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The Merchant's Daughter
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.
288 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2011
About the author
Melanie Dickerson
36books5,999followersMelanie Dickerson is the New York Times bestselling author of happily-ever-after romance. She believes in love, laughter, afternoon tea, and the power of story.
With a million books sold and numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Golden Quills, a National Readers Choice Award, Christian Retailing’s Best, and Book Buyers’ Best Awards, her books have hit #1 in her category on the New York Times bestseller list.
When she’s not writing, Melanie can be found watching Pride and Prejudice for the hundredth time, cozying up to her handsome hero husband, or shaking her head at her slightly unhinged Jack Russell terrier. She lives in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachians near Huntsville, Alabama.
With a million books sold and numerous awards, including two Christy Awards, two Golden Quills, a National Readers Choice Award, Christian Retailing’s Best, and Book Buyers’ Best Awards, her books have hit #1 in her category on the New York Times bestseller list.
When she’s not writing, Melanie can be found watching Pride and Prejudice for the hundredth time, cozying up to her handsome hero husband, or shaking her head at her slightly unhinged Jack Russell terrier. She lives in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachians near Huntsville, Alabama.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,469 reviews
December 16, 2014
SWEET BABY JESUS
This was the preachiest thing I've ever read. I mean, I'm Catholic and I like values and insights inspired from the Bible but holy... did this book talk about Jesus and God a lot and how they're the reasons good things come, how they're the ones blessing every good thing that happens, how they're the ones that smite the bad guys and how they're the ones curing diseases etc. etc.
Every time the MC would read the Bible for her Lord, we'd get paragraphs and pages explaining parables and the lessons learnt, with the occasional "God is SOOO good!"
I mean I don't mind that. I'm a spiritual person, and while I don't take the Bible literally word for word, I do appreciate the lessons we can impart from it, but come on, man! There's a fine line between good and unreasonable. It got old quickly and annoying.
Also, this book pretty much kept on emphasizing the fact that marriage is the most natural thing and that it's the most obvious thing to do. If you're beautiful and kind, you NEED to get married or your looks will have been for naught. Women deserve to be loved and protected and men deserve to be cooked for and have their wants and needs addressed. LIKE WTFFF
Writing is a bit too young, and there is hardly any build up in some scenes. Transitions are bad too and there are too many POV changes in a chapter.
Final Verdict: 2.5
P.S. To be fair though, this was set in 14th century England, a time when religion was closely interrelated with one's lifestyle and it was more of a way of life. Chivalry and stuff, too. At least kudos for being consistent?
This was the preachiest thing I've ever read. I mean, I'm Catholic and I like values and insights inspired from the Bible but holy... did this book talk about Jesus and God a lot and how they're the reasons good things come, how they're the ones blessing every good thing that happens, how they're the ones that smite the bad guys and how they're the ones curing diseases etc. etc.
Every time the MC would read the Bible for her Lord, we'd get paragraphs and pages explaining parables and the lessons learnt, with the occasional "God is SOOO good!"
I mean I don't mind that. I'm a spiritual person, and while I don't take the Bible literally word for word, I do appreciate the lessons we can impart from it, but come on, man! There's a fine line between good and unreasonable. It got old quickly and annoying.
Also, this book pretty much kept on emphasizing the fact that marriage is the most natural thing and that it's the most obvious thing to do. If you're beautiful and kind, you NEED to get married or your looks will have been for naught. Women deserve to be loved and protected and men deserve to be cooked for and have their wants and needs addressed. LIKE WTFFF
Writing is a bit too young, and there is hardly any build up in some scenes. Transitions are bad too and there are too many POV changes in a chapter.
Final Verdict: 2.5
P.S. To be fair though, this was set in 14th century England, a time when religion was closely interrelated with one's lifestyle and it was more of a way of life. Chivalry and stuff, too. At least kudos for being consistent?
October 15, 2018
This was my first time reading this author, but it will certainly not be my last. This story pulls you in starting with its cover photo which captures the essence of the book perfectly. Even though The Merchant’s Daughter is a Christian romance there are other themes presented such as discrimination, forgiveness, and honor which are just as powerfully written as the romance. Falling in love requires the main characters to face their personal issues and deal with them before a solid foundation can be created. Dickerson manages to illustrate this process in an accurate manner without slowing the pace of the story.
Annabel has always lived a secure life with her mom and brothers until their debts catch up with them and Annabel places herself into the care of Lord le Wyse as his indentured servant. Not knowing what to expect and hoping one day to become a nun, she boldly goes into this life to help her family pay off their debts. She immediately catches Wyse’s attention with suspicion and scrutiny, but works hard to prove herself and makes the best of her situation. She carries out her tasks with grace, determination, and wisdom even when things go wrong. As she learns about Lord le Wyse and his past, her fear of him becomes respect and she discovers beauty in him that would seem impossible.
When I first read the summary I immediately thought of Beauty and the Beast, I was intrigued and eager to read The Merchant’s Daughter. Even though I’ve read lots of good books lately, I can easily say that this one is my favorite. I greatly admired Annabel’s faith and courage; she was determined to do the right thing no matter what the cost. I read through it quickly and was amazed that I was experiencing Lord le Wyse through Annabel’s eyes. If she was afraid of him, I was afraid of him; if she felt safe around him, I felt safe around him, etc. Another precious part of the story for me was the Bible or the Holy Writ as the author describes it. The setting is England in 1352 and Bibles were not available to the public. The way Annabel regards the Bible with such awe and reverence really touched me and helped me see my own Bible in a different way. The author succeeded in making me consider the values of true love and true beauty as God intended them to be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical Christian romances or if you just loved Beauty and the Beast as I did.
I want to thank Zondervan and Zondervan’s Z Street Team for the free copy they provided. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Annabel has always lived a secure life with her mom and brothers until their debts catch up with them and Annabel places herself into the care of Lord le Wyse as his indentured servant. Not knowing what to expect and hoping one day to become a nun, she boldly goes into this life to help her family pay off their debts. She immediately catches Wyse’s attention with suspicion and scrutiny, but works hard to prove herself and makes the best of her situation. She carries out her tasks with grace, determination, and wisdom even when things go wrong. As she learns about Lord le Wyse and his past, her fear of him becomes respect and she discovers beauty in him that would seem impossible.
When I first read the summary I immediately thought of Beauty and the Beast, I was intrigued and eager to read The Merchant’s Daughter. Even though I’ve read lots of good books lately, I can easily say that this one is my favorite. I greatly admired Annabel’s faith and courage; she was determined to do the right thing no matter what the cost. I read through it quickly and was amazed that I was experiencing Lord le Wyse through Annabel’s eyes. If she was afraid of him, I was afraid of him; if she felt safe around him, I felt safe around him, etc. Another precious part of the story for me was the Bible or the Holy Writ as the author describes it. The setting is England in 1352 and Bibles were not available to the public. The way Annabel regards the Bible with such awe and reverence really touched me and helped me see my own Bible in a different way. The author succeeded in making me consider the values of true love and true beauty as God intended them to be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical Christian romances or if you just loved Beauty and the Beast as I did.
I want to thank Zondervan and Zondervan’s Z Street Team for the free copy they provided. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 16, 2012
I'm a big sucker for Beauty&Beast books when they're done right, and trust me, some authors have really reworked the classic to become heaps better than the original tale. This one, however, is a terrible interpretation of the classic story.
Firstly: I have nothing against religion, but this book goes totally overboard with the preaching in a very heavy-handed way that just sucks the life out of the story. I COULD have overlooked that if not for the ridiculous portrayals of the characters in the story. They're insipid. Shallow. Boring. And worst of all, they aren't strong enough to carry the B&B tale forward.
