Rooglewood Press Wriring Contest Cover Reveal

I really enjoyed Five Glass Slippers, not just for the fantastic stories in the book but also because it introduced me to five new authors. Several of which have published some neat books and stories since. This summer I'm eagerly awaiting the Five Enchanted Roses and am quite happy it'll release before I leave the USA to return to my school library job in an African country. The story covers look appropriately creepy and enchanting. But enough about the past contests. Here's what you've been waiting for. :-)

Rooglewood Press is delighted to introduce their third fairy tale novella contest—

Five Magic Spindles

a collection of “Sleeping Beauty” stories

The challenge is to write a retelling of the beloved fairy tale in any genre or setting you like. Make certain your story is recognizably “Sleeping Beauty,” but have fun with it as well. Make it yours!

Rooglewood Press will be selecting five winners to be published in the Five Magic Spindles collection, which will be packaged up with the phenomenal cover you see here. Maybe your name will be one of the five listed?

All the contest rules and information (how to enter, story details, deadline etc.) may be found on the Rooglewood Press website. Just click HERE and you will go right to the page.

Rooglewood Press’s first collection, Five Glass Slippers is available for purchase, and our second collection, Five Enchanted Roses is scheduled to launch on July 27, and is currently available for pre-order. Be certain to get a copy of each and see what previous winners did with their wonderful retellings.

Cover Illustration Credit:

This cover illustration was rendered by Julia Popova, “ForestGirl.” You can find out more about this gifted artist on her website: www.forestgirl.ru

Golden Daughter by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Golden Daughter by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Rogglewood Press, 2014. 570p. (9780989447850) Series: Tales of Goldstone Wood, #7

I don’t even know where to begin in describing how amazing this book is. Epic, vast, complex, at times humorous, complicated, long (in a good way) would all be apt descriptions. Even though this is book 7 in the series it can be read at any time, chronologically it takes place way before Heartless, Veiled Rose and Moonblood and one mortal year after the Faerie world events of Shadowhand.

Goodreads Summary:

BEYOND THE REALM OF DREAMS IS A WORLD SHE NEVER IMAGINED

Masayi Sairu was raised to be dainty, delicate, demure . . . and deadly. She is one of the emperor’s Golden Daughters, as much a legend as she is a commodity. One day, Sairu will be contracted in marriage to a patron, whom she will secretly guard for the rest of her life.

But when she learns that a sacred Dream Walker of the temple seeks the protection of a Golden Daughter, Sairu forgoes marriage in favor of this role. Her skills are stretched to the limit, for assassins hunt in the shadows, and phantoms haunt in dreams. With only a mysterious Faerie cat and a handsome slave—possessed of his own strange abilities—to help her, can Sairu shield her new mistress from evils she can neither see nor touch?

For the Dragon is building an army of fire. And soon the heavens will burn.

My Review:

This is a cosmically complex story. As much as I tend to read books in one sitting I knew I couldn’t with this one. (Though part of that was because I was reading the ARC as a pdf on my kindle and my kindle didn’t like the large file size.) This is a book I fully tend to reread as soon as I can get my hands on a physical copy.

But also the writing and deep themes that Anne Elisabeth weaves into her stories make it such that it takes a bit longer to read (a good thing) and to fully absorb the tale.

Masayi Sairu
as drawn by AES

Goldstone Wood characters are always such “real” people. You get to know them personally. Eanrin as always was amazing (can he please walk out of the Wood and come visit?!). Masayi Sairu is a new favorite heroine; to use a crass (sorry Mom!) but apt word, she’s the epitome of a kick-ass heroine who also keeps a hold of her femininity.

As promised we get to know Sunan’s story and discover in part how he is also the ship captain in Veiled Rose and Goddess Tithe. But there’s still more to his story! What about the portrait on his wall!? I did enjoy finding out the origin of Una’s ring – well, the jewels in her ring. :-) But how did they get to her?!

Lady Hariwan was a first a bit of a conundrum – do we like her, do we fear her? And by the end – do we pity her, do we grieve her, or knowing what Ay-Ibunda is in Veiled Rose do we shudder at her? (Back in January 2012, Anne Elisabeth wrote a blog post about the temple. It’s interesting going back and reading that now.)

The Blue Star 

But more important than all that is the reason for the story: the night of the moonblood, and the goldstone. Two vast and very important pieces in the history of Goldstone Wood that have been hinted at since the very first book are finally told.

If you love fantasy, cosmic epicness, a good moral buried deep in the foundation, and the most famous bard to roam the Woods, then this is a book for you.

