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The Merchant's Daughter

by Melanie Dickerson (Goodreads Author)

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 1,713 ratings · 413 reviews

An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that...more

Paperback, 284 pages

Published December 6th 2011 by Zondervan (first published November 15th 2011)

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The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

Clean teen fiction (Christian)

2nd out of 368 books — 257 voters

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

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Oct 09, 2011 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspired-fiction, fairy-tale, retellings

Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

I have to say I enjoyed this book more than Dickerson's debut novel, The Healer's Apprentice. Both stories are marked by a certain fantastic quality but The Merchant's Daughter is more historic fiction than fairy tale.

I loved Dickerson's approach. A history fanatic, I was impressed by her decision to set her retelling of Beauty and the Beast in England 1352. Dickerson's attention to detail and the cul...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Katy rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you're in the mood for some good historical (in the lord-servant days) romance for YA, this might be the book for you. The basic storyline is a lot like the classic Beauty and the Beast with just a hint of other fairytales (Annabelle's mom and brothers are almost like Cinderella's wicked stepmother and step-sisters). The pace for the romance is along the timetable and path of Beauty and the Beast.

The story is about the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who dies after misfortunes leave the famil...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Kara rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was my first time reading this author, but it will certainly not be my last. This story pulls you in starting with its cover photo which captures the essence of the book perfectly. Even though The Merchant’s Daughter is a Christian romance there are other themes presented such as discrimination, forgiveness, and honor which are just as powerfully written as the romance. Falling in love requires the main characters to face their personal issues and deal with them before a solid foundation ca...more This was my first time reading this author, but it will certainly not be my last. This story pulls you in starting with its cover photo which captures the essence of the book perfectly. Even though The Merchant’s Daughter is a Christian romance there are other themes presented such as discrimination, forgiveness, and honor which are just as powerfully written as the romance. Falling in love requires the main characters to face their personal issues and deal with them before a solid foundation can be created. Dickerson manages to illustrate this process in an accurate manner without slowing the pace of the story.

Annabel has always lived a secure life with her mom and brothers until their debts catch up with them and Annabel places herself into the care of Lord le Wyse as his indentured servant. Not knowing what to expect and hoping one day to become a nun, she boldly goes into this life to help her family pay off their debts. She immediately catches Wyse’s attention with suspicion and scrutiny, but works hard to prove herself and makes the best of her situation. She carries out her tasks with grace, determination, and wisdom even when things go wrong. As she learns about Lord le Wyse and his past, her fear of him becomes respect and she discovers beauty in him that would seem impossible.

When I first read the summary I immediately thought of Beauty and the Beast, I was intrigued and eager to read The Merchant’s Daughter. Even though I’ve read lots of good books lately, I can easily say that this one is my favorite. I greatly admired Annabel’s faith and courage; she was determined to do the right thing no matter what the cost. I read through it quickly and was amazed that I was experiencing Lord le Wyse through Annabel’s eyes. If she was afraid of him, I was afraid of him; if she felt safe around him, I felt safe around him, etc. Another precious part of the story for me was the Bible or the Holy Writ as the author describes it. The setting is England in 1352 and Bibles were not available to the public. The way Annabel regards the Bible with such awe and reverence really touched me and helped me see my own Bible in a different way. The author succeeded in making me consider the values of true love and true beauty as God intended them to be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical Christian romances or if you just loved Beauty and the Beast as I did.

I want to thank Zondervan and Zondervan’s Z Street Team for the free copy they provided for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Nov 09, 2011 Annabelle Marie Veronica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance, favorites, gorgeous-cover, books-that-made-me-cry, i-love-a-guy-in-this-book, i-own, e-books, arcs, christian-fiction, fairytales, retellings

*****FINAL RATING: 4.50 STARS*****

CATCHALL
This was my first read from this author but it certainly will not be my last. The beautiful love story is romantic and everything about the book is absolutely lovely. I burned through it so quickly and I simply could not get enough. Every page left me yearning for more. This gorgeous retelling of Beauty and the Beast is marvelous.

