Castle of Refuge

About the Book:

Title: Castle of Refuge
Series: A Dericott Tale #2
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 1, 2021
Genre: Fairytale Retelling

Ever since she was a child, Audrey wanted her life to be extraordinary. But as the daughter of a viscount born in late fourteenth-century England, the only thing expected of her was to marry—until an act of malice by her sister, Maris, four years ago damaged her face and her prospects. Though Maris was sent away, twenty-year-old Audrey is still suffering the scars of her sister’s cruelty. When her father announces his plans to marry off his damaged daughter and bring Maris home, Audrey decides to flee in search of her true destiny.

However, life outside her home is dangerous, and she soon finds herself attacked, sick, and in desperate need of help. She is taken in at Dericott Castle to be nursed back to health. While there, she decides to keep her identity a secret and work as a servant in the castle. But she doesn’t count on falling in love with the young and handsome Lord Dericott, who lost his arm several months earlier and bears scars of his own.

Meanwhile, Edwin—Lord Dericott—is curious about the new, well-educated servant’s identity. All he knows is that he’s quickly becoming smitten with her. When the man Audrey’s father wanted her to marry comes looking for her, she and Edwin must make life-changing decisions about what to believe and whether or not love is truly worth trusting.

Book Review:

Okay so I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book, because I didn’t enjoy the first book as much. But this book was amazing and it is a must read! Castle of Refuge is the second book in Melanie Dickerson’s Dericott Tales series. It is a retelling of the Ugly Duckling and I think it was written really well.

Audrey was a viscount’s daughter but she was ignored by her father and abused by her sister, Maris. In an act of malice, Audrey was hurt so badly that their father set Maris to a covenant but Audrey was left with scars. When her father tries to marry her off, she runs away and finds herself taken in at Dericott Castle. Lord Dericott, Edwin, is intrigued by the new, well-educated servant and the story behind her. Will he be able to break down Audrey’s walls and protect her from the horrors of her home?

I felt so bad for Audrey she had been hurt and ignored most of her life, her sister, Maris, was vicious. However I liked how kind Audrey was and how she learned to rest in God. She was really amazing and I liked reading about her finding her place in life and falling in love. She had been abused by sister and she was wary of trusting others. She tried so hard to prove her worth.

Edwin was an awesome character! I so wanted him to find his happy ending after reading the first book, and I am so happy with the outcome. Edwin had been feeling like less of a man because of the loss of his arm, he had to learn to do most anything. But I liked how he was still kind and considered others, he was still fair. It was super sweet to read about him falling for Audrey and how he found her beautiful inside and out.

Edwin and Audrey were super cute together and I loved reading about their relationship. They had to learn to trust each other and how to deal with Maris. Edwin and Audrey learned that Audrey’s sister was more evil then they could have imagined. Will Edwin be able to protect Audrey and those in his care from Maris?

Castle of Refuge was a great book! I couldn’t put it down! I wanted to know what would happen to Edwin and Audrey and how they would deal with Maris. I was shocked by how mean Maris was, but I also understood that there was more going on. I would totally recommend Castle of Refuge, even if you didn’t like the first book!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

Court of Swans

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Court of Swans
Series: Dericott Tale #1
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: January 5, 2021
Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Where there is wealth and power, there’s always someone willing to do anything to take it.

England, 1381: Delia’s idyllic life as daughter of an earl is shattered when her father dies and his wife accuses Delia’s seven brothers of treason and murder. The youngest is only ten years old, but this doesn’t stop the guards from hauling them off to the Tower of London. There they await a grim fate, as child-king Richard II is executing anyone who poses a threat to his throne. Delia is their only hope for pardon and freedom.

Sir Geoffrey did not expect his first assignment as captain of the guard to be the arrest of boys so young. He dutifully imprisons the brothers, but he can’t ignore the sense, rooted in personal experience, that injustice and treachery are at work.

Determined to rescue her brothers, Delia secures a position as a seamstress for the queen. Her quest is all but impossible as the executions continue. Sir Geoffrey offers to be her ally, but should she trust him in a court where everyone has an agenda?

Book Review:

I have enjoyed all of Melanie Dickerson Hagenheim family series and I was so excited to see that she had a new series coming out. Court of Swans is the first book in her new series, A Dericott Tale, and it was a great start! Court of Swans is a retelling of The Six Swans which is one of my favorite fairytales. Dalia is the daughter of an earl and she lives a quiet life with her father, her stepmother, and her brothers. However, her whole life changes when her father dies and her brothers are convicted of treason, even the youngest one of whom is only 10 years old.

Dalia was a strong heroine, but she also had her own faults. I liked her and thought that she was so brave as she went to go after her brothers. However, I thought at times she was a bit naive. Overall, she was a good heroine for the book and I really enjoyed reading about her as she grew. She learned who she could trust and she learned to forgive. Life was not easy, but God was still in control.