If you read this before 7pm - 9pm EST on Nov 10, 2014 then join the Golden Daughter Chat Party on Facebook!

Go read it! Buy it from Amazon ($4.99 / $15.29); Buy it from Barnes & Noble ($4.99); Buy it from Smashwords ($4.99)

(E-book/paperback prices good as of November 9, 2014; always double check for yourself)

Disclosure: I received this ARC for free from the publisher and author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com or Independent Bookstores use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

The Bravest Princess by E.D. Baker

The Bravest Princess by E.D. Baker. Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2014. 263p. (9781619631366) Series: Wide-Awake Princess, #3

I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, The Wide-AwakePrincess and Unlocking the Spell, but it’s been so long since I read them that I’ve forgotten the details of the story, including how Princess Annie and Prince Liam met. Which is rather important since they are engaged.

Goodreads Summary:

Sleeping Beauty's younger, non-magical sister, Annie, still can't rest while trouble in the [neighboring] kingdom threatens her good friend, Snow White. Snow White's evil stepmother has disappeared, and her father wants her married off right away--but who should she choose? How can she tell which prince is best? It's Annie and her good friend Liam to the rescue! A hilarious and and fantastical romp through a fairy tale landscape from beloved author E D Baker.

My Review:

The first 50-100 pages or so were a bit slow as the story focus mainly on Princess Gwendolyn’s wedding and then locking up Granny Bentbone who had been captured in the previous book (I assume). But once Annie and Liam got close to Snow White’s castle things got a lot more interesting.

The reason I enjoyed the first two books so much is the way so many fairytales were re-imagined and woven into the story. Sadly, that wasn’t the case with this one. Sure there were the several characters from different fairy tales but it lacked the creativity and charm of the previous books.

The adventure was interesting though and the reader is kept wondering where the wicked witch is hiding and who she might be disguised as. The 

Fairy tales very often have a simplistic and idealist view of love and marriage. I liked that the Snow White looked for more than a handsome face and a brave knight when choosing a prince. And that Annie and Liam were learning that love involves caring for the other more than oneself (and recognizing that in the other) and having the freedom to be themselves. Annie and Liam’s relationship was enjoyable and since this is a children’s book and the two are engaged there were a few times they kissed but that’s all that was said about it.

If you enjoy fairy tale retellings then you should read this series. If you enjoy children’s adventure and romance then this is also a book for you.

(View my rating system)

Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon ($13.59 / $9.99); Buy it from Barnes & Noble ($13.86 / $10.49); Buy it from an Independent Bookstore near you 

(Hardback / Ebook Prices good as of October 24, 2014 always double check for yourself)

Disclosure: I borrowed this from the library (after purchasing it for the library). The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com or Independent Bookstores use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff. Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013. 272p. (9780307977939)

Interest Level: 3-6 grade ; Reading level: 4.1

I saw this book this spring on another blog somewhere and thought it looked interesting and something that might appeal to the students at my school. The bonus was that I enjoyed it as well and it made a flight across the US pass by quicker.

Goodreads Summary:

In a magic kingdom where your name is your destiny, 12-year-old Rump is the butt of everyone's joke. But when he finds an old spinning wheel, his luck seems to change. Rump discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. His best friend, Red Riding Hood, warns him that magic is dangerous, and she’s right. With each thread he spins, he weaves himself deeper into a curse.

To break the spell, Rump must go on a perilous quest, fighting off pixies, trolls, poison apples, and a wickedly foolish queen. The odds are against him, but with courage and friendship—and a cheeky sense of humor—he just might triumph in the end.

A Texas Bluebonnet Master List Selection, Rump is perfect for fans of Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted or Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark and Grimm.

My Review:

A fun middle grade story. At the beginning there were some phrases I thought didn’t flow, but either I got used to the author’s writing style or there were just two unfortunate editorial mishaps at the beginning.

The story kept me wondering how it would unfold and how Rump could untangle himself from the mess. Even though I know the classic story.

Very imaginative, enjoyable story. There are some jokes about Rump’s name that middle schoolers would find funny, but the author never let it go too far. This is one I’ll be buying for my school’s library and might consider as a read aloud for 3rd or 4th grade. 3.75 stars

Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon ($14.04 hb / $5.06 pb / $4.81 eb); Buy it from Barnes & Noble ($6.99 pb / $6.99 eb); Buy it from an Independent Bookstore near you 

(Prices good as of June 26, 2014 always double check for yourself)

Disclosure: I borrowed this book from the library. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com or Independent Bookstores use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Rachel Heffington - Five Glass Slippers Blog Tour

Ooo-lala! Another lovely ball gown! Rachel Heffington, author of The Windy Side of Care, is the Cinderella of the Day.

