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06 December 2015

Giveaway Melanie Dickerson's The Golden Braid Audiobook - Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Thomas Nelson (November, 2015)

This audiobook will be on my list of Audiobooks of the Year for 2015.

Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels
5 Stars *****


A Beautifully Woven Story!!!
The Golden Braid on audiobook at first put me off because the narrator sounded depressed. I really didn't care for her voice. And if you've ever met Melanie Dickerson you know she has the sweetest voice in the world! So that narrator just seemed so wrong! BUT, I really wanted to listen to the book because Melanie is a talented author and a friend plus Noela had done such a stellar review here on OWG blog that I pushed past the initial reaction to the narrator. I turned the speed up on her and soon I was ENGROSSED in the story!  It was a GREAT book and it is so hard to find a wonderful audiobook to listen to for Christian readers!

This is a Rapunzel story with many twists. I loved how Melanie fleshed out the wicked "mother" in the story. She does a great job of making the evil woman's behaviors understandable. And I love how instead of the knight, Sir Gerek, being completely heroic, he was a bit of a jerk at first. Again, the author does her job of helping us understand his behavior. I was impressed by the weaving together of the story threads.


Giveaway: Hardcover copy of The Golden Braid. Question: Have you read any of Melanie's books and which one is your favorite? (I think this one may be my favorite!) 

51 comments:

  1. I love The Healers Apprentice.

    Tammy Hudson
    tighefan2@gmail.com

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  3. I have not read any of her books.go will have to look for one at the library.

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    1. You are missing out then, Brenda, if you haven't read any of Melanie Dickerson's books yet! Best wishes!

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  4. Wonderful review, CARRIE! My favorite was the take of Beauty and the Beast. I believe it was called The Merchant's Daughter. Fabulous story!

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  5. I've loved all of Melanie's book and can't wait to read this one as well!

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    1. Have you listened to any on audiobook, Sarah? It was a great listen!

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  6. The Golden Braid was my first book of Melanie's and I can tell you it won't be my last. It was good! Thanks for this review. I will need to try out the audio book. Thanks!

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  7. I recently listened to my first Christian fiction audio. It sure makes a trip go faster and keeps me frim becoming road hypnotized

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  8. I have two of Melanie's books on my shelf yet-to-be-read (Huntress of Thornbeck Forest & The Captive Maiden). I've read such great reviews on her books that I know I'll be in for a treat when I get around to reading these. I'm looking to add "A Princess Spy" to my collection as well. I used to love fairy tales growing up, so I'm sure to love these :-) Thank you for the chance to win a hard cover of "The Golden Braid"!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  9. I have read them all at least once and have greatly enjoyed each! I think my very favorite is The Merchant's Daughter

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    1. Hi Cassie! That's my daughter's name, too! If you come back, leave me your email address in case you win! Blessings!

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  10. I have read all of Melanie's books. I loved the Healer's Apprentice best until I read the Princess Spy--now it's tie between the two! :)

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    1. WENDY, that seems to be a theme here - readers like multiple Melanie books the most lol! That's a good thing for an author isn't it?

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  11. I have read all of Melanie's books. I loved the Healer's Apprentice best until I read the Princess Spy--now it's tie between the two! :)

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  12. I have read The Healer's Apprentice, Merchant's Daughter, Fairest Beauty, Captive Maiden, Princess Spy, and Huntress of Thornbeck. (I think that's it. All of the fairytale retellings except The Golden Braid...so far.) I think my favorite was Huntress of Thornbeck but I love Rapunzel so that might change in the near future :)

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    1. Wow, you are a dedicated reader of Melanie's work, Sarah! That's a good thing! Thanks for coming by!

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  13. I've read all of Melanie's books! I think my favorite is probably The Healer's Apprentice or The Merchant's Daughter.

    Ryebrynn
    http://ryebrynnsrandomrambling.blogspot.com/
    ryebrynn(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. RYEBRYNN, what a beautiful name! I love those two books, too! Thanks for visiting with us!

