The Golden Braid

This book needed a good editor. Poor knight falls off his horse after his horse is spooked and the saddle broke and slid. Three pages later he's climbing back on the horse with saddle working fine apparently. But he's broken his right arm - wait, several pages later it's his left arm - wait, it's his right arm - no, it's his left arm - hmm, back to right arm. I'm only a third of the way through the book. This has been very distracting. Even comical. Hope both arms turn out okay...

‘The Golden Braid’ delivers a sublimely executed retelling of the classic tale Rapunzel ~ flourishing with chivalrous and daring deeds, burgeoning faith, and a beautifully enchanting though conflicted romance. Taking place during the 15th century in a world so vastly contrasting to ours; we visit imposing castles and encounter heroic knights engaging in clanging swordfights. In reality, our worlds are not so dissimilar in the fact that evil and jealousies still reside in the heart of man. But the beauty of the author’s gifted and mesmerizing story-telling, is that we may escape with our imagination to an exquisitely inspiring and unforgettable, happy-ever-after!

Naïve and innocent, the fair maiden Rapunzel with golden, flowing hair, is once more torn from a village as her oppressive mother moves them on, after a young farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage. Again, her mother cites the evils and deception of men. Though uninterested in this man, Rapunzel is disheartened to be uprooted repeatedly, never having a chance to belong, to make friends, or especially to learn to read. She hopes that with this next move to the larger city of Hagenheim, she may yet fulfill her yearning to read at least. When along the road, they are set upon by some brigands; her mother’s dire warnings of men seem to be proving true.

In the wake of being rescued by the gallant knight, Sir Gerek, everything that is instilled in Rapunzel by her mother regarding men, has her questioning its validity. Though her knight protector seems arrogant, he also proves to be honorable and curiously pleasant to look at and be with, which greatly perplexes Rapunzel. In Hagenheim, she grows fonder of this gruff though kindly knight despite knowing he has vowed to marry only for riches and rank. Here though in this city of secrets, Rapunzel’s life is turned on its head as mysteries and betrayals uncovered will change her life forever. Will the poor, peasant maiden ever find liberty and love or stay chained to lies and deception?

It was almost dungeon-worthy torture having to set the book down, but then neither did I want to make it to the last page! There was also a wonderful anointing on this tale that lifted my spirit as well as imagination, illustrating the scriptural admonition of ‘not leaning unto your own understanding’. The Golden Braid is a truly charming book, and a top favorite of mine for 2015!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review which I have given.

Award-winning author Melanie Dickerson continues her medieval retelling of fairy tales, this time using the story of Rapunzel.

In The Golden Braid, seventeen-year-old Rapunzel lives with her mother Gothel in medieval Hagenheim. Rapunzel dreams of learning to read and marrying one day — dreams Gothel continues to prevent from happening. Every time Gothel sees a young man interested in Rapunzel, Gothel packs up their belongings, and they move to another place.

Gothel works as a midwife while Rapunzel stays at home, painting floral scenes on the wall and practicing her knife throwing. In her effort to “protect” her daughter, Gothel isolates her from the real world. When they are attacked on their way to another village, a knight – Sir Gerek – rescues them. In turn, Rapunzel rescues him with her knife-throwing skills down the road. Gerek rewards her by agreeing to teach her secretly to read.

As she studies the scriptures, Rapunzel begins to question things in her life like, “Why Gothel wants her to be suspicious of men?” Rapunzel uncovers a family secret that will change the direction of her life. Unlike other versions of this story, there was no magic or evil powers, merely a woman twisted by the past who twists the future of a young woman.

As in her earlier books, the faith element is clearly evident yet not preachy. Dickerson’s tales feature wholesome relationships while still building a strong attraction between the main characters, making this a good choice for teen readers. Dickerson is a masterful storyteller with a carefully crafted plot, richly-drawn characters, and detailed setting. The reader is easily pulled into the story.

Recommended for young adults and adults who are young at heart.

Carol R. Gehringer

Disclaimer: Book reviews are my opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
Review first posted on: worthy2read.wordpress.com

Another wonderfully retold fairytale in this exciting series, this one set back in Medieval Germany, revisiting Hagenheim.

Rapunzel is a really wonderful character! She has such a pure heart as she tries to dutifully serve and obey her unpredictable mother, yet wanting to fulfill her dream of learning to read. Her transformation is astounding as she begins to read Scripture and takes it to heart, opening her eyes to a newly found faith. Breaking free from the strictures of her mother's bitterness and control, her metamorphosis from a drab, plain, frightened child to a beautiful, brave, and sweet young woman is the best part of this story. God's truth and love transform her from the inside out. Her beautiful singing and ability to accurately throw a knife sure get Sir Gerek's attention! His journey is an uplifting part of the story also, as he learns that through faith he can forgive and overcome his family's past hurts, and that he is worthy to be loved.

The intertwining of this story with parts of previous books was done so skillfully, it made me want to go back and reread the entire series! It was ingenious how it expanded part of one of the books and added to the whole big picture. A few "Aha" moments here and there were fun surprises. Sometimes it moved a little slow for me in parts though, but it really came together for an exciting conclusion worth the wait.
Recommend for any young adult or older readers looking for a good clean entertaining story, with adventure, faith elements, and romance. It can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed by reading the other books in the series first, especially The Princess Spy. 4.5 stars

(Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the book provided in exchange for my honest review.)

There comes a time when a parent’s protective instinct crosses a line. A line between control and manipulation, and genuine concern for your child’s well-being.
In the year of 1413, a maiden of 19 was considered an old maid. And yet, Rapunzel remained in her mother’s home, with both of them devoted to the other.
Or so she thought. Even under her mother’s thumb, Rapunzel longed for a freedom she has never tasted. Moving from village to village has taught Rapunzel many skills, unusual skills for a fair maiden, but the one ability she longs for most— to read—she is denied.
On their journey as they move yet again—not to a village this time but to the city of Hagenheim—they are captured by vagabonds and then rescued by a handsome knight.
As Rapunzel and her mother begin their life in the city, and Rapunzel steals away to learn to read, her path and that of the knight continue to cross.
What mystery and lies does Rapunzel discover? How long do lies stay sleeping til they surface again? What is the secret Rapunzel learns about herself? The secret her mother will do anything—anything— to keep anyone else from finding out? Will Rapunzel meet her Prince Charming or will she remain captive in her tower?

Ms. Dickerson has once again crafted a story true to its origins while weaving a rich fabric of intrigue and treachery. Her characters come alive with real emotion and believable dialogue, the plot is believable and authentic, her details true to the Medieval era in which the story is set. I felt I was along for Rapunzel’s ride, tagging along as I was on her journey. I held my breath as the thieves appear again, I cried as Rapunzel’s mother quelled her time and again. I cheered as she learned to read, and when the truth was revealed, I reveled in Rapunzel’s victory.
I highly recommend this story, and will be reading more of Ms. Dickerson’s works.

Lovers of Tangled and fairy tales beware... you will fall in love with this book. For those looking for a good, clean story for their teenagers, this is one of the best I have read in a long time. Melanie Dickerson is a wonderful author and her world of Hagenheim is filled with characters we are so familiar with.

Rapunzel is tough and loves talking with people. Her mother, however, is not one for making friends. In fact, they move so often that Rapunzel has spent more time on her feet than in a house. It all changes when a handsome stranger rescues her and then she rescues him.

Heavily Christian with themes of prayer and God's goodness, I highly recommend the entire series to anyone who needs a good uplifting story that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with a story both familiar and different.

Melanie Dickerson is a great author. I love her versions of old fairy tales and her unique twists that make the stories come to life. This is the story of Rapunzel.

Rapunzel has been moved around her entire life. She has learned things here and there, but what she really wants is to learn to read and write. Her mother is too busy teaching her not to trust anyone, especially men, to grant her wish. When they are attacked on the road to Hagenheim, a brave knight saves their lives but is injured in the process. While her mother is barely civil, Rapunzel begins to trust this man and wonder if her mother has been telling her the truth.

With a broken arm and leg, Gerek is laying in a monastery waiting impatiently to heal. When one of the monks suggests he teach Rapunzel how to read, Gerek is reluctant, but he has nothing better to do. The more time he spends with this young peasant girl, the more he enjoys himself. With the lofty goals he has for his life, he tries to ignore what he’s feeling for Rapunzel and tell himself that he plans on being practical in his choice of a wife. Circumstances force him to confront his feelings and acknowledge what’s going on.

I love the way this author puts her unique spin on fairy tales while keeping it recognizable and interesting at the same time. These books might be listed as young adult, but they are great for adults as well. Who doesn’t love a fairy tale with that happy ending?

This book has ties to the original fairy tales that Dickerson has written. You’re reading about Hagenheim, and the family members that have been written about before. The clash between the Gerstenberg family and Lord Claybrook that occurs during The Princess Spy overlaps with this tale.

Next up is the third book in the Medieval Fairy Tale series. The first one was The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, and The Beautiful Pretender is set to come out May 2016. I look forward to it!

*I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson is a FANTASTIC book. I had the pleasure of being offered a free advance copy for review and found it hard to place down. The book was an easy read and offered a different take on what many would consider the classic Rapunzel tale.

In Dickerson's book, Rapunzel is a girl who has moved around often, her mother frequently going from town to town. This along with her mother constantly sharing stories of all the horrible exploits of men has kept her from forming any real relationships. This all changes one day when Rapunzel and her mother are saved on the way to Hagenheim by Sir Gerek. Suddenly Rapunzel is not as willing to accept everything her mother says as the truth and begins to learn and explore.

What I appreciated the most about this book was just how different this story was. I really liked the incorporation of God in to the story as Rapunzel learns to read. Rapunzel learns what true love is with every new word she reads and finally begins to grow into an independent woman.

This book is definitely age appropriate for teens and above. There are a few violent scenes, however nothing graphic. If anything this book focuses on the importance of love not being guided by fear. If you enjoy Fairy Tales but often wish there was less magic and more of a Christian perspective, this is the book for you.

