The Orphan's Wish - Hagenheim Book 8 - Melanie Dickerson

My Rating

★★★★ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

About the Book

From the streets to an orphanage in a faraway kingdom, Aladdin has grown up alone. Until he meets Kirstyn. With a father who is the Duke of Hagenheim and a mother who is the patroness of the orphanage where Aladdin lives, Kirstyn is a member of the most powerful family in the land . . . and way out of his league. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn’s favorite companion for taking walks in the forest, and their childhood friendship grows along with them.

Through his scrappy skills, intelligence, and hard work, Aladdin earns a position serving in the duke’s house. But he knows it isn’t enough to grant him his one desire: Kirstyn’s hand in marriage. If he hopes to change his station in life and feel worthy of marrying Kirstyn, he must leave Hagenheim to seek his fortune.

But once Aladdin leaves, no one is around to protect Kirstyn, and the greedy men desperate to take advantage of her father’s wealth take notice. Now, more than Aladdin’s background stands in the way of the future he’s worked so hard to obtain. His only hope is to rescue Kirstyn and somehow manage to win her hand as well. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Fairy Tale retellings have always been a favorite of mine. And Melanie Dickerson's are among my absolute favorites! She has a unique way of taking the fantasy stories and making them come alive in the real world. In The Orphan's Wish, Melanie's latest release, we get to see Aladdin's story. Not only do these stories have realistic qualities to them, but they are also sprinkled with faith and hope in God, our Father and Creator. 

Having been orphaned at a young age, Aladdin has been searching for his worth and fortune his whole life. Kirstyn is a tender-hearted young woman who always looks for the good in those around her. Aladdin and Kirstyn have been friends their whole lives, but will their friendship ever blossom into something more? What will happen when evil threatens the life of Aladdin's closest friend? 

Get whisked away into the world of Kirstyn and Aladdin. You will be on the edge of your seat as events unfold. Feel the agony of betrayal, the joy of family, and the hope of our faith...And fall in love with Aladdin and Kirstyn. You don't want to miss this newest adventure.

I received a complimentary copy of The Orphan's Wish from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 About the Author

Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author whose two favorite time periods are Medieval, which she has combined with her love of fairy tales, and Regency England, which stems from her love of Jane Austen. She is a 2-time Christy Award finalist, a 2-time Maggie Award winner, winner of The National Reader's Choice Award for 2010's Best First Book, and winner of the 2012 Carol Award in Young Adult fiction. She earned her bachelor's degree in special education from The University of Alabama and has taught children with special needs in Georgia and Tennessee, and English to adults in Germany and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing, hanging out on facebook, and being with her husband, two daughters, and two guinea pigs near Huntsville, Alabama. (From Melanie's Amazon author page.)

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Books by Melanie Dickerson on Bookworm Mama

Medieval Fairy Tale Romance

 Hagenheim

 Coming Soon

Coming February 2019

The Merchant's Daughter - Hagenheim Book 2 - Melanie Dickerson

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

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. (From Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Did you know that I love....like...LOVE....Fairy Tales? Well, now you do! And Melanie Dickreson's books are INCREDIBLE retellings of all your favorite fairy tales. I am still playing catch up with this series, but this is my seventh book of Mrs. Dickerson's that I have read. 

Set in the Medieval Era, Annabel and Lord Ranulf will steal your heart in this unique story that mirrors the story of Beauty and the Beast. From a nasty "Gaston" to a sweet young boy, and a caring housekeeper...The heart of the story reminds us that it is not our appearance or circumstances that define us...But our heart.

If you have read some (or all) of these books, you know that each novel can stand alone. But ultimately, they all intertwine. You can see the Family Tree on Melanie's website. I highly recommend this story and hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

I purchased a print copy of The Merchant's Daughter. This review is based on the audio version which I borrowed from my local library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

 About the Author

Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author whose two favorite time periods are Medieval, which she has combined with her love of fairy tales, and Regency England, which stems from her love of Jane Austen. She is a 2-time Christy Award finalist, a 2-time Maggie Award winner, winner of The National Reader's Choice Award for 2010's Best First Book, and winner of the 2012 Carol Award in Young Adult fiction. She earned her bachelor's degree in special education from The University of Alabama and has taught children with special needs in Georgia and Tennessee, and English to adults in Germany and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing, hanging out on facebook, and being with her husband, two daughters, and two guinea pigs near Huntsville, Alabama. (From Melanie's Amazon author page.)