This week is the blog tour (with a fun giveaway!) for Five Glass Slippers, the collection of Cinderella stories that I reviewed a few weeks ago and that released just last week. Here's the link to my review.

And here's the link to the blog tour home page so you can be sure to visit Rachel's other's stops on this tour and to find out her favorite dance song, ball gown, and "Cinderella moment" on the main host blog.

As she is chatting with us before stepping into her carriage she kindly answered the following question:
'The Windy Side of Care' takes place in both the country and city. Where would your ideal home be?

Rachel: In a similar situation to that in which I live, actually. I live in the country where I have privacy and beautiful and unimpaired views of nature but I'm only forty minutes from a mall, a movie-theatre, and shops while only one hour from a big old city. As for location, it is my dream to one day own a farm in the Lake District of England/Scotland. :)

About “The Windy Side of Care” by Rachel Heffington

Alisandra is determined to have her rights. She knows that she is the king’s secretly dispossessed daughter, the true heir to the throne. Prince Auguste is an imposter, and if she plays her cards right, Alis will prove it to the world! That is, if charming Auguste doesn’t succeed in winning her heart before she gets her chance . . .

About Rachel Heffington

Rachel Heffington is a Christian, a novelist, and a people-lover. Outside of the realm of words, Rachel enjoys the Arts, traveling, mucking about in the kitchen, listening for accents, and making people laugh. She dwells in rural Virginia with her boisterous family and her black cat, Cricket.

In February 2014, Rachel released her debut novel, Fly Away Home, and is excited to collaborate on Five Glass Slippers with her fellow authoresses. She hopes to release her second full-length novel and first mystery (Anon, Sir, Anon) in autumn 2014. For more on Rachel, her current projects, and writing in general, visit her on her blog: The Inkpen Authoress.

Giveaway

Here’s your chance to be Cinderella of the ball! One lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of Five Glass Slippers, several Cinderella-themed items (including a bookmark crafted by Belle on a Budget, a journal, and a DVD copy of the Disney movie), as well as special gifts handpicked by a few of the collection’s authors (a glass slipper cookie cutter with recipe, freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, and an Apple Tree Inn cup and saucer). This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kindle eBook Sale!

The Five Glass Slippers collection will be on sale for only $.99 in Kindle format for the duration of the blog tour (June 23-28)!

Elisabeth Brown - Five Glass Slippers Blog Tour

Oooohh! Would you look at that? What a lovely dress! Betsy Brown, author of What Eyes Can See, is the Cinderella of the Day.

This week is the blog tour (with a fun giveaway!) for Five Glass Slippers, the collection of Cinderella stories that I reviewed a few weeks ago and that released just last week. Here's the link to my review.

And here's the link to the blog tour home page so you can be sure to visit Betsy's other stops on this tour and to find out her favorite dance song, ball gown, and "Cinderella moment" on the main host blog.

During a visit to her castle for tea she kindly answered the following question:
Which European monarch would you want to travel back in time to visit and observe for a day?

Betsy: (This is a play-by-play of me answering your question.)
Me: “Mom? What monarchs do I know of besides Henry VIII and Napoleon Dynamite…I mean Bonaparte?”
Mother, Mother, Best and Dearest of Mothers: “Alfred the Great? Good Queen Bess? Boadicea? Victoria?”
Me: “But I don’t want to meet any of them.”
Mother, etc.: “All the Louises of France?”
Me: “I don’t know a thing about any.”
Mother, etc.: “Cleopatra? Cathrine the Great? Ivan the Terrible?”
Me: “Mom, they’re not even European.”
Mother, etc.: “I don’t know. Ask your dad.”
Me: “Dad, what monarch would you go back and visit?”
Daddy-o: “Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf. “
Me: “He’s not technically a monarch.”
Daddy-o: “Charles Martel?”
Me: “…I’ve heard the name.”
Mother, etc.: “Richard the Lionhearted?”
Me: “He ate his enemies.”
Insert long pause in which I research violently on Wikipedia
Me: “Do you think I can make Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, count?”
Mother, etc.: “Not a monarch.”
Me: “Shoot.”
Insert another pause.
Me: “How about I just write about all the people I didn’t pick and hope it’s interesting.”