I am giving this book 5 braids out of 5 for an engaging book that put a fresh spin on a classic fairy tale. I really enjoyed reading The Golden Braid and I hope you will too.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Melanie Dickerson offers another 'winner' to her collection of fine fairytale-based stories. Rapunzel is a lonely, sheltered young adult who is eager to learn and desires to settle in one place for a while. Mother does her best to "protect" Rapunzel by keeping her unsettled and living in fear of the world. Gerek, an educated knight, comes upon the Rapunzel and Mother as they are moving to a new town. He rescues them from brigands, only to have Rapunzel rescue him when a prisoner escapes and tries to kill him. Injured, Gerek is given the task of teaching Rapunzel how to read, but it is a secret that must be kept from Mother. As Rapunzel begins to read the holy writings of the bible her world begins to change in unexpected ways. She finds courage and begins to question how she came to be with Mother and why Mother wants her to remain fearful and ignorant. Secrets that have been kept by Rapunzel, Gerek, and especially Mother begin to unravel. Truth battles treachery as the story intertwines with the events in The Princess Spy. Suddenly, Rapunzel's identity and life hang in the balance. Can Gerek save her before it's too late?! I did receive this book from the author for an honest review.

The Golden Braid is book 6 of the Hagenheim/ Fairy Tale Romance Series, but it seems to stand well on its own. I received a hardback copy of this book; the cover art is beautiful.

This was an awesome read! The setting was realistic; I felt as if I was actually there. I also enjoyed getting acquainted with the characters. I had a hard time putting it down, once I got started.

Since this is especially written for teens and young adults, I plan to share this book with my daughter. My almost-sixteen year old son might enjoy it, since he is especially interested in the medieval time period.

I definitely plan to read more of Melanie's books!

**This is a Books for Christian Girls content review for girls ages 9-19. The Spiritual, Negative, & Sexual Content from this book are honestly listed below. Keep in mind, when reading a BFCG review, ignore the things that don't bother you, but take notice of the things that do.**

About this book:

“The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower.
Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.
Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.
The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel in turn rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?
As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery is about to be revealed after seventeen years of lies. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?”

Series: Ignore what Goodreads says, it’s book #6 in the “Hagenheim” series. {Reviews of #1 Here, #2 Here, #3 Here, #4 Here, and #5 Here!} {You do not have to read this series in order to understand it, but I highly recommend that you do read them in order.}

Spiritual Content- Many, many Prayers; Many talks about God & His love; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Many, many Scriptures are read, remembered, & discussed; Learning to & reading (plus talks about) the Holy Writt; Monks & a monastery; Going to the chapel to pray; Mentions of excommunication; Many mentions of books & those in the Bible;
*Note: When mentioning watching a birth, Rapunzel says it feels like she’s in hell; A few mentions of ghosts & evil spirits.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, a ‘stupid’, and two forms of ‘shut up’; Mentions of curses said not written; A but of sarcasm; Fighting, kicking, pain, blood & knives (semi-detailed); *Spoiler* [ Gerek’s father killed his mother, then killed himself (up to semi-detailed) ] *End of Spoiler*; Mentions of Gerek’s father who beat his family, servants & dogs (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of killing & slitting throats; Killing a chicken (boarder-line detailed); Drinking wine (Rapunzel doesn’t like it).

Sexual Content- two check kisses, a head kiss; a not-detailed kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, a semi-detailed kiss; Wondering about a kiss; A mentions of a hand & check kiss; Mentions of stolen kisses; Touches & Embraces (up to semi-detailed); Noticing; Dressing an injured man (the top part only, barely-above-not-detailed); Gothel is always telling Rapunzel that men can’t be trusted, are evil, & that they don’t need them; Gothel tells Rapunzel stories about men who convince gullible women to lie with them or take them into a forest; Rapunzel gets paranoid about men after hearing Gothel’s stories; When Rapunzel is almost attacked, she stabs him (nothing happens); Gerek has “a vow never to know a woman before marriage” (that’s the Biblical know); A few mentions of chastity; A mention of a man showing a girl his love; Mentions of men touching & lying with women just to get what they want; Mentions of men taking advantages with women & forcing themselves on women; Mentions of when Rapunzel was almost attacked at age 15; Mentions of child births & labors (barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed); Many mentions of & having illegitimate children; *Spoiler*[ A man got Gothel pregnant, said he’d marry her and then disappeared. ] *End of Spoiler*; Love, falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of revealing dresses.

-Rapunzel Scheinberg, age 19
-Gerek van Hollan, age 24
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1413 (Medieval)
304 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars (and a half)
{Add half a star for those who have already read the previous books in the series.}
I am literally doing a jig right now. Ahh! I just can’t even. I’m trying to push my emotions for these characters down a bit, so I can give a proper review. But really, Melanie Dickerson is a great author. I just adore fairytales and to see them with a Christian twist is fantastic! I wasn’t sure if “The Golden Braid” would top “The Princess Spy” (because Rapunzel verses a Princess Spy .) but, oh. It was close. It was so close! Rating wise, “The Golden Braid” got a half-star higher, but that’s because of who Rapunzel is (ahhh! Still fangirling over that PERFECT plot twist!), I’m more familiar with the story of Rapunzel and this Rapunzel knows how to protect herself—with a knife, which is pretty cool.
I really can’t wait till the next book in this series, The Little Mermaid retelling, which, I am beyond stoked for.
But have to wait till November of 2016 for.
*le sigh*
But I'm still excited. :D

*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.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) through BookLookBloggers for this review.

A beautifully spun retelling of the age-old fairy tale we all know well...
Rapunzel.
It's all here... the tower. The mother. The begrudging hero. Missing pieces and identities.
And, of course, the long-haired blonde.
This story is woven together like the most intricate braid, with so many threads all crossed over and under and finally
-in a satisfying and heartwarming climax-
pulled taught to complete a glorious masterpiece of creativity and beauty.
A tale of trust, betrayal, treachery, searching, true love,
and- above all- hope.
There were moments during this story that I was on the edge of my seat, other times I had that sappy "this-is-so-adorably-sweet" look on my face, and once when there were actually tears on my face!
Full of life, lessons, suspense, and pure magic, this is a sweet story that conveys the importance of entrusting your heart to the One who created it, and embracing His path for your life.

3.5 Stars

Although I have read all of Melanie Dickerson’s books, and will likely continue to do so, they have been something of a mixed bag for me. It is interesting to read an alternative representation of fairy tales from a Christian perspective, stripped of the magical and ‘fairy godmother’ type content. However, some of the content can also be a little clichéd, implausible……and romantic mush in any novel by any author is starting to wear a little bit thin for me. I really don’t want to read about characters admiring one another’s lips or physique, or having some ‘warm’ feeling when they kiss. It’s just eye-roll inducing…

Anyway, I was eagerly anticipating The Golden Braid although I had some reservations based on the synopsis (I worried it might be overly politically correct). In the first half, I was pleasantly surprised by the well-drawn characters who were obviously harbouring secrets and baggage, but also the historical details. I was rather pleased to see that the author went some way towards questioning the assumption that it was ‘heresy’ to read the Bible in one’s own language in the Medieval period. (This was not considered heretical in and of itself).
The relationship and developing friendship between Rapunzel and Sir Gerek was quite sweet and endearing- one might say rather refreshing for being free of romantic mush. He taught her to read to pay her back for helping him, and she was able to get over her distrust of men to learn about faith. Also, although she was strong and able to look after herself, Rapunzel was not one of those militant proto-feminist heroines with a chip on her shoulder against the whole world, like you see in some stories.

As the story progressed however, there was some crossover with one of the previous novels The Princess Spy, with the story covering a lot of the same ground and content. This did not continue for too long- but I felt that towards the end, after about three quarters of the way through, the story started to become somewhat rushed, choppy, and weaker than it was before.
Rapunzel gets locked in a tower (to follow the fairy tale) but it was rather a minor aspect of the story that was dealt with better elsewhere. In some ways, Mother Gothel’s control and demands on Rapunzel were more of an imprisonment.

Also, there came to be some details that seemed rather- far-fetched- like Gerek just happening to pull a ‘tarp covered’ torch out of his saddlebag. Seriously? Was tarpaulin even invented then? Also, I found the idea of a war-hose being spooked by a hare a bit much- they were meant to be highly trained so as not to be easily scared. An animal like that would be pretty much useless on the battlefield, so why would an experienced knight even keep it.
Also, things got a little mushier later on in the story in terms of romance- with more kissing and touching. Although it was interesting to see the characters wrestling with one another’s revelations and feelings for one another, as well as to forgive those who wronged them.

Overall, The Golden Braid was a satisfying and interesting story which holds the attention of the reader. In spite of some weaknesses, I would say it was one of the better stories in this continuing series. Although, perhaps later novels might be better for including newer characters and storylines not related to the family and region of the others.

I requested a copy of this book from the Publisher via Bookloook Bloggers for review. I read this alongside listening to the audiobook (which I purchased of my own volition), I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Wow. This is the first fairy tale retelling by Melanie Dickerson that I have read. Now I must go and read every single book that she's written so far. The Golden Braid was an absolutely delightful read!

Granted, we all know the gist of the story. We all know how the story ends. But the beauty of this particular book is in the incredible writing that truly paints the world that is Rapunzel's. Rapunzel's character is well-developed. She is thoughtful, loyal, loving, clever, resourceful though raised in a haze of suspicion, fear, and mistrust. What a heroine! Sir Gerek is emotionally scarred but noble nonetheless. He is faithful, loyal, loving in his own gruff way, and so tender-hearted. Most of all, Gerek loves God and is humble enough for God to change him. The dialogue between Rapunzel and Gerek regarding the Holy Scriptures is insightful and thoughtful and heart-stirring.

I love fairy tales. But this fairy tale is head and shoulders above others. It has a full and action-filled storyline, wonderful characters, and rich themes like forgiveness and true love. A must read! And not just for young adults!

Rapunzel's mother Gothel has never wanted Rapunzel to have any attention from men. She has raised Rapunzel to have a distrust of men and to stay away from them. Once again Gothel has decided to move them to a new place in order to keep Rapunzel to herself. On the road to Hagenheim the two are accosted by a couple of evil men. Sir Gerek comes to their rescue, but in the process he becomes injured and Rapunzel and her mother are forced to help him the rest of the way to Hagenheim.

Once the group arrives in Hagenheim Gothel dumps Sir Gerek at a monastery outside of Hagenheim and moves Rapunzel and herself into a small little cottage. All Rapunzel has ever wanted to learn was how to read. She asks one of the men at the monastery if someone there can teach her in exchange for her services in cleaning some of the rooms. When Sir Gerek is coerced into teaching her while he is laid up recovering Rapunzel is less than happy, but her desire to read outweighs her desire to please her mother or Sir Gerek.

