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    The Beautiful Pretender
    The Beautiful Pretender
    The Beautiful Pretender
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Beautiful Pretender

    Written by Melanie Dickerson

    Narrated by Jude Mason

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    After inheriting his title from his brother, the new margrave has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a servant girl in disguise?

    The Margrave of Thornbeck is under orders from the king to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble born ladies who meet the king’s approval to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test the ladies and reveal their true character. But one of the guests is not who she pretends to be . . . and not everyone in attendance is there with good intentions.

    A commoner, Avelina has only two instructions: keep her true identity a secret and make sure the margrave doesn’t select her as his bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

    Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—and far deadlier—consequences. Will there ever be a wedding at Thornbeck Castle?

    • Full-length, clean fairy tale retelling inspired by Beauty and the Beast and The Princess and the Pea
    • Stand-alone novel in the Medieval Fairy Tale series 
      • Book 1: The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest
      • Book 2: The Beautiful Pretender
      • Book 3: The Noble Servant
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateMay 17, 2016
    ISBN9780718083618
    The Beautiful Pretender
    Author

    Melanie Dickerson

    Melanie Dickerson is a New York Times bestselling author and two-time Christy Award winner. Melanie spends her time daydreaming, researching the most fascinating historical time periods, and writing and editing her happily-ever-afters. Visit her online at MelanieDickerson.com; Facebook: @MelanieDickersonBooks; Twitter: @MelanieAuthor; Instagram: @melaniedickerson123.

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    Reviews for The Beautiful Pretender

    4.5/5

    77 ratings7 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I quite enjoyed the first in the series and now I struggle to decide which I like more -- this one or that one. The good thing is that I don't actually have to choose. They were both excellent, and if there's a third book, I will start listening to it immediately.
    • 5/5
      This was a great book. I typically don't read books in this particular period, but I really liked it. She fights her attraction towards the Margrave of Thornbeck because she doesn't want him to know who she really is. She respects him and his position enough to steer him towards a woman of his own station. Not every woman would do that. And when she's discovered to be a servant girl, she comes clean straightaway. No lying. No beating around the bushes. She's very respectable.

      If you like the medieval era (5th to 15th century), you should find this book satisfying!
    • 4/5
      Melanie Dickerson’s latest fairy-tale retelling was a lovely, quick light read. The typical, slightly whimsical style it retells a classic story (in this case The Princess and the Pea combined with elements of Beauty and the Beast) in a real Medieval setting with romance and a touch of intrigue. Mrs Dickerson has done a Beauty and the Beast retelling before with her second novel The Merchant’s Daughter but this one was original and satisfying enough to not cause any problems.
      Those who read the last book The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, will know some of the characters including the darkly mysterious Reinhart, Margrave of Thornbeck. (Margrave is defined as a military commander in charge of the defence of a province of the Holy Roman Empire). Avelina is sweet, but not Saccharine sweet and too perfect or infallible.

      Reinhart gets his own story as the protagonist of this story, and he did turn out to be a fascinating and endearing character. In the last book there was a hint that he had more to him then the characters thought, and was not so evil, and this promise was delivered well. There are also some great supporting character including the young Magdelena, the daughter of a nobleman sent to Thornbeck as a potential suitor for the Margrave.
      I do believe this was one of Mrs Dickerson’s stronger stories, as it’s not too fluffy or predictable and seemed to be more character-driven. I hate it in Romance stories when characters just think about kissing instead of more important and pressing matters. I did enjoy the scenes with King Karl at the end. It the first time a monarch has ever been present in one of the stories by this author, though they’re often mentioned. He could be imagined as as a little like Brian Blessed, looming large smiling, bearded and bellowing to bring about the resolution of the story.

      My only complaints were with some of Avelina’s attitudes. Her ideas about nobles being equal to peasants were understandable, but seemed too modern, as did her ideas about romantic love and marriage. I don’t like I when its automatically assumed that arranged marriages were unhappy, but that was very much the case here. (Reinhart’s parents married for duty and were miserable- the usual cliché). History shows us plenty of examples of couples contented in arranged marriages, and I wish they would get more fair treatment in fiction.
      Recommended for fans of historical fiction and light romance, as well as established fans of this author.