Short story long, I can think of boatloads of historical characters I’d love to hobnob with for a while…Menno Simons, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Johannes Gutenberg…but none of them had the good fortune to be born royalty.

Now I’m curious…do you yourself have a monarch in mind? Because for the life of me I don’t know whom to pick. Help.

Me: I think we could allow a visit to Count Zinzendorf, he might not be a monarch but he's nobility. Same with Frederick III. Anyone have some more suggestions for Betsy though?

About “What Eyes Can See” by Elisabeth Brown

Painfully shy Arella begs her stepmother to let her stay home from the prince’s ball. But kindly Duchess Germaine is determined that her beautiful stepdaughter should be presented at court along with her own two daughters. So, dressed in a gorgeous gown and a pair of heirloom slippers, Arella catches the eye of the crown prince . . . and finds her life suddenly far more complicated than she ever desired.

About Elisabeth Brown

Elisabeth Brown has always loved words. The third of seven children, she enjoyed being homeschooled through her senior year of high school, and is now studying piano performance at Appalachian Bible College. When she’s ignoring the fact that she should probably be practicing more or doing Greek homework, you’ll find her sewing, baking, reading, singing along to basically any musical ever created, hiking through the woods, or laughing at incredibly silly puns.

What Eyes Can See is her first published story, but she also rambles at Stretching the Metaphorical Cello.

Giveaway

Here’s your chance to be Cinderella of the ball! One lucky winner will receive a paperback copy of Five Glass Slippers, several Cinderella-themed items (including a bookmark crafted by Belle on a Budget, a journal, and a DVD copy of the Disney movie), as well as special gifts handpicked by a few of the collection’s authors (a glass slipper cookie cutter with recipe, freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, and an Apple Tree Inn cup and saucer). This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kindle eBook Sale!

The Five Glass Slippers collection will be on sale for only $.99 in Kindle format for the duration of the blog tour (June 23-28)!

WoW #46: The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

Zondervan November 2014

About
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. Margaretha finds herself unable to pass Colin's message along to her father, the duke, and convinces herself 'Lord Colin' is just an addled stranger. Then Colin retrieves an heirloom she lost in a well, and asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment. Margaretha knows she could never be a spy---not only is she unable to keep anything secret, she's sure Colin is completely wrong about her potential betrothed. Though when Margaretha overhears Claybrook one day, she discovers her romantic notions may have been clouding her judgment about not only Colin but Claybrook as well. It is up to her to save her father and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook's wicked plot

Why I want to read it

I have really enjoyed this author's other forays into the world of retelling fairy tales. My favorites of hers are The Healer's Apprentice and The Merchant's Daughter. Her other two books which are also very good are The Fairest Beauty and The Captive Maiden. I'm excited that this book continues the tale of the inhabitants of Hagenheim Castle!

Pre-order it:

Amazon ($9.66 / $5.12) and ChristianBooks ($9.99 / $5.99) and Barnes and Noble ($9.66 / $5.99) and An Independent Bookstore near you
Prices are good as of June 14, 2014 for pre-ordering the paperback/ebook edition. Please double check for yourself.

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Five Glass Slippers

Five Glass Slippers by by Elisabeth Brown, Emma Clifton, Rachel Heffington, Stephanie Ricker, and Clara Diane Thompson. Rogglewood Press, 2014. 464p. (9780989447843)

I love fairy tale retellings and this was a delightful collection of five versions of Cinderella. Last year author Anne Elisabeth Stengl hosted a writing contest and the result was this book. Just this week the fairy tale for the next Rogglewood Press writing contest was announced. And if the quality of the Cinderella stories is anything to go by Five Enchanted Roses will be a fabulous collection as well.

I’ve interspersed my initial reaction to the story jotted down right after reading each story and a short review on each tale after the summaries of each one.

Goodreads Summary:

ONE BELOVED STORY, FIVE EXCITING WRITERS

A COLLECTION TO CHERISH

What happens when Cinderella is so painfully shy that she cannot bear the idea of attending the royal ball? Or when the slipper fits . . . but on the wrong girl? What happens when Cinderella is determined to oust an imposter prince from her rightful throne? Or when she is a cendrillon miner working from a space station orbiting a cthonian planet? What happens when Cinderella, a humble housemaid, is sent with a message for a prisoner trapped in a frightening fairy circus?

Here is Cinderella as you have never met her before, wearing glass slippers and off on unforgettable adventures!

