The Peasant Queen: An Esther Retelling

The Royals of Acuniel #1

by Ashton E. Dorow

A king haunted by memories of his past...

A young woman fighting against
her future...

Torn from her home and all that is familiar, Arabella of Caelrith finds herself as the unwilling bride of King Rowan of Acuniel--the man whose vengeful war stole her family. Bitter and confused, Arabella struggles to find her place in this new life. That is, until someone tries to kill the king.

Despite repeated warnings to stay out of the matter, Arabella investigates the attempt on Rowan’s life, and his parents’ long ago murder, unconcerned with the potential cost of her interference. But when tragedy strikes, the seriousness of the situation becomes all too clear. Is the price of knowing the truth higher than
she is willing to pay?

When the fate of the kingdom and all that she holds dear is at stake, will Arabella have the courage to stand up against the evil endeavoring to destroy them all? Did God really abandon her when He left her to this fate? Or was she put in the king’s palace… for such a time as this?

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian, Romance, Historical Fiction, Retellings, Biblical Fiction

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2020

About the author

Ashton has loved books for as long as she can remember, and at age fourteen, that love became a passion when she began writing her own novels. She currently resides in Conroe, TX with her real-life prince–AKA her husband, Austin. When not writing, Ashton can be found reading, spending time with family, serving at the church she’s attended since childhood, or drinking copious amounts of chai tea. Her greatest desire as a writer is to point readers to the ultimate Author—Jesus.

Reviews

[Ashton Dorow · Rating 5 out of 5]

No review, since I wrote the book! 😁😍 Arabella and Rowan have been a part of my heart for the past 6 years, and I’m so excited to finally share their story with the world! I hope readers will enjoy it, and fall in love with my characters as much as I have!

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word, I am in love. I was in love with this story and the characters from page one, honestly. It honestly took until just this last month or two for me to realize just how much I loved the book of Esther in the Bible. It took me re-watching One Night with the King (which if you have not seen that movie, then what are you doing with your life?!) and reading through the whole book of Esther, which I'm not sure if I ever have actually done that before. I have heard the story but I never really had read it myself before until last week. Well as soon as I had discovered my true love for this amazing story of faith, courage, and love, I knew that I had to read this book. And boy am I glad that I spent the money to purchase this in a paperback form.

This book took me on a crazy roller coaster of emotions. I was swooning, laughing, nearly crying, and yelling at the book (if you've read this book you'll know why). Let's just say that my sister looked at me really funny a couple of times....xD I loved how unique this retelling was. I knew how "Hamman" was from a little bit before the middle of the book, but I did not know how the whole Esther versus Hamman thing would go down. I loved how this story followed the basic structure of the original story but then Ashton used her own creative mind to create this story into her own.

The characters were amazing and I loved how complexed they all were. Rowan was a sweet cinnamon roll who once we got past his heard exterior was literally one of the best male leads in a book. I just loved his story and he had me in near tears many times throughout this book. I am shocked that I wasn't hardcore sobbing at the end. Arabella was a sweetheart and I loved her dear character so much. I loved how Ashton matured and grew her character. Honestly, I could not have asked for two better lead characters for this beautiful story.

I do not think I could gush enough about how amazing this message in this book was. It was on point with the original story but had its own little unique messages throughout. This book was everything that I hoped it would be and more! For being a debut novel, I know that Ashton is not an author that you want to miss. I cannot wait to see where God leads her writing in the future!!

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book indeed! It was such a pleasure and encouraging read with the parallels to the Bible story of the book of Esther, a young Jewish woman ( her heritage unknown to him) who was chosen to be be the Queen and through her courage helped save her people. The characters were sensible and not maddening etc as with some books. I figured who was the "Hayman" (evil character from the Bible accounting) yet surprised by another . It was a mystery as well as a love story in a sense, one of immense forgiveness, and of reconciliation. I loved how the story was portrayed in a excellent spiritually uplifting yet sort of fairy tale/young adult setting. My first book by this newer author and will definitely read the next one (and purchase too actually as quite worthwhile) in this series! Certainly recommendable.

