Rescuing Rapunzel

The Charming Fairy Tales #1

by Candice Gilmer

Out of Print

Getting Rapunzel out the tower is only half the problem...

Rapunzel longs to live in the world she sees through her window, but more than her tower keeps her trapped. Her mother has taught her obedience without question and filled her with fear. She knows she will never reach the ground. Then Lord Nicolas von Hohburg scales her wall, breaks into her life, and changes everything.

Nick has resigned himself to a life of duty when Rapunzelís song calls him to her tower. Soon she has his heart wrapped in her lengthy tresses and he can think of nothing else. But his responsibilities and sense of duty threaten to come between them...

Warning: A scheming witch, a damsel in distress and a Charming Noble who just might save the day.

Genres: Romance, Retellings, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fairy Tale Retellings

231 pages, ebook

First published April 18, 2012

About the author

USA Today and NY Times bestselling author Candice Gilmer leads a dangerous double life as a mommy and a writer. In between boo-boo healing and fixing broken toys, she writes stories usually to the tune of children's television shows.

Growing up in the Midwest, Candice stays close to her family, especially the ones with basements when the tornadoes come around.

All in all, she stays very busy, but really, she wouldn't have it any other way.

Well, maybe a little less children's television.

Website: Candicegilmer.com

Reviews

[Elsbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not 1 Prince Charming, but 3 Charming Nobles. A sister, annoying to her brother, a friend to Rapunzel.
This is a lovely, sweet and sexy version of Rapunzel. More elaborate and more human than the original.
I loved the interaction between the 3 Charming Nobles and Kiki. I'm really glad that Candice Gilmer promises to give them their own stories! And there are a few hints at the end of this book about how one of those might go...
Great book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Bhear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! Sir Nick, comes upon a tower deep in the forest when he hears a girl singing. She has the most beautiful voice. He climbs the wall surrounding the tower to get a closer look. There is no door or opening that he can find. Rapunzel spots him & gets away from the window fast. Her mother has told her many times of how bad the world is & what could happen to her if she were to leave the tower. Men, bandits, wizards, strangers they would all want to hurt her. Her hair would be a treasure because of it's healing powers. She tries to decide whether or not to tell her mother about the boy she saw. When she gets back from her trip Rapunzel tells her she thought she saw a boy. Her mother, Gothel, decides she needs to learn how to defend herself. She gets a dagger out to show her how. When Rapunzel doesn't learn to wield it as quickly as Gothel likes she slaps her & cuts her. She tells her she has to go on another trip & shows her a secret door. There is a staircase that should only be used if someone gets into the tower. It is so rickety & unused it might not even be stable to support her weight more than once. Nick has been scouting the area for a few nights, he hears the abuse she is being given, & swears to rescue her. He has been a little off for a few days & his friends Penn & Bryan have noticed it. They grew up together & have been nicknamed the Charming Nobles. With their titles, they are very sought-after by the ladies looking for husbands. Nick's sister, Kiki, has a large group of ladies as her guests at this time. Nick has told his friends about the girl in the tower & what he needs to do. They go early the next day & watch as Gothel climbs down a golden rope. As she leaves he sends Bryan to follow her. He climbs the wall, then goes to the rope to climb up. When he is climbing it he finds out it is hair. Very strange. He gets in the window, & she grabs the dagger wanting to know what he wants. He tries to tell her he means her no harm. He just wants to help her. He finally gets her to calm down but leaves to show her he will not hurt her. He goes off but comes back the next day to leave a present with a note. He does it few more times telling her he will not hurt her. He gets her to talk to him & finally gets her permission to enter the tower. They learn more about each other. He hasn't heard from Bryan yet. Her birthday will be in a few days, she will be eighteen. Gothel had told her to make a special dress & she will be bringing her a present. Nick has heard a few of the things she said & it has poked a few things in his memory. He got a letter back from a Duke. He goes to the tower. He starts to tell Rapunzel he is betrothed. She is hurt, that he would get her so confused then tell her they cannot be together. He then goes on to tell her he has never met her. She was stolen as a baby. He tells her when she was born, how old she would be & she is surprised to hear it matches her birthday & age. He gives her the letter that had been sent to him. It says the witch who stole the baby was her mother's name. She is denying it. He tells her one last thing is a birthmark on her back, if she would let him look. She doesn't want to let him look because she doesn't want it to be true. She lets him look & finds it there. She is upset. The woman who was her mother made everything a lie. Who was she. He gives her the music box he had built for her for her birthday present. They rebraid her hair & get more friendly, holding each other. As the night goes deeper he goes home & tells her he will be back to get her in the morning. The next morning he gets back to the tower with Bryan & Penn. When he climbs up he sees her on the floor with her hair cut off & beat up. Gothel & the Earl from a different province is in the tower saying she is his wife to be & he shouldn't have been sleeping with her. Gothel stabs him. The Earl tries to stab him with a sword. Penn shoots an arrow with a rope into the tower & crawls up. Rapunzel cuts off the little braid she has left & uses it to heal his stab wound then bandages over it. They get down & to the castle. The Earl & Gothel in the dungeon until the king or Duke get there to decide their fate. Rapunzel wakes up in a bedroom while Nick is waiting. The Duke & Gothel end up getting hanged, but Gothel does one last thing but no one knows what exactly. Her Parents are on their way there. When they get there she discovers her name is Katrina. She has a hard time getting through the snide remarks made by the other ladies about her not knowing of what to do about socialism. She learns more about her betrothal & decides she doesn't want to be a pawn. She decides to call it off. She loves him but she doesn't want to be a trading piece. They leave & make it home. Nick's friends Ask him why he isn't with her, they all know he loves her. He goes after her & ends up at her home asking her if she will marry him. He would stay there. She agrees.

