Showing posts with label Melanie Dickerson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melanie Dickerson. Show all posts

30 April 2017

Book Review: The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale, #2) by Melanie Dickerson

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25891581-the-beautiful-pretender
(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Format: Kindle
Publishers: Thomas Nelson
Published: 17th May 2016
Pages: 320
Genre: YA, Historical Romance, Fairy Tale
Main Characters: Avelina, Lord Thornbeck
Date Read: 20th February - 6th March 2017


Rating Given:

Synopsis:

What happens when a margrave realizes he’s fallen in love with a servant?The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.
Avelina is only responsible for two things: making sure her deception goes undetected and avoiding being selected as the margrave’s bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.
Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?



I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't really like this cover and I don't really know why it just  doesn't sit right for me. I do like that you can tell the genre of the book just by looking at the cover.

With this book I was in two minds whether I enjoyed it or not especially in the beginning as it was so slow but then by the end I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. I did find it rather predictable as I just knew where it was going to go so I would've liked it a bit more if something happened that I wasn't expecting. The relationship between the two main characters I liked in some parts as there was times when they where great together and brought out the best in each other but then on the other hand they also bought out the worse in each other. I did love the ending it was really sweet and had a little humour interweaved in there as well which I think was missing from most of the book.

Most of the characters took a while to warm towards but each of them had there strong points. I feel Avelina was the better character out of the two main characters as she was more likable from the beginning, she did lie a lot but I guess in the end I understood why she did that. Lord Thornbeck was hard to like in the beginning but once we got to see his softer side I found myself liking him. Magdalen was a really sweet character but I felt as though she was too good to be true no one can be that nice.

Overall, I was expecting a lot from this book after falling in love with one of Melanie Dickerson's novel's however this one fell a little flat.

3 April 2016

Showcase Sunday #123


Showcase Sunday is a weekly Meme that I am taking part of. This weekly meme is hosted by Vicky over at Book, Biscuits and Tea.
Click images to take you to Goodreads.

Here's what I got in February and March...

Paperback Books Received
I received this for review in February and I have already read it and I must admit it is one of my favourite ever books and I can't wait to read the second book.

Kindle Books Bought
  
All of these are the second books in their series and I loved all of their first books so I'm hoping that these sequals are just as good.

Free Kindle Books
  
  

Kindle Review Books
  
  
  

Well looking at all this it looks like I went a bit crazy but in my defence this lot was from over the past two months as I forgot to do one in February.



What did you receive this week?

24 February 2013

Showcase Sunday #31

 
Showcase Sunday is a new weekly Meme that I am taking part of. This weekly meme is hosted by Vicky over at Book, Biscuits and Tea and for more info click on the SS image which will take you straight to the blog. Click on the titles of the books to take you to Goodreads.
 




Books Mentioned in vlog:

Review Books/Physical Books

Prodigy by Marie Lu (Penguin Publishers)
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (Penguin Publishers)
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (Atom Publishers)


Kindle Books/Review Books

Crossroads by J.J. Bonds (Free from Amazon)
Shattered by Sophia Sharp (Free from Amazon)
The Demon's Daughter by Paula Altenburg (Review copy from Publishers Entangled)
Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer (Gifted from author when she saw it on my wishlist on Goodreads!)
Dead Embers by T.G. Ayer (T.G. Ayer also sent me the second book!)
Blood Calling by Joshua Grover-David Patterson (Free from Amazon)
Her Mad Hatter by Marie Hall (Free from Amazon and I for one can't wait to read this book!)
Against the Wall by Julie Prestsater (Free from Amazon)
Beautiful Mess by Lucy V. Morgan (Free fom Amazon)
A Dark Kiss of Rapture by Sylvia Day (Free from Amazon)
Bad Apple by Barbara Morgenroth (Free from Amazon)
Offside by Juliana Stone (Free from Amazon)
Falling for Nick by Joleen James (Free from Amazon)
Close to You by Kate Perry (Book 2/Free from Amazon)
Savor by Megan Duncan (Free from Amazon)
Ravenous by Erica Stevens (Free from Amazon)
Kindred by Erica Stevens (Free from Amazon)
Wish (Upon a Star) by Nadia Scrieva (Free from Amazon)
Lauren by Julia Crane (Free from Amazon)
The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton (Book 2/Free from Amazon)
So Into You by Cecilia Gray (Free from Amazon)
The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa (Book 2/Review copy from Netgalley)
Existence by Abbi Glines (Been after this one for ages and I can't wait to read it and yes it's free on Amazon!)
Losing It by Cora Carmack (I can't believe I was accepted for this one on Netgalley I can't wait to read it)