[Toni Shiloh · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I finished this late last night and have been thinking about what I wanted to say in my review all morning. I love the biblical story of Esther, it's been one of my favorites for a long time. The way Ashton Dorow took that story, added in the story of Arabella and Rowan blew me away. I needed to hear the truths in this story and my heart feels fuller. This is a reminder of what happens when I read Christian fiction. I'm not just entertained but my heart is changed.
Now onto book 2!

[Tejomai (bible_and_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an solid 5 star book!!
I wonder if I can put this book in correct words and convince you to read it

I just want you to know that this is a book which I guess everyone will enjoy but Christians will cherish it..

This book wasn't just a read .. it's like a book which keeps me reminding of which path I should follow when everything is against me
Trust in the Lord

I loved loved Arabella and Rowan .. both of their journeys of life, love and faith
Uhh!! Just Wonderful
I loved their banter , romance, togetherness everything was so good

Their love story and walk with God is just so so Good.. so Touching
When everything turns against both of them and the pain they both faced .. it's like soul crushing.. Author penned everything so beautifully
How do trust in God like those times.. it's difficult .. The way Arabella chose to love and Trust in the Lord just moved me


Arabella's faith is my favorite in Here
Rowan's reluctance to hear about God is just everyone of us sometime or other.. but how wonderfully did God bring him back

Their love story..will be one of my forever favorites -I'll be re-reading this book so many times , I can see it 😁
Ahh!! Their romance and everything is Pretty darn Perfect Sire!!
It's totally clean

I just want to convince you to read this book.. Did I do it .. please tell I did it.. I want you read this book.. it's message is so fullfilling to the soul

[Heather Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was spellbound, breathless, and emotionally invested in this beautiful retelling of Esther set in a fictional medieval kingdom. The characters were honest to themselves, their motives and personalities understandable, and they were developed skillfully in a way that revealed their flaws but still made them lovable. And the way that their faith journey was threaded through the whole story in a natural way confirmed my suspicion that the author is a kindred spirit. The theology was solid, clear, and natural.
The Peasant Queen is an enemies to lovers tale with palpable tension, and strayed enough from the biblical tale to make the plot twist truly surprising. I never read fictional retellings of Bible stories, so I have no idea how true to the story they normally try to be but this one took its own turn in a couple of major ways. A couple of things, like the wedding, felt modern to me but I don't study medieval culture much (plus this was a fairy tale) so it was fine. The dialogue was written in a charming old style which was fun to read, and the book was well-paced. There was romance, mystery, danger, and a happy ending, so in other words, everything Christian fiction should be.

I read an ARC copy of this book but these are my honest opinions and I'm sure it won't be my last time picking this book up.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful story, I was engrossed into it from the first page, my heart invested with this retelling. It was satisfying as it progressed, the emotions real and meaningful, the anger and frustration felt through the words that were written. I'm completely blown away by the way the author weaved this story, using familiar details from the book of Esther and then adding touches of her own that was quite entrancing.

There is quite a lot of kisses (in marriage), slightly detailed, with longings and desires very clearly shown. The spiritual content was good and convicting. I appreciate that the characters were real and truly struggled in their faith with God.

Definitely worth a read! (And probably a reread!). You won't regret it 😊

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! Ashton perfectly wove in the Esther narrative into Arabella and Rowan’s story, and you could see the parallels immediately!
•
Rowan - holy cow. He was either extremely sweet or extremely volatile! I sometimes had a hard time keeping up with his mood pendulum. But I liked how wee could see his internal struggle. His “why God” moments were relatable and you could see how not having God in his heart was affecting those he claimed to love.
•
Arabella - man was she relatable! From the moment she ends up at the palace, you’re cheering her on! You want her to marry the king (despite her resistance). You want her to connect with him and then you want her to put him in his place. You celebrate her little victories and cry when she does. There were a couple moments toward the end that I didn’t understand why she did what she did, but I was still so very happy with the end of this book!
•
If you love retellings of fairytales and Bible stories, I’d recommend Peasant Queen! There are a couple intense parts, but nothing to graphic or traumatic.
•
Five stars!!!
Ages 16 & up!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of the story of Esther set in an unusual time period, this book contains the many elements that create a great story. Marriage of convenience, being one of the common tropes, but based off of a traditional biblical story, this one had great promise and did not disappoint. I found myself rooting for the story to come to a climax, yet not wanting it to end. The story filled with a search for love for themselves before they could truly love one another made this story worth reading.

[Daniella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Peasant Queen - Book Review 👑

AHHHHHHHHH (screams into a pillow)! This book is amazing. I'm going to try so hard to review it and not gush.

One of my all-time favorite movies ever is One Night with the King, which is a movie about Esther. THIS BOOK is like One Night with the King with a medieval twist! I just love that!

In the story, we follow Arabella and Rowan, two very different people with very different lives. Arabella is a peasant with a secret lineage, Rowan is a bitter king seeking vengeance. Arabella is content with her life as a commoner and, though she harbored feelings for Rowan in her girlhood, she does not want anything to do with the now bitter king of Acuneil who stole her family from her. So imagine her despair when she is among the few women selected to vie for the king's hand in marriage and for the place as his queen. And imagine her horror when she is selected by him as such. Battling her inner turmoil, the lingering question she asks is, why would God place her in a life she fought so desperately to avoid?

Rowan is torn by bitterness and pain, carefully buried under his anger. The untimely death of his beloved parents leaves him broken and desperate for revenge. His heart hardens towards God as he battles with wondering why would God allow something so horrible to happen to such innocent, good people.

Both Arabella and Rowan are asking the same question: why God? Amidst their individual struggles, a plot against the king is uncovered, thus bringing the couple closer together. In Arabella’s search for the truth, she discovers a treachery much deeper than she ever imagined.

Could God have placed Arabella and Rowan together, for such a time as this?

The Peasant Queen is a beautiful tale of trust, reconciliation, and redemption. The beauty of trusting God in the most confusing and heartbreaking times. The beauty of His relentless pursuit of us in our brokenness. The beauty of redemption we can always find in our Father's arms.

I smiled like silly throughout the entirety of Arabella and Rowan's romance, shed tears through the heartbreaking scenes, and gasped through the intense ones. This book induced all the emotions I had in me.

Ashton penned a truly unforgettable tale, one that I am so grateful to have read. If you have not read this lovely book, I cannot recommend it to you enough!

5 glowing stars!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

sighs dreamily*
.
Oh my goodness!!! This book was absolutely amazing! The author drew me into Arabella and Rowan's world and kept me captivated from the first page until I closed the book. I found myself reading the words as fast as I possibly could, desperate to find out what would happen next,- and to find out when Arabella and Rowan would finally kiss, of course- but at the same time dreading the fact that the end of the book was coming closer with each word I read. The struggles of a reader. *sighs*
This medieval retelling of the story of Esther absolutely blew me away. The writing style was beautiful, the characters were unique, and fun to follow, and the faith content was wonderful. It was clean. There was a mention of a character being a good romantic partner and another character got assaulted by a drunk man. Nothing was in detail.
I felt everything along with Arabella. The Peasant Queen had me laughing, and wanting to yell at and slap certain characters until they made the right choice. It's so frustrating when they are obviously making the wrong choice, isn't it?
.
I absolutely adored this book! Ashton did a lovely job! I will definitely be reading everything she writes. If you are a fan of biblical fiction retelling, this Is one you will not want to miss.
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*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to post a positive review. All thought expressed are strictly my own*

[Joleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

13th century
Western Europe, the Kingdom of Acuniel

This is the story of Queen Arabella and King Rowan.

Arabella was a simple peasant girl until a decree throughout the land came that young King Rowan must take a wife. The very last person Arabella would want to marry would be the king. For years she held him responsible for the death of her parents.

But as fate would have it, or as we see throughout the book, as God would have it, she was the wife Rowan picked.

This was no love match. In fact, they avoided each other as much as possible. But she was encouraged by others to see this as an opportunity for good.

I really liked this book. Very clean, a bit scary in a few parts for a younger reader, but explosions of anger, plots to murder, etc. leant the perfect amount of conflict to the story, and it was all for a reason.