When once again Gothel decides to move to another village Rapunzel has had enough and gets a job at Hagenheim castle. There she and Sir Gerek continue the friendship that was forged while Rapunzel was learning to read. But Gothel cannot let Rapunzel go and becomes part of a plot to take over the castle. Gothel will stop at nothing to keep Rapunzel to herself.

Even though Sir Gerek has determined to marry money he finds himself attached to Rapunzel. When she disappears he makes it his mission to find her. On his voyage he discovers a new trust in God and follows His leading to find Rapunzel wherever she may be and no matter how long it takes.

First off, yes, we have heard of Hagenheim castle before! One of the things I really liked about the story was that it crossed over into THE PRINCESS SPY. I thought the author did a good job of twining the two stories together. Another thing I enjoyed was the fairy tale retelling. There were enough differences to give the story a fresh twist but yet similar enough to maintain the integrity of the original fairy tale. The Spiritual aspect of the story was another favorite. Both Sir Gerek and Rapunzel needed to learn to trust in God instead of in their own power and abilities and plans. There were some frustrating moments for me in some of the behavior of the characters, but for the most part I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to readers that enjoy sweet fairy tale retellings.

Originally posted on Creative Madness Mama. The one who needs rescuing isn't always the one in the tower...
Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.

Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel's hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again---this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.

The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight---Sir Gerek---Rapunzel, in turn, rescues him farther down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to him than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?

As Rapunzel acclimates to life in a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery are about to be revealed after seventeen years. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?
I always know I will enjoy Melanie Dickerson's books!
It was no surprise to me to discover vast enjoyment during my time reading Rapunzel's story in The Golden Braid. As a matter of fact reading this story brought a lot of the other Fairy Tale Retelling Romance stories and Hagenheim family tales together. While the story stands alone, it is a wonderful glimpse in seeing the lives of other characters I have come to appreciate and adore as they have changed and adapted after their own adventure and bouts with romance.

Thomas Nelson did an awesome job with the packaging of this book. As my copy is a jacketed hardcover. It is a beautiful cover and worthy of the writing within. The covers for Melanie's books are getting better and better. Christian Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, but I think it is safe to say that I absolutely love the genre of fairy tale retellings. Especially right now as a I have a princess-obsessed four year old daughter at home - seeing me reading such books has her now wanting to read to know what is happening in this adventure. !!

I'd recommend this read to anyone and definitely plan to hang on to it for my own girls to read one day. For now, we will read, Rapunzel by Sarah Gibb and other picture book varieties.
Fairy Tale Romance Collection Review

This review was originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.

The Golden Braid is the latest novel released in Melanie Dickerson's Medieval Fairy Tale Romance series. You meet Rapunzel on the opening pages as her mother is preparing to move them yet again, because a young man from the village has declared his undying love for Rapunzel and his wish to marry her. Her mother has declared, in no uncertain terms, that she will never allow this to happen!

As they begin the journey to their new home in Hagenheim, Rapunzel and her mother run into some evil men who attempt to harm and rob them. Rapunzel is surprised when Sir Gerek, a knight from Hagenheim, comes out of nowhere to their rescue. While Sir Gerek attempts to accompany these ladies the rest of the way to Hagenheim, he experiences a freak accident on his horse that leaves him with a broken leg and a broken arm!

While Sir Gerek is recovering at a nearby monastery, Rapunzel and her mother continue their journey and safely arrive in Hagenheim. As they settle into this new town, Rapunzel ventures back to the monastery almost daily, where Sir Gerek begins to teach her to read. A sweet friendship begins to grow between them! When Rapunzel's mother learns what has been going on, she threatens to drug Rapunzel and take her far, far away, if she ever finds her with Sir Gerek again!

Wait and see what happens after Rapunzel runs away to work as a servant at the castle. Will her mother take action on her promise to take Rapunzel away? What will happen when a mystery about Rapunzel's former life is revealed to all?

This is a fun ride. Hang on tight and you will be pleasantly surprised by the ending to this tale!

I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my unbiased review

http://penlessreview.blogspot.com/

Rapunzel is a young woman of many talents, but the one thing she cannot do is read. Her mother, Gothel, forbids her daughter from learning and moves them both from village to village in hopes of keeping Rapunzel away from men who may want to steal her away through marriage. Already older than many young brides, Rapunzel wonders if men are as terrible as her mother believes. Soon, however, after being rescued by a knight Rapunzel begins to question her mother’s suffocating influence and finally takes control of her own life.

The Golden Braid is a unique take on the Rapunzel fairytale. While I haven’t read very many Rapunzel retellings, this is one my favorite. Rapunzel has been manipulated and lied to all her life, and when she learns she may not actually be who she thinks she is, Gothel can no longer hold onto her. At least, not without a fight. Strong, brave, and naive because of her sheltered upbringing Rapunzel makes an ideal heroine, and with her hero the knight Sir Gerek, she’s able to reclaim her life and discover what she’s been missing all along. And perhaps even learn to read.

If you enjoy cute, heartwarming fairytales The Golden Braid will not disappoint. On side note, while this is a perfectly good standalone, it wouldn’t hurt to read the five Hagenheim books in this series.

The Golden Braid (Hagenheim series #6)***** by Melanie Dickerson

The Golden Braid is a retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel in a way only Melanie Dickerson can. Rapunzel and her mother travel around a lot, never staying in one place for any length of time. Rapunzel makes the most of it and paints beautiful flowering vines on the outside of their dwelling places, making them more “homey”. As they are traveling to their newest location, a larger city, Hagenheim in the year 1413, they are attacked and the handsome knight Sir Gerek rides up rescuing Rapunzel and her mother. Further down the road, Rapunzel ends up rescuing Sir Gerek—he quickly learns that there is much more to Rapunzel than a beautiful face—why, she can throw a knife better than any man. Rapunzel has one wish—to learn to read and one fear—her mother.

I was not sure what to expect in a retailing of Rapunzel but this story far exceeded my expectations. There appears a mystery surrounding Rapunzel's life that is revealed masterfully—and unexpectedly—in the story-line. I found myself cheering her on to learn the truth, learn to read and hoped she would find true love. I love how she found the Father—God—once she learned to read by reading the Holy Word. As the reader gets into the story, danger and evil lurk, seeking out to destroy that which gets in it's path. It is very clear where—and who—that evil is coming from, causing me to hold my breath at certain dangerous situations. I soon picked my favorite characters....Rapunzel and Sir Gerek just two of them and those not so favorite—well, hateful, dangerous characters....Gothel being one of them—from the well developed character line. The Golden Braid has it all—mystery, revenge, forgiveness, fear, danger, evil intentions, honor, adventure, redemption, reconciliation, the beautiful message of God's love and grace, romance and love. I had not realized this is part of a series until after I finished reading it. However, I was able to follow the story-line without difficulty. I will read the other books in the series soon.

~I was gifted a copy of this book by Carrie Fancett Pagels....I was not obligated to write a review....this is my honest review~

Melanie Dickerson is another new author for me and though I have seen her around in the book catalogs I’ve never picked up any of her books until now. The Golden Braid is a retelling of the Rapunzel story and this book has an amazing and striking cover showcasing the heroine in vibrant rich colors! I was immediately drawn to it! Reading up on this book a little I also learned that it is a young adult (YA) story, it’s been a while since I reviewed one of those- and since the last YA I reviewed was set in this time period I was eager to dig into this one and see how they compared.

The Rapunzel story has been told and retold many times but this retelling has been very thoughtfully and carefully told. In short an evil mother keeps her daughter locked away in a tower where no one will ever see her great beauty or hear her beautiful voice. She is rescued by a handsome prince who breaches her prison by climbing her long hair. In this story there are great twists on the story from beginning to end! The story begins long before Rapunzel is locked in the tower- Rapunzel is eager to learn how to read and has dreams for her future, her mother is legit paranoid insane, and the prince turns out to be a grumpy but handsome knight! The extra twist on Rapunzel’s story is a great one that I don’t want to spoil but I will say I was pleased with it and it set things up for a really cool and satisfying ending!

In the beginning part of this book things sometimes seemed to be repetitious with facts gone over again and again but I don’t know if a teen reader would necessarily notice that and as the book progresses it does get better and begins bringing in new details and storylines. I really liked how there were several morals that were woven throughout the story including that of healthy relationships between both parent and child and between guys and girls. Sir Gerek was a true hero who demonstrated his dedication to his vows and acted honorably towards Rapunzel. There is a romantic element to the story, and yes, even some kissing and unchaperoned travel but through it all nothing felt it was ‘off’ or inappropriate to the characters and their ages (Rapunzel is 19 and Sir Gerek 23). This was something that was really nice to see in a YA book and I was pleased that the author balanced romance and purity well. Other themes were forgiveness, patience, and timing, and these were all well woven through the story and never felt like the reader was being bombarded with a religious or moral message.

As a side note, some retellings of Rapunzel have been questionable to me as they have presented a picture of joyful consequence free teenage rebellion but I didn’t feel this was the case in this book. This Rapunzel is a young woman of legal age and she only leaves her mother’s side when her mother’s madness takes a turn from bad to worse and Rapunzel’s safety is threatened. I felt it marked an appropriate time for her to move on and taught the reader about taking the right kind of actions for personal safety.

In the end, The Golden Braid was a great novel and I enjoyed it as much as I think a YA reader would! I would recommend it to any of the teen girls that I know!

Final Rating: 4.5

I have been given a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and opinion of the product.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
In this retelling of Rapunzel we get a different sequence of events. Yes, Rapunzel has this amazing head of hair but in the fairy tales I always pictured her as this vapid princess who wouldn't know how to survive life outside that tower if her life depended on it. But in the Golden Braid we see Rapunzel is trapped by more than just where she lays her head down at night. Socio economic status, gender, her lack of education are all things that seem to hold her back. But she is one of the strongest heroines I have ever had the pleasure of reading. If fairy tales were like this maybe I would have read more of them as a child!

Rapunzel is this strong knife throwing character who longs for human interaction and to learn how to read. Her family which just consists of her and her extremely overprotective mother move around from village to village whenever people begin to notice Rapunzel too much. It was during one of these moves that the ladies are attacked but thankfully rescued by a passing knight Sir Gerek (who ends up getting rescued right back by Rapunzel) ends up getting injured himself in the process. He is taken to a monestary and Rapunzel ends up asking one of the monks in town if there is someone who could teach her to read in exchange for her doing chores around the monestary. Little does she know Sir Gerek is to be her instructor while he is recovering from his injuries. What starts as him teaching her the alphabet and some reading from the Holy Text leads to so much more -- questions about life and theology take place during their sessions and they realize they have common ground after all.

