the Pea.  The author does an incredible job keeping my attention throughout the tale and keeping me guessing as to how it would end.  Avelina/Dorothea is an admirable character.  As she gets to know Reinhart, the margrave, she starts to develop feelings for him.  Because she knew she wouldn't be able to follow through with her feelings, she selfishly sets them aside and promotes her new friend Magdalen in a good light in hopes the margrave will pick her for his bride.  When trouble rises and previous threats come to fruition, Avelina/Dorothea does not cower but does what she can to protect the margrave and his land, even though it may cost her life.

     This story is well-written and enjoyable.  Melanie Dickerson is one author I will continue to look for and read.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson Publishers

for review without compensation.

Melanie Dickerson is a two-time Christy Award finalist and author of The Healer's Apprentice, winner of the National Readers' Choice Award for Best First Book in 2010, and The Merchant's Daughter, winner of the 2012 Carol Award.  She spends her time writing romantic medieval stories at her home near Hunstville, Alabama, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Visit her website at www.MelanieDickerson.com.  She can also be found on Twitter: @melanieauthor and Facebook: MelanieDickersonBooks.

The Golden Braid Book Review

SUMMARY:  The one who needs rescuing isn't always the one in the tower.
     Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man.  She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses.  She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep.  But there are two things she is afraid other mother might never allow her to do:  learn to read and marry.
     Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted.  After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel's hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again - this time, to the large city of Hegenheim.
     The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight - Sir Gerek - Rapunzel in turn rescues him farther down the road.  As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read.  Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?
     As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life.  In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery is about to be revealed after seventeen years of lies.  How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny?  And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl no one to turn to?

REVIEW:  Having grown up on the fairy tale and watching the movie Tangled with my kids, I am familiar with the basic story of the girl with the long golden braided hair.  This story is a faithful retelling with some additional twists and fresh changes to make it new and refreshing. The author grabbed this reader's attention from the beginning and held it until the sweet ending.  I love how Rapunzel tries to be as independent as she can by learning all kinds of trades and self defense, while trying to honor her mother.  She uses this desire to learn to talk Sir Gerek into teaching her to read, not just in German but also Latin so she can read both the New and Old Testaments of the bible.  Rapunzel is charming without being pretentious, and even though she fights against the strong hold her mother has, she still loves her.  The way the truth of Rapunzel's past is revealed slowly, but not so slow as to aggravate the reader.  I love how everything comes to light to both her and her real family.
     This is a delightful book that readers of all ages will enjoy.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson Publishers

for review without compensation.

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book.  Melanie earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and missionary.  She lives with her husband and two daughters in Alabama.  Visit her online at melaniedickerson.com, Facebook: MelanieDickersonBooks or Twitter: @melanieauthor.