A B&B story has to deal with emotions and motivations that are more realistic than the average fairytale. After all, the beast had to do *something* to become the beast, something not necessarily bad but probably not necessarily good, either, a lot like how we act in real life. Why did he do *whatever it was*? How? And how has he suffered with the consequences? Belle, on the other hand, has the task of falling in love with a beast. But how? Why? I believe that a successful B&B story has to build a slow realistic relationship over time, because all these questions have to be answered to get that HEA.
If you judge by somewhat similar criterion, you'll find just like I did that nothing of the sort really happens. The conflict between characters is absurdly cliched and made even more frustrating by the non-existent chemistry that is supposed to develop (or even exist) between Belle and the Beast. The other characters just come off as thrown in for fun. They don't further the storyline or add to development in any way, except to facilitate more awkward meetings between Belle and the Beast. Belle turns out to be a weak, spineless, Mary-Sue of nonsensical prettiness and kindness, who just has fits of pessimism and never stands up for herself. She's an embarrassment to strong female leads. The Beast is no better. He never gets past the moody, irrational, and immature stage (and even with so much potential for character development because of the emotional reasons behind this behavior...it all fails.) This, accompanied with odd descriptions of how Belle is some sort of lying temptress (in more flowery and morally right words...) just kill the whole character for me. I actually felt sorry for Belle. How on earth could anyone fall for such a ridiculous ass? And then I realized she was doing it anyway, and I wanted to kill everybody, but most of all myself. Really, the religious preaching that was interspersed amongst this claptrap was the last straw.
I actually think all this happens because the author just doesn't have a way with words. Sometimes I think she's got the idea right, but she just describes it in a way that muddles everything and makes it sound ridiculous. I don't know.
I couldn't finish this book. I read till about midway, then gave up and skimmed through it. Then I deleted it. My advice to you is to go pick something else to read and not waste your time with this. Try Robin McKinley's Folktale series. It has two rewrites of the B&B tale, and they're fantastic. Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier is another favorite of mine. You might even try Alex Flinn's 'Beastly' if modern fairytales float your boat. Anything, anything but this farce of a book.
If I could, I'd give negative stars. Negative stars, *insert appropriate kill me now.gif here.*
Firstly: I have nothing against religion, but this book goes totally overboard with the preaching in a very heavy-handed way that just sucks the life out of the story. I COULD have overlooked that if not for the ridiculous portrayals of the characters in the story. They're insipid. Shallow. Boring. And worst of all, they aren't strong enough to carry the B&B tale forward.
A B&B story has to deal with emotions and motivations that are more realistic than the average fairytale. After all, the beast had to do *something* to become the beast, something not necessarily bad but probably not necessarily good, either, a lot like how we act in real life. Why did he do *whatever it was*? How? And how has he suffered with the consequences? Belle, on the other hand, has the task of falling in love with a beast. But how? Why? I believe that a successful B&B story has to build a slow realistic relationship over time, because all these questions have to be answered to get that HEA.
If you judge by somewhat similar criterion, you'll find just like I did that nothing of the sort really happens. The conflict between characters is absurdly cliched and made even more frustrating by the non-existent chemistry that is supposed to develop (or even exist) between Belle and the Beast. The other characters just come off as thrown in for fun. They don't further the storyline or add to development in any way, except to facilitate more awkward meetings between Belle and the Beast. Belle turns out to be a weak, spineless, Mary-Sue of nonsensical prettiness and kindness, who just has fits of pessimism and never stands up for herself. She's an embarrassment to strong female leads. The Beast is no better. He never gets past the moody, irrational, and immature stage (and even with so much potential for character development because of the emotional reasons behind this behavior...it all fails.) This, accompanied with odd descriptions of how Belle is some sort of lying temptress (in more flowery and morally right words...) just kill the whole character for me. I actually felt sorry for Belle. How on earth could anyone fall for such a ridiculous ass? And then I realized she was doing it anyway, and I wanted to kill everybody, but most of all myself. Really, the religious preaching that was interspersed amongst this claptrap was the last straw.
I actually think all this happens because the author just doesn't have a way with words. Sometimes I think she's got the idea right, but she just describes it in a way that muddles everything and makes it sound ridiculous. I don't know.
I couldn't finish this book. I read till about midway, then gave up and skimmed through it. Then I deleted it. My advice to you is to go pick something else to read and not waste your time with this. Try Robin McKinley's Folktale series. It has two rewrites of the B&B tale, and they're fantastic. Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier is another favorite of mine. You might even try Alex Flinn's 'Beastly' if modern fairytales float your boat. Anything, anything but this farce of a book.
If I could, I'd give negative stars. Negative stars, *insert appropriate kill me now.gif here.*
August 29, 2018
Awesome!
I loved this book so much! Melanie Dickerson seems to always have a way with writing romance novels! They always strike me as fresh, beautiful, pure, different, and unique! I have not been able to mark one Melanie Dickerson book beneath 4.5 stars!
I loved this book so much! Melanie Dickerson seems to always have a way with writing romance novels! They always strike me as fresh, beautiful, pure, different, and unique! I have not been able to mark one Melanie Dickerson book beneath 4.5 stars!
October 5, 2011
I did not realize until I was about two-thirds of the way through this book, but The Merchant's Daughter is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Not only that, it is a Christian, historical retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I am a huge fan of historical fiction---which is what drew me to the book in the first place---but I am also a big fan of retelling of fairy tales and Christian fiction. To have all of those elements together in one book made for a great read for me!
It's been a couple of weeks since I finished The Merchant's Daughter (I was on a huge reading binge and got very behind on my book reviews) but I still think back upon the book and sigh in contentment. It was such a sweet story, tender without being too mushy. One element of Christian fiction that I sometimes have problems with is the Christian element to the story being too forced. That was not the case here---Annabel's desire to read the Bible and serve God was a natural part of her personality.
What I really liked about The Merchant's Daughter was slowly getting to know Ranulf. We are first presented with him when he almost runs Annabel down in the street. He comes across as a gruff man, even mean. What we don't yet realize is that his gruff exterior covers a tender heart, a heart that is still recovering from betrayal and loss. Ranulf and Annabel slowly get to know each other, and their relationship grows from there.
The story moves slowly, but the detail and character development were more than enough to keep me interested. I felt like there was a lot more to this story, especially with the added interest of the Christian and historical elements to the story, than other retellings of classic fairy tales. I liked it so much that I plan to buy Melanie Dickerson's previous book, The Healer's Apprentice.
It's been a couple of weeks since I finished The Merchant's Daughter (I was on a huge reading binge and got very behind on my book reviews) but I still think back upon the book and sigh in contentment. It was such a sweet story, tender without being too mushy. One element of Christian fiction that I sometimes have problems with is the Christian element to the story being too forced. That was not the case here---Annabel's desire to read the Bible and serve God was a natural part of her personality.
What I really liked about The Merchant's Daughter was slowly getting to know Ranulf. We are first presented with him when he almost runs Annabel down in the street. He comes across as a gruff man, even mean. What we don't yet realize is that his gruff exterior covers a tender heart, a heart that is still recovering from betrayal and loss. Ranulf and Annabel slowly get to know each other, and their relationship grows from there.
The story moves slowly, but the detail and character development were more than enough to keep me interested. I felt like there was a lot more to this story, especially with the added interest of the Christian and historical elements to the story, than other retellings of classic fairy tales. I liked it so much that I plan to buy Melanie Dickerson's previous book, The Healer's Apprentice.
May 17, 2013
"Her's lord's own scent of lavender and warm masculinity.
"Warm masculinity"? You honestly used that? I wasn't aware that was a thing.
Silly phrasing aside, this wasokay.I didn't dislike it quite as much asThe Healer's Apprentice.
But I'm seeing an annoying trend in this lady's books. Perfect main characters that have been wronged in some way, overly Christian main characters, weird creepy dude A) stalking the main girl or B) trying to take advantage of but then love interest that isn't a love interest yet saves the girl and she doesn't trust him but he's always good looking and he treats her with kindness and he's "gentle" and she starts falling for him against all the odds and they can't be together because of reasons and "God save me, I'm so attracted to him/her" and then they end up together because true love prevails.
Main thought in this one:
Seriously, Annabel. Shoo.
And then (This doesn't actually affect the rating) there was the Catholic priest that was all sexist and "all woman are pigs and you can't read the Bible cause you're a woman!" Am I saying that all members of the Church are perfect and that there weren't priests like that, esp in the Middle Ages? Nope. But it doesn't give a good message. Andof courseRanulf is all "READ MY BIBLE, PRETTY SERVANT" straight after.
So no, not recommended.
"Warm masculinity"? You honestly used that? I wasn't aware that was a thing.
Silly phrasing aside, this wasokay.I didn't dislike it quite as much asThe Healer's Apprentice.
But I'm seeing an annoying trend in this lady's books. Perfect main characters that have been wronged in some way, overly Christian main characters, weird creepy dude A) stalking the main girl or B) trying to take advantage of but then love interest that isn't a love interest yet saves the girl and she doesn't trust him but he's always good looking and he treats her with kindness and he's "gentle" and she starts falling for him against all the odds and they can't be together because of reasons and "God save me, I'm so attracted to him/her" and then they end up together because true love prevails.
Main thought in this one:
Seriously, Annabel. Shoo.
And then (This doesn't actually affect the rating) there was the Catholic priest that was all sexist and "all woman are pigs and you can't read the Bible cause you're a woman!" Am I saying that all members of the Church are perfect and that there weren't priests like that, esp in the Middle Ages? Nope. But it doesn't give a good message. Andof courseRanulf is all "READ MY BIBLE, PRETTY SERVANT" straight after.
So no, not recommended.
April 2, 2016
I have to say I enjoyed this book more than Dickerson's debut novel, The Healer's Apprentice. Both stories are marked by a certain fantastic quality but The Merchant's Daughter is more historic fiction than fairy tale.
I loved Dickerson's approach. A history fanatic, I was impressed by her decision to set her retelling of Beauty and the Beast in England 1352. Dickerson's attention to detail and the cultural practices of the day made her story fresh, fun and truly unique. Impressive to say the least but Dickerson made more than one twist to the classic tale.
Annabel, the neglected daughter of a late merchant and an emotionally absent mother is the central figure of the story. An outsider in her own family, she longs to join the church. I can't say I understand her conviction but I found the exploration of it intriguing and made me realize how lucky I am to live in a time and place where I am not barred from literature by virtue of my sex.
Annabel herself is an interesting character but inconsistent. At the opening of the novel she is determined to prove she is not the lazy inept young woman the villagers take her to be. I couldn't help but wonder where this determination came from. If she is so strong a personality, what kept her from contributing despite her mother's protests?
The romance between Annabel and Ranulf was sweet for all that it felt underdeveloped. Dickerson's characters bond during their nightly readings of the Bible. I respect Dickerson's message but I believe there is more to love than shared belief. I also think her method may alienate more secular readers and limit their enjoyment of her work.
The Merchant's Daughter is an unconventional retelling of the beloved classic. Recommended to fans of Romeo's Ex: Rosaline's Story by Lisa Fiedler and A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce.
I loved Dickerson's approach. A history fanatic, I was impressed by her decision to set her retelling of Beauty and the Beast in England 1352. Dickerson's attention to detail and the cultural practices of the day made her story fresh, fun and truly unique. Impressive to say the least but Dickerson made more than one twist to the classic tale.
Annabel, the neglected daughter of a late merchant and an emotionally absent mother is the central figure of the story. An outsider in her own family, she longs to join the church. I can't say I understand her conviction but I found the exploration of it intriguing and made me realize how lucky I am to live in a time and place where I am not barred from literature by virtue of my sex.
Annabel herself is an interesting character but inconsistent. At the opening of the novel she is determined to prove she is not the lazy inept young woman the villagers take her to be. I couldn't help but wonder where this determination came from. If she is so strong a personality, what kept her from contributing despite her mother's protests?
The romance between Annabel and Ranulf was sweet for all that it felt underdeveloped. Dickerson's characters bond during their nightly readings of the Bible. I respect Dickerson's message but I believe there is more to love than shared belief. I also think her method may alienate more secular readers and limit their enjoyment of her work.
The Merchant's Daughter is an unconventional retelling of the beloved classic. Recommended to fans of Romeo's Ex: Rosaline's Story by Lisa Fiedler and A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce.
January 23, 2018
This was a sweet retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I am glad my daughters will have books, such as these, to read when they are older. I appreciate the fact that Dickerson isn't afraid of applying such strong biblical themes to her stories. I can easily understand why christian, YA girls devour these books up. For me, however, it was just an OK read. Often, I found myself skim reading through repetitive details just trying to get the plot to advance. The ending was lovely though, and the characters made for an enjoyable read.
Read
March 8, 2017Possibly a review later;) lol
May 26, 2020
Loved this take on Beauty and the Beast.
January 25, 2023
~2017 review~
5 stars 🌟
Eeeeee, Melanie Dickerson books make me giddy! This is one of my very favorites, I absolutely love it. *fangirling wildly* 😆😍💙💚💛💜
~2023 review~
4 stars 🌟
It's amusing to see my review from 6 years ago since I don't feel all fangirly and giddy over this book anymore lol. Which is actually quite sad. Old Melanie Dickerson books are still good, sweet reads, but I just don't LOVE them the same way I used to. I think these were written for younger teenage girls, and that's reflected in the writing at some parts.
5 stars 🌟
Eeeeee, Melanie Dickerson books make me giddy! This is one of my very favorites, I absolutely love it. *fangirling wildly* 😆😍💙💚💛💜
~2023 review~
4 stars 🌟
It's amusing to see my review from 6 years ago since I don't feel all fangirly and giddy over this book anymore lol. Which is actually quite sad. Old Melanie Dickerson books are still good, sweet reads, but I just don't LOVE them the same way I used to. I think these were written for younger teenage girls, and that's reflected in the writing at some parts.
August 19, 2023
Love this series
If you love romance and Christianity and historical fiction and mixed up fairy tales then this is a series for you
If you love romance and Christianity and historical fiction and mixed up fairy tales then this is a series for you
February 23, 2017
This book was very good! I recommend it to everyone!
As i was reading this book, I happened to be learning about this same day and age in history class, and everything in this book lined up perfectly with my history book. So well done, Melanie, on your research!
And once more, the author did not fail to keep me spellbound throughout the entire story. This is the third one of her books i have read (the other two are The Fairest Beauty and The Captive Maiden) and while i loved the other two, i noticed a few cheesy scenes in each of them. But in The Merchant's Daughter, i couldn't find any scenes that i would call cheesy, which therefore made the story all the more loveable to me. The way Annabel fell in love with Lord Ranulf's inner beauty and not his outward beauty touched my heart and i have to say that i was very emotionally involved in this book (i don't usually cry over books-especially happy ones!!)
The heroine was actually one i really enjoyed and could relate to (i usually love the heroes and want to slap the heroines.)
So really, this was a very enjoyable book. I highly recommend it-especially if you love Fairy Tales, or Belle in particular;)
Negative Content~
The townspeople are very rude and speak meanly of Lord Ranulf and Annabel.
Lord Ranulf has some less-than-peasant paintings in his chambers including pictures of two graves and a skull.
A man is hit in the head with a rock.
See Sexual Content
Sexual Content~
Annabel and Lord Ranulf falling in love.
One of Annabel's fellow servants tries to seduce Lord Ranulf.
A man lusts after Annabel, attempts to kiss her, and tries one night to capture her for his own use.
Spiritual Content~
Annabel desperately wishes for a Bible so that she might read it.
Reading of the Holy Word.
My Personal Rating~
Five Stars!
Recommended for ages 12+
As i was reading this book, I happened to be learning about this same day and age in history class, and everything in this book lined up perfectly with my history book. So well done, Melanie, on your research!
And once more, the author did not fail to keep me spellbound throughout the entire story. This is the third one of her books i have read (the other two are The Fairest Beauty and The Captive Maiden) and while i loved the other two, i noticed a few cheesy scenes in each of them. But in The Merchant's Daughter, i couldn't find any scenes that i would call cheesy, which therefore made the story all the more loveable to me. The way Annabel fell in love with Lord Ranulf's inner beauty and not his outward beauty touched my heart and i have to say that i was very emotionally involved in this book (i don't usually cry over books-especially happy ones!!)
The heroine was actually one i really enjoyed and could relate to (i usually love the heroes and want to slap the heroines.)
So really, this was a very enjoyable book. I highly recommend it-especially if you love Fairy Tales, or Belle in particular;)
Negative Content~
The townspeople are very rude and speak meanly of Lord Ranulf and Annabel.
Lord Ranulf has some less-than-peasant paintings in his chambers including pictures of two graves and a skull.
A man is hit in the head with a rock.
See Sexual Content
Sexual Content~
Annabel and Lord Ranulf falling in love.
One of Annabel's fellow servants tries to seduce Lord Ranulf.
A man lusts after Annabel, attempts to kiss her, and tries one night to capture her for his own use.
Spiritual Content~
Annabel desperately wishes for a Bible so that she might read it.
Reading of the Holy Word.
My Personal Rating~
Five Stars!
Recommended for ages 12+
March 21, 2012
A magnificent, magical, haunting and mesmerising tale - a re-telling of a classic fairytale with many twists and turns, with characters that will make you feel happy, scared, sorrowful and mostly awed by the talented way Melanie Dickerson has told the story of a beautiful merchant's daughter whose misfortunes may just be the start of something beautiful.
It has so many life lessons that can be taken away; so much truth, so much human emotion. You feel for the merchant's daughter and her inner struggle. I read it in one sitting - I just could not put it down!!! I am speechless...it is magic, plain and simple. Pure and utter magic. For the best kind of book-woven magic is not the one that makes you think of paranormal creatures and love triangles...rather the kind that brings back the innocent happiness we experienced as children when we read a book for the first time. A YA book for every girl who loves adventure, heroines, brooding lords, suspense, suspects, witty lines, love, realistic characters, a good cry and a good laugh!!!
It has so many life lessons that can be taken away; so much truth, so much human emotion. You feel for the merchant's daughter and her inner struggle. I read it in one sitting - I just could not put it down!!! I am speechless...it is magic, plain and simple. Pure and utter magic. For the best kind of book-woven magic is not the one that makes you think of paranormal creatures and love triangles...rather the kind that brings back the innocent happiness we experienced as children when we read a book for the first time. A YA book for every girl who loves adventure, heroines, brooding lords, suspense, suspects, witty lines, love, realistic characters, a good cry and a good laugh!!!
April 12, 2017
The Merchant’s Daughteris a non-magical retelling of Beauty and the Beast, basically a historical romance set in the 1300s. It is also an ‘inspirational’ romance, meaning it’s the kind of book an evangelical Christian can feel safe reading. I’ve enjoyed some inspirational books in the past because you can be sure of getting the romance without the graphic sex, and the romance is usually more emotional than physical.
It does have its downsides, though, with characters who often go off into an aside with prayer or godly thoughts, or wait for God’s will instead of acting. Some inspirational authors are more preachy than others, using their characters to teach you how to live, but some don’t do this at all, and just tell a sweet story. Lately all of the ones I’ve read have had too much of the preachy aspect for me, and I think I’ve reached a point where the risk of the bad outweighs the (slight) chance for good in this type of book.
Because this was, hands-down, the preachiest book I’ve ever readin my life.I think half the book was some kind of sermon coming from the mouth or thoughts of the main character, and even worse, they were modern views being spouted from a supposedly Medieval girl. There’s more God-talk, prayer, Bible verse quoting, and WWJD thoughts than actual plot. The anachronisms made me cringe time and again. How I persevered to the end I will never know, but I do know I’m never going back to this author again.
The romance does have some sweet moments, which is probably how I managed to finish it, but the use of religion is so overpowering that it’s all I remember now. I do not appreciate having a historical fairy tale turn into an evangelical Bible study full of sermonizing. I can see religion having a place when it’s appropriate to the time-period (and not with the goal of teaching me lessons), but what we get here is inappropriate in so many ways - a brashly modern American evangelical view of Christianity completely out of place in 1300s England.
**Spoilers ahead**
It’s all because the heroine, Annabel, supposedly wants to be nun so that she can read the Bible for herself, and the entire book is driven by her consuming desire to know what the Bible actually says. It’s all wrong. Girls in the 1300s didn’t want to be nuns so they could read the Bible themselves. This is not a motivation that a merchant’s daughter in Medieval times would even think of. Prayer and contemplation, yes. Escape from the concerns of the worldly or a disagreeable marriage proposal, yes. Fathers needing to offload one of their daughters somewhere for safety or political reasons, yes. Even a desire to serve God! But the idea of what that meant in those times was not the opportunity for personal daily devotions.
So the girl’s entire character is based around this erroneous desire, and she is unstoppable about it. She is so impatient to read the Bible herself (not even able to wait for the convent), that she begs her local priest to let her borrow his Bible… remove it from the church and take it home for some nice cozy time by the fire... really? This is such unrealistic behavior for a young lady in the 1300s that I couldn’t believe what I was reading. How could this book possibly even masquerade as a historical novel?
What’s even worse is that - guess what! - the lord of the manor has his own Bible when the priest doesn’t. And lucky Annabel, because he asks her to read it to him every night. And she somehow knows Latin well enough to do so! So now we have to read through pages -pages- of Bible passages,along with their personal interpretations of how it all applies to them.So the romance is based on this devotional style reading of the Bible and ‘what does this mean to me’ interpretations between the lord and a maid who fall in love over their godly thoughts together. Kill. me. now.
I don’t care what your beliefs are (or mine), I don’t want bad sermons in my books. Or Sunday school lessons. I’m not reading to ‘learn about how to have a relationship with God’, especially offered through the mouths of characters who have no business spouting these concepts. If I want a sermon (or a Bible study, for that matter), I know where to go for one.
Rant over.
It does have its downsides, though, with characters who often go off into an aside with prayer or godly thoughts, or wait for God’s will instead of acting. Some inspirational authors are more preachy than others, using their characters to teach you how to live, but some don’t do this at all, and just tell a sweet story. Lately all of the ones I’ve read have had too much of the preachy aspect for me, and I think I’ve reached a point where the risk of the bad outweighs the (slight) chance for good in this type of book.
Because this was, hands-down, the preachiest book I’ve ever readin my life.I think half the book was some kind of sermon coming from the mouth or thoughts of the main character, and even worse, they were modern views being spouted from a supposedly Medieval girl. There’s more God-talk, prayer, Bible verse quoting, and WWJD thoughts than actual plot. The anachronisms made me cringe time and again. How I persevered to the end I will never know, but I do know I’m never going back to this author again.
The romance does have some sweet moments, which is probably how I managed to finish it, but the use of religion is so overpowering that it’s all I remember now. I do not appreciate having a historical fairy tale turn into an evangelical Bible study full of sermonizing. I can see religion having a place when it’s appropriate to the time-period (and not with the goal of teaching me lessons), but what we get here is inappropriate in so many ways - a brashly modern American evangelical view of Christianity completely out of place in 1300s England.
