Road to the Christy's: The Merchant's Daughter

I am once again spotlighting a Christy Award nominee! And this time I get to introduce you to The Merchant's Daughter, an awesome book by Melanie Dickerson. Melanie has two books out, both retellings of well known fairy tales. The first, The Healer's Apprentice being about Sleeping Beauty, and her second, this book about Beauty and the Beast. She also has a third one coming out in December called The Fairest Beauty which is about Snow White. The cover is amazing! Check it out HERE. And now onto my review!

About the Book
An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

My Thoughts
This book was even better than the first, which I loved a lot! Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale and I love reading/watching retellings of it. And this one did not disappoint. Set in the 1300's it was very much what Beauty and the Beast would actually look like in real life. I loved finding all of the things that pointed to the fairy tale and I really liked the fact that the author didn't try to make it as similar as possible but rather made it realistic. This book is great for anyone who likes fairy tales, retold fairy tales, or just plain awesome books!

About the Author
Melanie 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. 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. Visit her on the web at www.melaniedickerson.com.