Tag Archives: Melanie Dickerson

2020 Christy Award Nominees!

8 Oct

Well, my TBR list just got bigger! So excited for the 2020 Christy Award nominees. I have read some of these books (and they are great), and now have many more to get on with. A big congratulations to all the talented authors!

Contemporary Romance

Just One Kiss by Courtney Walsh

Now And Then And Always by Melissa Tagg

Sweet on You by Becky Wade

First Novel

A Long Time Comin’ by Robin W. Pearson

The Means That Make Us Strangers by Christine Kindberg

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes

General Fiction

All Manner of Things By Susie Finkbeiner

Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes

The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels

Historical

The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts

The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke

Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson

My Dearest Dietrich by Amanda Barratt

Historical Romance

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White

The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Echoes Among The Stones by Jaime Jo Wright

The Girl Behind The Red Rope by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker

Smokescreen by Terri Blackstock

Short Form

A Christmas Haven by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall

A Flood of Love by Tracie Peterson

Intrigue A La Mode by Regina Jennings

Visionary

Cry of The Raven by Morgan L. Busse

Hidden Current by Sharon Hinck

The Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin

Young Adult

The Means That Make Us Strangers by Christine Kindberg

The Piper’s Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson

The Winter King by Christine Cohen

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2019 Christy Award Finalists

19 Sep

Here are the finalists for the 2019 Christy Awards. A top honor in Christian fiction, you can be sure of an excellent read when choosing one of these books. Congrats to all the talented authors!

 

Contemporary Romance

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe by Carla Laureano

Falling for You by Becky Wade

Wait for Me by Susan May Warren

 

First Novel

The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings

Engraved on The Heart by Tara Johnson

The Plum Blooms in Winter by Linda Thompson

 

General Fiction

No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert

Send Down The Rain by Charles Martin

We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels

 

 

Historical

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano

Of Fire And Lions by Mesu Andrews

The Seamstress by Allison Pitman

Shelter of The Most High by Connilyn Cossette

 

Historical Romance

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander

 

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Called to Protect by Lynette Eason

Every Wicked Man by Steven James

Mind Games by Nancy Mehl

 

 

Short Form

A Shot at Love by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock

Falling for Grace by Janet Ferguson

Legacy of Love by Kristi Ann Hunter

 

Visionary

Mark of The Raven by Morgan L. Busse

Shivering World by Kathy Tyers

The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin

The Wounded Shadow by Patrick W. Carr

 

Young Adult

The Crescent Stone by Matt Mikalatos

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

The Warrior Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

 

 

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Top 10 Tuesday — The Back to School Edition

28 Aug

It has been some years since I have had to worry about all things back to school — supply lists, endless forms to sign, open houses, etc. My youngest son is in his final year of law school, but he resists first day pictures. 😉 So all I have is a list of books that loosely align with course titles. And while they probably won’t appear on any syllabus, they are definitely required reading! So whether your nest is empty or you still find yourself in the interminable car riders line, here are some books I recommend you check out. Enjoy!

Be sure to check out all the bloggers’ back to school lists at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Back to School Reading

 

American History (early years)

The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse

A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green

 

Biology/Chemistry (making science sizzling)

The Summer of The Burning Sky trilogy by Susan May Warren

 

English Composition (writers gotta write)

Ghost Writer by Rene Gutteridge

The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

 

French (history other than the French Revolution)

My Brother’s Crown by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould

Two Crosses by Elizabeth Musser

Home Economics (yes I know it isn’t called that anymore)

The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser

The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano

 

Western Civilization (because knights and castles)

The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson

A Loyal Heart by Jody Hedlund

 

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Book Spotlight + Giveaway — The Orphan’s Wish

2 Aug

There’s a takeover tour going on for the fabulous Melanie Dickerson and her newest fairytale retelling, The Orphan’s Wish. If you loved Aladdin, you really need to check out the newest Hagenheim book. This YA novel has something for everyone — history, adventure and romance. And don’t forget to enter the tour wide giveaway. It’s open internationally. Yay!

Title: The Orphan’s Wish
Series: Hagenheim, Book 8
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Genre: Young Adult Fiction / Historical Fairy Tale Retelling

From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson comes an inspired retelling of the beloved folk tale Aladdin.