**Spoilers ahead**
It’s all because the heroine, Annabel, supposedly wants to be nun so that she can read the Bible for herself, and the entire book is driven by her consuming desire to know what the Bible actually says. It’s all wrong. Girls in the 1300s didn’t want to be nuns so they could read the Bible themselves. This is not a motivation that a merchant’s daughter in Medieval times would even think of. Prayer and contemplation, yes. Escape from the concerns of the worldly or a disagreeable marriage proposal, yes. Fathers needing to offload one of their daughters somewhere for safety or political reasons, yes. Even a desire to serve God! But the idea of what that meant in those times was not the opportunity for personal daily devotions.
So the girl’s entire character is based around this erroneous desire, and she is unstoppable about it. She is so impatient to read the Bible herself (not even able to wait for the convent), that she begs her local priest to let her borrow his Bible… remove it from the church and take it home for some nice cozy time by the fire... really? This is such unrealistic behavior for a young lady in the 1300s that I couldn’t believe what I was reading. How could this book possibly even masquerade as a historical novel?
What’s even worse is that - guess what! - the lord of the manor has his own Bible when the priest doesn’t. And lucky Annabel, because he asks her to read it to him every night. And she somehow knows Latin well enough to do so! So now we have to read through pages -pages- of Bible passages,along with their personal interpretations of how it all applies to them.So the romance is based on this devotional style reading of the Bible and ‘what does this mean to me’ interpretations between the lord and a maid who fall in love over their godly thoughts together. Kill. me. now.
I don’t care what your beliefs are (or mine), I don’t want bad sermons in my books. Or Sunday school lessons. I’m not reading to ‘learn about how to have a relationship with God’, especially offered through the mouths of characters who have no business spouting these concepts. If I want a sermon (or a Bible study, for that matter), I know where to go for one.
Rant over.
February 6, 2016
About this 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.”
Series: It will be connected to Melanie Dickerson’s other books when the new book“The Princess Spy”comes out in November.“The Merchant’s Daughter”in considered #2 in this series.“The Healer’s Apprentice”(#1, review Here!),“The Fairest Beauty”(#3),“The Captive Maiden”(#4); should be read in this order for the least amount of spoilers.
Spiritual Content- Annabel’s dearest wish was to enter a convent so she could read a Bible & to know all that God had spoken; Mass going (very detailed, but the village priest is rude to Annabel (see what he believes in Sexual Content); Hymns are song; Lots of Bible reading and Many Prayers;“Holy saints above”and“Sweet saints above”are both said.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘idiot’, a ‘witch’, a ‘stupid’, and five curses are said but not written; Mentions of dead animals for food; Bullying (a mention of it, barely-above-not-detailed); Ale is drank (and for some, drunk); Mentions of arrows & where they laid; Ranulf has bad nightmares (pretty detailed); Blood (highest being a barely-above-not-detailed); Almost dead & dead people; A knife; People talk mean about another.
Sexual Content- a ‘wrentch’; A not-detailed kiss, Three semi-detailed kisses, and a detailed kiss; Almost kisses & touches; Mentions of how Bailiff Tom looks at Annabel (he kisses her once (semi-detailed), tries to hurt her and later Annabel wonders what would have happen if nobody showed up to save her; later and almost attack (she’s saved)); Annabel tells of the village priest who makes“it sound as if women were fiend of h*ll, luring men into adultery.”And he says“Woman is the gate of h*ll.”;Servants hoot, cackle & talk about guys (one goes as far as saying about keeping your husband warn at night); A girl says a man forced himself on her (he did not, she’s a big liar and has a crush on him);“other privileges of marriage”is mentioned; Love, falling in love & the emotions.
-Annabel Chapman
-Lord Ranulf le Wyse
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1352 {Medieval}
268 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
This was a cute story—in the D*sney‘Beauty & the Beast’,Belle loved to read (she always had a book in her hands!)(Ohmygoodness! Typing this up I just realized that Bailiff Tom isthatjerk!:O )My favorite part of the D*sney’s‘Beauty & the Beast’is (of course!) the library and how happy Belle was! In“The Merchant’s Daughter”,all Annabel wanted was one book—The Bible! Her craving to read the Bible was truly inspiring, making this my favorite Melanie Dickerson book yet.
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“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.”
Series: It will be connected to Melanie Dickerson’s other books when the new book“The Princess Spy”comes out in November.“The Merchant’s Daughter”in considered #2 in this series.“The Healer’s Apprentice”(#1, review Here!),“The Fairest Beauty”(#3),“The Captive Maiden”(#4); should be read in this order for the least amount of spoilers.
Spiritual Content- Annabel’s dearest wish was to enter a convent so she could read a Bible & to know all that God had spoken; Mass going (very detailed, but the village priest is rude to Annabel (see what he believes in Sexual Content); Hymns are song; Lots of Bible reading and Many Prayers;“Holy saints above”and“Sweet saints above”are both said.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘idiot’, a ‘witch’, a ‘stupid’, and five curses are said but not written; Mentions of dead animals for food; Bullying (a mention of it, barely-above-not-detailed); Ale is drank (and for some, drunk); Mentions of arrows & where they laid; Ranulf has bad nightmares (pretty detailed); Blood (highest being a barely-above-not-detailed); Almost dead & dead people; A knife; People talk mean about another.
Sexual Content- a ‘wrentch’; A not-detailed kiss, Three semi-detailed kisses, and a detailed kiss; Almost kisses & touches; Mentions of how Bailiff Tom looks at Annabel (he kisses her once (semi-detailed), tries to hurt her and later Annabel wonders what would have happen if nobody showed up to save her; later and almost attack (she’s saved)); Annabel tells of the village priest who makes“it sound as if women were fiend of h*ll, luring men into adultery.”And he says“Woman is the gate of h*ll.”;Servants hoot, cackle & talk about guys (one goes as far as saying about keeping your husband warn at night); A girl says a man forced himself on her (he did not, she’s a big liar and has a crush on him);“other privileges of marriage”is mentioned; Love, falling in love & the emotions.
-Annabel Chapman
-Lord Ranulf le Wyse
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1352 {Medieval}
268 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
This was a cute story—in the D*sney‘Beauty & the Beast’,Belle loved to read (she always had a book in her hands!)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
February 20, 2023
We shall.
So endsThe Merchant's Daughter,Melanie Dickerson'sBeauty and the Beastretelling. It was also the second of Dickerson's books I ever read, the first being a coffee-stained library copy ofThe Captive Maiden.
PLOT
This book contains the rudimentary elements for every B&B novel: a kind-hearted maiden, some familial issue, a hero bearing some type of scarring, wounds, or dark past, and a conflict between hero and less-than-stellar townsfolk. I liked the medieval twist, and it aligned with what I know of that historical period.
SETTING
Set in a little village nestled in England, we witness the interesting political and judicial elements that make this story unique. Dickerson does well tying in the past with the "present".
CHARACTERS
Some may call Annabel a Mary Sue, but I don't see her that way. She is a kind and gracious young woman desiring only to do what is best and to follow God to the utmost of her ability. That effort brings with it trials of its own. What I loved was her longing to read the Bible. It put into perspective how grateful we should be today since Bibles can be purchased with a mere click of the mouse.
Ranulf is a broody type of hero, but still lovable. He's one of my favorite Dickerson heroes, and I really appreciated his knowledge of the Bible.
The host of secondary characters are well-written as well, from the matchmaking Mistress Eustanacia to the despicable villain.
FAITH
Here is the most important element of any book. I read the negative reviews before rereadingThe Merchant's Daughter,and what most of them had in common was a dis of the faith element. I'm here to tell you the faith incorporated into this story isbeautiful.Thickly-laid and wonderfully woven in. Truly the best part. I admire Dickerson for being unafraid of presenting the Gospel. The faith element is what gives my rating its fifth star.
