This was a very good, very unusual re-telling of Sleeping Beauty. I have never read a book based on a fairy tale and I didn’t know what to expect. The author follows the tale loosely and it made the story better because it was not predictable. It’s a sweet story filled with romance and it kept me wondering how it was all going to end.

This is technically written for teenage girls and I can see how they would totally love it. But I know of many adult women, of all ages, loving these novels as well. It is a Christian based novel with no bad language, sexual scenes, or bad content.

This is a series, which I wasn’t aware of at first. I’m not sure how the author connects the stories, but I’m told that they can be read as stand alone novels, but there are more connections in the novels that follow this one. ( )

From what I've gathered binge reading this series Melanie Dickerson has perfected the formula she uses for her romances. Guy meets a girl he shouldn't be thinking of, girl meets the first ever guy that's really nice to her and she starts falling for him. He is the only one that could rescue her from the dire situation she's in. And so on and so forth.

I was really excited when Sophie first appeared to be a competent girl with a good head on her shoulders. She's beautiful, kind, hard-working, and enjoys the simple pleasures in life. She kind of has to because the Dutchess she lives with is absolutely horrible to her, sending her off to the dungeon every other week for petty mistakes or sometimes just because it's empty (jk it just sounded funny). She cares for the other servants around her and has created her own little family with them since she's an orphan. When this guy named Gabe comes to see her Dutchess Sophie begins to hope after he tells her that he's going to get her out of there.

Gee I really did like Sophie until they got out of the castle. Then the whole "woe is me, everything is my fault" schpiel started and every time something bad happened she blamed herself and I rolled my eyes. Oh no, it's raining looks like it's Sophie's fault. Oh no, Gabeheart decided to plunge himself in front of Sophie to take an arrow for her looks like Sophie is totally to blame. Blech I almost quit but I really wanted to know if the Huntsman (whose name I totally forgot) was going to come back and rescue Sophie. Yes he was a pig and deserved to be banished but in the end, he did help her escape the least he could've gotten was acknowledgment and maybe a Thank You? I don't know.

There's not much else to say other than how annoying it got when Dickerson forgot her own characterizations. Sophie thinks she's plain because that's what the Dutchess has told her all her life but she also knows she's beautiful? Which one is it hun??? Then Sophie hates Valten because he's not Gabe obviously but at the same time she's painting him as a villain. Then the next minute his sisters are convincing her that he's not that bad? Okerrrrrr

The climaxes are always boring but this one was hilarious. I'm sorry one of the dwarves...I'm sorry, one of the seven got hurt but it was almost comical the way it happened. ( )

This was a good book! But I will admit that I prefer "The Merchant's Daughter" over this one. (Sorry, I think we all have our favorites, don't we?)

Sophie grew up not knowing her own lineage. For years, she slaved away as a servant in the castle of her step-mother. Sophie is sweet, innocent, and helpful to those she meets. Everyone comes to love and respect her. Only her step-mother hates her with every fiber of her being. She hates her so much that she throws Sophie into the dungeon/prison for every little offense she can think of. Nothing gives the old bat more delight than to punish Sophie and make her suffer. No wonder Sophie dreams of a life away from there. When she realizes that she may be the dead/missing daughter of a duke---wow. It should come as no surprise to her as to why she has been terribly mistreated by her step-mother.

Gabe is a man who is tired of being lesser than his older brother. He wants to prove to everyone around him that he is just as good, if not better, than Valten. So when he hears this possibility of Sophie being alive after all these years, he sets out to play the hero by simply saving the damsel and charming whoever stands in his way. This is all supposed to be fairly simple. But he's never met someone this evil before.

Love comes unexpectedly for both Gabe and Sophie. It is sweet without being overly mushy. You will love the seven men. They are definitely not what I had in mind, but Melanie Dickerson certainly did her best to make them outstanding and memorable. ( )

I eagerly awaited this book after reading The Healer's Apprentice and The Merchant's Daughter. It did not disappoint. A rich tale marbled with God's love, healing, and tender admonition. Dark enough to lend the story realism, but light enough to accomplish a satisfying end. YA medieval fiction at its best. Looking forward to more of Mrs. Dickerson's work! ( )

Sophie wants nothing more than to escape her miserable life with her stepmother. She gets her wish when Prince Gabe arrives claiming she is betrothed to his brother. While hiding from trouble at the Cottage of the Seven, they struggle with their growing feelings for one another. A re-telling of Snow White.