fairy tales

Blog Tour, Review, & Giveaway: For Love and Honor by Jody Hedlund

May 15, 2017 by Suzie Waltner 9 Comments

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About the Book

Book: For Love & Honor

Author: Jody Helund

Genre: Young Adult Historical

Release Date: March 7, 2017

Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one, that if revealed, could cause her to be branded as a witch, put her life in danger, and damage her chances of making a good marriage. After all, what nobleman would want to marry a woman so flawed?

Sir Bennet is returning home to protect his family from an imminent attack by neighboring lords who seek repayment of debts. Without fortune or means to pay those debts, Sir Bennet realizes his only option is to make a marriage match with a wealthy noblewoman. As a man of honor, he loathes the idea of courting a woman for her money, but with time running out for his family’s safety, what other choice does he have?

As Lady Sabine and Sir Bennet are thrust together under dangerous circumstances, will they both be able to learn to trust each other enough to share their deepest secrets? Or will those secrets ultimately lead to their demise?

Review: The Noble Servant by Melanie Dickerson

April 26, 2017 by Suzie Waltner 2 Comments

She lost everything to an evil conspiracy . . . but that loss may just give her all she ever wanted.

Since meeting Steffan, the Duke of Wolfberg, at Thornbeck Castle, Lady Magdalen has not been able to stop thinking about him. She knows—as a penniless lady with little to offer in terms of a dowry—she has no real hope of marrying such a highly titled man, so it comes as a great surprise when she receives a letter from him, asking for her hand in marriage.

But all is not what it seems at Wolfberg Castle. Steffan has been evicted by his scheming uncle, and his cousin has taken over the title of duke. Left for dead, Steffan is able to escape, and disguised as a shepherd, hopes to gain entry to the castle to claim the items that will prove he is the true Duke of Wolfberg.

Journeying to the castle, Magdalen has no idea what awaits her, but she certainly did not expect her loyal maidservant to turn on her. Forcing Magdalen to trade places with her, the servant plans to marry the duke and force Magdalen to tend the geese.

Without their respective titles—and the privileges that came with them—Steffan and Magdalen are reunited in the shepherd’s field. Together they conspire to get back their rightful titles. But they must hurry . . . or else they risk losing it all to the uncle’s evil plan.

Re-imagined Fairy Tales

November 12, 2015 by Suzie Waltner Leave a Comment

There are a few people who are rewriting fairy tales in a unique and interesting way, and Melanie Dickerson is the best. In her latest work, The Golden Braid (available everywhere Nov. 17), we meet her latest heroine.

Rapunzel has lived her entire life sheltered by her mother. The one thing she longs for more than anything else is to learn to read. And while her mother promises her it will happen, Rapunzel is beginning to doubt her assurances. When they pack up to move to the large city of Hagenheim, Rapunzel believes this may finally be her opportunity to get her greatest wish.

On their way, two ruffians attach Rapunzel and her mother, Gothel. The women are rescued from a knight, whom Rapunzel turns around and rescues right back. The two of them don’t get along at first, but Rapunzel refuses to let Sir Gerek’s surliness scare her away from getting what she’s longed for.

When Rapunzel defies her mother and takes a job at the castle, she learns a secret that changes everything she believed true.

The interactions between Rapunzel and Gerek are humorous and entertaining. As the two of them struggle with their internal emotions as well as their identities, they are drawn to each other more and more. And through everything, Rapunzel places her trust and her future in God’s hands.

I love how seamlessly Dickerson took an event from her previous book, The Princess Spy, and put it in this one from different character’s perspectives. This is only the second of her books I’ve read so I’m not positive, but she may do this with her other books. After reading a second one of hers, I just might have to read an earlier one to check into that.

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided me with a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions expressed are my own.