I thought this was one of the better retellings of a classic fairy tale as Melanie gives us a character we can root for, a girl that we can relate to even now years in the future. There were moments that quite honestly surprised me by the questions that it raised and portions that I thought about long after I finished the book. I had never read a book by Melanie before But with this one story she has been added to my automatic one click authors list. This belongs on anyone's best books of the year list. I know it will for sure be on mine.

"The Truth is Kinder than a Lie" Wisdom from Rapunzel...an insight to the character's wisdom, thought process and personal character.

Once again Melanie has created a book that is beautiful and engaging. How refreshing it is to read something that in interesting, but not full of the words, images or phrases that I wouldn't want my daughters to read. Melanie Dickerson is one of the few authors that I can share with my tween girls.

The Golden Braid is a light play on the Rapunzel story. You have all the characters that we have grown accustomed to with the more prevalent Disney version but this time there is a different backstory. One that is more human and realistic. I loved the "real" relationship between Gothel and Rapunzel in this book. I have always wondered what kind of Mother/Daughter relationship could be had between these two, and Melanie helped to fill in the blanks.

Gothel is portrayed as a confused, hurt woman with a tendency toward self-centered, wrong, hurtful and evil choices. While Rapunzel is portrayed as a smart, clever, obedient and sheltered daughter. She find her true self (in more ways then one) as her journey continues.

I know this is a romance story, but I couldn't help but be drawn to the mother/daughter interactions a bit more. Maybe, because I have daughters. By the end of her journey Rapunzel has discovered her true identity...as a woman, daughter, Christ follower and hero.

My favorite little tidbit into Rapunzel's strength is found on page 233. Rapunzel talks about allowing herself to cry, but just for a few moments, then she would be strong again. I've lived my life with that thought process....so it was a very pleasant thing to read it of Rapunzel. Few people seem to understand that strength can be found in tears, if we are not overwhelmed by them.

Great book. Great read. Wonderful Inspiration to be strong.

Book Description "The one who needs rescuing isn’t always the one in the tower. Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man around. And her skills as an artist rival those of any artist she’s met. But for a woman in medieval times, the one skill she most desires is the hardest one to obtain: the ability to read. After yet another young man asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides they need to move once again, but this time to a larger city. Rapunzel’s heart soars—surely there she can fulfill her dream. But Mother won’t let her close to a man. She claims that no man can be trusted. After being rescued by a knight on the road to the city, and in turn rescuing him farther down the road, Rapunzel’s opportunity arrives at last. This knight, Sir Gerek, agrees to educate Rapunzel in order to pay back his debt. She just has to put up with his arrogant nature and single-minded focus on riches and prestige. But this Rapunzel story is unlike any other and the mystery that she uncovers will change everything—except her happily ever after."

I always enjoyed fairy tales as a child and still love them as an adult. The first book I read from Melanie Dickerson was The Princess Spy. I enjoyed that story so much that I read the Fairy Tale Romance Collection which included The Princess Spy, The Healer's Apprentice, The Merchant's Daughter, The Captive Maiden, and The Fairest Beauty. Each of these tales are based on a familiar fairy tale. Each of the stories are linked to the others with but not so much that you have to read them all in a certain order to understand them. Each of the stories take place in medieval times and contain appropriate historical details. They also each contain a romantic element that is clean and appropriate for older teens and adults.

The Golden Braid is based on the story of Rapunzel. The author takes a very interesting twist to the story. If you have read The Princess Spy it will fill in some of the details for you as it takes place at the same time as one of the big events in that story. If you have not read it, you will want to after you read this one! Melanie Dickerson proves with her stories that fairy tales are not just for children. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC regulations.

For years, Rapunzel’s mother has been protecting her from the attention of men. Never has she allowed any of them to approach Rapunzel in fear that they may take her away. When a young farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, she makes Rapunzel turn him down. Then she packs her belongings and decides to move to Hagenheim, where Rapunzel’s mother believes she will be safe from any suitors who come to their door. Along the way to Hagenheim, they are attacked by robbers and are saved by Sir Gerek, Duke Wilhelm’s bravest knight. Their chance encounter displeases Rapunzel’s mother and she strives to keep Rapunzel away from him at all cost. Yet, when they are at Hagenheim, Rapunzel years to leave her mother’s nest and make her own way in the world. Can Rapunzel get her own way or will her overbearing mother prevent her from getting her hopes and dreams?

Rapunzel is a sympathetic character. She loves her mother, yet at the same time she wants to be more independent and wants to make choices for her own life. At first she is naive and believes everything her mother tells her. Later, she begins to question what her mother says. She gradually begins to think for herself and not rely strictly on her mother’s word. Therefore, Rapunzel is forced to make the hard choice to become her own person or to stay the same.

Sir Gerek is an interesting character. In the beginning, he seemed to be arrogant. He ignores Rapunzel because she is a peasant and dreams of marrying a wealthy heiress. However, his arrogance is a facade because deep down he is emotionally distraught. He has a turbulent past that haunts him. Yet, when he meets Rapunzel, he is forced to come to terms with his past. He is also forced to make the decision to marry for love or for money.

The villain was also a complex character. Rapunzel’s mother made many cruel decisions on how to treat Rapunzel, but she was not inherently evil. She had an obsessive love for Rapunzel. She had nothing in her life except Rapunzel. Rapunzel was her whole world, and she would be utterly lost and distraught without her. She was not willing to let her go because she did not want to be alone. She was a woman who refused to believe that Rapunzel was a grown woman and to admit that change was staring her in the face. She would do anything in her power to keep things to remain the same and keep Rapunzel by her side even if she had to resort to evil actions.

Overall, this book is about friendship, family, love, choices, acceptance, and forgiveness. The story is fast-paced and action-packed. The story is set in the same time frame as The Princess Spy. I liked how it retold the story of the previous novel, but from Rapunzel’s perspective because it gave some surprising details of what the servants were doing when the castle of Hagenheim was attacked. It was like a Downton Abbey’s version of The Princess Spy. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun read with characters you may be familiar with only from fairy tales. However, Mrs. Dickerson takes them from fantasy into realism and we always get an interesting perspective.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)

Melanie Dickerson offers up a retelling of the classic Rapunzel tale, with threads of feminism woven throughout. Opening in Germany in the year 1413, the reader is introduced to a much different Rapunzel than the traditional mopey maiden in the tower we are introduced to as children. Dickerson's Rapunzel is a skilled artist and knife-thrower who wants nothing more than to be literate, wishing to rise above the peasant status which society uses to label her as generally inferior. She would also like to marry (for love) but is unsure if her mother Gothel would ever allow it. Gothel, embittered by her own soured romance years earlier, has raised Rapunzel to never trust any man. In fact, whenever any male shows any sort of romantic inclination towards Rapunzel, Gothel is quick to pack up all their stuff and shuffle her daughter off to the next town to start over. It is during their latest move, en route to the town of Hagenheim, that they are accosted by bandits, but soon saved by Sir Garek, a knight of the duke of Hagenheim. Unfortunately, for his troubles Sir Garek receives some broken bones which force him to hole up at a nearby monastery for a few weeks to recover. Needing something to occupy his mind while on bedrest, Garek offers to teach Rapunzel how to read in her native German. She quickly agrees but knows she must keep the meetings secret from Gothel.

When Gothel does discover the meet-ups between Garek & Rapunzel, she once again instantly tries to usher Rapunzel off to a new town. By this time, however, Rapunzel is starting to embrace having a mind of her own, so with the help of a letter of recommendation from Sir Garek she finds a way to break free from her mother's clutches and discover a new life of relative independence as a maidservant / personal assistant to the Duchess of Hagenheim. While trying to establish her new identity behind castle walls, Rapunzel also discovers some deep, dark secrets about Gothel, secrets that shatter everything she thought she knew about herself.

Dickerson does an admirable job weaving together elements from the classic tale with ideas of her own. As for the story itself, it took me a bit to really get into it. The writing is good and this is a solid retelling, but it lacked a bit of the magical fairytale feel I was hoping for. It wasn't really until Rapunzel starts up life at the castle that I felt myself becoming more invested in her story. In fact, until her arrival at the castle, I was feeling like Rapunzel, as far as her characterization went, was a bit flat. But once secrets and plots start coming out everywhere, Rapunzel impressively steps up and becomes a pivotal part of the bad guy takedown. Gotta say though, I wish more of the knife-throwing had been worked into the storyline. The synopsis had her sounding like a tough, scrappy tomboyish kind of girl but really the knife-throwing is only mentioned a few times. Otherwise, she could have been any average girl stuck into the story. At least until her time to shine at the castle comes up, that is.

What did really impress me were the underlying themes that get addressed throughout the story. One being that your past doesn't have to define you. There are characters here who are haunted by past tragedies and transgressions, who have to learn to forgive not only others but themselves and accept their natural human faultiness. A lesson I think any reader can benefit from. Also touched upon is what a healthy relationship should look like -- whether that relationship be romantic, platonic, or familial. The characters learn how hard it can be, realizing that people you thought you had an important bond with are not treating you with respect / basic human decency. Along with that comes the need to find courage to break away from those people, cutting ties even though at first it feels unnatural and tragic.

I also really liked the character of Lady Rose and how she treated everyone, regardless of their rank or status within the castle with respect and kindness, genuinely wanting to get to know everyone as people. Just one of a number of wonderful characters within the story who show truly admirable traits any reader can be proud to emulate.

FTC Disclaimer: In the case of this particular book, both BookLookBloggers.com AND TNZ Fiction Guild kindly presented me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. As always, the opinions above are entirely my own.

Well who doesn’t love the story of Rapunzel! ‘Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair’. I know I do and this is a great re-telling. Loved it from the start and didn’t want it to end. You can go in knowing the basics but it’s the authors’ own style of writing and storytelling that brings it alive and keeps you reading.

Rapunzel and her ‘mother’ are moving away yet again due to her getting more attention than her mother would like – a marriage proposal would do that. Rapunzel’s mother wants to get her away so she is out of danger from men but little does she know that by moving her she would start a chain reaction of greater changes and danger to come. On the way to a new town two robbers set upon Rapunzel and her mother. In the midst of the struggle Rapunzel prays for an angel with his flaming sword to help them. Her prayers are answered in the form of Gerek, a knight of the realm, when he hears her cry. From the moment she meets him nothing will ever be the same again.