THE HEROINE
Annabel is a beautiful and complex character and I loved her from the start. And I'm not just being biased becaus...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Erica (daydreamer) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fancy-schmancy, release-in-2011, netgalley, arc, 2011-reads, beauty-and-the-beast, best-characters, best-endings, christian-fiction, endearing-heroes, favorite-romance, made-me-laugh, love-love-it, smile-inducing, strong-heroines, ya, fairytale-reminiscent, need-to-buy

The Merchant’s Daughter gave me the same feeling as did The Healer's Apprentice. Melanie’s stories of love and Christianity are beautiful in their simplicity that manages to sing out with perfect love. Love of Christ that urges the characters to strive to live and better their lives and help others, and the love between the two main characters that make me smile and sigh and ache for them to be together, to love completely with no hindrances. I realize this book, as a Christian story, will not a...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Kelli (I'd So Rather Be Reading) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I did not realize until I was about two-thirds of the way through this book, but The Merchant's Daughter is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Not only that, it is a Christian, historical retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I am a huge fan of historical fiction---which is what drew me to the book in the first place---but I am also a big fan of retelling of fairy tales and Christian fiction. To have all of those elements together in one book made for a great read for me!

It's been a couple of wee...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Kristina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 2012-goal-60

I don't know what to say...

Full disclosure: First off, this is my first delve into religious fiction and not being particularly religious, I went into it with some trepidations. When I entered the giveaway for this book I didn't realize it was a book deemed "religious fiction," I just thought the synopsis was interesting and I entered. When I did realize what it was, I forged ahead determined to read it and review it to the best of my ability without prejudice since that is the whole reason boo...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Renae M. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, historical-fiction, medieval, fairytales-and-retellings

What I Liked: I think Dickerson had a good idea with this novel. The synopsis promises a good story, a heartfelt romance, and a strong, God-fearing heroine. Those are all things readers will look for, things that I look for. So I think the author chose good story elements to use, or at least found a very good synopsis-writer.

What I Didn't Like: Unfortunately, this book is pretty bad. There wasn't a single redeeming quality that I could find. To be concise, this book is stereotypical and weakly w...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: loved

Thanks to NetGalley and Zondervan for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I just love retellings, and I love books in this time zone.
After Annabel Chapman's father, a wealthy merchant, dies, her family is left with nothing but debt. Annabel choses to work as a servant to the new lord of her village, Lord Ranulf le Wyse rather than marring the repulsive Bailiff Tom. Annabel has heard tales of the lord as a monstrous beast, while he is scarred terribly...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Shortlatte rated it 2 of 5 stars

I would love to say that the following tepid review is heavily influenced by the fact that I am something of a Beauty and the Beast snob, but unfortunately, The Merchant’s Daughter suffers too many flaws to exempt it from my general criticism.

Dickerson contributes a few interesting twists to what starts out as a fairly typical adaptation of the classic fairy tale. Forcing Annabel to become an indentured servant to Lord Ranulf to pay off a family debt lent an interesting set-up to the standard st...more I would love to say that the following tepid review is heavily influenced by the fact that I am something of a Beauty and the Beast snob, but unfortunately, The Merchant’s Daughter suffers too many flaws to exempt it from my general criticism.

Dickerson contributes a few interesting twists to what starts out as a fairly typical adaptation of the classic fairy tale. Forcing Annabel to become an indentured servant to Lord Ranulf to pay off a family debt lent an interesting set-up to the standard story. Shades of other classic fairy tales and novels flutter about Dickerson’s novel, with Annabel enduring ungracious and hateful relations a la Cinderella, unforeseen wolf attacks reminiscent of Little Red Riding Hood, and numerous shades of Jane Eyre, including a first encounter with the hero on horseback, a house fire, and a crazy, vindictive ex-wife.

Sadly, Dickerson failed to execute on the most crucial element of any Beauty and the Beast story, never allowing Annabel and Ranulf enough time together to cultivate a believable romance. There were a few touching scenes here and there, and I particularly liked their interaction in the final scene, but ultimately there was never a foundation that I felt comfortable resting their relationship on. I attribute this partly to the fact that Ranulf’s house was bustling with servants rather than empty or filled with silent staff as in most Beauty and the Beast retellings. Though I give Dickerson credit for going against the grain, the constant presence of others stifled the necessity to connect with each other that makes the evolution from stranger to something more so believable in other versions of the tale.

Yet the worst offense that this novel commits is the fact that Dickerson simply has no way with words. Sentences are short and straightforward. Characters state how they feel and constantly ask themselves questions that put a spotlight on issues other authors could have conveyed with subtlety. I was confused as to whom Dickerson thought she was writing. It seems incongruous simultaneously to underestimate one’s reader’s ability to follow a more nuanced narrative that relies on emotion rather than adjectives to get the point across, while at the same time expecting the reader to know what a demesne is. I was also somewhat put out by the introduction of heavy-handed Christian preaching halfway through the novel. Perhaps if it had been billed as Christian fiction the transition wouldn’t have seemed so abrupt, but I was disappointed that many of the characters’ hesitations were ultimately resolved not by forcing character growth, but rather by falling back on faith.

