I have always loved fairy tale
retellings and since discovering Melanie’s stories, I now have thirteen of her
books, so you know they are AMAZING. I read The Beautiful Pretender in less
than 24 hours and it only took that long because I was trying to savor it. Be
prepared to neglect doing chores, plan to order take-out to avoid stopping to
make dinner, and forget about going to sleep until it is over. You have been
warned.
It’s an
excellent reimagining of one of my favorite fairy tales, but I won’t tell you
which one because that is part of the fun trying to figure out what tale it is
while reading! Excellently written and beautifully told.
I am
currently reading Melanie’s The Warrior Maiden, which was released early this
year and is up for the prestigious Christy Award this year! Review to come!
The Beautiful Pretender Series: A Medieval Fairy Tale Publisher: Thomas Nelson
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 could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences
Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author who combines her love for history, adventure, and romance. Her books have won a Christy Award, two Maggie Awards, The National Reader’s Choice Award, the Christian Retailing’s Best Award, the Book Buyer’s Best Award, the Golden Quill, and the Carol Award. She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Alabama and has taught children and adults in the U.S., Germany, and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing stories of love and adventure near Huntsville, Alabama. Visit her online at MelanieDickerson.com.
Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in the New Orleans area with her husband, Dakota, son, and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.