After hearing a women’s cry for help Gerek charges in to save the day. After catching one of the robbers and assisting the women in the aftermath of the attack he insists that he guard them for the rest of their journey. As a knight it is what would be expected of him, but he can’t believe that he has come across anyone to be as ungrateful as the young maidens mother. He insists that the young maiden, whose beautiful eyes he is trying not to notice, lie down to rest in the cart that they have now acquired from the robbers as she took quite a bump to the head when she was pushed down. He thinks that he will be able to keep them safe and keep an eye on his captive while they continue their journey to Hagenheim. A thunderstorm and a hare manage to change Gerek’s plans though when he is thrown from his horse. Not only does he end up breaking his arm and leg when his horse falls on him, but if it wasn’t for Rapunzel’s good aim with throwing a knife he may have lost his life as well as the robber was moments from taking it.

From being the one coming to the rescue it now seems that Gerek is in need of some assistance himself. As he fears he may not last all the way to Hagenheim he insists that they all seek shelter with the monks along the way. Once there Gerek thinks that this will be the last time that he sees the women he rescued. Little does he know that one of his friends, a monk, has offered him up as a tutor for Rapunzel as he will be laid up for weeks while waiting for his bones to heal. The only thing that Rapunzel has continually asked her mother for is the chance to find someone who would teach her to read. If only her mother had found her someone sooner then Rapunzel wouldn’t have gone to extreme measures to make it happen. At first Rapunzel thinks that she will be taught to read by one of the monks so she is surprised, and a little nervous, when she finds out that she will actually be taught by Gerek, who has captured her mind from the moment she met him.

The more time they spend together, the more they learn, you can see the walls start to come down for both of them. Rapunzel has always been taught by her mother to be wary of men and stay away at all costs as they will only cause her heartache but she feels safe with Gerek and closer to him than she would have thought in such a short time. Gerek on the other hand has come from a troubled past and the fear he has of turning into his father has made him view the idea of marriage as nothing more than a contract to get the wealthiest bride. One sure way to show his brother that he has made something of himself. Love doesn’t come into it. Rapunzel knows that if, or more importantly when, her mother finds out she will be mad but she doesn’t count on exactly how far her mother is willing to go. Gerek’s outlook on life and love change from the moment he meets Rapunzel. With the troubles that follow to stay safe they find that they need to stay close to each other. In the end they save each other’s lives in more ways than one.

As you know the story you are waiting for the big reveal and how everything will play out. You are also waiting for when Gerek will wake up and realise that Rapunzel is the perfect woman for him and if he doesn’t claim her for his own then he will regret it forever. The pace of the story is just right and you are just happy to be along for the ride. The characters are complex and intriguing and I loved this fresh twist on a classic fairytale. Even though this one can be read as standalone I was excited to find out that this book is part of a series and that they are all medieval fairytales re-told. I do love medieval stories so I will definitely be checking out the rest of them.

I received this ARC fro my BookLookBloggers for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/book-review-the-golden-braid-by-melanie-dickerson/

The Golden Braid
By Melanie Dickerson

Rapunzel and her mother have never stayed in any one village for any length of time. If Rapunzel starts to form a friendship or attract the attention of any man they leave almost immediately.

When Gothel decides that they need to move yet again, Rapunzel has hopes that by moving to Hagenheim she may get her heart's desire - the chance to learn how to read. But the several day journey is fraught with dangers that Rapunzel and Gothel must face before they can enter the safety of Hagenheim. When the women are attacked by a pair of men they are rescued by Sir Gerek, a knight in the service of Duke Wilhelm. But there is one problem with Sir Gerek he is a man and Rapunzel has been taught from a young age that men are not to be trusted. But Sir Gerek did come to their aid and insisted on seeing to their safety for the rest of their journey.

What follows is a delightful twist on a well-known fairy tale that takes place during Melanie Dickerson's previous book The Princess Spy, but this time the focus is on some of the background characters from the castle and on Rapunzel, Gerek, and Gothel. We also learn about the tragedy that Duke Wilhelm and Lady Rose experienced over 15 years.

Melanie Dickerson will draw you into this medieval world she has created with the first word set to page. Though most of her books deal with Duke Wilhelm and his family if you have not read any of her books before don't worry about pick up The Golden Braid first as you can easily follow the story and get caught up at a later date with the other books.

This is truly a lovely book one that you'll want to read again and again. I would recommend this book to most readers 13 and up. Younger readers with greater reading skills and comprehension who aren't scared off by the 300 page length would also enjoy this book. I know I would have devoured a book like this when I was 9. This book would make a perfect gift or library addition.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Thomas Nelson is exchange for my honest review.

I received a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes. After reading the letter that was included with the book I was a bit hesitant about reading the book itself. My qualms were: 1.) This was a YA (young adult) novel and I am NOT a young adult, 2.) This was a retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel, with a twist. I don't really remember much about the "original" Rapunzel except her hair was long, and 3.) I had never read anything by Melanie Dickerson. However, I did like the cover of the book (yes, I do judge books by their cover) so off I went into the land of Rapunzel.....

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!!! Within the first few pages of the story I was hooked. I immediately liked this Rapunzel. She seemed sweet yet she had a touch of toughness about her. She was definitely not a damsel in distress or weakling. She was just a girl who lived with her mother. A mother who seemed kind of strange. My favorite thing about Rapunzel was her desire to learn to read. I may have swooned just a bit when I read of her desire to learn to read!

If liking Rapunzel wasn't enough then enter Sir Gerek. He was another immediately likable character. Even though he and Rapunzel have their doubts about each other there was a chemistry between them that jumped off the page. I couldn't read fast enough to see what the author had in mind for these two.

In my opinion, the author did a fantastic job retelling Rapunzel's story. It is a sweet, romantic read that will keep you entertained for hours. The story is so well-written that I found myself reading "just one more chapter" until my vision was so blurry I had to put the book down. Only to pick it back up again when my vision had cleared. Oh, and this book, even though it is classified as Young Adult, is a great read for those of us who don't happen to fit into the category.

This is a book I think any girl of teenage years and beyond would enjoy. It does have its moments of violence, but it is dealt with in a not-too-descriptive way. Other than those moments this is a good, sweet read. A definite keeper on my bookshelf!

I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion, which I have given.

Rapunzel has spent her life moving from town to town based on her mother’s wishes. Having a thirst for knowledge, she finds someone to teach her something in each village. She can throw a knife, paint intricate murals, but the one things she most wants to learn is to read. On her journey to the largest town she’s ever been to, Rapunzel and her mother run into trouble. Luckily the valiant knight Sir Gerek comes to their rescue. An unexpected bond begins to form between the young individuals and secrets soon come to light that could change everything.

I’ve been in the mood to read fairy tales like this one for awhile now. Once I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this book and once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I loved everything about this book. The old fairy tale of Rapunzel was made new and with a Christian twist. Going into it, I worried the Christian themes could negate from the story, but Melanie Dickerson wove them together in such a way that made this book a wonderful and inspirational read.

I really like the characters in this book. Rapunzel was sweet, courageous, and intelligent. It was so interesting to see her relationship with her mother and how it spiraled. Gerek was the perfect knight and I really liked seeing his relationship with Rapunzel unfold.

Though there wasn’t any magic in this book like a typical fairy tale has, I couldn’t help but get swept away by this book. The way Melanie Dickerson wrote it just made it feel like the magic was there. This was such a beautiful and fun story.

I didn’t realize this was the sixth book in the series and I was disappointed that I hadn’t read the prior books, but reading this one just made me want to read all the others. I don’t believe reading this one revealed much of anything from the prior books, since every book in this series is about different characters.

The Golden Braid is one of Melanie Dickerson’s young adult fiction fairy tale retellings, and I’m sure you can guess which princess she’s focusing on with this one (wink wink). I have read her retellings of Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella—The Fairest Beauty, The Merchant’s Daughter, The Healer’s Apprentice, and The Captive Maiden (my favorite!!!), and I loved each one of them. Melanie is really a wonderful author who does an amazing job of weaving together her fairy-tale type stories with her medieval time period, and her novels are always captivating and full of suspense and just the perfect amount of romance. Clearly, I was looking forward to reading this book as soon as I heard she was writing it, and I am so glad I finally got to (I know, I know, it just came out, but I’ve been waiting ever since I heard about it months and months ago)!
Rapunzel is such a great heroine. Despite the fears that her mother instilled in her and the pain she continually caused her, Rapunzel is extremely brave and strong and kind, and not nearly as broken as one would expect, simply because she continually sees the good in her situation. Even though she has the right to be bitter and angry and scared of her own shadow, she continually embodies all the qualities one would expect a heroine to have. She still stumbles, however, which is perfect because it makes her relatable to those of us who aren’t fairy tale heroines. I just really love the way she cares for others, especially those in Hagenheim, and I absolutely LOVE the way she interacts with Sir Gerek, although I have to confess I liked Valten and Gisela (from The Captive Maiden) and their relationship just a little bit better.
Sir Gerek was a little difficult for me to like at first. Maybe because he wasn’t Valten, maybe because he was an arrogant and rude little knight, but whatever the case, I quickly grew to love him. Once he got past his own pain and fears, he became the perfect hero worthy of such a woman as Rapunzel. He was still a little surly at times, of course, but he learned to be nice and did lots of other things that I cannot tell you but that made him incredibly wonderful in my eyes, especially since he gave me quite a few reasons to get a little swoony.
I really loved the intense, action-packed elements to this novel, probably because it made me sit on the edge of my seat and bite my nails on a couple of occasions, and I enjoy when a book is suspenseful enough to cause me to do that. Even though I have mentioned that I like The Captive Maiden better multiple times, don’t let that discredit this novel. I really, really loved The Golden Braid; enough to give it five bookshelves in fact, and enough to place it on my all-time favorites list. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, suspenseful romance novel, but especially to all of those teens or their mothers who are looking for a clean, wholesome YA (young adult) novel that is interesting and action-packed and yet doesn’t make them blush or have to put it down.
I received a copy of this book from the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review.
(This review is from my blog, spreadinghisgrace.blogspot.com)

Be ready to be wrapped back up in your childhood. Reading this reminded me of being a kid and listening to fairytales. Such a page turner and an awesome retelling of one of my favorite fairytales.

