 |
| The Beautiful Pretender |
The Beautiful Pretender
Thomas Nelson (May, 2016)
Will Be On My Best of 2016 Audiobooks!!!
I listened to Melanie Dickerson's newest novel as a download from Audible.com. I was stuck in bed with a terrible headache but felt well enough to listening to this wonderful story! It might be my favorite story of Melanie's, yet! I have to admit that in the beginning, with the grisly start off with the wolves in the forest, I worried I was in for a darker story than this ended up being.
Avelina, is the daughter of a former stableman who was crippled by injuries sustain by a horse. She has two younger siblings she helps provide for by being the maid to the Plimmwald Castle's spoiled Lady Dorothea. When Dorothea runs off, her father requires Avelina to pose as Dorothea when Thornback Castle's Margrave invites ten noble ladies to gather so that he may pick a wife.
Both Avelina and the Margrave are sympathetic and relatable characters. The narrator, Jude Mason, was very good. She has a heavy English accent, which I easily became accustomed to. As I was listening, I though that Melanie Dickerson has really hit her stride with this story! Don't miss out on this story and if you enjoy audiobooks, you'll love this one! A Wonderful Listen!
Both Avelina and the Margrave are sympathetic and relatable characters. The narrator, Jude Mason, was very good. She has a heavy English accent, which I easily became accustomed to. As I was listening, I though that Melanie Dickerson has really hit her stride with this story! Don't miss out on this story and if you enjoy audiobooks, you'll love this one! A Wonderful Listen!
The audiobook may be purchased at: Christian Audio Audible.com Barnes & Noble Amazon
and the paperback and ebook at Amazon; CBD; B&N; BAM
and the paperback and ebook at Amazon; CBD; B&N; BAM
GIVEAWAY: A paperback or e-book, winner's choice. Answer the question--which of Melanie's books is your favorite?
Thanks for your review, Carrie! Absolutely loved The Beautiful Pretender, including the wonderful characters of Avelina and the Margrave. This is definitely a fave of mine of Melanie's books... but so is The Merchant's Daughter, The Captive Maiden, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, and A Spy's Devotion, lol. Sorry, too hard to pick just one! :-)
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks, Noela! :D God bless you! Actually, I believe I've gotten the highest-starred reviews on this book than any of my other books, and those who said The Merchant's Daughter was their favorite are saying that this one ties it for first! :D
Deletehahahha. Noela, you just kept going!!! hahah. I know, it's hard to pick!!
DeleteSo happy you enjoyed it, Carrie! And so glad to hear that you enjoyed the narrator! I think she's the narrator for all of my early stories as well, the Hagenheim stories, as people call them. I haven't listened to them myself. If I spent a lot of time in my car, audiobooks would be great, but otherwise, I never listen to them. I don't think I've ever listened to an entire audiobook! But it makes me VERY happy that my publishers are making all my books available in audio! My own father used to listen to audiobooks because of an eye defect that made reading impossible, so it means a lot to me. Hugs to you, Carrie!!! Thanks for this review and for the doing the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, Melanie! It is a great story and the narrator does it justice! Hugs back!
DeleteWe have the books, "A Spy's Devotion" and "The Golden Braid" in the Church Library. I would say those are my 2 favorites since I haven't read any other of your books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for entering me in the giveaway.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Janet, you have to read the other books but glad you got to read those!
DeleteWe have the books, "A Spy's Devotion" and "The Golden Braid" in the Church Library. I would say those are my 2 favorites since I haven't read any other of your books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for entering me in the giveaway.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
I absolutely LOVE THe Beautiful Pretender. I also enjoyed The Golden Braid, and I have the rest of her series in my kindle waiting for me to read. So....I'd sayd The Beautiful Pretender since it's still fresh in my memory. Needless to say, no need to enter me in the giveaway. =)
ReplyDeleteAnnie now you will have them on a Kindle Fire too since you won my giveaway with CelebrateLit! Congrats!!!
DeleteThanks for reviewing this, Carrie! I only have The Golden Braid, but now I will have to read more.
ReplyDeleteOh you have to get her first series!!! So good!!!
DeleteThat is like asking which one of the kids is my favorite. I will take Carrie at her word and say this one will be. ;)
ReplyDeletefishingjan[at]aol[dot]com
That is funny Jan! Yes take me at my word I believe this is Melanie's best book yet!
DeleteI haven't read any of Melanie's books. I've heard great things about them!
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138 at gmail dot com
Caryl how is that possible? Get reading my friend!
DeleteI haven't read any of Melanie's books but I have a couple in my TBR pile.
ReplyDeleteSusanmsj at MSN dot com
Pull those books out Susan and read ASAP !
DeleteEnjoyed your wonderful review Carrie. It is on my ever so long to be read list.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your book, Melanie!
I read The Golden Braid a few months back, really good book.
Blessings,Tina
Did you read Melanie's first series Tina?
DeleteCarrie, no I haven't yet. I have an e-book, A Spy's Devotion but have not had a chance to read it yet.
DeleteBlessings,Tina
No absolute favorite. That wouldn't be fair.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks Carrie for this review sounds like a wonderful story! Thanks also to Melanie Dickerson for writing this story, really enjoy your style of storytelling. (The Merchant's Daughter is my favorite). Looking forward to reading or listening to this one! Thanks for the giveaway! lynnefeuerstein(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI loved the Merchant's Daughter too Lynne!!!
DeleteThough I have nearly every book by Melanie, I've only read a short excerpt of "The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest". It drew me right away into the story, I really need to read the rest of it!
ReplyDeleteSo therefore I can't honestly choose a favorite one! If they are all as good as that excerpt, I know I'm in for a treat. Just lime asking me what my favorite author is, I couldn't possibly choose just one! :-)
Thank you for the blog post of "The Beautiful Pretender" and book giveaway chance!
I forgot this!
Deleteteamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
Trixi you are missing out! Get reading!
DeleteKatie you have to read from the beginning. You will be hooked!
ReplyDeleteCarrie, I had the privilege of meeting Melanie last year and we compared notes about our names. She is a lovely person and I would love to read her new book. Thank you for the opportunity.
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Isn't Melanie a sweetheart, Melanie? We first met at an ACFW years ago where we got to hang out together and she was just the sweetest person! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteWonderful review, Carrie! I do believe this will be a favorite :). Thanks so much for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletebettimace at gmail dot com
Betti, This will be on my Best of 2016 list, so I am sure you will love Melanie's Beautiful Pretender story!
DeleteI've only read a few of Melanie's books, I think The Merchant's Daughter was my favorite!
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
I loved The Merchant's Daughter, too, Patty! Blessings!
DeleteI haven't read any of Melanie's books, yet. I think if I were going to chose a favorite to begin reading, I would chose this one. Thank you for your review, Carrie. I hope you are feeling well today.
ReplyDeletemay_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com
Oh no, Kay! You are missing out if you have not read any of Melanie Dickerson's books yet! You have to remedy that! Be blessed!
DeleteHi Kay! You are the winner of Melanie's book! Since you get to choose, and haven't read her books yet, you might want to choose where to start!
DeleteI've only read The Golden Braid and I loved it. Thank you and God bless!
ReplyDeleteleliamae54(at)aol(dot)com
A lovely book, Lucy! Thanks for coming by!
Delete