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Books by Melanie Dickerson on Bookworm Mama

Medieval Fairy Tale Romance

 Hagenheim

Heartless - Marissa Meyer

 My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland, she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love. Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

Top Ten Tuesday - Fairy Tale Characters

Today's theme for Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish is characters! iI chose, 10 fairy tale themed stories that are brimming with original and spin-off fairy tale characters. These first 5 are books that I have read and LOVED. Click on the image to go to my review. The second group here is a list of TV shows and movies that have fairy tale stories. 

What is YOUR favorite Fairy Tale??? 

Books

TV & Movies

Click on the image to learn more

What is YOUR favorite Fairy Tale??? 

First Line Fridays - Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book

Happy Friday!!!

Today's book is one that I have been MAKING myself wait to read until after I finished reading the books I am judging for the INSPYs...And that day is SO close! I am hoping to read this one this coming week! I can't get over this cover! Seriously! *SWOON* Have you seen the NEW Beauty and the Beast? My new favorite Disney movie of ALL time!

Chapter One

Belle stood in front of the doors to the library holding a mop in one hand, a bucket in the other, and wearing a wide, excited grin.

Now it's your turn! Post your first line below and blog hop and join in more First Line fun!

A Baker's Perspective // All the Book Blog Names are Taken // Bibliophile Reviews //

C Jane Read // Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen // Faithfully Bookish // 

Fiction Aficionado // Joy of Reading // Kathleen Denly // Lauraine's Notes //  
Molly's Cafinated-Reads // Moments Dipped in Ink // Radiant Light // 
Reading is my SuperPower // Robin's Nest // Singing Librarian // With a Joyful Noise

If you would like to host First Line Fridays on your blog, contact Carrie on Reading is my SuperPower.

The Noble Servant - Medieval Fairy Tale Romance Book 3 - Melanie DIckerson

My Rating

★★★★ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

About the Book

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’s lives are adrift. If Lord Hazen discovers them, he will kill Steffan and force Magdalen to marry his own spoiled son—to insure the success of his evil plans. A Goose Girl retelling, with shades of The Prince and the Pauper.

My Thoughts

I have always loved the way Melanie Dickerson can take a fairy tale and weave in scripture and faith seamlessly. Our leading characters in The Noble Servant are faced with so many trials. But through the hard things they face, they allow God to change their hearts. To mold them into a better person. And if it wasn't for their worlds falling to pieces around them. It is possible that their paths would not have led them to each other. 

In the midst of chaos it can be hard to see God's blessings. To put your trust in God when your world falls apart can be easier said than done. Yet time after time (at least for me personally) He always has a way of making something beautiful blossom from the ashes of what once was. 

This book has adventure, deceit, romance, betrayal, and a twist on The Goose Girl that is sure to captivate you. I love the friendship that Steffan and Magdalen build. Trust, honor, truth, "Chivalrous to the core." As they both undergo a transformation set in motion by their circumstances, their relationship grows and their trust in God's plan does too.

I received a complimentary copy of The Noble Servant through NetGalley.I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Purchase Options

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 About the Author

Melanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author whose two favorite time periods are Medieval, which she has combined with her love of fairy tales, and Regency England, which stems from her love of Jane Austen. She is a 2-time Christy Award finalist, a 2-time Maggie Award winner, winner of The National Reader's Choice Award for 2010's Best First Book, and winner of the 2012 Carol Award in Young Adult fiction. She earned her bachelor's degree in special education from The University of Alabama and has taught children with special needs in Georgia and Tennessee, and English to adults in Germany and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing, hanging out on facebook, and being with her husband, two daughters, and two guinea pigs near Huntsville, Alabama. (From Melanie's Amazon author page.)

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More Books by Melanie Dickerson on Bookworm Mama

Medieval Fairy Tale Romance

 Hagenheim

Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva.