Cover Design: 5/5
Plot: 2.5/5
Characters: 2/5
Overall Rating: C
Obtained: Free Download from Barnes and Nobles.com
Two Hearts. One Hope.
Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her---a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill.
When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny. (www.goodreads.com)
This book has been on my 'To Read' list for quite a while. I just happened to come across a list of free Christian books avalible on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. Honestly, I was a bit surprised that it was listed as a Christian book. I thought it was an Ella Enchanted like book, another retelling of a fairy tale that personally I love. Now before I continue this review, I will tell you that I am Christian and occasionally I will read Christian novels, so personal bias really isn't there.
I really wanted to love this novel. Rose seemed so interesting in the beginning, but she had no real flaws. In the beginning, Rose was very unsure of being a healer and then towards the end she was a bit whiny about it. There was a little bit of mental discussion over being proper when she was approached by the younger brother. I think even that could have been taken deeper. I wish she had been a bit deeper and not quite so silly as she was in the middle and later parts of the book. Rupert, the younger brother, could have been a bit more dasterly, I think the writer really missed a good opportunity to give us a character that we would love to see him get his comeupance rather then just a punch in the jaw by Lord Hamlin.
The plot lagged a bit and Dickerson gave away far too much of the plot! Don't let your readers see all of your hand right in the middle of the book! That being said there were some interesting things you don't see all the time in young adult novels. Purity, Honor and Sacrifice. Rose and Lord Hamlin went through trials to strenghten their resolve, both towards God and each other.
There is a lot of detail that has been given. Dickerson is really good at describing things like mannerisms, dress, and locations.
The cover is beautiful, well designed and eye catching. The font used for Healer's in the title and the red just really makes it pop.
A fairy tale Christian novel is very radical! I would like to see what Zondervan has up it's sleeve. I believe that Melanie Dickerson has a good talent when it comes to writing and this was really good for a first novel.
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