The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

About 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.

My Review:
5 STARS +++

Fairy-tale retellings are one of my favorite types of stories to begin with which gave The Merchant’s Daughter a bonus already!! I absolutely loved the way Melanie Dickerson recreated Beauty and the Beast.  You have Annabel, the beauty, who is struggling in her life with her 2 brothers that don’t want to take any responsibilities for their actions, a busy unemotional mother, and a man that won’t take no for an answer.  Her solution is to go to work for the beast, Lord le Wyse, to pay off her family debt and to hopefully keep herself safe from the unwanted attention of the Bailiff. 

I couldn’t have written better characters for Beauty and the Beast.  I just loved Annabel and her sweet ways about her.  She is so humble, has no idea just how beautiful she truly is and just as sweet as can be.  She genially cares for everyone.  She also desires to read the bible and learn as much as she can about her God.  Lord le Wyse is an extraordinary beast.  His character was just right for my image of a beast; grumpy, hurt by his past, unforgiving, yet somehow deep inside he has a soft heart…especially for sweet Annabel.

I’m not usually a fan of too many Christian tones throughout a story but the way that Melanie Dickerson weaved in the desire Annabel had to read a bible brought so much to the story that I can’t imagine reading it without that.  I loved the way that Annabel read to Lord le Wyse and that is the foundation their relationship seems to be built on.  Very cool!!

The Merchant’s Daughter has everything I desired; romance built with tension, a fairy tale re-told, a villain and a hero and an amazing story line!!   Melanie Dickerson is a talented author and I hope she continues with re-telling fairy tales; I will be sure to buy up her next book!

 
About Melanie Dickerson:

Melanie Dickerson is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). Her novel has been a finalist seven times in RWA-sponsored contests, including winning the 2007 Fiction from the Heartland Contest over all categories. Melanie earned a bachelors degree in special education of the hearing impaired from The University of Alabama and has worked as a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama."