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| The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest |
Thomas Nelson (May 12, 2015)
Reviewed by Noela Nancarrow
5 Stars *****
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is an exquisite
heart-stirring tale emerging from a creative fusing of two timeless classics
~ Swan Lake and Robin Hood. Taking place during the year 1363 in the German
reaches of the Holy Roman Empire, the ambiance is detailed with a castle and its
dungeon, the wealthy in stark contrast with the desperately poor, fair maidens
with flowers in their hair, the common marktplatz, jugglers, and the joyous
midsummer night dance. This is fairy tale escapism with everyday realism at its
best… beautifully encompassing human failings and inner turmoil but with the
promise of happy ever-after.
The fairest maiden in all of Thornbeck, Odette Menkels,
is the graceful niece of a prosperous merchant. Beautiful in spirit as well as
body, she spends her nights tirelessly and selflessly hunting in the Margrave’s
forest to feed hungry families and orphaned children, and by day, teaches them
to read. Aware she is violating forest law, Odette is increasingly fearful of
being caught and suffering a terrible punishment.
Jorgen Hartman is the wealthy Margrave’s forester and it
is his responsibility to capture the illegal hunters and to bring them to
justice. Jorgen’s haunted past provides added incentive to catch this
criminal. When he meets the lovely
Odette and finds his heart captured by this incomparable beauty with her generous
nature, he is unaware that she is the poacher he is seeking.
Odette has always justified her crime but the discovery
of a local poaching ring leads her to believe her kills may be benefiting a dangerous
black market and not the children. As her affection grows for the handsome
forester, Odette begins to wonder about ethics and if she is being righteous in
her own eyes instead of God’s. Fighting confliction, danger, and loyalties, all
Odette knows is that she must never get caught.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Available for purchase at these places: Amazon; CBD; BAM; Barnes & Noble; Book Depository
GIVEAWAY: We have a copy of this fabulous book for one blessed commenter!! E-book outside of the US unless available to you through Book Depository. Leave a comment below to win, and your email unless we know you!
GIVEAWAY: We have a copy of this fabulous book for one blessed commenter!! E-book outside of the US unless available to you through Book Depository. Leave a comment below to win, and your email unless we know you!
Just love this cover! Great review, Noela! So glad that more books are being written for younger Christian women, too, and teens, because that market is so skimpy! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI love this striking cover too, Carrie... It brings me back to the story every time I see it!! Thanks and hugs Carrie!
DeleteI love fairy tales retold...this book sounds like a winner!
ReplyDeleteAnd not only one but a mixture of two fairy tales in this one!! Definitely a winner, Cathy!
DeleteSounds wonderful. I love getting lost in a good fairy tale. What a wonderful review. I love that she questions if she's following God's path. Too many people never do this. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet and thoughtful comment, Katrina! It was great reading about Odette's struggles, they were realistic, honest, and very relate-able! God bless!
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ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book! I haven't read this genre of book in a long time, and it would be a welcomed change or pace.
ReplyDeleteI love the change of pace and genre too, Janice!! Which is why I get rather excited when Melanie Dickerson has a new book coming out! :) I hope you get to enjoy this change soon!
DeleteLove love love the two stores that go together! This sounds like a super fun one too read.
ReplyDeleteoh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
Haha I know Danie, and it's a bonus getting two in one isn't it?!! :) You'll enjoy this Danie!
DeleteSuch a lovely review, NOELA! Wow! I just received a copy of this beauty in the mail last week...hoping to get to it soon!
ReplyDeleteAww you are blessed!! I think I'm going to have to buy a ppb of this one for my bookshelves I think... Gorgeous cover and a brilliant story! Thanks, and hugs Diana!!
DeleteAwesome review -- now I want to read it more than ever!!!! And the cover is gorgeous! I've read Melanie's other books and loved them but just discovered that this one is for the adult market (as opposed to YA) which is so much fun because grownups love fairy tales too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kav!!! You know, I've been hearing mixed reports as to the market but upon reading the book, I thought it had to be for the adult market. Your comment was the first time I've heard specifically which market it was designed for. And yes, we definitely love and need fairy tales too!! ;)
DeleteI've been dying to read this one! :D IT SOUNDS SO GOOD! :D
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Amada (pronounced: a.m.a.th.a.)
amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom
It's REALLY good, Amada, I wish you all the best with your entry!! You're gonna love it!! :)
DeleteNoela, you make this book sound like a definite "must, must, must read"! It sounds excellent and I, too, like the combination of the fairytales. I love the cover and the title which sounds so intriguing , and the story line sounds so interesting too. I would so love to win this book! Mary Lou K flowersmarylou85(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks, but that's because it IS a MUST-READ Mary Lou!! :) Ohh I hope you get to read this soon, I get the feeling you are so going to enjoy it!