CONTENT WARNING
A wolf attack is discussed, a character is maimed from past injuries, a woman is injured by a wretched fiend, a character is shot, and arson causes injuries.
SEXUAL CONTENT
Usually this is placed in the content warning, but I'm taking a different approach for this book.
There are indications a man wants to rape a woman. In fact, he goes so far as to try hauling her off the woods. His foul intentions have been made known to the reader throughout the book, so it doesn't come as a surprise when this occurs. (Nothing ends up happening as far as that goes.) Though the word "rape" isn't used, it's obvious that's the intent. Everything is tastefully handled.
WHAT I WASN'T FOND OF
It always bugs me when the female character is just drop-dead gorgeous. And while I see why Dickerson made her that way, it did mildly irritate me on a few parts.
There was a time or two when I couldn't tell if something was a prayer or the Lord's name in vain. Given what I know of Dickerson, I'd be surprised if it was the latter, but I never like being unable to tell.
The religion is Catholic, so while the verses and discussions of them are correct, there are some really creepy and strange customs mentioned. One such is All Souls' Day. I quote from page 197:
"All Souls' Day came almost two months before Christmas, the day when everyone said prayers to help extricate the dead from purgatory."
This is just creepy. Downright eerie and unsettling and reeking of odd beliefs that are completely and unequivocally unbiblical.
CONCLUSION
The faith gave this book its fifth star, and it's a good B&B retelling. Due to the content, I'd recommend it for girls sixteen and older. It's a solid book I'd feel comfortable letting my younger sibling read, and aside from the skewy issue I mentioned above, the faith is solid.
With a sweet, admirable heroine and a gruff, but kind, hero, what more could you want in aBeauty and the Beastretelling?
So endsThe Merchant's Daughter,Melanie Dickerson'sBeauty and the Beastretelling. It was also the second of Dickerson's books I ever read, the first being a coffee-stained library copy ofThe Captive Maiden.
PLOT
This book contains the rudimentary elements for every B&B novel: a kind-hearted maiden, some familial issue, a hero bearing some type of scarring, wounds, or dark past, and a conflict between hero and less-than-stellar townsfolk. I liked the medieval twist, and it aligned with what I know of that historical period.
SETTING
Set in a little village nestled in England, we witness the interesting political and judicial elements that make this story unique. Dickerson does well tying in the past with the "present".
CHARACTERS
Some may call Annabel a Mary Sue, but I don't see her that way. She is a kind and gracious young woman desiring only to do what is best and to follow God to the utmost of her ability. That effort brings with it trials of its own. What I loved was her longing to read the Bible. It put into perspective how grateful we should be today since Bibles can be purchased with a mere click of the mouse.
Ranulf is a broody type of hero, but still lovable. He's one of my favorite Dickerson heroes, and I really appreciated his knowledge of the Bible.
The host of secondary characters are well-written as well, from the matchmaking Mistress Eustanacia to the despicable villain.
FAITH
Here is the most important element of any book. I read the negative reviews before rereadingThe Merchant's Daughter,and what most of them had in common was a dis of the faith element. I'm here to tell you the faith incorporated into this story isbeautiful.Thickly-laid and wonderfully woven in. Truly the best part. I admire Dickerson for being unafraid of presenting the Gospel. The faith element is what gives my rating its fifth star.
CONTENT WARNING
A wolf attack is discussed, a character is maimed from past injuries, a woman is injured by a wretched fiend, a character is shot, and arson causes injuries.
SEXUAL CONTENT
Usually this is placed in the content warning, but I'm taking a different approach for this book.
There are indications a man wants to rape a woman. In fact, he goes so far as to try hauling her off the woods. His foul intentions have been made known to the reader throughout the book, so it doesn't come as a surprise when this occurs. (Nothing ends up happening as far as that goes.) Though the word "rape" isn't used, it's obvious that's the intent. Everything is tastefully handled.
WHAT I WASN'T FOND OF
It always bugs me when the female character is just drop-dead gorgeous. And while I see why Dickerson made her that way, it did mildly irritate me on a few parts.
There was a time or two when I couldn't tell if something was a prayer or the Lord's name in vain. Given what I know of Dickerson, I'd be surprised if it was the latter, but I never like being unable to tell.
The religion is Catholic, so while the verses and discussions of them are correct, there are some really creepy and strange customs mentioned. One such is All Souls' Day. I quote from page 197:
"All Souls' Day came almost two months before Christmas, the day when everyone said prayers to help extricate the dead from purgatory."
This is just creepy. Downright eerie and unsettling and reeking of odd beliefs that are completely and unequivocally unbiblical.
CONCLUSION
The faith gave this book its fifth star, and it's a good B&B retelling. Due to the content, I'd recommend it for girls sixteen and older. It's a solid book I'd feel comfortable letting my younger sibling read, and aside from the skewy issue I mentioned above, the faith is solid.
With a sweet, admirable heroine and a gruff, but kind, hero, what more could you want in aBeauty and the Beastretelling?
May 10, 2021
This fairy tale retelling definitely had strong connections to Beauty and the Beast, yet it held its own unique setting and delivery. I was better able to relate to this story that its predecessor. I found Annabel a charming “beauty” and Lord Ranulf a surly “beast.” I enjoyed their romance as well as their journey to find acceptance and fresh beginnings. The plot was well thought out and the twists logical. I now have hope that I’ll enjoy more stories in this series.
The faith thread was a bit confused, as it felt Catholic at times and Protestant at others.
Content: alcohol, light sexual innuendo, swearing by “holy saints above” and “sweet saints above” and “saints surround us”
The faith thread was a bit confused, as it felt Catholic at times and Protestant at others.
Content: alcohol, light sexual innuendo, swearing by “holy saints above” and “sweet saints above” and “saints surround us”
March 23, 2022
Wasn't as good as the first one and pretty slow getting into, but near the end it was pretty good!
November 21, 2011
The Merchant’s Daughter gave me the same feeling as didThe Healer's Apprentice.Melanie’s stories of love and Christianity are beautiful in their simplicity that manages to sing out with perfect love. Love of Christ that urges the characters to strive to live and better their lives and help others, and the love between the two main characters that make me smile and sigh and ache for them to be together, to love completely with no hindrances. I realize this book, as a Christian story, will not appeal to many readers, but as a Christian myself, I delight in stories like these. That are full of soul and love and areclean.
I’ll admit I didn’t read this book for the outstanding plot, or the brilliant execution thereof. The plot is a little weak, some of it I didn’t quite care for, some scenes could have been elongated, shown more emotion, or just dismissed. But it was the characters that livened up the story, that gave me the desire to read to the end and see their happily ever after. And the romance. I love a good love story, and this one was beautiful, so sweet and romantic and fun. It had me smiling, and had my heart aching for Ranulf and Annabel and for their blooming love that had a hard time fully manifesting.
This tale is based on Beauty and the Beast, and reminded me slightly ofHeart's Blood,(which is an incredibly brilliant novel that you should read.) Fairytale’s are one of my favorite kinds of stories, and this rendition was most beautiful. Ranulf made a great beast, scarred and misshapen with a sad past and a cold, angry demeanor. Annabel was a strong heroine who was sweet, shy at times, but not afraid to love that which most people fear.
The ending was a little rushed. It certainly could have used more substance (even so, it still had my heart dancing at their romance). But all in all a beautiful end to a wonderful book. I believe anything Melanie writes, I will wholeheartedly love.
