Fairy Tale Retellings – Page 2

Beauty and the Baron + Giveaway

A penniless maid determined to save her father, a broken baron bent on isolation, and the undeniable draw between them that will lead to happiness—or disaster.

Rose Sinclair has run out of options. With her father in prison and their bookshop sold to pay his debts, she has no choice but to turn to Henry Covington, the Baron Norcliffe. But the baron has more than earned his harsh reputation, and Rose must face his wrath in order to save her father—and herself.

Since the deaths of his parents, Henry Covington has isolated himself from society, ensuring the solitude of his estate with his deliberate callousness. However, when the beautiful Miss Sinclair appears on his doorstep, begging for a chance to repay her father’s debt to him, a moment of weakness finds him offering her a position—as a maid in his own house.

They both soon learn that first impressions are not to be believed. Henry is surprised—and intrigued—by Rose’s optimistic charm, while Rose slowly uncovers Henry’s true self, his compassion concealed behind the pain of loss and betrayal. But when a shadow from Henry’s past returns, their newfound hope is tested. They must decide for themselves who to trust—and what they will risk for their happily ever after.

Beauty and the Baron is a Regency retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It is a sweet/clean romance novella, and is Book 1 in a series of Regency retellings. The stories can be read in any order.

My Review:

published in 2019

I was crazy excited over this Regency Beauty and the Beast retelling when I first read the story. I recently discovered it on audible for an excellent price so I couldn’t resist revisiting these characters, this time listening to Janna Fox’s wonderful narration. Such a sweet, timeless story!

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Squuueeeeee — I just discovered a new-to-me favourite Regency author! Thank you Good Reads friends for leading me to Joanna Barker. My fainting couch got a real workout with this one — partly from me jumping up and down as I shrieked my ecstatic pleasure to the world. Because, not only is Beauty and the Baron a scrumptious Regency romance, it’s also a retelling of Beauty and the Beast! Squeeeep!!!

Grinning like an idiot writing this as I remember all the good bits which is basically the whole book. An impoverished, genteel lady with quiet strength and such a kind heart. A seething, embittered baron who has become so jaded by the world that he keeps it at bay with his foul humor. The way Rose softens him by slow degrees, gently showing him a different way to live. Be still my heart! So many happy swoony bits!

But there’s treachery afoot and a mystery to solve before we get to “…and they lived happily ever after.” I had so much fun spotting the fairy tale elements Barker wove throughout the story. Her unique twists made this timeless story feel fresh and new.

Toe-curling romantical bliss!

Side note: While not a Christian Fiction selection, Beauty and the Baron is a clean read that also inspires with sweet gems like this: “Kindness matters most when it’s hardest to give.”

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Beauty and the Baron , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 3 2024.

Lady of Disguise

Only the hidden treasure will allow Louisa and her sister to gain their freedom.

England, 1388: All her life, Louisa has dreamed of finding the rumored “Giant’s Treasure,” a collection of ancient, lost riches said to be hidden on a mountaintop in Scotland, guarded by a fierce monster. It’s a story her father used to tell her, and when he dies and she and her younger sister have to go live with their shiftless, greedy uncle, Louisa is determined to find that treasure. It’s the hope that has kept her defying her uncle’s efforts to marry her off to the highest bidder.

After her uncle starts to parade Louisa’s twelve-year-old sister Margaret in front of potential husbands, Louisa realizes she has no time to waste. She disguises herself as a boy and takes off for Scotland. But the road is a harsher place than she’d imagined, and she is relieved to find a friend in the knight, Sir Charles, who goes along with her on her journey.

Charles is intrigued by this young woman who claims her name is “Jack” and is set on going to Scotland. He goes along, pretending to believe she is a boy, in order to make sure nothing bad happens to her. As they meet new friends along the road, and as Louisa comes clean about her identity, the pair find themselves falling in love. But what will happen when they reach Scotland? Will they find their independence and the freedom to marry in the form of a buried treasure, or will the monster from Louisa’s own past keep the young couple apart?

A delightfully charming reimagining of “Jack and the Beanstalk” from New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson.

My Review:

I adore fairy tale retellings and this is my first Jack and the Beanstalk reimagining. I’d say it’s on the lighter side at the start but an imaginative twist towards the end brought some wonderfully believable parallels to this age old tale. Very clever, Ms. Dickerson, very clever indeed. 🙂

Louisa makes the perfect damsel in distress with Charles as her knight in shining armour. She’s a spunky, imaginative heroine who is not quite ready to be let loose in the real world. Luckily Charles takes his knightly duties of guarding and protecting seriously. Friendship develops into more but, of course, there’s a quest to conquer and a villain to defeat before the hope of a happily ever after can be obtained!

Love the journey — the people they meet along the way. In true fairy tale fashion, Louisa and Charles provide assistance and encouragement and I appreciated the way the author wove the importance of prayer throughout the story.

I listened to the audio edition narrated by Jude Mason who did a marvellous job creating a fairy tale ambiance in her performance. Thoroughly enjoyed my listen.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio and Negalley for providing me with an audio edition of Lady of Disguise.

Maiden in the Tower + Giveaway

RANDOM RETRO READ

He’s the first man she’s ever met. She’s the exact opposite of the woman he’s supposed to marry.

Lisette Hunt has been hidden away her entire life, with nothing but a large window up in the cottage turret to give her a glimpse of the outside world. Until Gerry Worthington stumbles into her garden in search of his runaway dog.