Orphaned and alone, Aladdin travels from the streets of his Arab homeland to a strange, faraway place. Growing up in an orphanage, he meets young Lady Kirstyn, whose father is the powerful Duke of Hagenheim. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn’s favorite companion, and their childhood friendship grows into a bond that time and opposition cannot break.

Even as a child, Aladdin works hard, learning all he can from his teachers. Through his integrity, intelligence, and sheer tenacity, he earns a position serving as the duke’s steward. But that isn’t enough to erase the shame of being forced to steal as a small child—or the fact that he’s an orphan with no status. If he ever wants to feel equal to his beautiful and generous friend Kirstyn, he must leave Hagenheim and seek his fortune.

Yet once Aladdin departs, Lady Kirstyn becomes a pawn in a terrible plot. Now, Aladdin and Kirstyn must rely on their bond to save her from unexpected danger. But will saving Kirstyn cost Aladdin his newfound status and everything he’s worked so hard to obtain?

An enchanting new version of the well-known tale, The Orphan’s Wish tells a story of courage and loyalty, friendship and love, and reminds us what “family” really means.

LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes | CBD | Book Depository | BAM!

 

Melanie Dickerson is a New York Times bestselling author and a Christy Award winner. Her first book, The Healer’s Apprentice, won the National Readers’ Choice Award for Best First Book in 2010, and The Merchant’s Daughter won the 2012 Carol Award. Melanie spends her time daydreaming, researching the most fascinating historical time periods, and writing stories at her home near Huntsville, Alabama, where she gathers dandelion greens for her two adorable guinea pigs between writing and editing her happily ever afters.

CONNECT WITH MELANIE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Google+

 

Giveaway!

(1) Winner will win a hard cover copy of The Orphan’s Wish & your choice of one ebook from the Hagenheim / Fairy Tale Romances Series published by Thomas Nelson or Zondervan Fiction.

Click HERE to enter.

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Audiobook Mini-Review: A Spy’s Devotion

27 Dec

In England’s Regency era, manners and elegance reign in public life — but behind closed doors treason and deception thrive. Nicholas Langdon is no stranger to reserved civility or bloody barbarity. After suffering a battlefield injury, the wealthy, well-connected British officer returns home to heal—and to fulfill a dying soldier’s last wish by delivering his coded diary.

At the home of the Wilherns, one of England’s most powerful families, Langdon attends a lavish ball where he meets their beautiful and intelligent ward, Julia Grey. Determined to maintain propriety, he keeps his distance — until the diary is stolen and all clues lead to Julia’s guardian. As Langdon traces an evil plot that could be the nation’s undoing, he grows ever more intrigued by the lovely young woman. And when Julia realizes that England — and the man she is falling in love with — need her help, she finds herself caught in the fray. Will the two succumb to their attraction while fighting to save their country?

 

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. Visit her on the web at http://www.MelanieDickerson.com.

 

My Impressions:

As I have shared on numerous occasions, I listen to audiobooks during my morning walks and am always on the look out for a book that is easy to pick up day after day for an hour at a time. I have read several of Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale retellings and knew that her writing style is a perfect match for my reading preferences. So when I saw that she had written a Regency-inspired novel with spies, I couldn’t resist. I am so glad that I picked up A Spy’s Devotion, book 1 in Dickerson’s Regency Spies of London series. It definitely checked all the boxes — Regency romance, mysterious goings-on, and a clean and inspiring reading experience. Dickerson captures the manners and customs of the Regency period and combines them with the intrigue of the Napoleonic Wars. The characters are endearing and complex, and the romance, which is not without obstacles, still ends in a happily-ever-after. The narrator of the audiobook does a good job of capturing the time and place.

A Spy’s Devotion was a great listening experience, and I look forward to reading more in the series.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase, click HERE.

(I purchased the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Congratulations 2017 Christy Award Winners!

8 Nov

Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 Christy Awards. If you are looking for a great book to read, look no further than these talented authors and their books.

 

The Christy Award™ is designed to nurture and encourage creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres.

The Award is named for Catherine Marshall’s enduring bestselling novel, Christy, published in 1967.

And The Winners Are . . . 