This arc was provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
I’ll admit I didn’t read this book for the outstanding plot, or the brilliant execution thereof. The plot is a little weak, some of it I didn’t quite care for, some scenes could have been elongated, shown more emotion, or just dismissed. But it was the characters that livened up the story, that gave me the desire to read to the end and see their happily ever after. And the romance. I love a good love story, and this one was beautiful, so sweet and romantic and fun. It had me smiling, and had my heart aching for Ranulf and Annabel and for their blooming love that had a hard time fully manifesting.
This tale is based on Beauty and the Beast, and reminded me slightly ofHeart's Blood,(which is an incredibly brilliant novel that you should read.) Fairytale’s are one of my favorite kinds of stories, and this rendition was most beautiful. Ranulf made a great beast, scarred and misshapen with a sad past and a cold, angry demeanor. Annabel was a strong heroine who was sweet, shy at times, but not afraid to love that which most people fear.
The ending was a little rushed. It certainly could have used more substance (even so, it still had my heart dancing at their romance). But all in all a beautiful end to a wonderful book. I believe anything Melanie writes, I will wholeheartedly love.
This arc was provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
June 19, 2016
I really enjoyed this one just like the previous book in the series.
This was a retelling of Beauty and The Beast with Christian flare.
This series is like a warm hug, perfect when the rain is pouring!
(Read via audible)
This was a retelling of Beauty and The Beast with Christian flare.
This series is like a warm hug, perfect when the rain is pouring!
(Read via audible)
October 27, 2016
An intriguing, medieval fairy tale retelling ofBeauty and the Beastfrom author Melanie Dickerson!
August 31, 2018
Is it bad that I finished this entire book in 6 hours?? I forgot how much I LOVE Melanie Dickerson's books!!! RTC in the morning!
December 7, 2011
If you're in the mood for some good historical (in the lord-servant days) romance for YA, this might be the book for you. The basic storyline is a lot like the classic Beauty and the Beast with just a hint of other fairytales (Annabelle's mom and brothers are almost like Cinderella's wicked stepmother and step-sisters). The pace for the romance is along the timetable and path of Beauty and the Beast.
The story is about the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who dies after misfortunes leave the family poor. The family pays off the ruler in order to get out of work, but when a new ruler comes in, the family must repay those three years by having one of the members served as an indentured servant. The lord is scarred, both physically and emotionally, and has the temper where his reputation precedes him. As Annabelle gets to know she, she realizes that there is more to him than just meet the eye.
I was a little suspicious of Annabelle because Dickerson made her too perfect. She was beautiful; she was smart; she was kind; and she was considerate. Your perfect fairy tale princess. It would have been nice if there was something to make her more believably normal.
The only thing that bothered me about her was the way she felt with Gilbert. He's a perfectly nice, great, handsome guy, and she would feel "sick" being around him. Maybe Dickerson should have just stuck with sick with Tom and nothing more than brotherly or friendly with Gilbert. You don't want to classify them in the same category.
Included is a little romance, and though the pace is slow to progress, it was never a dull moment. The pace of the book was slow and steady so it wasn't boring. I found the book enjoyable from cover to cover.
The story is about the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who dies after misfortunes leave the family poor. The family pays off the ruler in order to get out of work, but when a new ruler comes in, the family must repay those three years by having one of the members served as an indentured servant. The lord is scarred, both physically and emotionally, and has the temper where his reputation precedes him. As Annabelle gets to know she, she realizes that there is more to him than just meet the eye.
I was a little suspicious of Annabelle because Dickerson made her too perfect. She was beautiful; she was smart; she was kind; and she was considerate. Your perfect fairy tale princess. It would have been nice if there was something to make her more believably normal.
The only thing that bothered me about her was the way she felt with Gilbert. He's a perfectly nice, great, handsome guy, and she would feel "sick" being around him. Maybe Dickerson should have just stuck with sick with Tom and nothing more than brotherly or friendly with Gilbert. You don't want to classify them in the same category.
Included is a little romance, and though the pace is slow to progress, it was never a dull moment. The pace of the book was slow and steady so it wasn't boring. I found the book enjoyable from cover to cover.
August 31, 2017
I. Loved. This. Book.
This is the third book that I've read in theHagenheimseries (reading them out of order because why not) and it is by far my favorite. Yes, this series can be cheesy at times, and that was certainly true for this book as well. But it was just so sweet.
I loved the characters in this book. Annabel and Ranulf's relationship was so cute. (Also, it took me almost 100 pages to make the connection between the names "Annabel" and "Belle." Go figure.) I feel likeBeauty and the Beastcan be a tough fairytale to nail in a retelling - after all, how can you make a human a beast? But Melanie Dickerson did it perfectly in this book.
Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. I absolutely loved it, and it is definitely a favorite of mine now.
This is the third book that I've read in theHagenheimseries (reading them out of order because why not) and it is by far my favorite. Yes, this series can be cheesy at times, and that was certainly true for this book as well. But it was just so sweet.
I loved the characters in this book. Annabel and Ranulf's relationship was so cute. (Also, it took me almost 100 pages to make the connection between the names "Annabel" and "Belle." Go figure.) I feel likeBeauty and the Beastcan be a tough fairytale to nail in a retelling - after all, how can you make a human a beast? But Melanie Dickerson did it perfectly in this book.
Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. I absolutely loved it, and it is definitely a favorite of mine now.
May 29, 2016
“The Merchant’s Daughter” by Melanie Dickerson is the second book in the Hagenheim series.
Great book!:) It got my attention much sooner than the first book in this series, (though I ended up loving that book too) and I really enjoyed it beginning to end. Such a wonderful, sweet, romantic story, and a very creative retelling of Beauty and the Beast.<3
Full disclosure: I won this book from a giveaway on a blog, but had I not won it, I would have bought it because I wanted to read it anyway.
Great book!:) It got my attention much sooner than the first book in this series, (though I ended up loving that book too) and I really enjoyed it beginning to end. Such a wonderful, sweet, romantic story, and a very creative retelling of Beauty and the Beast.<3
Full disclosure: I won this book from a giveaway on a blog, but had I not won it, I would have bought it because I wanted to read it anyway.
October 27, 2019
WOW!!!! Why did I wait this long to pick up Melanie!!!
Everything is perfect! The characters, the storyline, God's love, grace, mercy!
No questions asked - Melanie, thumbs up!
Everything is perfect! The characters, the storyline, God's love, grace, mercy!
No questions asked - Melanie, thumbs up!
March 3, 2021
4.5⭐ Loved it. Only the second Melanie Dickerson book I've read and I'm looking forward to reading more.
November 9, 2011
*****FINAL RATING: 4.50 STARS*****
CATCHALL
This was my first read from this author but it certainly will not be my last. The beautiful love story is romantic and everything about the book is absolutely lovely. I burned through it so quickly and I simply could not get enough. Every page left me yearning for more. This gorgeous retelling of Beauty and the Beast is marvelous.
THE HEROINE
Annabel is a beautiful and complex character and I loved her from the start. And I'm not just being biased because of the whole name thing.;) She usually makes good decisions and always seems to try to truly make the right choice, taking herself into consideration without being completely selfish. It's a trait that seems so rare in YA heroines these days and I loved seeing it here. Annabel is strong and independent and shows over and over again that she doesn't need anyone else's opinion to survive on her own. Annabel is also so brave. I admired that in her, as well as her strong faith, which is another thing sorely lacking in YA reading these days. Annabel is an incredible exemplar of female strength and I loved that both about her and about this book as a whole.
THE LOVE INTEREST
Ranulf is a haunting and gorgeous character who immediately intrigued me. As the book progressed, I got to know him better and better, as opposed to hearing about the same traits over and over again or nothing at all. He continually develops throughout the novel. He has a little bit of darkness to him but buried underneath his outward appearance lies a sweet man. He has much more substance than many YA male leads. I thought he was a very well-written character. He blossoms beautifully throughout the novel. Ranulf is definitely one of the better characters in this book.