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  14. I have a few of Melanie's books on my shelf but I haven't gotten to them just yet ;o( - I have a special place in my heart for Rapunzel because I loved Disney's Tangled. I am looking forward to reading Melanie's version of it. Thanks for the review and giveaway! momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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    1. I think you will love Melanie's version of Rapunzel, Loraine! Blessings!

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  15. I have not read any of Melanie's books but I have met her and she is a lovely person. In fact, our mothers chose our names from that great book, Gone With The Wind!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Melanie, That is interesting about mother's choosing name from GwtW!!! I chose my daughter's name from a teen novel I read! Melanie is a lovely person, isn't she? I've been blessed to have spent time with her at two ACFW conferences and she's a great accountability partner, too! Blessings!

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  16. I've read all of Melanie's books except this one (have to wait till my daughter reads the copy she will receive for Christmas). We both really enjoy them all. I did recommend The Merchant's Daughter to my book club, so maybe that is a favorite. They are all so good that it's hard to pick just one favorite. Fairy tales aren't just for little girls!

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. I hope your book club will love The Merchant's Daughter, Pam! I agree--Melanie's fairy tale re-tellings are for adults, too! Blessings!

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  17. Great review Carrie! This books sounds wonderful.
    I have not read any of Melanie's books yet, but have several listed as to read.
    Blessings,Tina
    tfrice(at)comcast(dot)net

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    1. TINA!!! How is that possible??? We have to remedy that situation!!!

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    2. Tina, Congrats! Per random.org you are the winner of a hardcover copy of The Golden Braid!

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  18. Melanie is one of those authors whose work I haven't yet read, but have had on my TBR list for some time. I'm eager to read her spin on fairy tales, her book covers are always beautiful - I've read so many wonderful comments about her work. Featuring "The Golden Braid" on OWG has only further enticed me to make reading this book in the near future - a "must"!! Thanks for your wonderful review, Carrie!!

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    1. BONNIE you need to get reading!!! You will love Melanie's books! Hugs!

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  19. I haven't read Melanie's books yet, although I just purchased The Merchant's Daughter. I'm so looking forward to reading both books. Thanks so much for your review.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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    1. You will love them, Pam! Thanks for coming by! You are welcome - I don't review many books for the blog but I felt I had to do this audiobook review as the story was so good!

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  20. That's probably the only thing I'm leery about in listening to audio books is the person reading it. I was listening to a classic audio book and the one character read in a falceto tone which drove me nuts. Glad you were able to adjust her voice and finish the book. The Golden Braid sounds so good! Thanks for a nice review. Jenny
    jennydtipton at gmail dot com

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    1. Hey Jenny! Try speeding it up next time. Sometimes that won't help, even, if the narrator is horrid. Also, it takes an exceptional story, like this one, to overcome a poor or weak narrator. So that says something for the writing! Audible will let you listen to a sample an dI recommend doing that before buying!

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    2. Thanks for the tips! I'm grateful for you sharing about audible letting you try listening to the book . Very helpful!

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  21. I have only read this one (eBook copy) and enjoyed it! :)
    amandatero(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Which one, Amanda? Will you buy another? Best wishes on winning!

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  22. Awesome review Carrie, and I'm so glad you kept on with it as I'm sure you are too! :) I love all of Melanie's books but apart from The Golden Braid, my faves would have to be The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, The Captive Maiden, and Merchant's Daughter!

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    1. Everybody seems to have multiple faves, Aussie Angel Noela! You do such great reviews - I hope you didn't cringe while reading mine! Hugs!

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    2. Never, Carrie! I love your reviews!!! Hugs!

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  23. Great review Carrie! This sounds like a good read to me. Or audio. Which I haven't tried as of yet. The Healers Apprentice.

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    1. You have got to try audio, Wendy, especially when you are painting a lot that might give your eyes a rest! I think you would love this audiobook!

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  24. The healers apprentice is my favorite. kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom.

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  25. The book sounds wonderful! Thanks for the great review, Carrie :) I would love to win this book! bettimace(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. the Golden Braid was a great listen, Betti! I hope you get to read it!

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