Contemporary Romance — Her One And Only by Becky Wade

 

First Novel — Stars in The Grass by Ann Marie Stewart

 

General Fiction — The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry

 

Historical — The Mark of The King by Jocelyn Green

 

Historical Romance (tie) — The Lady And The Lionheart by Joanne Bischof and A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander

 

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller — When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks

 

Short Form — Looking into You by Chris Fabry

 

Visionary — The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James L. Rubart

 

Young Adult — The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson

 

Book of The Year — Long Way Gone by Charles Martin

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2017 Christy Award Finalists

21 Sep

Congratulations to all the finalists of the 2017 Christy Awards. The winners will be announced November 8, 2017.

 

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Her One And Only by Becky Wade

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

Rescue Me by Susan May Warren

FIRST NOVEL

Counted with The Stars by Connilyn Cossette

Like A River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart

Stars in The Grass by Ann Marie Stewart

GENERAL FICTION

Long Way Gone by Charles Martin

The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry

The Undoing of Saint Silvanus by Beth Moore

HISTORICAL

Like A River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart

The Mark of The King by Jocelyn Green

Miriam by Mesu Andrews

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander

From This Moment by Elizabeth Camden

The Lady And The Lionheart by Joanne Bischof

MURDER/SUSPENSE/THILLER

If I Run by Terri Blackstock

When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks

Without Warning by Joel C. Rosenberg

SHORT FORM

Looking Into You by Chris Fabry

Mirror Image by Laura Scott

Restoring Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti

VISIONARY

The Alliance by Jolina Petersheim

King’s Folly by Jill Williamson

The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James Rubart

YOUNG ADULT

If You’re Gone by Brittany Goodwin

The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson

Unblemished by Sara Ella

 

 

 

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Book Review: The Beautiful Pretender

20 May

UnknownAfter inheriting his title from his brother, the margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble born ladies who meet the king’s approval to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn’t select her as his 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.

 

MDickerson-339Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

Find out more about Melanie at http://www.melaniedickerson.com.

 

My Impressions:

Melanie Dickerson has made a name for herself crafting fairytale retellings that capture the flavor of the original with a definite inspirational message included. In her latest novel, The Beautiful Pretender, Melanie creates her own vision of the classic The Princess And The Pea with a nod to Beauty And The Beast. What emerges is a story where nobility of character trimuphs over deceit, deception and vanity. A great book for YA readers, The Beautiful Pretender will appeal to anyone who loves fairytale endings.

Avelina, a lowly lady’s maid, finds herself in Thornbeck Castle disguised as Lady Dorothea of Plimmwald. Dorothea’s father is seeking to gain Thornbeck’s protection despite his wayward daughter’s actions. Plunged into an unfamiliar world of courtly manners, Avelina needs to pull off the deception or her family and country will be in danger. Lord Thornbeck is drawn to the refreshingly unique Lady Dorothea as he searches for the right bride. But more treachery than Avelina’s is at foot in the castle!

I loved the medieval setting of The Beautiful Pretender. Melanie does a wonderful job of making the 14th century Holy Roman Empire real to a modern reader through her detailed descriptions of place, fashion, and customs. Characters are appealing as well, especially the plucky Avelina. Lowly born and ill-suited to her role as a pretend noblewoman, Avelina’s views on love, marriage and the treatment of the poor are in stark contrast to the acceptable viewpoints of the day. Ironically, her seeming lack of guile is what draws Lord Thornbeck. Living a life of truthfulness while deceiving everyone is an interesting plot line that is sure to create a lot of good discussion for book clubs. Lord Thornbeck is the perfect hero — brooding, willful, handsome, and, at heart, a true nobleman. Twists and turns keep the pages turning as well. With all this, The Beautiful Pretender is a great choice for a book club, especially one geared towards high schoolers.

While The Beautiful Pretender is book 2 of a series, it is easily read as a standalone. However, I’ll be sure to read book 1, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest to find out all that I missed.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: older teens to adults.

Great for Book Clubs.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to LitFuse of a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Giveaway!

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Join Melanie in celebrating the release of The Beautiful Pretender by entering to win her Once Upon a Kindle giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

A copy of The Beautiful Pretender
A Kindle Fire tablet
A $25 Amazon gift card
The choice between a Funko POP Disney Beauty or Beast doll

Enter today by clicking the HERE. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 7th. The winner will be announced June 8th on Melanie’s blog.

