The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson ISBN: 9780718026240
Published by Thomas Nelson Incorporated on 2015-05-12
Genres: Christian, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology, Fiction, General, Historical, Romance
Pages: 320
Goodreads
"Swan Lake" meets Robin Hood when the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant by day becomes the region's most notorious poacher by night, and falls in love with the forester.
Jorgen is the forester for the wealthy margrave, and must find and capture the poacher who has been killing and stealing the margrave's game. When he meets the lovely and refined Odette at the festival and shares a connection during a dance, he has no idea she is the one who has been poaching the margrave's game.
Odette justifies her crime of poaching because she thinks the game is going to feed the poor, who are all but starving, both in the city and just outside its walls. But will the discovery of a local poaching ring reveal a terrible secret? Has the meat she thought she was providing for the poor actually been sold on the black market, profiting no one except the ring of black market sellers?
The one person Odette knows can help her could also find out her own secret and turn her over to the margrave, but she has no choice. Jorgen and Odette will band together to stop the dangerous poaching ring . . . and fall in love. But what will the margrave do when he discovers his forester is protecting a notorious poacher?
EXCERPT
She and Jorgen danced the next song together, and the next and the next. Perhaps she should have excused herself and danced with someone else, but Mathis did not return. The longer she danced with Jorgen, the more she was able to enjoy it and forget that he was the forester.
In fact, they danced until the Minnesingers began to play closer to the bonfire, now lit and starting to roar at the other end. They agreed they did not wish to join the drunken merrymaking around the fire. Jorgen kept hold of her hand a bit longer than was necessary. His touch made her heart flutter.
She caught her breath. How could she be foolish about this man she had just met? Had she forgotten what he could do to her? She must be a lack wit.
Uncle Rutger came toward them. “What a merry party you four make, dancing and laughing. Jorgen, you must come to our home for Odette’s birthday feast in two nights. You will be most welcome. Peter and Anna will be there as well.
Oh, dear heavenly saints. Uncle Rutger must not know Jorgen was the forester.
Jorgen consented to come, and after the details were conveyed of the time and location of their house, Jorgen turned to Odette. “Until then.”
Would he kiss her hand? But he only smiled, bowed, and walked away.
As Peter and Uncle Rutger escorted Anna and Odette home, Odette couldn’t help but wonder what the reaction of Peter, Anna, and the handsome young forester would be if they ever discovered that she was poaching the margrave’s deer and giving the meat to the poor. The fact that Jorgen’s adoptive father, the old game-keeper, was shot and killed by a poacher a few years ago would make Jorgen hate her.
Her heart constricted painfully in her chest. There was only one thing to do: never get caught.
Melanie Dickerson is a two-time Christy Award finalist and author of The Healer’s Apprentice, winner of the National Readers Choice Award for Best First Book in 2010, and The Merchant’s Daughter, winner of the 2012 Carol Award. She spends her time writing medieval stories at her home near Huntsville, Alabama, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest is Melanie’s first historical romance for adults.
Website: www.MelanieDickerson.com
Twitter: @melanieauthor/ Facebook: MelanieDickersonBooks
PLEASE WELCOME MELANIE TO BOOKHOUNDS
- What is on your nightstand?
The Oracle Glass by Judith Merkle Riley
- What author would you totally fan girl over?
Kate di Camillo
- What makes you cringe?
People’s misdirected anger, especially when it’s directed at me!
- Are you worried that your google history will get you into trouble?
No. I don’t even think the FBI would care why I want to know which berries growing in Medieval Germany could kill a person.
- Do you obsessively plot out each point or just go with the flow?
I know most of my main plot points. Beyond that, I just go with the flow.
Cecily, named after a character in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Ellie. We got Cecily first and realized she was lonely and needed a friend. She’s a good snuggler. Ellie is feistier and likes to crawl up to your shoulder and nibble your hair.
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yes. i’ve read a beauty and beast retelling. and a frog prince one. and I’m sure others. they seems to be having a resurgence.
Hello Melanie, a nice interview and wonderful cover and excerpt. Who doesn’t love a fairy tale. All the best with your books. The pets are wonderful also.
I haven’t yet, however, I will be sure to add to my list.
no
No, I haven’t read any fairy tale retellings
No, I haven’t read any fairy tale retellings. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Thank you for the giveaway
Yes I have read some love them.
Yes! I have read All of Melanie Dickerson’s books up to The Princess Spy (I need to read that one!)! And I loved them all!
I’ve read a couple – Robin Hood is one of my favorite characters so I’m curious about this story
I enjoy fairy tale retellings, especially Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast.
Cinderella retell. Thanks for this great giveaway.
I like Robin McKinley’s retellings of fairy tales (and her other books too)
I’ve read several retellings and thought they were good. My fave is Beauty and the Beast.
I sure have! I just finished A.G. Howard’s fractured retelling of Alice in Wonderland (Splintered, Unhinged and Ensnared) AND Gina Conkle’s fractured retelling of Cinderella (The Lady Meets Her Match). Both were excellent!
No, I haven’t read any fairy tale retellings yet.
I’ve never read a fairytale retelling but I love fairytales so this should be awesome
Yes, a Robinhood retelling and beauty and the Beast retelling. Enjoyed them very much !