Teresa S. Mathews Reviews The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson

The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
Zondervan Publishers

Reviewed by Teresa S. Mathews
5 Stars*****

If you love being taken back to the medieval era of handsome knights that roamed the country side looking for damsels in distress to rescue, do I have a book for you! Melanie Dickerson once again wants to take you on a journey to a beautiful land far, far away where she brings to life for you the story of Gisela.

Beautiful eight year old Gisela was left in the care of her wicked step-mother, Evfemia, when her father died. She has had to endure many horrible things in the ten years since he died and the only joy in her life is when Evfemia banishes her to the stable to help with the horses. There is nothing she loves better than her horse, except maybe the handsome Valten, the Earl of Hamlin, whom she has dreamed of marrying since meeting him as a child.

Valten has been away from home for the past two years competing in tournaments and usually winning them whether they are jousting, sword fighting, or hand-to-hand combat. Now that he has gotten over the sting of his younger brother Gabehart stealing his betrothed, Valten feels a need to head home and find his purpose in life.

While walking through the marketplace Valten comes across a young blonde-haired beauty that is having trouble with a vendor. While he watches he is amazed at the way she carries herself with grace and confidence; it's then he realizes she is the same young woman he saw riding a horse a few days before that looks identical to his own. When his nemesis Friedric Ruexner approaches Gisela and tries to accost her, Valten steps in to rescue her. This starts a chain of events that will forever change Gisela and Valten's lives. Will either survive the troublesome journey they will be forced to travel in order to fulfill their destiny?!

Once again Melanie Dickerson has taken a classic tale (Cinderella) and put her marvelously wonderful spin on it! She can take a fairy tale from centuries ago and with her superb writing abilities breathe life back into it! This book has a  vast amount of excitement from the descriptive jousting tournaments that make you feel as though you are sitting in the stands watching, to the bone-jarring ride fleeing from the enemy that seeks to kill you, Melanie has included it all! This is truly a book you can't wait to pick up and devour and when you quickly come to the end you will be tempted to start it all over again! Thanks Ms. Dickerson for another grand adventure!

You can purchase this at Amazon, Christian Book.Com, Barnes and Noble and other outlets!

GIVEAWAY: Two paperback copies of The Captive Maiden will be given away this week to two different blessed commenters, so be sure to leave a comment on all the "Melanie" posts! *Don't forget to leave your email address for contact purposes!*