I was so excited when I received this in the mail! The cover most certainly drew me in first. It is beautiful and makes you want to read it. I must admit I don't normally read YA fiction because it is most always fantasy/dystopian/sci-fi which I don't enjoy at all. This however was very different from that. Melanie takes you on a journey in a story you think you already know and then all of the sudden it's a brand new story that you don't want to stop reading. I loved how she took a well loved story and added her own spin to it without taking away from the original feel of it. My favorite part of this book is the spiritual element that was added. It makes me want to share these fairytales with my daughters because I can show them how even their favorite princesses could have loved God and served him!

I feel like this book is great for most ages starting around 11 or 12, I plan on sharing it with my 10 year old who is mature for her age. The romance element is sweet and not very strong. There are no inappropriate scenes or scenes that take the romance too far. It is mentioned that men are evil and only want certain things and will then leave you alone, but those things are not discussed in great detail. I very much enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by Melanie.

Thank you to the Fiction Guild for the opportunity to review this book. A positive review was not required.

THE GOLDEN BRAID is a truly enchanting medieval retelling of the classic fairy tale!
After yet another young man proposes to Rapunzel, she and her mother have been in Ottelfelt for only 6 months, but they will be moving again, this time to the larger town of Hagenheim. Rapunzel doesn’t want to move, however this time, she might be able to realise her dream: learning to read. On their way, they are attacked by brigands, and Sir Gerek, a knight who was passing by, hears their cries for help, and rescues them. Later on, it’s Rapunzel’s turn to rescue Gerek with her skilful use of a knife. But Gerek is injured, and they stop at a monastery until he heals, where, albeit reluctantly at first, Gerek teaches Rapunzel to read.

THE GOLDEN BRAID is worth reading if only for its remarkable historical accuracy; I often avoid medieval historical romances because they are often the author’s interpretation of the Middle Ages, but it’s not the case here. Ms. Dickerson paints a vivid portrait of ordinary life in 1413 Germany. There is no sex, and there are references to God, and again I must praise Ms. Dickerson for remaining faithful to the era’s mores. On the other hand, what you have is great storytelling, wonderful period details, and enticing and complex characters. Rapunzel is brave, resourceful, and clever, and Gerek is a noble knight. He takes a bit longer to warm up to, but with good reason. The romance builds slowly, but very convincingly, there is political intrigue, and quite a bit of action. I also loved how the author preserves the medieval tone in the dialogues, never reverting to modern speech but still never making it sound stilted or stiff. Melanie Dickerson was a new author to me, and I will be looking forward to reading more of her stories!

I give 4 ½ stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a pleasure to read another medieval fairy tale from Melanie Dickerson and this one being about RAPUNZEL, how great!! Truly loved the cover on this one and the story manages to grab my attention from the first chapter :) Rapunzel is not like other girls, she is a commoner, but has a tremendous heart and does all she can to keep her mother at peace no matter what they're facing. She is also curious, eager to learn, and is considered strange being the daughter of a midwife. However, she loves adventure, she is so creative, and is fiercely obedient to her controlling mother. When Mother says they must move again, Rapunzel is disappointed but resigned to do what her mother says.

This move to Hagenheim will be different from others, though, as Rapunzel finally gets lessons in reading without her mother's knowledge and this leads into what happens next for Rapunzel.

Sir Gerek helps Rapunzel and her mother on the way to Hagenheim and they travel together briefly to reach this destination.

The story of Rapunzel isn't new, but the way Dickerson weaves the story is entirely unexpected and unique. If you've seen the movie, Tangled, then you have an idea of how things go, but Dickerson infuses the love of God, prayer, appreciation for the Bible (the Holy Writ), forgiveness, the courage to find your own path, true love, and freedom into this fairy tale making it as enjoyable and more heartfelt than the animated film.

There is danger, mischief, and violence in the story also, but nothing considered inappropriate. It's heart-wrenching the mystery that happens in Rapunzel's past, brainwashed into believing all men and strangers are evil, made to feel unworthy in hiding her hair and being plainly dressed, and always questioned by her mother when she never does anything indecent. To be controlled and made to feel guilty when you've never rebelled before is unpleasant, but I believe that makes the story authentic and practical.

I was also amazed by Dickerson's attention to detail both historically and emotionally. Even though the true villain in the story is a woman, Balthazar was also a worthy villain and every time he appeared was super creepy. The danger in the story is tangible, but so is the love and integrity illustrated by the royal family and other knights.

I also thought it was BRILLIANT that Dickerson incorporates another villainous character from The Princess Spy in this book that brings Rapunzel's plot full circle!! I recognized the character's name immediately, but this time from Rapunzel's perspective and simply LOOOOVED how she handled the situation...Go Rapunzel!!

There was only one scene where she's in a tower and even though the conditions were horrendous, everything described was in good taste and very well written. Rapunzel does throw a knife a few times, but I would have loved more of those scenes where she can defend herself. She is definitely not a victim despite her unfortunate childhood.

Sir Gerek is an honorable man, but still has many imperfections and must learn to overcome something terrible that happened during his childhood also. I was touched deeply when he faces his past and finds much needed closure. The forgiveness in this story is just as precious as the romance.

I highly recommend this book for fans of Dickerson, clean medieval romances, or just readers looking for a familiar princess who experiences a vast adventure she never dreamed was possible!!! Melanie Dickerson knows how to do fairy tale re-tellings with incredible characters that will restore faith and uplift readers of all ages, don't miss The Golden Braid!!

*after reading this wonderful book, it's now time to watch Tangled again!*
*special thanks to Litfuse, Thomas Nelson, and the author for the copy provided....this is my honest opinion and it was a delight reading this book*

When it comes to books aimed particularly at female readers teen ages and up, then I better let my daughter do all the talking. The moment "The Golden Braid" hit our doorstep, she snatched it up and huddled in her room and we scarcely heard from her until she'd ravenously made her way through the novel. She emerged, somewhat dreamy eyed, declaring that "The Golden Braid" was her favourite book of the year, perhaps her favourite book ever! Now, if that isn't an endorsement, I don't know what is!

Having read through the story soon afterwards, I can see why she loved it so much. The story brims with action and adventure, with life-changing secrets and courageous characters who grow and change in marvellous ways over the course of the story, until you just want to cheer out loud. Both Rapunzel and Sir Gerek have been well-crafted, and their story will surely captivate you from start to finish. The romance is wholesome and will no doubt have young hearts going pitter-patter as they imagine a knight of their own stumbling their way into their life. And Dickerson has done a masterful job at weaving real faith into this story in a way that isn't at all preachy, and will no doubt intrigue readers with the hint of the supernatural that appears. I love Rapunzel's hunger to read the Scriptures, and the way that God's Word speaks into her life.

My daughter insisted that I award this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, so I dare not argue with her in any way. Readers of all ages will no doubt enjoy this clever take on the story of Rapunzel, from the great characterization to the action-packed plot to the interesting details that bring the story to life.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Thomas Nelson, and the Litfuse Publicity Group, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

THE GOLDEN BRAID was a wonderful retelling of the classic fairy tale of Rapunzel. The characters were interesting and well drawn. The story was engaging with plenty of danger, deception, some mysteries, some friendships, and a sweet romance. The inspirational aspect was light and felt authentic, enough so that this would be a good read for inspirational and general YA, NA, and adult genre readers. What made the story so enjoyable was the way the setting and story came alive and that the author made this story her own.

I loved Rapunzel's endless curiosity and drive to learn new things, especially to read. She was sweet and full of life and beauty, yet reserved and cautious. Add in her good will towards others and inquisitiveness and it mad for an interesting mix in a character. One I was drawn to. Then you have her mother, Gothel. She's a little insane, extremely paranoid, and very controlling while also acting quite sweet towards Rapunzel. I loved Sir Gerek in his gruffness as he seeks to protect his heart, his goodness and strength. He originally is a hero to Rapunzel and then vice versa, becomes a true friend, and their relationship slowly develops from there. There were a few twists in the story that were overall unsurprising, but they did drive the story forward and keep things interesting.

Overall, THE GOLDEN BRAID was an enjoyable and inspiring fairy tale retelling. If you've enjoyed Dickerson's other works or enjoy fairy tales with an inspirational slant and sweet romance, I'd recommend this one for you.

Content: Some innuendo and violence, but clean
Source: I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for my complimentary review copy through Litfuse Publicity, which did not affect my review in any way.

Rapunzel has spent her life moving from town to town based on her mother’s wishes. Having a thirst for knowledge, she finds someone to teach her something in each village. She can throw a knife, paint intricate murals, but the one things she most wants to learn is to read. On her journey to the largest town she’s ever been to, Rapunzel and her mother run into trouble. Luckily the valiant knight Sir Gerek comes to their rescue. An unexpected bond begins to form between the young individuals and secrets soon come to light that could change everything.

I’ve been in the mood to read fairy tales like this one for awhile now. Once I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this book and once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I loved everything about this book. The old fairy tale of Rapunzel was made new and with a Christian twist. Going into it, I worried the Christian themes could negate from the story, but Melanie Dickerson wove them together in such a way that made this book a wonderful and inspirational read.

I really like the characters in this book. Rapunzel was sweet, courageous, and intelligent. It was so interesting to see her relationship with her mother and how it spiraled. Gerek was the perfect knight and I really liked seeing his relationship with Rapunzel unfold.

Though there wasn’t any magic in this book like a typical fairy tale has, I couldn’t help but get swept away by this book. The way Melanie Dickerson wrote it just made it feel like the magic was there. This was such a beautiful and fun story.

I didn’t realize this was the sixth book in the series and I was disappointed that I hadn’t read the prior books, but reading this one just made me want to read all the others. I don’t believe reading this one revealed much of anything from the prior books, since every book in this series is about different characters.