Sir Geoffrey was a great hero! I really liked him, even from the beginning. He was kind and he was honorable. Although he captured Dalia’s brothers, he didn’t agree with the charges and he wanted to right the wrong. It was sweet to see him try to help Dalia. He had to figure out what it would mean for him to help Dalia because he wanted to honor the king but he also wanted to do what was right.

Court of Swans was a really good book. I liked how Ms. Dickerson was able to weave a new look at this fairy tale, however, I think that re-creating this fairy without magic is very hard. I mean in The Six Swans, the boys turn into swans which you can’t do without magic. I did, however, enjoy the characters and the pace of the book. I think that she did a great job at making it different, yet still keeping true to the fairytale. I was so worried as Dalia and Geoffrey worked to free Dalia’s brothers from the accusations against them. I was intrigued to see how it would end, and I really liked the ending. I did not see so many twists that were coming, and I loved the suspense as Dalia tried to save her brothers.

I would definitely recommend this book and I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

The Peasants’s Dream

About the Book:

Amazon.com: The Peasant's Dream (9780785228332): Dickerson, Melanie: Books

Title: The Peasant’s Dream
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: July 7th, 2020
Genre: Christian Fantasy Fiction

In this reverse reimagining of the Cinderella story, secrets and dangerous enemies threaten a fairy-tale romance.

Adela, daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim, is rarely allowed outside the castle walls. But one day, longing for freedom, she sneaks away to the market disguised as a peasant. There, she meets a handsome young woodcarver named Frederick.

Frederick, a poor farmer, is the sole provider for his family, and he often has to defend his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He dreams of making a living carving beautiful images into wood, and he is thrilled when the Bishop of Hagenheim commissions him to carve new doors for the cathedral. As Frederick works on the project, he and Adela meet almost daily, and it doesn’t take long for them to fall in love. Yet her true identity remains hidden from him.

When disaster separates them, Adela and Frederick find themselves caught in the midst of deceptions far more dangerous than innocent disguises. As the powerful lords set against them proceed with their villainous plans, secrets emerge that put Frederick and Adela’s future at risk.

Review:

The final book in a beautiful historical fiction series, The Peasant’s Dream is a sweet and engaging story! I have been waiting for this book for months! Ms. Dickerson’s fairytale retellings have been some of my favorite books, and I have read all of her Hagenheim books.

Finally, we get to Adela, the baby of the family. She has grown up loved and protected. She knows that she has lived a quiet and blessed life. However, after she sneaks out of the castle to go to the market, she meets Frederick. Frederick is a poor farmer and aspiring carpenter. He has a talent for it and upon being noticed by the local cathedral, is asked to carve their doors. At the market, he meets Adela and is charmed by her sweetness and kindness, however he is unaware that she is the duke’s daughter. As they continue to meet and grow in their friendship, their relationship is shaken by an attempt on Adela. In tulmolt, she resigns herself to her noble suitor,while Fredrick must discover who he is and what he will sacrifice for love.

I really enjoyed this book! I was a little nervous, because this is the last book and the others were so good, but it was great! I loved Frederick, he was so sweet! He was the provider for his family, and he tried so hard to care for them, especially his mother. Even though he loved carving, his priority was always to take care of his family. Frederick was a much gentler hero than most of the ones in this series. He was not a warrior, he was an artist. That connected him and Adela. She was gentle and more introspective. She was aware that she was well-loved and had many privileges, and struggled with the balance of that with her dreams. I loved how they encouraged one another and how knowing each other caused them to try things they might not before and be courageous.

This book was really engaging, it sucked me back into the world! I loved seeing Adela as a grown lady, though I would have liked to see the rest of her family more. Wilheim and Rose were lovely and noble as always, it is nice to see loving and good parental figures.All in all, this was a pretty satisfying conclusion to the series. I would definitely recommend it to those looking for a clean historical fiction novel, though I would recommend reading the other books in the series as there are mentions of the characters and stories in this book.

Books to Look Forward To

I love reading and I love books. There are so many amazing authors that bring to life wonderful stories and tales. Every day it seems more books come, more than a person can ever read in their lifetime. However, I will certainly try! There are so many books that I am looking forward to that I would like to share with you all!

Amazon.com: Bookish Boyfriends (9781419728600): Schmidt, Tiffany ...

Talk Nerdy to Me by Tiffany Schmidt This book just recently came out and I have been waiting to read it! Talk Nerdy to Me is the third book in her YA series Bookish Boyfriends. I loved the first two, for their relatable and endearing characters, the focus on friendship and family as well as the sweet romance. I adored reading about Merri and Rory and all the characters. The books provided set up for this most recent one and I am so excited! I loved the glimpses of Eliza and Curtis that were given in the earlier books, Even before reading the description, my sisters and I had puzzled over what book Eliza might have, and I was very pleased to learn that my guess, Anne of Green Gables was right! I was looking forward to the book so much that my sisters and I preordered it and I will claim oldest sister rights to read it first!

