THE BEAUTIFUL PRETENDER - Melanie Dickerson - One Free Book, Plus More

Dear Readers, we’ve loved Melanie Dickerson’s YA Medieval Fairy Tales. With this newer series, the books are billed at Medieval Fairy Tales for Adults. I know you’ve loved the first book. With this second book, I’m as eager to read it as you are. I’ve been busy on my own writing projects that had to be finished first.

Bio: Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer's Apprentice, a Christy Award finalist and winner of the National Reader's Choice Award for Best First Book. Melanie earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Alabama and has been a teacher and a missionary. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Huntsville, Alabama.

Welcome back, Melanie. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

I actually asked my editor, Becky Monds, to help me brainstorm when I was about two-thirds of the way through this book. The “climax” happened earlier than I thought it would, and even though I had some ideas about what would happen next, I wasn’t sure I had enough. So Becky and I talked for 45 minutes or an hour, and she gave me a good idea about having a fire that would parallel the fire that happened before the story started, when the hero’s ankle was badly injured trying, unsuccessfully, to save his brother. It turned out to be a pivotal scene near the end.

If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

How about Germany? Or England? If I could live in a castle, that would be awesome.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Never give up! Keep persevering. You never know what God has in store for you.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

I’d love to have Hugh Jackman sing us some show tunes. And Taylor Swift could entertain us with all of my favorite songs of hers.

Sign me up. They are two of my favorite celebs. Tell us about the featured book.

The Beautiful Pretender is the second book in the Thornbeck series. The hero is the rather formidable Margrave of Thornbeck. And it’s a cross between Beauty and the Beast and The Princess and the Pea.

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

The Margrave of Thornbeck has 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 these ladies and reveal their true character.

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—far deadlier—consequences.

Please give us the first page of the book.

The year 1363, Thornbeck Forest, The Holy Roman Empire

Reinhart Stolten, Margrave of Thornbeck, spotted the pack of wolves devouring their fresh kill at the bottom of the ravine. He nudged his horse in their direction as he let go of the reins and readied his bow and arrow. He was still too far away for a good shot, but he urged him closer, until his horse brought him into range of the bloodthirsty killers.

Reinhart took aim and let the arrow fly, striking one of the wolves in the neck. It let out a shriek, causing the other animals to look up. Two of them kept their teeth in their meal even as they snarled and searched for the source of the danger.

Reinhart quickly nocked another arrow and shot, striking another wolf in the shoulder instead of the intended kill shot to the head.

The wolves had spotted him and started to run. Only one of them was more interested in their food than in the danger pursuing them. He kept hold of the carcass as he ran away with the others. Reinhart aimed and shot at the one lagging behind, dragging the dead animal, but the arrow missed him.

The wolf let go of his kill and ran harder.

Reinhart urged his horse after them. The wolf with the arrow in his shoulder ran along with the other six wolves.

Reinhart and his horse chased them up the ravine, through the heavily wooded hills of Thornbeck Forest, and eventually the injured wolf grew tired and fell behind. Reinhart was able to finish it off, but there was no use going after the others. They were too far ahead now.

He put his longbow away and turned his horse back in the direction of Thornbeck Castle.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1NZuPiD

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

You can catch me on Twitter https://twitter.com/melanieauthor

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDickersonBooks/  

Website http://melaniedickerson.com/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3408059.Melanie_Dickerson

Inheriting the new title of margrave means Reinhart has two weeks to find a noble bride. What will happen when he learns he has fallen for a lovely servant girl in disguise? Find out in the new medieval fairy tale, The Beautiful Pretender, by Melanie Dickerson. 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—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?

Join Melanie in celebrating the release of The Beautiful Pretender by entering to win her Once Upon a Kindle giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of The Beautiful Pretender
• A Kindle Fire tablet
• A $25 Amazon gift card
• The choice between a Funko POP Disney Beauty or Beast doll

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry! The giveaway ends on June 7th. The winner will be announced June 8th on Melanie's blog.

Thank you, Melanie, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book on this blog. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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