Fairy Tale Romance Collection The Healer’s Apprentice, The Merchant’s Daughter, The Fairest Beauty, The Captive Maiden, The Princess Spy
By Melanie Dickerson
Published by Zondervan
Book Description
Five of bestselling author Melanie Dickerson's popular YA fairytale retelling novels now available as a bind-up.Romance, intrigue, and danger abound in this bind-up of five of Melanie Dickerson's fairy-tale retellings presented in realistic historical settings. Includes The Healer's Apprentice, The Merchant's Daughter, The Fairest Beauty, The Captive Maiden, and The Princess Spy.
The Healer's Apprentice: Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, and when Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, Rose tends to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to fall in love, and wonders if he feels the same. But Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.
The Merchant's Daughter: Annabel is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. She soon finds he is not beastly after all, and becomes involved in a situation that could place Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, in her hands.
The Fairest Beauty: Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother's jealousy, and receives her chance when Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and that he has come to rescue her. Though romance is impossible--she is his brother's future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else--the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven to find help. Before long both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them, they must also protect their hearts.
The Captive Maiden: When Gisela learns the duke's son, Valten--the boy she has daydreamed about for years--is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it's only for a taste of a life she'll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten's eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.
The Princess Spy: Margaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. And only Margaretha--one of the few who speaks his language--understands the wild story. It is up to her to save her father, Colin, and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook's wicked plot.
About the Author
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 a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.
Here is my review of this wonderful collection of stories:
The Fairy Tale Romance Collection by Melanie Dickerson is
a fabulous collection of stories based on popular fairy tales. All five stories are beautifully written and
very engaging. They don’t obviously
resemble the stories on which they are based, but it’s been a while since I’ve
read a book that made me think. I highly
recommend this collection for any age group!
****Story #1, The Healer’s Apprentice, is a very
different take on the tale of Sleeping Beauty.
In fact, it took more than half the book for me to recognize echoes of
the fairy tale. Rose is the apprentice
of a healing woman who is in love with the future Duke. Lord Hamlin is also in love with Rose, but
with his title comes a pre-arranged marriage.
This beautifully written story will keep the reader captive until the
final page!
****Story #2, The Merchant’s Daughter, is Dickerson’s
more obvious but just as creative version of Beauty and the Beast. Annabel has volunteered herself as an
indentured servant to Lord Ranulf le Wyse to pay a debt her family owes and
escape an unwanted marriage. In the
midst of the challenges of life as a servant, Annabel’s heart’s desire is
realized as she is able to read the Word of God for herself as she reads it to
the lord of the manor.
****Story #3, The Fairest Beauty, is an enjoyable twist
on the story of Snow White. Sophie is
the mistreated scullery maid thought to be the betrothed of Valten, Duke
Wilhelm’s eldest son. When Valten’s
brother, Gabe, learns that Sophie is in danger, he takes it upon himself to
rescue the maid for his brother.
****Story #4, The Captive Maiden, is Dickerson’s clever
retelling of the Cinderella story.
Gisela is the beloved daughter whose father dies, leaving her in the “care”
of her stepmother. Valten plays the rescuing
hero in this inspiring tale
****Story #5, The Princess Spy, an engaging and inspiring
version of The Frog Princess, is the story of Valten’s and Gabe’s sister,
Margaretha. There are lots of surprises
in this enjoyable story of finding love in the oddest of places.
These beautiful, Christian based stories convey the
spirit of the fairy tales woven with a thick, godly undercurrent. These short books are terrific weekend reads.
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