While Dickerson had a few interesting ideas, her lack of style and oft-awkward dialogue prevented me from becoming immersed in her story. Still, for the Beauty and the Beast collector, it’s worth checking out.

http://abookandashortlatte.wordpress....(less)

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Dec 20, 2011 Kailia rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love historical fiction. So, so much! I love fairy tale re-tellings. I love reading historical fiction set in the medieval times. When I first came across The Merchant’s Daughter, I loved the premise and I decided to give it a try. A few pages into the book I realized that it was a historical fiction novel set in medieval England and later realized that it was a Beauty and the Beast re-telling!

I loved the plot! The time in which this book is set it not really written about these days and its...more I love historical fiction. So, so much! I love fairy tale re-tellings. I love reading historical fiction set in the medieval times. When I first came across The Merchant’s Daughter, I loved the premise and I decided to give it a try. A few pages into the book I realized that it was a historical fiction novel set in medieval England and later realized that it was a Beauty and the Beast re-telling!

I loved the plot! The time in which this book is set it not really written about these days and its always refreshing to see the world. I’m a history nerd and I’ve studied a lot about the different times in history, but if I hadn’t, I would have been surprised at the social difference from that time to today. Women were considered so low in the social status and they really were only good for keeping the house and taking care of the children and the husband. Many weren’t even allowed to read Bibles, as seen in this book! The plot incorporated the world perfectly with the characters and the situations that our protagonist, Annabel, gets herself into.

I will say that a lot of times, when there is a lot of talk of the Bible and other religious things, I get a little frazzled. I don’t like preachy books and as I continued to read on, I realized that the Bible played a huge part in the plot and was something big to our characters. It didn’t seem preachy though and I, personally, wasn’t surprised. Much. It fit the time really well, since religion was HUGE part of people’s lives in the 1300s(not saying that it isn’t today!) It really felt like it a part of the story and part of the characters lives and not intended to be preachy.

Annabel was as independent as women could be back then and she wasn’t going to take any wrong doing from anyone. She occasionally did act as her role, which was a servant, but other times, she was not going to take crap from anyone. For instance, Annabel’s family wants her to marry an old man who is willing to help her family out of debt…most girls her age would go right into but not Annabel. She wasn’t fazed by anyone or anything. She was herself and she accepted it!

Ranulf, who was such a tormented guy, didn’t really get…in depth. I felt that his character was lacking and his life before he He fit the place of the beast perfectly and I liked reading from his POV also! the secondary characters really help bring about the plot details and the climax. It goes to show how important family was, even though women weren’t considered as equal to men!

Overall, I loved this book! While, yes, some things were cliché (it’s kind of hard not to be, being a re-telling) but I loved how Beauty and the Beast was incorporated into this story! I think all of you should give it a chance!
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Dec 20, 2011 Terry marked it as to-read

Shelves: fiction-inspirational

Ahhh...
Do I smell a Christian Beauty and the Beast? (My fave fairy tale).
Can't wait!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Zondervan's Z Street Team for making it possible for me to read this book! Review will follow soon!

3 likes · like · see review

May 16, 2013 Elevetha Houre rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, christian-romance, fairytales, fairytale-retelling, 2013, characterize-please, historical-whatnot, meh-worthy, once-is-enough

" Her's lord's own scent of lavender and warm masculinity.

"Warm masculinity"? You honestly used that? I wasn't aware that was a thing.