[Elise Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rescuing Rapunzel was not only a story about an enchanting adventure, but it also taught priceless life lessons. The book teaches about how to find joy in every circumstance, no mater the trials we go through. And if we do this, eventually we will find our happy endings, even if the trails are not so happy. After all, Happiness is not determined by the trials we are put through, but rather how we react to them.

[Sherill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FAIRY TALE THAT SIZZLES

A titillating grown-up fairy tale that transports you into the world of Dukes, Lords, and Princesses. While out riding in the Black Forest to get away from his responsibilities Lord Nicolas von Hohburg stumbles upon a tower. He is shocked to see a stunning blonde beauty who sings like an angel in the tower with no door. A few hurdles to conquer and a life-threatening moment occur before this story gets to the happy ever after.

Rapunzel has been living in a tower that is hidden in the Black Forest for almost eighteen years with an abusive mother who has brainwashed her into believing the world is evil. Rapunzel now believes that she is safer away from all mankind. One day while her mother is gone, Nicolas meets Rapunzel and is captivated by her beauty and sweet demeanor. A romance blooms between the two, but Nicolas has a secret which may put an end to all he holds dear.

The story is beautifully written and holds your attention until the end. The characters are credible and spring to life with the eye-catching plot, quick-witted dialogue, gripping suspense, spine-chilling action, and breathtaking vivid scene descriptions. As a little girl Rapunzel was one of my favorite fairy tales and this adult tale is utterly delicious. I absolutely loved the romance between Nicolas and Rapunzel as they had fun together, had some emotional up and downs too, but in the end, they were totally devoted to each other and their romance is filled with fiery passion. Though Rapunzel had spent many years alone she did have sass which certainly kept Nicolas on his toes. I absolutely adored this story and when the end came I wanted more. An unforgettable and gratifying read. If you treasure adult fairy tale romance this is a wonderful book for your library. {I was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review}. In the world of fantasy romance, the magic begins with the first thought to paper. Without reservation, I recommend this book.

[LMR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the Tower By:Candice Gilmer
Twisted & Tangled Rapunzel!
She's trapped in a tower, abused by the one person who's supposed to protect her; he's outside looking in & wanting to rescue her...
Will she allow him to rescue her or will she cling to the only safety she's ever know?!
This is one wild ride with lots of twists & turns; it's sure to please, & definitely won't disappoint!! There's HOT, Se*y times balanced with a compelling story that'll suck you right in & keep your attention clear to THE END. It's definitely worth One-Clicking into your reading library; I know I'll be rereading this book again & again.
I was lucky enough to receive my copy of Candice Gilmer's "Out of the Tower" via Booksprout; she's definitely a talented writer who's work I can happily recommend to others. I'll be looking for MORE of her work in the future. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time... Happy Reading!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to fully expect with Out of the Tower. I’m going to honest – I’m not a fan of the historical genre. I think I read too many at a younger age and grew out of them. So, even though I have loved everything else that this author has released, I was prepared to not fully enjoy this one. Boy, did she shock me with how well done this story was!
Rapunzel has been living in her tower under her mother’s protection. Lord Nicolas von Hohburg finds the tower in the woods after hearing the voice of an angel singing. He looks up and it’s the beautiful angelic Rapunzel with the equally angelic voice and she captures his attention from that moment.
Things become dangerous and treacherous throughout the story. But, their passion and love for one another prevails, just like in any good fairy tale. Things aren’t all roses and sunshine throughout the story, but the romance more than makes up for me wanting to scream at the pages! That’s the sign of a good story for me.
If you enjoy fairy tales for adults and like a little angst and turmoil in your romance stories, you’ll definitely love this tale! I know I did.