The Golden Braid is one of Melanie Dickerson’s young adult fiction fairy tale retellings, and I’m sure you can guess which princess she’s focusing on with this one (wink wink). I have read her retellings of Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella—The Fairest Beauty, The Merchant’s Daughter, The Healer’s Apprentice, and The Captive Maiden (my favorite!!!), and I loved each one of them. Melanie is really a wonderful author who does an amazing job of weaving together her fairy-tale type stories with her medieval time period, and her novels are always captivating and full of suspense and just the perfect amount of romance. Clearly, I was looking forward to reading this book as soon as I heard she was writing it, and I am so glad I finally got to (I know, I know, it just came out, but I’ve been waiting ever since I heard about it months and months ago)!
Rapunzel is such a great heroine. Despite the fears that her mother instilled in her and the pain she continually caused her, Rapunzel is extremely brave and strong and kind, and not nearly as broken as one would expect, simply because she continually sees the good in her situation. Even though she has the right to be bitter and angry and scared of her own shadow, she continually embodies all the qualities one would expect a heroine to have. She still stumbles, however, which is perfect because it makes her relatable to those of us who aren’t fairy tale heroines. I just really love the way she cares for others, especially those in Hagenheim, and I absolutely LOVE the way she interacts with Sir Gerek, although I have to confess I liked Valten and Gisela (from The Captive Maiden) and their relationship just a little bit better.
Sir Gerek was a little difficult for me to like at first. Maybe because he wasn’t Valten, maybe because he was an arrogant and rude little knight, but whatever the case, I quickly grew to love him. Once he got past his own pain and fears, he became the perfect hero worthy of such a woman as Rapunzel. He was still a little surly at times, of course, but he learned to be nice and did lots of other things that I cannot tell you but that made him incredibly wonderful in my eyes, especially since he gave me quite a few reasons to get a little swoony.
I really loved the intense, action-packed elements to this novel, probably because it made me sit on the edge of my seat and bite my nails on a couple of occasions, and I enjoy when a book is suspenseful enough to cause me to do that. Even though I have mentioned that I like The Captive Maiden better multiple times, don’t let that discredit this novel. I really, really loved The Golden Braid; enough to give it five bookshelves in fact, and enough to place it on my all-time favorites list. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, suspenseful romance novel, but especially to all of those teens or their mothers who are looking for a clean, wholesome YA (young adult) novel that is interesting and action-packed and yet doesn’t make them blush or have to put it down.
I received a copy of this book from the Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review.
(This review is from my blog, spreadinghisgrace.blogspot.com)

Be ready to be wrapped back up in your childhood. Reading this reminded me of being a kid and listening to fairytales. Such a page turner and an awesome retelling of one of my favorite fairytales.

I was so excited when I received this in the mail! The cover most certainly drew me in first. It is beautiful and makes you want to read it. I must admit I don't normally read YA fiction because it is most always fantasy/dystopian/sci-fi which I don't enjoy at all. This however was very different from that. Melanie takes you on a journey in a story you think you already know and then all of the sudden it's a brand new story that you don't want to stop reading. I loved how she took a well loved story and added her own spin to it without taking away from the original feel of it. My favorite part of this book is the spiritual element that was added. It makes me want to share these fairytales with my daughters because I can show them how even their favorite princesses could have loved God and served him!

I feel like this book is great for most ages starting around 11 or 12, I plan on sharing it with my 10 year old who is mature for her age. The romance element is sweet and not very strong. There are no inappropriate scenes or scenes that take the romance too far. It is mentioned that men are evil and only want certain things and will then leave you alone, but those things are not discussed in great detail. I very much enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by Melanie.

Thank you to the Fiction Guild for the opportunity to review this book. A positive review was not required.

THE GOLDEN BRAID is a truly enchanting medieval retelling of the classic fairy tale!
After yet another young man proposes to Rapunzel, she and her mother have been in Ottelfelt for only 6 months, but they will be moving again, this time to the larger town of Hagenheim. Rapunzel doesn’t want to move, however this time, she might be able to realise her dream: learning to read. On their way, they are attacked by brigands, and Sir Gerek, a knight who was passing by, hears their cries for help, and rescues them. Later on, it’s Rapunzel’s turn to rescue Gerek with her skilful use of a knife. But Gerek is injured, and they stop at a monastery until he heals, where, albeit reluctantly at first, Gerek teaches Rapunzel to read.

THE GOLDEN BRAID is worth reading if only for its remarkable historical accuracy; I often avoid medieval historical romances because they are often the author’s interpretation of the Middle Ages, but it’s not the case here. Ms. Dickerson paints a vivid portrait of ordinary life in 1413 Germany. There is no sex, and there are references to God, and again I must praise Ms. Dickerson for remaining faithful to the era’s mores. On the other hand, what you have is great storytelling, wonderful period details, and enticing and complex characters. Rapunzel is brave, resourceful, and clever, and Gerek is a noble knight. He takes a bit longer to warm up to, but with good reason. The romance builds slowly, but very convincingly, there is political intrigue, and quite a bit of action. I also loved how the author preserves the medieval tone in the dialogues, never reverting to modern speech but still never making it sound stilted or stiff. Melanie Dickerson was a new author to me, and I will be looking forward to reading more of her stories!

I give 4 ½ stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a pleasure to read another medieval fairy tale from Melanie Dickerson and this one being about RAPUNZEL, how great!! Truly loved the cover on this one and the story manages to grab my attention from the first chapter :) Rapunzel is not like other girls, she is a commoner, but has a tremendous heart and does all she can to keep her mother at peace no matter what they're facing. She is also curious, eager to learn, and is considered strange being the daughter of a midwife. However, she loves adventure, she is so creative, and is fiercely obedient to her controlling mother. When Mother says they must move again, Rapunzel is disappointed but resigned to do what her mother says.

This move to Hagenheim will be different from others, though, as Rapunzel finally gets lessons in reading without her mother's knowledge and this leads into what happens next for Rapunzel.

Sir Gerek helps Rapunzel and her mother on the way to Hagenheim and they travel together briefly to reach this destination.

The story of Rapunzel isn't new, but the way Dickerson weaves the story is entirely unexpected and unique. If you've seen the movie, Tangled, then you have an idea of how things go, but Dickerson infuses the love of God, prayer, appreciation for the Bible (the Holy Writ), forgiveness, the courage to find your own path, true love, and freedom into this fairy tale making it as enjoyable and more heartfelt than the animated film.

There is danger, mischief, and violence in the story also, but nothing considered inappropriate. It's heart-wrenching the mystery that happens in Rapunzel's past, brainwashed into believing all men and strangers are evil, made to feel unworthy in hiding her hair and being plainly dressed, and always questioned by her mother when she never does anything indecent. To be controlled and made to feel guilty when you've never rebelled before is unpleasant, but I believe that makes the story authentic and practical.

I was also amazed by Dickerson's attention to detail both historically and emotionally. Even though the true villain in the story is a woman, Balthazar was also a worthy villain and every time he appeared was super creepy. The danger in the story is tangible, but so is the love and integrity illustrated by the royal family and other knights.

I also thought it was BRILLIANT that Dickerson incorporates another villainous character from The Princess Spy in this book that brings Rapunzel's plot full circle!! I recognized the character's name immediately, but this time from Rapunzel's perspective and simply LOOOOVED how she handled the situation...Go Rapunzel!!

There was only one scene where she's in a tower and even though the conditions were horrendous, everything described was in good taste and very well written. Rapunzel does throw a knife a few times, but I would have loved more of those scenes where she can defend herself. She is definitely not a victim despite her unfortunate childhood.

Sir Gerek is an honorable man, but still has many imperfections and must learn to overcome something terrible that happened during his childhood also. I was touched deeply when he faces his past and finds much needed closure. The forgiveness in this story is just as precious as the romance.

I highly recommend this book for fans of Dickerson, clean medieval romances, or just readers looking for a familiar princess who experiences a vast adventure she never dreamed was possible!!! Melanie Dickerson knows how to do fairy tale re-tellings with incredible characters that will restore faith and uplift readers of all ages, don't miss The Golden Braid!!

*after reading this wonderful book, it's now time to watch Tangled again!*
*special thanks to Litfuse, Thomas Nelson, and the author for the copy provided....this is my honest opinion and it was a delight reading this book*

When it comes to books aimed particularly at female readers teen ages and up, then I better let my daughter do all the talking. The moment "The Golden Braid" hit our doorstep, she snatched it up and huddled in her room and we scarcely heard from her until she'd ravenously made her way through the novel. She emerged, somewhat dreamy eyed, declaring that "The Golden Braid" was her favourite book of the year, perhaps her favourite book ever! Now, if that isn't an endorsement, I don't know what is!

Having read through the story soon afterwards, I can see why she loved it so much. The story brims with action and adventure, with life-changing secrets and courageous characters who grow and change in marvellous ways over the course of the story, until you just want to cheer out loud. Both Rapunzel and Sir Gerek have been well-crafted, and their story will surely captivate you from start to finish. The romance is wholesome and will no doubt have young hearts going pitter-patter as they imagine a knight of their own stumbling their way into their life. And Dickerson has done a masterful job at weaving real faith into this story in a way that isn't at all preachy, and will no doubt intrigue readers with the hint of the supernatural that appears. I love Rapunzel's hunger to read the Scriptures, and the way that God's Word speaks into her life.

My daughter insisted that I award this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, so I dare not argue with her in any way. Readers of all ages will no doubt enjoy this clever take on the story of Rapunzel, from the great characterization to the action-packed plot to the interesting details that bring the story to life.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Thomas Nelson, and the Litfuse Publicity Group, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

THE GOLDEN BRAID was a wonderful retelling of the classic fairy tale of Rapunzel. The characters were interesting and well drawn. The story was engaging with plenty of danger, deception, some mysteries, some friendships, and a sweet romance. The inspirational aspect was light and felt authentic, enough so that this would be a good read for inspirational and general YA, NA, and adult genre readers. What made the story so enjoyable was the way the setting and story came alive and that the author made this story her own.

I loved Rapunzel's endless curiosity and drive to learn new things, especially to read. She was sweet and full of life and beauty, yet reserved and cautious. Add in her good will towards others and inquisitiveness and it mad for an interesting mix in a character. One I was drawn to. Then you have her mother, Gothel. She's a little insane, extremely paranoid, and very controlling while also acting quite sweet towards Rapunzel. I loved Sir Gerek in his gruffness as he seeks to protect his heart, his goodness and strength. He originally is a hero to Rapunzel and then vice versa, becomes a true friend, and their relationship slowly develops from there. There were a few twists in the story that were overall unsurprising, but they did drive the story forward and keep things interesting.

Overall, THE GOLDEN BRAID was an enjoyable and inspiring fairy tale retelling. If you've enjoyed Dickerson's other works or enjoy fairy tales with an inspirational slant and sweet romance, I'd recommend this one for you.

Content: Some innuendo and violence, but clean
Source: I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for my complimentary review copy through Litfuse Publicity, which did not affect my review in any way.