WHAT EYES CAN SEE: Elisabeth Brown

Painfully shy Arella begs her stepmother to let her stay home from the prince’s ball. But kindly Duchess Germaine is determined that her beautiful stepdaughter should be presented at court along with her own two daughters. So, dressed in a gorgeous gown and a pair of heirloom slippers, Arella catches the eye of the crown prince . . . and finds her life suddenly far more complicated than she ever desired.

My Reaction:

How fun! I do like the twist that the stepsisters and mother are nice. Though I wish we could have heard more of Arella’s thoughts.

My Review:

Elisabeth Brown does a great job giving us the classic story, but with a twist. Arella is painfully shy and does not want to marry the prince. I could almost imagine the story taking place in the settings of Disney’s movie but with a master editor rewinding and speculating ‘what if…’

BROKEN GLASS: Emma Clifton

The slipper fits . . . but on the wrong girl! Rosalind never once danced with Prince Marius at the ball, for she is in love with his brother Henry. If only Rosalind and Marius would stop bickering long enough to invent a scheme, perhaps the three of them can find the real mystery lady. But they must work quickly, for dark deeds are afoot, and the kingdom is poised on the brink of disaster.

My Reaction:

Loved the ending! Especially the epilogue. This quote stuck out: “It does take more than one dance to find your soul-mate.” I really like that this story and the previous one both emphasize that fact.

My Review:

Emma Clifton mixed magic and steampunk together and came up with a story that has some of the harshness of the original Grimm fairy tales but also the characters to love and admire. I hope Emma continues writing stories set the land she created as I’m quite curious as to what happened to Ophelia and of course the epilogue is a perfect teaser for another fairy tale retelling.

The editors did a great job picking out stories that complimented each other because this one is a perfect bridge between a more traditional story to the political intrigue of the next tale and the outer space setting of the one after that.

THE WINDY SIDE OF CARE: Rachel Heffington

Alisandra is determined to have her rights. She knows that she is the king’s secretly dispossessed daughter, the true heir to the throne. Prince Auguste is an imposter, and if she plays her cards right, Alis will prove it to the world! That is, if charming Auguste doesn’t succeed in winning her heart before she gets her chance . . .

My Reaction:

What a light hearted piece of fun and political intrigue! And a great “fairy” godfather!

My Review:

Rachel Heffington did a great job completely reimagining Cinderella has a charming political schemer who is actually a disinherited princess. The dialogue was witty and very well written.

A CINDER’S TALE: Stephanie Ricker

It’s a dangerous life, yet Elsa wouldn’t trade this opportunity to work at Tremaine Station, mining cendrillon from the seething surface of planet Aschen. Nevertheless, when a famous deep space explorer and his handsome son dock their starcraft at the space station, Elsa finds herself dreaming of far galaxies beyond Aschen's blistering heat. There is no time for dreaming, however, when danger threatens the space station, and Elsa and her fellow miners are tested to the limits of their courage.

My Reaction:

Delightful. Nice to have a change from romance being the focus (though I’m sure a sequel would have plenty). Great riveting action and danger.

My Review:

Stephanie Ricker put Cinderella in a space suit in a far corner of the universe and crafted a very exciting tale. I especially liked that she used the names Jaq, Gus and Bruno for Elsa’s friends. Though I did keep picturing the dog when I read Bruno. His is a story I would love to read more of. The clones with their unique outfits were a great way to tie in the traditionally ill-dressed stepsisters.

THE MOON MASTER’S BALL: Clara Diane Thompson

After her terrifying experience there several years ago, the one place young housemaid Tilly longs to avoid is Bromley’s Circus. But when kindly Lord Hollingberry begs her to deliver a message to the mysterious Moon Master hidden away among the circus dwellers, Tilly can’t refuse . . . and finds herself ensnared in a web of enchantment cast by the loathsome Mrs. Carlisle and her beautiful goddaughter.

My Reaction:

Thrilling. Spooky. I do wish the word limit had been a bit longer since while the story is excellently told, the climax felt very rushed.

My Review:

Clara Diane Thompson painted an eerie scene and kept the mystery front and center. The sudden appearance and disappearance of the Circus reminded me of the Twelve-Year Market from the Tales of Goldstone Wood. Much has been written about the impracticality of glass slippers – and whether they were mistranslated and should be fur slippers, but in this story they finally had a purpose and a point.

All in all, this is an excellent collection of Cinderella stories. If you enjoy fairy tale retellings or any of the genres included than I highly recommend reading this book. 

Go read it! Pre-orderit from Amazon ($10.93) It will be available June 14, 2014! Add it on Goodreads – plus there’s a giveaway on Goodreads through the 24^th!

(Prices good as of June 4, 2014 always double check for yourself)

Disclosure: I received this book from the editor for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Top Ten All Time Favorite Books in Fantasy/Fairy Tale

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten All Time Favorite Books in Fantasy/Fairy Tale

1. Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Actually the whole series...

2. The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye

3. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
And The Horse and His Boy
And The Last Battle
Actually the whole series...

4. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

5. Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

6. The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

7. Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

8. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

9. Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm

10. The Complete Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Anderson

What are some of your favorite books in a certain genre?

Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck

Here’s the second of three books I read on my flight home for Christmas:

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck. Zondervan, 2014. 368p. (9780310315506) Series: Royal Wedding Series, #2

It certainly was easy staying awake to read this one while over the Atlantic! Plus it just released yesterday so you can enjoy it now too!

Goodreads Summary:

Regina Beswick never dreamed of faraway places. She’s happy with her life as a classic car mechanic and owner of a restoration shop.

But an unexpected visitor and the discovery of a fairytale, drawn by her great-grandma, causes Regina to wonder if she might be destined for something more.

Tanner Burkhardt, Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg, must convince the strong-willed Southerner, Miss Beswick, that she is his country’s long-lost princess. Failure could destroy his reputation and change his nation forever.

As Regina and Tanner face the challenges before them, neither are prepared for love to invade their hearts and change everything they believe about themselves.

However, when a royal opponent nearly destroys Regina’s future, she must lean into God and trust He has sovereignly brought her to her true and final destiny.

My Review:

I don’t think it’s necessary to read the first book, Once Upon a Prince, to enjoy this book. Sure there are spoilers in this book, but the story takes place in a different places and involves a different nation. Since I read the first book about a year ago it took me a while to figure out how the two books were connected which distracted me from enjoying the story for a while.

1933 Duesenberg

The story goes back and forth for a while between Alice’s first person account of Meadowbluff Palace in 1914 and Reggie’s life (told in third person) in the present day. It takes a while to get used to and we’re not told what the connection is for several chapters. But it’s quite an interesting connection so bear with it!

I loved Reggie, she is very down to earth - loves restoring old cars, and the author does a great job showing us how Reggie deals with the life changing news that Tanner brings. Tanner’s storyline was also quite interesting, he isn’t quite what you expect a Minister of Culture to be but he’s very easy to cheer for.

If you like the Princess Diaries movies (I haven’t read the books), commoner turned royalty stories with hint of mystery and a dash of romance then this is a book to check out!

Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon; Buy it from ChristianBooks.com; Buy it from Barnes & Noble

Disclosure: I received these book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Book Cover Bingo: Candle - The Merchant's Daughter

The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson. Zondervan, 2011. 272p. (9780310727613)

I reread this last week as part of the Book Cover Bingo game I’m participating in the Goodreads group Christian Fiction Bloggers. The book had to have a candle on the cover and if you look closely there are six candles on the shelf behind her.

This book is actually the first book I reviewed for this blog, you can read my first impressions here. And I obviously enjoyed it so much I decided to reread it. More particularly because Melanie’s newest book, The Captive Maiden, releases this month.

Goodreads Summary:

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.

My Review:

What new thoughts can I share about this book? Last time I was struck by all the Beauty and the Beast tie-ins. Those are obviously still there, but this time I think I simply enjoyed the story of a young woman who is trying to do the right thing despite her family’s laziness and put-on airs.

Annabel also is doing her best to avoid and discourage unwanted attention from a man old enough to be her father. In the time that this story takes place, England in 1352, women couldn’t exactly sue because of sexual harassment. Then as sadly even now people often say that the girl bears some blame if she is raped (doesn’t happen in this story!) or harassed. Which is why Annabel’s plight is so precarious and she isn’t sure whom she can or should trust.

This book is more than just a classic fairy tale retelling and an excellent one at that; it speaks to the plight of women, glories in the joy of getting a chance to read the Holy Scriptures (especially in a time when books were rare and very expensive), and draws you into life at medieval manor house under construction.

Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon; Buy it from ChristianBooks.com; Buy it from Barnes & Noble

Disclosure: I received this book from the library. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

WoW #31: Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

Zondervan November 2013

About
Happily Ever After ...Or Happily Nevermore? Gisela's childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father's death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So 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.

Why I want to read it

I love Melanie Dickerson's other books and can't wait to read her version of Cinderella!

Pre-order it:

Amazon and ChristianBooks and Barnes and Noble

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.