Silly phrasing aside, this was okay. I didn't dislike it quite as much as The Healer's Apprentice .
But I'm seeing an annoying trend in this lady's books. Perfect main characters that have been wronged in some way, overly Christian main characters, weird creepy dude A) stalking the main girl or B) trying to take advantage of but then love interest that isn't a lov...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Alexis Lee rated it 1 of 5 stars

I'm a big sucker for Beauty&Beast books when they're done right, and trust me, some authors have really reworked the classic to become heaps better than the original tale. This one, however, is a terrible interpretation of the classic story.
Firstly: I have nothing against religion, but this book goes totally overboard with the preaching in a very heavy-handed way that just sucks the life out of the story. I COULD have overlooked that if not for the ridiculous portrayals of the characters in...more I'm a big sucker for Beauty&Beast books when they're done right, and trust me, some authors have really reworked the classic to become heaps better than the original tale. This one, however, is a terrible interpretation of the classic story.
Firstly: I have nothing against religion, but this book goes totally overboard with the preaching in a very heavy-handed way that just sucks the life out of the story. I COULD have overlooked that if not for the ridiculous portrayals of the characters in the story. They're insipid. Shallow. Boring. And worst of all, they aren't strong enough to carry the B&B tale forward.
A B&B story has to deal with emotions and motivations that are more realistic than the average fairytale. After all, the beast had to do *something* to become the beast, something not necessarily bad but probably not necessarily good, either, a lot like how we act in real life. Why did he do *whatever it was*? How? And how has he suffered with the consequences? Belle, on the other hand, has the task of falling in love with a beast. But how? Why? I believe that a successful B&B story has to build a slow realistic relationship over time, because all these questions have to be answered to get that HEA.
If you judge by somewhat similar criterion, you'll find just like I did that nothing of the sort really happens. The conflict between characters is absurdly cliched and made even more frustrating by the non-existent chemistry that is supposed to develop (or even exist) between Belle and the Beast. The other characters just come off as thrown in for fun. They don't further the storyline or add to development in any way, except to facilitate more awkward meetings between Belle and the Beast. Belle turns out to be a weak, spineless, Mary-Sue of nonsensical prettiness and kindness, who just has fits of pessimism and never stands up for herself. She's an embarrassment to strong female leads. The Beast is no better. He never gets past the moody, irrational, and immature stage (and even with so much potential for character development because of the emotional reasons behind this behavior...it all fails.) This, accompanied with odd descriptions of how Belle is some sort of lying temptress (in more flowery and morally right words...) just kill the whole character for me. I actually felt sorry for Belle. How on earth could anyone fall for such a ridiculous ass? And then I realized she was doing it anyway, and I wanted to kill everybody, but most of all myself. Really, the religious preaching that was interspersed amongst this claptrap was the last straw.
I actually think all this happens because the author just doesn't have a way with words. Sometimes I think she's got the idea right, but she just describes it in a way that muddles everything and makes it sound ridiculous. I don't know.
I couldn't finish this book. I read till about midway, then gave up and skimmed through it. Then I deleted it. My advice to you is to go pick something else to read and not waste your time with this. Try Robin McKinley's Folktale series. It has two rewrites of the B&B tale, and they're fantastic. Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier is another favorite of mine. You might even try Alex Flinn's 'Beastly' if modern fairytales float your boat. Anything, anything but this farce of a book.

If I could, I'd give negative stars. Negative stars, *insert appropriate kill me now .gif here.*(less)

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Oct 25, 2011 Tammy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Annabel Chapman's life changed drastically three years ago. Her father, a wealthy merchant, lost all of his ships and then he lost his life due to illness. With this, her dream of going to a convent was also lost. Only the wealthy could afford to send their daughters to the nunnery. Annabel, her mother and two older brothers are left with debt and no money to pay it. They are ordered to work in the village fields to pay off their debt but they refuse.

The Chapmans are taken to court and ordered...more Annabel Chapman's life changed drastically three years ago. Her father, a wealthy merchant, lost all of his ships and then he lost his life due to illness. With this, her dream of going to a convent was also lost. Only the wealthy could afford to send their daughters to the nunnery. Annabel, her mother and two older brothers are left with debt and no money to pay it. They are ordered to work in the village fields to pay off their debt but they refuse.

The Chapmans are taken to court and ordered to pay their fines for not working. They have no money so the court orders that one of them must become an indentured servant to the new lord, Ranulf le Wyse for three years to pay off the debt. Annabel's oldest brother comes up with a way to pay the debt - Annabel will marry Bailiff Tom and in return he'll pay the family's debt. Bailiff Tom actually has no intention of paying the whole family's debt, he just wants Annabel. Annabel refuses to marry Bailiff Tom.

Annabel decides that she will be the one to go to be the indentured servant of Lord le Wyse. The lord is said to be a cruel, harsh man, even frightening in the way he looks. Annabel begins working in the kitchen with Lord le Wyse's servant, Mistress Eustacia. She has been with lord's family since he was a child. Mistress Eustacia doesn't see Lord le Wyse as the terrible creature is he believed to be. Slowly, Annabel begins to see him in the same manner as Mistress Eustacia.