      I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via Booklook Bloggers for the purposes of writing a review. I was not required to write a positive one, and all opinions expressed are my own.
    • 4/5
      Avelina has been serving as a lady's maid to Lady Dorothea, the rebellious only child of the Lord of Plimmwald. When Lady Dorothea runs away to avoid having to present herself as a possible bride of the Margrave of Thornbeck, the :prd of Plimmwald orders Avelina to take her mistress' place to preserve the peace. She is ordered to do everything necessary to not be selected as the bride.The story is well written and totally engaging.
    • 3/5
      Avelina's position as lady's maid to Lady Dorothea, daughter of the Earl of Plimmwald, shifts precariously when she assists Dorothea in running away with a knight she is desperately in love with. The earl insists that Avelina stand in Dorothea's place and attend a two-week visit to Thornbeck Castle. During her visit, Avelina must remain under cover and make sure she is not chosen as Margrave Thornbeck's desired bride, as the Margrave has invited ten ladies in an attempt to procure a bride. Unfortunately, the Margrave notes Avelina's sensitivity and candor quickly. Avelina diverts his attentions to her friend with a hidden bit of dismay as her own feelings for Margrave Thornbeck have grown beyond platonic friendsip. Will Avelina's secret keep her from true love or is there a chance that love can survive the deception, intrigue and danger permeating Thornbeck Castle? Read more in The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson.I enjoyed The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson. Among the medieval fairy tales by Dickerson that I've read, this one falls somewhere in the middle. It wasn't my favorite or least favorite. Although, the story hooked me early on, I enjoyed the second half of the book a bit more than the first. The plot felt a bit stilted when the bride candidates were going through the “tests” and some of the “twists” were predictable. However, in the second half of the story, things seemed to flow better and the story felt more original. I enjoyed the budding romances and the refreshing forthrightness that Lady Dorothea / Avelina speaks with.I recommend The Beautiful Pretender to readers looking for a fairy tale romance with plenty of intrigue and themes of faith.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
    • 5/5
      Melanie Dickerson has made a name for herself crafting fairytale retellings that capture the flavor of the original with a definite inspirational message included. In her latest novel, The Beautiful Pretender, Melanie creates her own vision of the classic The Princess And The Pea with a nod to Beauty And The Beast. What emerges is a story where nobility of character trimuphs over deceit, deception and vanity. A great book for YA readers, The Beautiful Pretender will appeal to anyone who loves fairytale endings.Avelina, a lowly lady’s maid, finds herself in Thornbeck Castle disguised as Lady Dorothea of Plimmwald. Dorothea’s father is seeking to gain Thornbeck’s protection despite his wayward daughter’s actions. Plunged into an unfamiliar world of courtly manners, Avelina needs to pull off the deception or her family and country will be in danger. Lord Thornbeck is drawn to the refreshingly unique Lady Dorothea as he searches for the right bride. But more treachery than Avelina’s is at foot in the castle!I loved the medieval setting of The Beautiful Pretender. Melanie does a wonderful job of making the 14th century Holy Roman Empire real to a modern reader through her detailed descriptions of place, fashion, and customs. Characters are appealing as well, especially the plucky Avelina. Lowly born and ill-suited to her role as a pretend noblewoman, Avelina’s views on love, marriage and the treatment of the poor are in stark contrast to the acceptable viewpoints of the day. Ironically, her seeming lack of guile is what draws Lord Thornbeck. Living a life of truthfulness while deceiving everyone is an interesting plot line that is sure to create a lot of good discussion for book clubs. Lord Thornbeck is the perfect hero — brooding, willful, handsome, and, at heart, a true nobleman. Twists and turns keep the pages turning as well. With all this, The Beautiful Pretender is a great choice for a book club, especially one geared towards high schoolers.While The Beautiful Pretender is book 2 of a series, it is easily read as a standalone. However, I’ll be sure to read book 1, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest to find out all that I missed.Highly Recommended.Audience: older teens to adults.Great for Book Clubs.(Thanks to LitFuse of a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 4/5
      Dangerous liaisons!I am quite enjoying Melanie Dickerson's Medieval Fairy Tales. Avelina is in the unenviable position of being a lowly servant girl (though she can read) being thrust into a highly charged political situation with very little support and no real choice. She only has her faith, her pleasant personality and her wits to try to come through the situation unscathed and undiscovered.Well, we know that's not going to work! But the unlooked for betrayal of her position, the weight of the falsities she has to present, the pain of lying to a man she has come to admire, all take a toll.The Margrave of Thornbeck has been instructed to marry by his King. Having no choice but to obey, he invites eligible young high born women to Thornbeck Castle for two weeks so that he can chose his bride. Unfortunately, Avelina's mistress, the daughter of the Earl of Plimmwald, has run off with one of her father's Knights. So Plimmwald sends Avelina to take Dorethea's place with strict instructions about keeping a low profile, and not to do anything to attract the attention of the Margrave. Well of course, that doesn't work!The novel has much to recommend it. Love, faith, friendship and treachery all come together in a delightfully packaged story.A NetGalley ARC