RTC ( )

The Beautiful Pretender is a fitting sequel to The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. The book can stand on its own as a story, but is better having read the first book. Readers will be pleased to find Jorgen, Odette, and the Margrave of Thornbeck back in their lives. Both the beginning setup and ending are rather far fetched, but hey, it is literally a fairy tale romance, so what would you expect?! Dickerson's writing is exciting and engaging and she has deep sympathy for her characters. I would definitely read this book again. ( )

Beautifully told Medieval story in the German forbidding forests.
Reinhart Stolten, Margrave of Thornbeck is commanded to wed by the King. The King has a list of acceptable candidates. Reinhart asks the chosen ladies to his castle to meet him and find out who us suitable. His chancellor devises some tests for the ladies. Meanwhile, one of the ladies elopes and her father enlists her maid to take her place, but Avelina has to discourage the margrave from choosing her.
Much underhanded machinations among the candidates ensue. But Avelina, with her kind heart, becomes a shining example of what the margrave seeks in a wife.
With a Beauty and the Beast undertone, this was an interesting look back in time. And with an underlying faith thread, good always triumphs.
*I purchased this ebook from Amazon. All opinions are my own.* ( )

The second book in Dickerson’s newest fairytale series, The Beautiful Pretender loosely reimagines Beauty and the Beast and the Princess and the Pea.

Like her previous Beauty and the Beast story, the “Beast” character is a gruff, closed-off man with a physical deformity, in this case a limp he acquired during the fire that killed his older brother and left him with the title of Margrave of Thornbeck. When the king requests that he marry a lady from the surrounding regions to help settle the growing unrest, Lord Thornbeck reluctantly invites the eligible young women to spend two weeks at his castle in order to select the most worthy bride. Avelina, maidservant of the inconveniently absent Lady Dorothea, is sent to Thornbeck in her place with strict instructions not to reveal her true identity or to let the margrave choose her as his bride. Easier said than done.

I loved this book almost as much as the first one in the series! It doesn’t resemble Beauty and the Beast very much, and there is only one very obvious reference to Princess and the Pea, but I enjoyed the story as it was and watching these two fall in love. In spite of the fact that Avelina was lying about who she was, their interactions just felt very honest and true to themselves. And the events at the end were not what I was expecting! ( )

The Beautiful Pretender is a fast-paced, often an on-the-edge-of-your-seat, story. I definitely stayed up late a couple nights, wanting to see where the story led and how it ended. This tale is a sweet romance, with plenty of action and suspense. I believe my daughter will also enjoy it, when I share it with her. I certainly want to read more of Melanie Dickerson's books!