Rapunzel ...
In the original telling, she was stuck in the tower, and relied on the prince to rescue her...

In Disney's "Tangled" she wields a frying pan with force!
In Melanie Dickerson's The Golden Braid
she is no pansy, shrinking violet or other fragile flower,
as she can throw a knife with the best of them to stop a knave in his tracks
(although, she is rather fond of flowers,
and paints them on the plaster walls of each home in which she lives).

The Golden Braid takes place in a Medieval setting, and Rapunzel is the sweetly singing, brightly painting, something of an outcast daughter of a somewhat gypsy-footed midwife. Her life is fairly simple, but she is very lonely, as her mother has warned her away from making friends with any of the youth (boys or girls, but mostly boys) she happens to meet.

My teenage daughter and I both enjoyed reading this book, and appreciated the addition of a spiritual slant, as Rapunzel learns to read from the pages of the Bible. Her strength of character is only improved, and further developed as she learns upon Whom to rely, and those around her reap the benefits of her gracious personality.

If you (or someone you know) appreciate re-imagined fairy tales as much as I and my daughter do, then you may want to pick up Melanie Dickerson's newest novel, The Golden Braid (Nice gift to find under the tree, or some great recreational reading during the Holiday break).
Personally, we're going to be on the lookout for her older novels, and any work forthcoming.

Disclaimer: I appreciated the publisher for sending me a free copy for my honest review. Really enjoyed this book!

My introduction to Melanie Dickerson came last year when I read The Princess Spy. It was a delightful retelling of The Frog Prince, and I immediately added Dickerson to my list of authors to watch. When I heard of The Golden Braid (and, let's be honest, first saw that gorgeous cover), I knew I wanted to read it.

Dickerson's Rapunzel is a young woman who knows her own mind and longs to chase her dreams—specifically, her dream of reading and writing—yet she has a deep respect for and devotion to her mother, who insists on sheltering her from the world. It's not until she meets Sir Gerek that she realizes her mother's rules and demands may come from a place of fear, rather than love.

Rapunzel and Gerek together are a great couple, and Dickerson clearly shows how they make each other better people—Rapunzel becomes brave enough to step out of her mother's shadow, and Gerek realizes the shallowness and selfishness of his own dreams.

The novel is full of action, adventure, and intrigue ... and, of course, love. It's a fast, easy read that is incredibly enjoyable!

Note: While The Golden Braid can be enjoyed without having read any of Dickerson's other novels, my favorite part came from reading about certain events from The Princess Spy from a new perspective, as The Golden Braid is set at the same time with several overlapping characters.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

To say that Rapunzel's upbringing has been unconventional would be an understatement. Her eccentric mother has drummed into Rapunzel's head the evils of the world - specifically me. When she again uproots Rapunzel's life to flee another marriage proposal, the pair encounter trouble of another kind in the form of a knight. During an exchange of knife-throwing, sarcasm and arrogance Rapunzel begins to see another side of the world that her mother has protected and/or hidden from her. And it's nothing that she could ever have imagined in her wildest dreams.

Ah. I love fairy tale remakes. And Melanie Dickerson novels. And just novels really. So this was my first Dickerson novel and I must say I was impressed. While it did drag in a few areas I found myself very fascinated by the whole plot and writing style. With a perfect blend of history, truth and oddball characters the story kept me flipping/swiping pages until the book was completed in one sitting. Melanie Dickerson's novels get quite a bit of gushing feedback but I was still hesitant to read any, afraid I had too high expectations. What silly and unfounded thoughts those turned out to be. A great fun story with valuable lessons.

DISCLAIMER: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” we would like to note that we received an electronic copy of “The Golden Braid” provided by BookLookBloggers.com, in exchange for our honest review.

First, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to Melanie Dickerson and her publisher for sending me a copy of "The Golden Braid" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me.

“The Golden Braid” by Melanie Dickerson is a beautifully retold version of the Rapunzel story. In this version, Rapunzel is uprooted from her home when she receives a marriage proposal and her mother, who is suspicious of all men, makes them relocate. The beautiful Rapunzel and her mother are rescued from an attack by a handsome, but grumpy, knight. When Rapunzel sneaks away from home (and her over-protective mother) to learn to read, the monk takes her to her recuperating rescuer, Sir Gerek. Rapunzel learns as well as she does everything else (knife throwing, painting, singing). As her abilities increase, so does her desire for more out of life, as well as her need to be free of her mother’s control.

This is a charming story with fleshy characters, a rich plot, delightful dialogue and a thick backbone of godliness that sweeps the reader away to far off places and a long gone era. The imagery is so vivid, it plays like a movie in my mind as I read. “The Golden Braid” is an enjoyable young adult novel that is easily devoured as a standalone book or in concert with Melanie’s other novels of Hagenheim. I can’t recommend these books highly enough.

"Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry."

I think the reason why I liked this book so much was the characters. They are so wonderfully developed that I was able to connect with them and really felt like I could relate to them. My favorite was Rapunzel and Sir Gerek was a close second. Dickerson's writing of these two main characters really made me feel like I knew them and I was rooting for them from the beginning and trying to figure out the story through all of the twists and turns.

Dickerson is just as good at writing villains. Gothel, Rapunzel's mother, and a couple of the other characters, we're so terrible I found myself getting upset with them. Dickerson's bad guys are bad and her descriptions of them were very vivid.

I found it masterful how Dickerson weaved elements from the classic Rapunzel story in with her own ideas. There were just enough elements that were kept the same so that there was no doubt as to which fairy tale it was taken from. But the story was so different that it kept me guessing and reading till the last page.

One added aspect that I really enjoyed was how much dependence the main characters had on God. I found it to be very encouraging to see how these characters demonstrated faith in the midst of great trials.

I did receive this book free in exchange for my review - however these are my own true opinions.

This was another very entertaining fairy tale retelling, this time the story of Rapunzel. She lives with her mother in a small town, which they leave when local young man wants to marry Rapunzel. She doesn't mind leaving, since she isn't interested in this man. Her mother is very protective of Rapunzel, requiring her to always cover her beautiful golden hair and discouraging her from talking to strangers, especially men. On their way to the city of Hagenheim, they are accosted by two men but soon rescued by the gallant, though grumpy, Sir Gerek. Since he is a knight, his duty is to escort the ladies. Further adventures leave him with a broken leg and arm, but his life is saved by Rapunzel. After they arrive in Hagenheim, their lives continue to intertwine, as do their adventures. There was one point in the book where I got rather confused because the action sounded familiar. I went back to THE PRINCESS SPY and found that the timelines overlap a bit, but we just were hearing about the occurances from a different perspective. It's always fun to become reacquainted with characters from earlier books in this series. I highly recommend all the Hagenheim Fairy Tale Romance series. THE GOLDEN BRAID is a wonderful addition.

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

The Golden Braid is such a wonderful story of an all time favorite fairytale, Rapunzel. With Melanie Dickerson's excellent storytelling, she writes and amazing and entertaining story that will warm your heart, and exciting enough to keep you turning the pages until you finish. The character of Rapunzel was fantastic, I enjoyed her mother's part in the story, and I just loved Sir Greek. He made the story more fun and enjoyable for me. This is a book that I had to just take a while to think about after I finished reading it. It is a story written so beautifully that it stays with you for a while. There's so much in the story, so many delightful scenes taking readers back to the 15th century, special moments, I just don't want to give any of it away.

This is just a must read!! Everything about it inside and out, from the cover to the story is beautiful. Don't miss this fantastic read! I received this book from Litfuse to read and review. 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 55.

What a beautiful story!

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson is a lovely retelling of the fairy tale “Rapunzel” with engaging characters and plenty of twists and turns. The heroine, Rapunzel, has been sheltered and influenced by her distrustful and controlling mother, Gothel, for as long as she can remember. Although Gothel keeps Rapunzel close, orders not to speak to men or strangers, and constantly moves her from town to town, Rapunzel still loves her and listens to her because she is the only family she knows. Still Rapunzel often feels lonely and longs to add one skill to her growing list of accomplishments. Above anything else, Rapunzel longs to know how to read. At last a new move may give her the opportunity she desires, but many new dangers, people, and ideas will drift into life as well.

Sir Garek, is a loyal knight of Hagenheim who plans to marry a wealthy widow in order to overcome difficulties in his past, but he never dreamed that a chance rescue in the woods would throw his schemes completely off course.

Secrets, enemies, and dire situations threaten both Rapunzel and Garek as they form a guarded friendship, and both will encounter far more than they ever expected as they pursue their dreams.

Melanie Dickerson's The Golden Braid is an amazingly delightful novel full of suspense and romance. Dickerson has created a real page turner in this modern retelling fairy tale of Rapunzel. Rapunzel never truly was my favorite story as a child, it seemed boring to me; however, I was riveted by the characters and storyline in Dickerson's retelling of this classic fairy tale. I now see this story in a whole new light.
Set in the Holy Roman Empire during the 15th century, Rapunzel lives alone with her mother. The two have always been on the move. Her mother distrusts all men and continuously warns Rapunzel to never let a man get too close. Rapunzel is a dutiful daughter and does not question her mother's odd ways.
At the beginning of the story, she finds herself on the move once again after a farmer proposes to Rapunzel. Her mother whisks her away and the two are on the road to Hageheim when they fall prey to robbers. It seems as though Rapunzel's mother's warnings were spot on, that is until a knight rescues them from the dangerous men.
Sir Gerek is a well educated, noble knight under the authority of Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim. He just so happens to be on his way back there when he encounters Rapunzel and her mother being robbed and beaten. Bound by duty to protect he steps in and saves them from disaster. As he escorts them to Hagenheim the tables turn and Sir Gerek is in need of Rapunzel's assistance whereby she ends up saving his life. Now tending to Sir Gerek and ignoring her mother's warnings, Rapunzel finds herself intrigued by this man. But can she trust Sir Gerek?
With Rapunzel and her mother now living in Hagenheim, Sir Gerek wounded and indebted to Rapunzel, and Rapunzel's desire to learn to read, comes the beginning of a story filled with hope, humor, betrayal, truth, freedom and love. I recommend this book to young and old. You'll laugh, cry, swoon and sigh; it is a story of love and redemption, of grace and truth and freedom. You'll be transported back to another time and caught up in the pages of this story. The last page of this book comes all too soon!
Thank you Fiction Guild for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review!