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Book Review: The Golden Braid

3 Dec

Golden-BraidThe one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower…

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel, in turn, rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to him than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery are about to be revealed after seventeen years. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

MDickerson-339Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

 

My Impressions:

I loved fairy tales as a child. I can remember the kids in the neighborhood acting out the stories that our parents read to us at bedtime. Nowadays (don’t I sound old!) children don’t know the old classics except through animated movies. That’s why think Melanie Dickerson’s retelling of old favorites is such a great idea — introduce a young adult audience to the fairy tale experience with a spiritual foundation. The Golden Braid brings to life the story of Rapunzel, she of the very long hair. Yet in this story more than just the damsel in distress needs saving. A fresh twist on a classic gets this book a recommended rating from me.

Rapunzel has moved from village to village with her adopted mother, never staying long in any one place. They are always viewed as outsiders, but Rapunzel has never questioned Mother’s actions until now. The rules are tightening on Rapunzel, and she dreams of a freedom she has never known. After meeting a handsome, yet irritating, knight, Rapunzel dares to live her life unfettered by restrictions.

Rapunzel is an interesting character: a bit naive, completely innocent to the dangers of the world, yet hungry for knowledge. Her desire to read the Holy Writ opens up new ideas for her, especially the nature of God as a loving Father, something she has never known. As she learns God’s truth, she yearns for the secrets in her own life to be exposed. The handsome and tough Sir Gerek is also a complex character who learns that man’s plans are not always the way God wants things to go. Both of these characters grow in their understanding and faith as the story progresses and provide valuable insights. In fact, I think The Golden Braid would make a great choice for a high school-aged book club. Dickerson creates a richly detailed medieval world full of superstitions and old wives tales that perfectly fits the fairy tale setting. Many characters from previous books make appearances too  — a real plus for her fans.

All in all, The Golden Braid is a great read and would make a fabulous Christmas gift for the YA girl in your life!

Recommended.

Audience: high school ages and up.

To purchase this book, click HERE. 

(Thanks to LitFuse and Thomas Nelson for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

 

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Book Review: The Fairest Beauty

5 Mar

724391A daring rescue. A difficult choice. Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother’s jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie’s one chance at freedom—but can she trust another person to keep her safe? Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl’s inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible—she is his brother’s future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else—he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what. When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help—but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them — they must also protect their hearts.

UnknownMelanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice and The Merchant’s Daughter, both Christy Award finalists, 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. She has taught children with special needs in Georgia and Tennessee, and English to adults in Germany and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing and taking care of her husband and two daughters near Huntsville, Alabama.

My Impressions:

What girl doesn’t like the thought of her Prince Charming riding in to rescue her? Having grown up reading fairy tales, I knew I had to read Melanie Dickerson’s retelling of Snow White — The Fairest Beauty. I have to say I like her version better than my old storybook or Disney’s movie. Here is a tale in which the hero and the damsel in distress save each other. This book would be perfect for a youth girl’s discussion group.

Sophie is a scullery maid in Duchess Ermengard’s castle. Long the recipient of the Duchess’ hatred, Sophie’s kindness and beauty stir up Ermengard’s wrath. Meanwhile in another Duchy, Gabehart, the second son of the Duke, learns of Sophie’s plight and her true identity — the daughter of the dead Duke and step-daughter of Duchess Ermengard. Determined to make a name for himself and prove his worth to his parents and older brother, Gabe sets out to rescue Sophie. But there are lots of obstacles to his quest — his own missteps, along with Sophie’s disbelief and of course the evil schemes of the Duchess. But this is a fairy tale, so there is sure to be a happily ever after.

I mentioned that The Fairest Beauty would make an excellent choice for a discussion group. There are lots of things to discuss — what is true beauty, where do we find our true worth, how to block out the voice of the world, and how does God see us. I loved the transformation of the seven dwarfs into seven men who were shunned by the world, but found community with each other. I also liked the contrast of evil hearts and evil schemes with hearts and plans dedicated to God. And as a bonus, Sophie is much more assertive and attentive than Snow White — she doesn’t just sit back and let the Duchess have her way or let Gabe do all the heavy lifting. And for those who like romance, The Fairest Beauty has an abundance — another discussion point on the merits of keeping a sensible distance!

All in all, The Fairest Beauty is a book I highly recommend.

Highly Recommended.

Great for a youth girls book club. 

(Thanks to DJC Communications for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase The Fairest Beauty, click on the image below.

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