THE PLOT
Ah, the plot of this novel was pretty and fairly original considering that it was a retelling. First and foremost it was a love story, but it also has themes of independence and a lot of faith. There's a lot of content in the Bible readings that take place throughout the novel. Annabel's plight also serves as an entertaining plot line for the romance to write itself on. There's no really dull points and it moves at a nice pace, not too slowly but not too quickly.
THE ROMANCE
Annabel's and Ranulf's romance is sweet and believable. It is a tad underdeveloped, but overall I really liked it and felt it was much nicer done. And there's definitely no insta-love. No love triangle either, which was quite refreshing. The romance isn't gross and it's not too insubstantial. It's beautiful. It takes time to develop and doesn't factor in for a little while, so it doesn't dominate the entire book, even though most readers will realize he is the love interest.
THE ENDING
I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that I really liked it. It was fascinating and fantastically written.
THE WRITING
Dickerson's writing is artful and eloquent without being ostentatious. It's pretty and not over simplistic. She writes with a practiced hand and it is clear that she is a professional writer. It does not come across as amateurish. The writing was probably one of my favorite aspects of this novel and made it very enjoyable.
WRAPUP
It was a beautifully written story with strong characters and a sweet romance. I genuinely enjoyed reading it and will be picking up more novels by this author in the future.
FINE.
This review is also available onSparkles and Lightning.
CATCHALL
This was my first read from this author but it certainly will not be my last. The beautiful love story is romantic and everything about the book is absolutely lovely. I burned through it so quickly and I simply could not get enough. Every page left me yearning for more. This gorgeous retelling of Beauty and the Beast is marvelous.
THE HEROINE
Annabel is a beautiful and complex character and I loved her from the start. And I'm not just being biased because of the whole name thing.;) She usually makes good decisions and always seems to try to truly make the right choice, taking herself into consideration without being completely selfish. It's a trait that seems so rare in YA heroines these days and I loved seeing it here. Annabel is strong and independent and shows over and over again that she doesn't need anyone else's opinion to survive on her own. Annabel is also so brave. I admired that in her, as well as her strong faith, which is another thing sorely lacking in YA reading these days. Annabel is an incredible exemplar of female strength and I loved that both about her and about this book as a whole.
THE LOVE INTEREST
Ranulf is a haunting and gorgeous character who immediately intrigued me. As the book progressed, I got to know him better and better, as opposed to hearing about the same traits over and over again or nothing at all. He continually develops throughout the novel. He has a little bit of darkness to him but buried underneath his outward appearance lies a sweet man. He has much more substance than many YA male leads. I thought he was a very well-written character. He blossoms beautifully throughout the novel. Ranulf is definitely one of the better characters in this book.
THE PLOT
Ah, the plot of this novel was pretty and fairly original considering that it was a retelling. First and foremost it was a love story, but it also has themes of independence and a lot of faith. There's a lot of content in the Bible readings that take place throughout the novel. Annabel's plight also serves as an entertaining plot line for the romance to write itself on. There's no really dull points and it moves at a nice pace, not too slowly but not too quickly.
THE ROMANCE
Annabel's and Ranulf's romance is sweet and believable. It is a tad underdeveloped, but overall I really liked it and felt it was much nicer done. And there's definitely no insta-love. No love triangle either, which was quite refreshing. The romance isn't gross and it's not too insubstantial. It's beautiful. It takes time to develop and doesn't factor in for a little while, so it doesn't dominate the entire book, even though most readers will realize he is the love interest.
THE ENDING
I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that I really liked it. It was fascinating and fantastically written.
THE WRITING
Dickerson's writing is artful and eloquent without being ostentatious. It's pretty and not over simplistic. She writes with a practiced hand and it is clear that she is a professional writer. It does not come across as amateurish. The writing was probably one of my favorite aspects of this novel and made it very enjoyable.
WRAPUP
It was a beautifully written story with strong characters and a sweet romance. I genuinely enjoyed reading it and will be picking up more novels by this author in the future.
FINE.
This review is also available onSparkles and Lightning.
January 24, 2023
I started readingThe Merchant’s Daughterabout three years ago but didn’t get very far before I realized wasn’t in the mood for it at the time. Considering it’s one of the only Melanie Dickerson medieval fairy tales I haven’t read, I wanted to return to it, and I’m pleased to say I quite enjoyed it this time around.
WhileBeauty and the Beasthas always been one of my favorite fairy tales, I admit I was initially wary about this adaptation as stories about a widower finding love again is something I’m rather sensitive to. While I’d have greatly preferred a different trope, it worked here because the hero’s first wife was horrible and he was no longer in love (or as it appeared to me, infatuated) with her. I’m glad he finally found someone better and got to experience true love. I was also persuaded to read this after I met our hero and heroine inThe Silent Songbird;I really liked them in that book, so it was so fun to go back to the beginning of their story to see how they became acquainted and fell in love.
I really liked Annabel from the beginning and sympathized with her plight. Even though part of it was of her own making, I admired her doing her part to make amends, as it really showed her strength of character; she truly was a woman of inner beauty. Lord Ranulf took me a while to warm up to as I’m not overly fond of the ‘dark, brooding, and grumpy hero with a haunted past’ type, but he eventually won me over with his honor and kindness towards Annabel. I especially loved the way their romance developed as they bonded over their shared readings of the Bible. I really enjoyed the scripture passages and discussions, and how their shared faith bonded them together.
I loved the Medieval England setting and the vivid details that brought it to life, and how all the originalBeauty and the Beastelements were woven throughout the story in such clever ways. However, I’m not entirely sure how I felt about the direction the plot unfolded. Most of it revolves around the unwanted advances of a horrible man and the consequences that result from it, and while this wasn’t my favorite plot device, it did provide the opportunity for Lord Ranulf to protect Annabel and deepen their relationship as they work towards a common goal.
Overall,The Merchant’s Daughterwas a lovely version ofBeauty and the Beast.Although it’s not my favorite of Melanie Dickerson’s stories, I still quite enjoyed it and look forward to rereading it again in the future.
WhileBeauty and the Beasthas always been one of my favorite fairy tales, I admit I was initially wary about this adaptation as stories about a widower finding love again is something I’m rather sensitive to. While I’d have greatly preferred a different trope, it worked here because the hero’s first wife was horrible and he was no longer in love (or as it appeared to me, infatuated) with her. I’m glad he finally found someone better and got to experience true love. I was also persuaded to read this after I met our hero and heroine inThe Silent Songbird;I really liked them in that book, so it was so fun to go back to the beginning of their story to see how they became acquainted and fell in love.
I really liked Annabel from the beginning and sympathized with her plight. Even though part of it was of her own making, I admired her doing her part to make amends, as it really showed her strength of character; she truly was a woman of inner beauty. Lord Ranulf took me a while to warm up to as I’m not overly fond of the ‘dark, brooding, and grumpy hero with a haunted past’ type, but he eventually won me over with his honor and kindness towards Annabel. I especially loved the way their romance developed as they bonded over their shared readings of the Bible. I really enjoyed the scripture passages and discussions, and how their shared faith bonded them together.
I loved the Medieval England setting and the vivid details that brought it to life, and how all the originalBeauty and the Beastelements were woven throughout the story in such clever ways. However, I’m not entirely sure how I felt about the direction the plot unfolded. Most of it revolves around the unwanted advances of a horrible man and the consequences that result from it, and while this wasn’t my favorite plot device, it did provide the opportunity for Lord Ranulf to protect Annabel and deepen their relationship as they work towards a common goal.
Overall,The Merchant’s Daughterwas a lovely version ofBeauty and the Beast.Although it’s not my favorite of Melanie Dickerson’s stories, I still quite enjoyed it and look forward to rereading it again in the future.
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