It is likened to the Queen Esther story in the Bible, but honestly, it was a story (and a good one) all it’s own. Had the book not used the phrase “for such a time as this” (and the obvious reference in the title) I might not have caught the similarity.

Well done and worth my recommendation! I’ll be watching for more by this author!

[Kelly-Ann ~ Sassy Bookish Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book that will do it justice and not give anything away? It was captivating and I honestly could not believe that this was her debut book. The Peasant Queen is a retelling of my favorite Bible books Esther and boy does Ashton Dorow do an amazing job with it. This story is set in medieval times and right away from the first page you are immersed into the world of Arabella and Rowan.

Arabella is strong, brave and adamant that she does not want to be queen or be anywhere near Rowan. She carries hurts from her childhood and like any human she is flawed and knows she should rely more on God than she does. When she becomes queen she feels like God has laid upon her a burden she cannot bear but as time passes and she embraces her new life she comes to realize that this is the path God has for her.

Rowan is, well dreamy, but he's also broody. He sees Arabella and although she doesn't fit the role of queen he is intrigued by her and also wants to protect her. He is not without faults and he also has so many hurts from childhood that he can't seem to let go of them. He blames God and his heart has hardened to the point that he doesn't want anything to do with him. But then Arabella comes into his life and it all starts to change.

Their love story (insert heart eyes!!) Goodness! It was quite amazing the roller coaster of emotions that happen with them and I promise you will feel a lot of emotions towards them especially Rowan. These characters are so believable. This line says everything to me about their relationship "Every couple- even the most madly in love- have their arguments. I am convinced that a couple who never fought could possibly be normal."

One verse that immediately popped into my head after reading this story was Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on you own understanding. In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Both Arabella and Rowan had to go through difficulties in their life in order to be the people that they were but they also had to come to His feet and surrender their all to Him in order to see where God's path was leading them. Not only did that path lead them to find their way to each other but also to make things right with the kingdom.

I have been following Ashton Dorow on Instagram for awhile and her love for God definitely exudes in everything she posts. When she was looking for people to be on her review team I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of it, not only because I wanted to support her as an author but also because her book is about one of my favorite Bible stories and I wanted to see what twists or what things from the Bible story she would actually incorporate in her fictional world. I am so glad I was chosen because this story is truly phenomenal. She definitely has a bright future ahead as an author and definitely someone you should look out for. I for one cannot wait until she pens another story in the mean time go grab yourself a copy of this one.

(I received this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

[Katie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK, GUYS!! It was beautiful, heartbreaking, thought-provoking, swoon worthy, convicting, and moving.

The first 20% or so was a little boring but still enjoyable, but it soon picked up and next thing I knew I was sucked in and literarily couldn't put it down. I was reading it during breakfast one day, but it was during the climax and so I didn't put it down (despite having chores and other things to do) until 2PM... THAT'S HOW GOOD IT WAS!!

The characters were real, fleshed out, and flawed people. They had issues, pride, insecurities, hurts, anger, and hatred to work through. And a lot of the time, just like in real life, they failed. They failed to keep their temper. They failed to trust. They failed to make the right decisions. They failed to see God. They failed to be kind. They failed to put aside years of hatred to see the truth. And that made this story all the more beautiful. My heart broke and I nearly cried on several occasions for these broken, hurting characters. I loved all of the characters so much!

Arabella was an amazing, strong heroine and I loved her so, so much!! And Rowen, well as I said he had some issues. I loved how he was this awful person for a big portion of the book and that the author didn't rush his arc. She took her time with it and made it right for him.

This book guys, it spoke to me. I found myself feeling convicted and loving God all the more through this beautiful, faith filled book. It doesn't preach at you, but instead teaches you the hard truths along with the characters when they continued to make bad decisions.

I could go on forever about how much The Peasant Queen means to me, but instead I'll end this review by saying you will not regret picking it up. Ashton is an amazing indie author and I am so excited to read her future books!!

[Abigail Harris]

RTC

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an Esther retelling, I was intrigued by this story, but it ended up not quite being my cup of tea.

The switching between first and third person for Arabella and Rowan was a hard adjustment to make, but I was tired at the time so it could have just been my brain. :)

Character wise, Arabella came across as a bit high-strung. And Rowan… this man gave me emotional whiplash with his moods. I found it hard to really empathise with either of them.