Lord le Wyse kept Annabel safe many times from Bailiff Tom's unwelcomed advances. Even though Bailiff Tom was warned by Lord le Wyse to leave Annabel alone he continued. Lord le Wyse has been quite gruff and frightening but she begins to understand why as she gets to know him. Lord le Wyse and Annabel develop a friendship when Annabel begins to care for a burn on the lord's arm. Annabel also starts reading the Bible to Lord le Wyse nightly, where he sees the love she has for learning about God.

One night Lord le Wyse discovers Bailiff Tom in the woods unconscious. Who injured Bailiff Tom? Speculation turns to Annabel after an investigation. To keep Annabel safe Lord le Wyse wants to send her to a convent. Does Bailiff Tom die? Why does Lord le Wyse protect Annabel? Does Annabel finally fulfill her dream of going to the nunnery? Read The Merchants Daughter to find out what happens.

I didn't think I would like a book about the middle ages. The Merchant's Daughter is set in the 1300s in England. This book drew me into that time period. I only stopped reading because I had to, I would have liked to read it all in one sitting.

Annabel is such a likable character. She wants to serve God. The only question I have is why she didn't work in the fields even though her brothers and mother refused. Her not working did not fit her character.

Lord le Wyse seemed so gruff when he was first introduced. As I read on, I discovered it was due to emotional pain. I felt sorry for Lord le Wyse. He didn't think he would ever look at a woman in a positive light again. Annabel helped him changed that.

This book shows that God puts people in our lives at the right time to help us. Annabel needed a protector from Bailiff Tom, Lord le Wyse was that protector. If she hadn't become Lord le Wyse's servant she would have not had his protection.

The Merchant's Daughter also shows us that if we are choosing to follow God, he will work everything out to our good. Lord le Wyse really struggled with his attitude toward women. He knew the Bible well but he had to choose to do what is said. When he did, God melted the pain and hatred in his heart toward women.

I will definitely read more books that are set in the middle ages after reading The Merchant's Daughter.

As a member of the Z Street Team, Zondervan has provided me an advanced reading copy of this book for my honest review. (less)

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Nov 23, 2011 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, fairytale-retailing

I love this cover, so romantic. I like that you can see her prince charming in her mirror. This was a wonderfully done retailing of Beauty and the Beast. The writing was well done, and the characters were what really kept me turning those pages. The good ones as well as the villians. Let me tell you there were quite a few villians in this story including Annabel's own family. I wanted to throttle all of them. In my opinion they get the worst family award, yes they were that terrible.
Certain eve...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Brandi rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: teens and young adults

I thought Melanie Dickerson's first book was an outstanding novel. But this next novel is just as brilliant - if not better.

Like The Healer's Apprentice, The Merchant's Daughter seeks to retell a classic fairytale. This time, it's Beauty and the Beast.

First of all, I'll start by admitting that I'm not much into romance novels. I prefer the subtler romance that you usually find in fantasy and adventure stories to the passionate relationships that Melanie writes about. But I was still really impre...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012, medieval, ft-beauty-n-beast

So, I actually started this one awhile ago and couldn’t really get into it. I picked it up again yesterday and for some reason this second time around I really enjoyed it. I loved the medieval setting and of course the Beauty and the Beast elements (I’m a sucker for fairy tales). I really liked our heroine Annabel, who is very sweet, but can really be feisty when she needs to be. I liked that about her. I also liked Lord Ranulf, who of course has the whole brooding thing going for him. I thought...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Carissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-reading-challenge, teen-christian-fiction, retold-fairy-tales, christian-historical, 2012-reviews, fave-christian-historical-fiction, teen-books-read-2012

Loved it review to come.

first reviewed here http://belovedgraceful-carissasbooksh...