How to Steal a Thief’s Heart by Bree Wolf My sister stumbled upon a deal of Bree Wolf’s book, How to Wake a Sleeping Lady, the first in her fairytale inspired Regency romances. After reading it, I flew through the next two, both in the same day! Ms. Wolf did an amazing job of introducing characters along the way, setting up the stories that were coming. I love meeting characters and getting a glimpse of them, knowing that in the future I will get to see their story. Caroline and Pierce are both characters that were introduced in an earlier book, and they are so intriguing. I am so excited for this book!

Amazon.com: The Peasant's Dream (9780785228332): Dickerson ...

The Peasant’s Dream by Melanie Dkickerson. I have been reading Melanie Dickerson’s books for a few years now. I have loved all of the books in her Hagenhiem series. All of the family have had lovely stories that through trouble and trials find peace and love. Each of the siblings, along with other family members, have had stories based on fairytales. Last in the series, the youngest in the family, Della, is getting a book! Though Della has not had much time in any of the other books, it is so exciting to see her story. I am a little sad, as this is the last book in the series and I have so enjoyed these characters, however I have no doubt that Ms. Dickerson will continue to bring amazing and sweet stories!

The Secret Princess (Return to the Four Kingdoms, book 1) by ...

The Secret Princess by Melanie Cellier. Melanie Cellier has written many wonderful and enchanting fairytale retellings and she is preparing to release the first book in her newest series, Return to the Four Kingdom. She is bringing back characters from her other series, moving forward in time, and telling new twists on fairytales. Giselle is the younger sister of Prince Oliver, who had his own story in the Beyond the Four Kingdom series. In her book, a retelling of Goose Girl, she is having her own adventure. I have loved all of her fairytale books, and read them almost as soon as they come out. I have no doubt that this next one will as wonderful as the others!

Enchantment by Camille Peters I am so excited for this book! I loved Ms. Peters’ books! Every book that she has released has been better than the one before. After reading Reflection, the book preceding Enchantment, where Prince Briar is introduced, I was eagerly anticipating Briar’s book. I felt like I barely got an understanding of who he is or what his story is, so I am so ready to learn it. My sisters have also read Ms. Peters’s books and we have all been discussing our different theories and favorite characters. We have been theorizing about Briar for months!

The Prince’s Bargain by K. M. Shea K.M. Shea’s books are so fun! They are hilarious, entertaining, and sweet. One of her series is the Elves of Lessa, a fantasy romance series of magic and adventure. I loved both Red Rope of Fate and Royal Magic, the first two books in the series, though I have to admit that Royal Magic was my favorite. I loved Ben and Gwendafyn’s story, it was so sweet! However, Royal Magic came out nearly two years ago, and I have been dying waiting!!! It is finally coming out this year! Even though there is not that much information about this coming book, but I am still so excited! I will be eagerly waiting for this book!

Amazon.com: 10 Things I Hate about Pinky (9781534416819): Menon ...

10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon I stumbled upon Sandhya Menon’s book, When Dimple Met Rishi, almost by accident on a library resource, Libby by Overdrive. It was a great story about family obligations, cultural pressures, finding your way, and finding love. I so enjoyed it and immediately reached for the sequel Something about Sweetie. It was just as good! I think I might have even liked it more! There were so many interesting and compelling characters! Two of them are getting their own story in 10 Things I Hate About Pinky! I was hoping for more books in their world and am so excited for this one!

Amazon.com: The Iron Will of Genie Lo (A Genie Lo Novel) eBook ...

The Iron Will of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee The sequel to the exciting book The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, is coming out in 2020! I love mythology. I remember checking out so many books on mythology and folklore from the library, even a few encyclopedias! So when I found a book inspired by and involving Chinese mythology, which I have not been able to learn as much about as I would like, I was so excited to read it! It was exciting and funny and relatable and so cool to read about an Asian character! The book did end on a cliffhanger and so I was waiting for the next one! I am really excited to read it and see the continuation of Genie’s adventures!

A Piper’s Pursuit

Amazon.com: The Piper's Pursuit (9780785228141): Dickerson ...

The next installment of the historical fairytale retellings of Melanie Dickerson is here! Having loved all of the other books telling the stories of the Gerstenberg family, following the tales of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and more recently Mulan and the Pied Piper! A Piper’s Pursuit is the 10th book in the series, and it was just as good as the others!

Steffan, another of the children of Wilhelm and Rose, considers himself the black sheep of the family. He is seeking glory and redemption when he comes upon Hamlin. In Hamlin, Katerina is looking to protect her people from the Beast that seems to be taking their town’s children. Can they work together and save the town?

I was so excited for this book! After reading the last book, Warrior Maiden, where Steffan was introduced, I was ready to read his story! Steffan is brash and impulsive. He is seeking glory and honor, after making some wrong choices. I loved seeing his growth and redemption. And Katerina was so brave and she really wanted to protect those around her. Though she had faced hard times and was hesitant to trust, she finds in Steffan an ally and friend. They have to work together and search for the cause of the troubles of Hamlin.

I really enjoyed reading about them and their growing relationship. I would totally recommend this book to girls late teen and up, who enjoy Christian historical fiction. Though it is in the series, I believe that it can be read as a stand-alone.