DeleteGreat review Noela - I do believe this book has made my must read list! Would love to win :)
ReplyDeletebettimace at gmail dot com
Thank you Betti... I'm glad it's made your must-read list! I think it fully deserves to be there! :) All the best Betti!!
DeleteI do want to read this! ! great review.. thanks for a chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteDeanna, dkstevensne AToutlookDoTCoM
YW Deanna and here's hoping you get to read it soon!!! Blessings!
DeleteI really enjoyed your review, Noela! Melanie is a new author to me & her books sounds great! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleterw620ATaolDOTcom
That's great, thanks Robin! You'll LOVE Melanie's books Robin, I promise you that!! Hope you get to read them soon!
DeleteI always enjoy your reviews, Noela! This one is exceptional. A five star review. :) The book sounds great, too. Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteHaha I love you Marcia! :) Thank you! As always it's a huge blessing to get feedback from one of my fave authors, but to get a 5 star review... my winter socks just got blessed right off! ;) You will love this book of Melanie's, Marcia!!
DeleteI've read all of Melanie's fairy tale books and loved them. I always get them for my daughter for her birthday and Christmas; I'm glad she shares them with me after she reads them. She really likes them too. I just got this one for her birthday but I'd love to win a copy to give to my niece. I think she'd enjoy it too. I'm looking forward to reading The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest.
ReplyDeleteWhat awesome gift ideas Pam!! That'd be my perfect gift! :) When I was a kid I recall mostly receiving bath cubes (those fizzy things), soaps or hankies. lol All the best, Pam!
DeleteA lovely review thank you. Added to my reading list.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Mary! You'll love it! I think you're from Australia too and since we're almost in winter... It'll be perfect to curl up with on a cold day! :)
DeleteThanks SO MUCH for this beautifully worded review, Noela!!! I so appreciate it! So happy you liked it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melanie!! I'm soo happy to hear you liked the review Melanie. It truly was a pleasure to read and review your amazing story! I'm hanging out to read your upcoming novel 'The Golden Braid' now! :)
DeleteLooks like a great book to read. What a great review.
ReplyDeleteYep Tammy, it really is a great book to read, one that I heartily recommend! Thanks and all the best Tammy!
DeleteI was going to say, this is actually an earlier version of the cover. I can send you the final version if you want. :-) Thanks again for this wonderful review! HUGS!
ReplyDeleteOops is it? I grabbed this cover off Google Images from one someone else had used. Yes, send me the new one and I'll see if I can swap it out. :) Thanks and and big HUGS and blessings back, Melanie!
DeleteThis sounds so fascinating! The more I hear about it the more I am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the review and giveaway. momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by Loraine to read my review of Melanie's fabulous book! Oh, and yeah, this story will pull you right in!! :) Blessings and all the best with your entry!
DeleteI've been gone to RT since Wed. and just got back tonight, so I am EXHAUSTED! Thanks for sharing about my book, ladies! I so appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing some photo's of the RT convention around the place... Seems like just about everybody was there! Except me, and how I wish I could have!! :) Wow, bet you are exhausted! I appreciate you coming by OWG all the more now... And I hope you have a restful and refreshing sleep!
DeleteHi Melanie! I am intrigued by The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest and would love to read more. Thank you, Noela for this wonderful review. I had the pleasure of meeting Melanie at the RT convention and she is a lovely person. Both of our names came from a very special book so we had something in common right off the bat!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great opportunity!
mauback55 at gmail dot com
Oh you lucky duck Melanie!! :) I was just saying above to the other Melanie how I wished I could have been there and then read you were, lol. I'd love to hear all about it! Blessings and thanks, Melanie!
DeleteAn outstanding review; I hated for it to end! As a relative newcomer to Melanie's books I would love to win a copy of this one, but regardless, I will be reading it. rmaney(at)firstarpchurch(dot)org.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebecca! I've never had that said to me before although I've said it enough to authors, anyhow that was cool to read! :) I'm so hoping for a win for you, but if not, I'm glad you'll be enjoying it sometime anyways! God bless!
DeleteCongrats, Rebecca, you are our winner!
DeleteLove these fairytale retellings by Melanie!
ReplyDeleteThey're great aren't they Patty!! :)
DeleteLove the word realism. Fairy tale and realism together. Now that's a must read!
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks Jo, and it sure is a must read! You'll see why I wrote that when you get to read it! :) All the best with your entry Jo!!
DeleteThis book sounds amazing. I look forward to reading it. Thanks for the great review and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I forgot my email. It's jennybug52 (at) hotmail (dot) com
ReplyDelete