The plot itself was well paced and interesting. The familiarity of the Esther story gave me an idea of what to expect while still providing some original twists.

My favourite part of the book was Uncle Matthew and Favian. There’s just something to be said for wise mentor figures—so heart warming!


Content: Rowan forceful kissing Arabella even as she clearly doesn’t want it (2x), though he does eventually apologise

[Bethany Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.
I was sucked in right from the start and was rooting for the romance between Rowan and Arabella before they knew of each other's existence.
The tension in this book had me flipping and even bending each page sitting up in the wee hours to know what would happen next.
I loved that this story reflected the story of Esther, yet it was its own story with different twists and characters that came to life, all while giving me the glorious details of what appears to be midevial life and style.
I even shed a few tears near the end when one character finally surrenders to God.
The plotline in this book was incredible and I loved how God was mentioned throughout, it reminded me that God can use anyone of us, even those that feel inadequate and unable. It reminded me that He is able and obedience to Him is always the best choice.
And even when we believe He isn't, He is working to bring all things back to Him.
I fell in love with each of these characters and this story, and while I'm very particular in what novels remain on my shelf, I'm proud to say that this one will be sitting up there, right beside my other favorites.


P.S. - Since I have finished the first draft of my Esther Retelling, I am pleased to say that there are only a few minor similarities 🤣 Whew!

[Jamie Ogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love fairytales and retellings of familiar stories so when I saw The Peasant Queen was an Esther retelling set in a fairytale-like medieval world, I knew I had to read it!

The setting and characters were well done, the story was lovely, and I especially loved Arabella’s journey of trusting God and how she had to make the conscious decision to trust Him every day, even as she questioned if He heard her prayers.

The love story between King Rowan and Arabella was definitely one worth waiting for—and boy, do you have to wait! The ups and downs of the first year of marriage are definitely well represented, along with some extra peril because—Esther retelling.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the read!

[Brenda Carrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spell Binding

I could not put this book down. This is a beautiful love story, complete with mystery, intrigue, murder,and suspense, all wrapped up with God’s mighty hand at work in the lives of the people He loves.
I’ll be ready for Ashton Dorow’s next love story.
Now to get some much needed sleep.

[Josie Creasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

I always rate a book by how often I feel like I cant wait to get back to reading it! This one did not disappoint! I read it in a few days...I loved the story! I will be recommending :)

[Paul A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful Retelling

Dorow wove a pleasant, enchanting story around the Bible's famous Queen Esther. With intrigue, charm, and a royal love story, she captured the reader from the opening line to the closing.

[Natalie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

I’ve been in a reading slump lately but I read The Peasant Queen in almost one day! It was SO GOOD.

songs that reminded me of this book:

~ Better Man - for KING & COUNTRY
~ Something There - Beauty & The Beast (yes I love that movie)

————————————————————————————
The characters were amazing and I LOVED Rowan and Arabella. Lord Favian and Uncle Matthew were also lovable with their good nuggets of wisdom.

I’m a sucker for a good romance and Mrs. Dorow’s story DID NOT DISAPPOINT. I was giggling, swoooning—everything. Rowan and Arabella’s love story was just phenomenal and one of the big reasons I couldn’t put the book down. They were so cute together, despite their rough moments and drama.

There are great faith elements all throughout the book. The characters have to learn to trust God and stop trying to do things on their own. Arabella and Rowan’s faith journeys were beautifully written.

This book also really interested me because as of late I have been doing a devotional on Esther with a small group and so I found it particularly intriguing. The author did a great job of retelling the story while also making very creative choices that made this book so good.

Content:

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this to younger audiences because of some of the heavier topics, including:
- Husband forces himself on his wife (kissing) twice.
- Man starts drinking more alcohol while grieving
- A drunk man assaults a woman but is stopped
- Some semi-detailed kissing and lots of thinking about it
- Talks of wedding night and innuendos
- Woman is attacked and hurt badly in someone’s attempt to kill her.
- Talk of blood, killing, and a mention of suicide and abuse.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I have always loved fairytales with a Christian (or at least clean) vibe, and this one did not disappoint. Arabella is comparable to Esther in the Bible but made much more vibrant and relatable while the tale still transports you back in time. I wish I were better at writing reviews instead of just gushing, but trust me that this book will not let you down. One of my favorites for sure!