As a second son, Gerry has never seen the need to take life too seriously. Less than pleased with his frivolity, his mother orders him to marry a woman of means and banishes him to his family’s small, rundown estate. Unfortunately, innocent and penniless Lisette is the very opposite of what he needs.

But Gerry cannot resist the mystery surrounding Lisette, and soon he can no longer resist Lisette and her endearing peculiarity. As Gerry slowly opens Lisette’s eyes to a larger world, she begins to open her heart to him. However, when Gerry uncovers the truth about who Lisette really is, it may cost them a chance at happiness together.

My Review:

published in 2019

Squuueaaalll!!! I adore fairy tale retellings — especially Regency ones — and this is my first ever Rapunzel. I’ve read numerous Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Snow White re-imaginings but nary a single Rapunzel so I was so excited to discover this little gem. And curious to see how the author would work the fairy tale elements into the story. Let’s just say she handled it brilliantly!

Short and sweet and oh, so satisfying. Lisette’s innocent enthusiasm had me grinning all the way through. And Gerry is so flummoxed by this unusual young woman who defies all high society etiquette. There’s even a bit of a mystery element to this tale involving Lisette’s background which was all kinds of fun to follow to a very sigh-worthy conclusion.

“Maiden in the Tower” is the fifth book in the multi-authored “Forever After Retellings.” I’ve read the first two and intend to hunt down the rest of the series. And — bonus — such pretty cover art to fancy up my bookshelves.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Maiden in the Tower, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 28, 2023

Fairest of Heart + Giveaway

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young woman found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe. The evidence points to her guilt, but Titus’s heart divines a different truth–one that might just get Penelope killed.

An enchanting Western take on the classic Snow White fairy tale, Fairest of Heart will sweep you away from once upon a time to happily ever after.

My Review:

Okay, I’m beyond giddy and well into bubbleheadedness over this — eeeeeppppppp — first book in the Texas Every After series which is all about fairy tale retellings!!!!! I can’t even…there just are no words to convey my bookish glee. So if I come across as slaphappy and scatterbrained in this review, blame the author’s storytelling prowess.

First — I love, adore, delight in fairy tale retellings and to find one in the realm of Christian Fiction with a significant faith thread…well…I just…like I said, no words.

Snow White takes an entirely different spin in this Old West version that comes complete with a prince of a Texas ranger (see what I did there?) and seven retired drovers (seriously, is that not clever or what?!) And, of course we have Penelope Snow who does justice to the fairy tale heroine but adds a charm all of her own.

The way Witemeyer has adapted the classic Snow White plot to her Western setting is sheer brilliance! I got such a charge out of recognizing familiar elements in a different way. Beyond clever. And it was so much fun kinda knowing how the story was going to progress, but being constantly surprised by each new twist. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a fairy tale retelling more.

And there’s a spectacular faith thread about mercy that’s woven throughout Titus’s story. He’s all about truth and justice. A personal tragedy led him to join the Texas rangers but, when Penelope shows up in his life, he begins to wrestle with the notion of mercy and where it fits in. “Mercy and truth always together. Mercy always leading the way.” There’s even an awesome scripture chain on mercy that I’ve written into my bible as Titus shares verses tied together “like clues on a treasure map.” And what a treasure he finds by the end!

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Barbara McCulloh. She’s a familiar voice in Western Christian Fiction and I’ve enjoyed all her performances whether she’s reading from works by Mary Connealy, Tracey Peterson or Karen Witemeyer.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Fairest of Heart, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 17, 2023.

The Maid of Ballymacool + Giveaway

Brianna Kelly was abandoned at Ballymacool House and Boarding School as an infant. She has worked there since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

When Michael Wray, the son of local gentry, is sent to Ballymacool to deal with his unruly cousin, he finds himself drawn to Brianna, immediately and inescapably. There is something about her that feels so…familiar. When Brianna finds a piece of silver in the woods, she commits to learning its origins, with the help of Michael. What they discover may change everything.

Fan favourite Jennifer Deibel invites you back to the Emerald Isle in the 1930s for this fresh take on the Cinderella story, complete with a tantalizing mystery, a buddying romance, and a chance at redemption.

My Review:

I didn’t know this was a fairy tale retelling when I started reading/listening, but I immediately thought of Cinderella as the story progressed and, lo and behold, it actually is a retelling of that classic tale! And incredibly well done. There are definitely departures from the original, but all the important elements are here and told in an exquisite storytelling style. Jennifer Deibel’s best ever (to date.)

Have to say right up front that I was beguiled by Caroline Lennon’s narration. She breathed a whole other dimension into this story — especially when it came to Irish words and names. And there’s something magical about listening to a seanchai (Gaelic storyteller) and that’s what this read felt like. I’m still basking in all the bookish glee. 🙂

And this story!!! Beautifully written, expertly paced — you know, that feeling where you are so immersed in the story that you want to stay there forever? And, though you’re dying to find all the answers and get to the happily very after, you’re also not in any rush to do so? That’s the kind of read this is.

And these characters!!! I might have a huge crush on Michael. Be still my heart. Tender and kind. Not afraid to stand up for what’s right. He doesn’t take his advantageous position in life for granted. Plus, he’s a reader. With an Irish accent! Does it get any better than that? I think not!

Brianna’s smitten as well, though she’s wary because how could a scullery maid make a match with an aristocrat? But Deibel has all kinds of surprises in store for this couple (and her readers) that flow together like, well, a fairy tale!

The perfect uplifting escape read with tons of charm.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Maid of Ballymacool, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 18, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.