*A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Nyxie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute read I enjoyed it!

[Shawna Sears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of the Tower is book 1 in The Charming Fairy Tales Book that is a little bit medieval and little bit fantasy adult retelling of the Rapunzel tale. The story is done in a unique blend of first person and third person omniscient-Rapunzel is first person while Nic is third. I'm not generally a fan of first person perspectives, but this one was well done. The book does have intimate scenes, but they are not particularly detailed or long winded.

I enjoyed this book and found it to be an interesting spin on the old tale. It mostly holds to the storybook plot line with only minor changes but much more detail. I enjoyed how the author took into account the mental state of someone who had been cloistered their entire life. Nic's fumbling in this respect was also believable. Overall, I enjoyed both characters' personalities and was happy for their happy ending. My only issue was that their tiff seemed a tad contrived.

If you like your romance fantastical, a bit steamy, beautifully back-dropped, and with some interesting family dynamics and friendships, this is a story you should give a go. I look forward to reading the next book.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have another retelling of a fairy tale. Rapunzel has been kept in a tower by her Mother. Her Mother has told her about the war, robbers and killers running around to keep her safe. Rapunzel lives a very lonely life filled with abuse also.
Lord Nicolas Von Hohburg was out riding in the Black forest when he notices the tower and the woman in it. He wonders why and how she got there. He comes back again and hears someone with her also the sounds of slapping. Nick decides to find away to get her out. He visits and gets to know her. Her life, fears and secrets. They have so much to overcome, maybe even death.
This was the adult version of the story. It was really great and with some stand out characters.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this new retelling of the classic Rapunzel fairy tale the characters were great and i cant wait for book two to come out in January the only real flaws i can think of is the measurements whats 20 elle's? and how wasn't the tower found before it wasn't really explained but over all i really enjoyed it and am looking forward to her retelling of Cinderella and what twists she'll put in that tale

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by an author friend and I wanted to give it a shot. This is a retelling of the story Rapunzel. I really enjoyed the beginning of this. It was really well done. Then it kind of went down hill from there. I just did not love Rapunzel's personality in the end. She was a real spoiled brat at the end and her Duke was just a jerk. I found myself turned off by them by the end of the book.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adult version of Rapunzel! I loved it!! I can't wait to see what else Ms. Gilmer does! It has all the trademark fairy tale stuff but with an adult twist that will keep you turning the pages to see how it unfolds! I definitely recommend this to my friends and any adult fairy tale readers!! You will not be disappointed!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kitty_ranma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of hair.
A great beginning for a series.
I can't wait for more of this, I want to say more about this story but I absolutely hate spoilers, so I won't go into details.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Happily Ever After, Romantic, Wonderful characters, Page-turner, Great world building, Easy-to-read, Entertaining.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristina Wolfinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

I really liked this book. It tells the fairy tale of rapunzel in a whole new light. Candice is telling the story really good with some unexpected turns.
Sometimes the story drags on a bit, but I enjoyed it none the less.
If you like a good fairy tale, you love this book!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our heroine has lived a secluded life with an abusive mother. When her salvation appears in the form of a handsome Lord, will she find the courage to seek a new life and love? Enjoyable, adult take on a classic fairytale. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

all she knows is her life in the tower and that the world outside of it is evil and dangerous. she would love to feel the grass under her feet. then a boy comes along and tells her things which are so different from what her mother told her. what will she do now? see if she will take a chance

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a grownup Rapunzel, prince charming book and it's a must read. I was glued to the pages as Nick found, charmed and fell in love with Rapunzel. This book has danger, suspence, loyalty and some hot sexy love scenes. I was gifted this book for an honest review and I loved it

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome retelling of the old fairytale of Rapunzel, with a fantasy edge and lots of great dialogue. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful love story. I enjoyed it very much. The storyline was spot on and was well executed. I recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzanne Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome and sexy retelling of the fairy tale Rapunzel as she interacts with Nicholas. There are many twists and turns, secrets and unexpected surprises that will keep your attention and enjoying this tale.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gena Oestreich]

Wonderful altered fairytale

This was a wonderful alteration of Rapunzel. I loved watching Rapunzel grow into herself and find who she truly is. And the Duke was an amazing courtier to Rapunzel, trying to win her love. Loved this story!!

[Jessie Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow!

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

looking forward to the next in the series

highly enjoyable

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very funny

[Serena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book is better for the fans of Tangled as opposed to the fans of the original tale of Rapunzel. Unfortunately I'm not a Tangled fan so it was difficult for me to enjoy this.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adult version fairytale romance of Rapunzel. It is passionate, with twists and turns. The characters are intriguing and well developed. I liked reading this book.