Review: A Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson

Melanie Dickerson gives us another wonderfully retold fairy tale. This time we get to see Snow White reborn.

While I preferred The Healer's Apprentice and The Merchant's Daughter to this one, I enjoyed it. Melanie added a depth to the character's that the original did not have. And who can resist a hunky hero?

Back cover:

Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother's jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie's one chance at freedom—but can she trust another person to keep her safe? 

Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl's inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible—she is his brother's future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else—he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what. 

When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help—but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them—they must also protect their hearts.

Rating: 4 stars

Blessings,
Ginger

Book Review - The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

I have the awesome privilege of knowing Melanie Dickerson personally. When we first met, I made a concerted effort to read The Healer's Apprentice, her debut novel. It blew my mind. Imagine that - "I" know a published writer - a good writer - no, an excellent writer. Yippee!!! I could hardly wait for The Merchant's Daughter.

Sometimes the anticipation outweighs the actually experience, but that was not the case with this book. Her writing met and surpassed that of her debut novel.

The sense of duty Annabel feels toward her family comes through in her actions, not just her words. Her love of people and God is also revealed one deed at a time.

Book blurb:

An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

Sometimes the simplest reviews are the best. Read this book. You can't help but be blessed by Melanie's retelling of the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast.

My daughter, age 13, also read The Merchant's Daughter and she says, "I liked the book very much. It helps you remember that God turns things out for the better when you trust in Him."

Both The Healer's Apprentice and The Merchant's Daughter are available for $1.99 for Kindle for an unknown time frame. Get your copy now.