Title: The Merchant’s Daughter
Author: Melanie Dickerson
Series: sort of she has one other book out with similar themes.
Chapters: 21 plus epilogue
Pages: 270
Genre: Teen Christian Historical Fiction, Fairy tales retold
Rating: 5 stars
The Merchant’s Daugther by Melanie Dickerson is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a Christian theme. It is the first book that I have read by Melanie Dickerson.
Annabel Chapman i...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, arc, to-review, 2011-ya-hist-fic-challenge

Seventeen-year-old Annabel Chapman grew up as the daughter of a wealthy merchant in 14th century England. Several years ago, her family’s fortune was lost when her father’s ships sank in a storm. Soon after that, her father died from the pestilence. Since then, her family, who believed themselves better than the other villagers because they were once wealthy, has refused to do their share of the required fieldwork. Until now they have managed to get away with it, but with the death of the absent...more Seventeen-year-old Annabel Chapman grew up as the daughter of a wealthy merchant in 14th century England. Several years ago, her family’s fortune was lost when her father’s ships sank in a storm. Soon after that, her father died from the pestilence. Since then, her family, who believed themselves better than the other villagers because they were once wealthy, has refused to do their share of the required fieldwork. Until now they have managed to get away with it, but with the death of the absent old lord, and the arrival of the new lord, his son, they now must accept the punishment for their actions. They must either pay a fine they cannot afford, or one of them must go to work for three years as a servant to the new lord of the manor. Annabel's family wants to force her to marry Bailiff Tom, a repulsive, cruel man who is old enough to be her father, because he says he is willing to pay their fine if he can marry her. To avoid being forced into an unwanted marriage, Annabel volunteers herself as an indentured servant. Although the new lord is said to be beastly, she knows anything would be better than marrying Tom, even though she would prefer to become a nun so she can study the Bible and learn about God’s word.

Lord Ranulf le Wyse is the new lord now that his father has died. Although he is young, he is very bitter. He was badly scarred by a wolf several years ago. His wife, who married him only for his wealth, was repulsed by him and was unfaithful, and died only two years into their marriage. As a result, he doesn’t trust women and vows never to marry or fall in love again. At first, he sees Annabel as just another beautiful young woman who is not to be trusted. However, soon a friendship grows between Annabel and Ranulf, a friendship that could become something more, if they can overcome their fears of love and marriage.

The Merchant’s Daughter is an enjoyable and very sweet historical romance set in England in 1352. It is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, so there is a bit of a fairy tale feel to the story too. I think I enjoyed this book even more than the author’s first book, The Healer’s Apprentice, which I read last year. I love anything set during the Medieval era and I loved how sweet and touching the romance was. I felt so badly for the characters and so wanted them to have a happy ending - Annabel because her family was so cruel and wanted her to marry such an awful man, and Ranulf because he was so kind and noble yet had been treated so badly by his wife. If you enjoy historical fiction, fairy tale retellings, or more “clean” romance novels, I highly recommend The Merchant’s Daughter.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by author. (less)

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Mar 27, 2013 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, coming-of-age, cultural, historical, romance, suspense

Turning fairy tales into parables again, Melanie Dickerson sets the story of Beauty and the Beast in England in the 1300s, creating a fascinatingt Christian romance, the Merchant’s Daughter. Seventeen-year-old Annabel, beautiful, gentle and reserved, finds herself thrust from the quiet refined life of a merchant’s daughter into the rigors of serving the manor’s new lord. Casting aside her former dreams of going to a convent and reading her own copy of the Bible, she has to accept the scorn of fe...more

Turning fairy tales into parables again, Melanie Dickerson sets the story of Beauty and the Beast in England in the 1300s, creating a fascinatingt Christian romance, the Merchant’s Daughter. Seventeen-year-old Annabel, beautiful, gentle and reserved, finds herself thrust from the quiet refined life of a merchant’s daughter into the rigors of serving the manor’s new lord. Casting aside her former dreams of going to a convent and reading her own copy of the Bible, she has to accept the scorn of fellow-servants for her lack of marketable skills. But Annabel soon finds her reading skills in demand with the somewhat scary, maybe even beastly Lord Ranulf. Injured and mutilated in an accident long ago, he’s a short-tempered master, though his heart, if anyone can find it, seems to be in the right place.

Friends and fellow servants would like to marry Annabel off, perhaps to someone influential in the household. But “their crude idea of love didn’t seem satisfying” and Annabel clings to the financially impossible dream of becoming a nun. Meanwhile Lord Ranulf protects his wounded heart by trying not to fall for her. While builders create the lord’s new home, Annabel imagines the beauties of London’s churches and cathedrals and bemoans the misery of the local church.

Ranulf and his beautiful servant spend long hours together comparing passages from the Bible and quietly teaching each other from God’s word. The lessons are well-chosen and well-told, making this a pleasing Christian parable. The growing romance is sweet, threatened, of course by someone else whose intentions towards Annabel are less than pure. Meanwhile the promise that God does indeed use all things for good is nicely illustrated as the tale unfolds. Some of the historical details seemed unconvincing to me, but perhaps my English Catholic background’s to blame. It’s an enjoyable read with wise lessons to tell, aimed well at the Christian marketplace.