Kindle Galleys not mentioned in vlog

Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson
Gameboard of Gods by Richelle Mead (Took ages to get accepted for this one but finally I was)
From Here to Eternity by Paige Cuccaro
The Disgrace of Kitty Grey by Mary Hooper

15 December 2011

Book Review: The Merchant's Daughter

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

Format: E-ARC
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 1st December 2011
Pages: 288
Main Characters: Annabebel and  Lord Ranulf
Date Started: 8th December 2011
Date Finished: 15th December 2011
Rating Given: *****

Netgalley:
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.

Here we have another retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I have only read Beastly by Alex Flinn (which I loved) and also one of my all time favourite film the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast.

With The Merchant's Daughter I found myself comparing it to the Disney version and think about the way Melanie Dickerson changed it to become a less paranormal feel to it. I think that this version is just as good as the Disney version which is saying something coming from me!

This version is by far better than Beastly and will probably have to knock a star off of that version as this one outshines it by a mile!

This version is more of a Historical Romance which was set in the 14th Century. I was instantly drawn into this time and place and I just wouldn't imagine Beauty and the Beast set in any other time or place.

We got to see both point of views of both the characters which I loved as it made me love both the characters. I did want to bang their heads together at times especially when you knew how they was both feeling but they didn't believe that that person could love them and vice-versa.

This is the first book that I have read by Melanie Dickerson and after reading it I looked to see if she had any other books to offer and I was glad to see she had also done another re-telling so I will have to try and get my hands on it.

It may not be as magical as most of the retellings but this book was still just as enchanting!

13 December 2011

Teaser Tuesday #3

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

My Teaser:
The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson



Ranulf didn't want to leave, but he also didn't want to let the young woman haunt him. He was haunted enough as it was. His wife, dead these three years, had also been beautiful. And she'd used her beauty like a dagger.
Beautiful women weren't to be trusted or allowed into a man's heart when that man was less than perfect himself. He'd learnt that lesson well.

Page 85 May differ to finished book as this is an E-ARC.




I absolutely love this re-telling of Beauty and the Beast I keep thinking back to the Disney version (that I watched last week) and thinking 'oh that's the same but also different'. I am still not even halfway through yet but if what I have read already is anything like how it continues this could be my favourite book of the year!

12 December 2011

It's Monday What Are You Reading #8

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!







                                                  Currently Reading

                          The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson
I am absolutely loving this re-telling of Beauty and the Beast and I just can't wait to find out what is going to happen next.

Entic by Carrie Jones
Like the rest of the books in this series it's good but not great, although I haven't read that much yet.

Reading Next

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Hushed by Kelley York
  I am looking forward to reading both of these books as I have heard a lot of good things about them.
What are you reading this week?

5 December 2011

It's Monday What Are You Reading? #7

It's Monday What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey in which we plan our reading week!








                                               Currently Reading

                              Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber
Sometimes I am hooked with this book but then there are times when I am just plain bored and can't wait to finish it. I am sure it will get better the further into the book I go into once things get explained (hopefully).

Across The Universe by Beth Revis
I haven't read much of this book yet as I am only on page 21 but I am so hooked I just can't wait to read more of this book. I just hope it continues to stay this good or get even better!

Reading Next

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson
I found this on netgalley and liked what it was about so I am hoping that I will like the actual book as well.

Entice by Carrie Jones
This series hasn't been my most favourite but I do enjoy reading them as they can be a quick read and I want to know what is going to happen to the character's next.



What are you reading?