Disclosure: I was lucky enough to win an ecopy of this novel in a blog contest.
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Mar 28, 2013 Bhey rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've already read The Healer's Apprentice and the Fairest Beauty, and I must say, this is my absolute FAVORITE! <3

It's a great story about a merchant's daughter who was forced to become an indentured servant to a lord feared my most. Even from the beginning I already loved Annabel. She is a kind, sweet girl. She treasures her family even though they couldn't care less about her. She's loyal to her friends and to her master.

Lord Ranulf, on the other had, was a hard man. He was scarred physica...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-bridget

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: This was an adorable retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast.

Opening Sentence: Annabel sat in the kitchen shelling peas into a kettle at her feet.

The Review:

Annabel was once the daughter of a very wealthy merchant, but 3 years ago her father lost all of their money when his ships crashed. Shortly after that he died from the pestilence. Her mother and brother refused to do their share in the village and they had no money to pay the de...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Victoria Dare rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review was originally posted at

http://awholenewwordreview.blogspot.c...

The Merchant's Daughter is a loose retelling of the one of the best fairy tales of all time: Beauty and the Beast. Now, I'm not lying when I say that I am the type of person who would rather listen to Disney sounds tracks versus today's pop hits... So once I read the summary, I was sold.

Annabel comes from a wealthy family, a merchant's daughter. Her father has always gotten the family out of having to help out during th...more This review was originally posted at

http://awholenewwordreview.blogspot.c...

The Merchant's Daughter is a loose retelling of the one of the best fairy tales of all time: Beauty and the Beast. Now, I'm not lying when I say that I am the type of person who would rather listen to Disney sounds tracks versus today's pop hits... So once I read the summary, I was sold.

Annabel comes from a wealthy family, a merchant's daughter. Her father has always gotten the family out of having to help out during the Harvest her whole life--something that every person in her village is required to do. When her father loses their fortune and dies, three years later her family still isn't helping with the Harvest. Since they haven't paid off their work this time, they are put on trail and ordered that one member of the family go to work as an indentured servant for the village lord for three years to pay off their debt.

Annabel's family are a bunch of sorry people. They lazy and selfish, and have no desire to get their family back on track. When Annabel is being pursued by a nasty man demanding her hand in marriage, her family sees it as an opportunity to sell her off and maybe get themselves out of their legal troubles.

But Annabel has no desire to marry this man, so she decided to take her families punishment upon herself and go and work for the dark, scary, beastly, Lord le Wyse.

Ahhh, this book was so good. No insta-love, no perfect couples, no empty plots, no cheesy Christian elements, it was simply a fantastic book. I loved the characters Dickerson creates. They are all so well developed and brimming with, well, character (Who's being cheesy now? Haha). From Annabel to Ranulf, I loved them all. And even though I don't know very much about medieval history, the world was rich and colorful, and I felt like I was learning something by reading about these people.

And the romance was...smoldering. But not in the way that you would think about "smoldering" romance. It was quiet, reserved, and very real. I love it when something as simply as a hug can make me melt. I think that the sweetest thing about the book was when Ranulf would get Annabel to read the Bible to him at night. Oh, my. Can I have my own Ranulf, please?

Another thing I loved about this book was how it made me think about my own faith. Annabel has such a reverence for the Word, and it made me think about how easily I have access to it yet most days I never even bother to read it. I want to have such a passion and zeal for the Bible like she does.

Also, I love how Annabel was so focused on being a sincere and honest person, and really wanted to make things right for her family. She handled bad situations with dignity, and sought strength from God rather than herself. She isn't flirty or fake. She is who she is. Beautiful inside and out.

Okay... I'll stop now. I think that you get how much I adored this book. It was so good. I want to read it again very soon! (less)

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Dec 20, 2012 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson follows the tale of Annabel, a sweet and compassionate character you can't help but like. Toss in Beauty and the Beast and you have a story line. Not exactly the same as Disney produced it, but bits and pieces enough to enjoy the tale all over again! I rather enjoy the retelling of old tales, but only if they are done in a creative way. It’s fun to see the pieces of fairy tales come alive in the book and how the author decided to unravel the tale.

I th...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Lisa G rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, christian-fiction

Do you love fairy tales? This is Beauty and the Beast meets Pride and Prejudice meets the Bible, with a side of Cinderella, Jane Eyre, and Ruth. It’s everything I love about fairy tales rolled into a well-written historical fiction book for young adults. It’s a book I wish I had written. :)

Annabel is our Beauty who ends up living in the home of the not-so-Beast through unfortunate family circumstances. You know the story, but it is spun in such a way that while you know where the story will end...more

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May 13, 2012 Rambling Readers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fairy tales have been in the spotlight recently, with tv shows and movies inspired by the classic stories. Melanie Dickerson's latest novel, The Merchant's Daughter, takes its inspiration from Beauty and the Beast. As a result, the conclusion is predictable, but the journey through the pages is pleasant. Although The Merchant's Daughter is classified as a young adult novel, it is definitely a worthy read for adults as well. Dickerson's writing is strong and compelling and the characters are wel...more Fairy tales have been in the spotlight recently, with tv shows and movies inspired by the classic stories. Melanie Dickerson's latest novel, The Merchant's Daughter, takes its inspiration from Beauty and the Beast. As a result, the conclusion is predictable, but the journey through the pages is pleasant. Although The Merchant's Daughter is classified as a young adult novel, it is definitely a worthy read for adults as well. Dickerson's writing is strong and compelling and the characters are well-developed, especially Annabel and Lord le Wyse. The story is told from the perspectives of both main characters, which provides satisfying insight into their emotions.

Annabel is a charming heroine who encounters numerous obstacles on her quest to live a happy, righteous, and faithful life. Though she faces evil, contempt, and fear, she remains undeterred. Her sweet and nurturing disposition is contrasted with Lord le Wyse's dark and brooding aura. In many ways, The Merchant's Daughter reminds me of Jane Eyre. Lord le Wyse and Mr. Rochester have much in common, and both are softened by love. The love between Annabel and Lord le Wyse slowly unfolds as the story progresses and circumstances draw them together. Their insecurities and doubts are real and applicable to readers of any age. The "happily ever after" ending is more rewarding after witnessing both characters wrestle with and finally admit to their feelings.

The Merchant's Daughter is a classic tale of inward beauty outshining outward appearances, but it delves deeper to offer messages about faith, strength of character, and love. This was my first introduction to Melanie Dickerson's work, and I definitely plan to read The Healer's Apprentice soon!

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley, courtesy of Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Apr 30, 2012 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, revamps

I had a lot of problems with this book. I've always been a fan of the Beauty and the Beast story, and just by reading the description of this book, it's clear what sort of story you'll be getting. Unfortunately, the main character, Annabel, while clearly meant to be a feisty, independent, break-the-mold sort of girl, doesn't manage it half so well as Belle (and there's just far too few singing/talking candelabras). The thing is, I kept forgetting she was 17. She seemed to strangely naive at time...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Christie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Annabel is forced to pay her family's debt to society and become a servant to the new Lord, Ranulf le Wyse, a disfigured and scarred man who many consider beastly. She is a kind, meek and a willing helper, who quickly becomes of interest to her embittered and jaded master. He has been hurt by love in the past and is not looking for anyone's pity. Annabel has always dreamed of serving the Lord as a nun but comes to have feelings for Ranulf as well. The story proceeds predictably, even so it is st...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, christian-historical-fiction, christian-fiction, 1300-s

The Merchant’s Daughter
Melanie Dickerson
After the death of her merchant father, Annabel is left unloved by her irresponsible mother and brothers. Dedicated to working hard and serving God, where they lazy and feel owed somehow. As taxes come due to the Lord of the land, Annabel’s family is far behind and must sacrifice a servant to the Lord for 3 years. Annabel to escape her brother’s plans of an arranged marriage to old Baliff Tom, she decides to do her duty and serve the Lord Ranulf. Tom still...more

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About Melanie Dickerson

Melanie Dickerson is a two-time Christy Award finalist and her book, The Healer's Apprentice, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best First Book. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). . Melanie earned a bachelors degree in special education of the hearing impaired from The University of Alabama and has worked as a teacher and a mi...more

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Quotes from The Merchant's Daughter

“Perhaps time is an inconsistent healer, but God can purge even the most painful memories.” — 25 people liked it

“Time blunts the pain and creates a mist over one’s memory — at least in the case of death and sorrow. Other types of pain linger longer.” — 15 people liked it

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