[Havelah McLat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me going! I find it captivating and intriguing. I like the characters, some of them. I can see some similarities of Queen Esther. The author did a good job sharing faith and hope in the story. Only thing I wish the two POVs wasn't in same chapter. Instead each one would have their own chapter. Overall, I love it and enjoy it. I can't wait to read the sequel😊

[Angie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well done retelling--close enough to the story of Esther that I could easily track the parallels, but distinct enough to be its own story too. I liked the fact that Arabella wasn't a "perfect" heroine--that she had her own struggles with forgiveness and trusting God--although I felt like her angry outbursts were at times swept under the rug a little more than they should have been. But I liked her honesty and willingness to speak her mind, and I really loved the relationship that developed between her and Rowan.

I really liked Rowan too, for all his faults, and I was rooting for him to change for the better from the very beginning. The author definitely did a good job making him a sympathetic character, even with his obvious flaws, and I was always more sad than angry when he made a wrong decision. The minor characters were also interesting, and while the main villain of the piece was obvious, there were also some nice twists that I didn't see coming. :)

There was, however, one aspect of the climax that really bugged me. The way the book is written, it seems like we (and everyone who's reasonable) are supposed to put all the blame for their rift on Rowan's bad reaction to finding Arabella in an apparently compromising situation (along with the villain's conniving to plant and keep those thoughts in his mind). However, Arabella did put herself in a situation that was not at all wise or avoiding the appearance of wrongdoing, and one that had me very nervous from the moment she agreed to it. And then she refused (for legitimate reasons) to tell her husband what had really happened and just expected him to trust her that things were fine? And when the apologies came, they were very one-sided and accompanied by a lot of "if you loved me, you would have trusted me," with no acknowledgement of "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you" or "I know how it must have looked" on her side. In my eyes, Rowan may have been wrong not to trust her more, but it did look really bad, and I didn't blame him for his questions. And she knew from the beginning that Rowan wouldn't be happy about her doing it if he knew, which made an "innocent" meeting not really so innocent. I know it was complicated and emotional and there was a lot going on, but it still bugged me that everyone acted like the whole thing was Rowan's fault, when he did have some perfectly legitimate questions and some of Arabella's choices were dangerous to say the least. I would have liked to see some acknowledgement of regret on her side as well.

The romance did have a bit of a married-couple aspect to it--as in, I would have been bothered by some of the passion if they hadn't already been married--but it didn't get overly detailed, which I appreciated. And there were some expressions that felt very modern and took me out of the story a little. But overall, it was a nicely done retelling that I enjoyed, and the Christian themes were definitely strong.

3.5 stars

Content--mentions of kissing and touching (mostly between a married couple); references to a married couple sleeping or not sleeping together and the need to produce an heir (no details); a married couple is seen in bed together (no intimacy); accusations of adultery; violence and threats; mentions of murder and assassination; mentions of blood and wounds (not graphic); death(s) witnessed (not graphic)

[Beth Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book just grabs your attention from the start. I normally don't read the dedications part page, but I did this one. I thought it was really neat the author dedicated this book to her English teacher. I was honestly hoping this book would be different from other Esther retelling and boy this book did not disappoint. This is a brilliant love story. Arabella and Rowan both try to ignore their feelings, but soon stop thankfully. They both are determined, hard headed, and fight with all they have for things they believe in and care about. I also ❤ Arabella's horses name, Gemmula, meaning "little jewel." Rowan was so jealous about that horse, because she was such a good pick. Arabella probably still didn't know much about horses when she picked Gemmula, but she knew a good horse when she saw one😊. The characters were so well developed and Rowan and Arabella's love story is one that could become timeless. I ❤LOVE how smart Arabella is in discovering the mystery around Rowan's past. I never saw that this one guy was the baddie. I honestly thought it was someone else. I won't spoil it, but it was mind blowing almost. This book has action, mystery, and romance. I ❤LOVED this book. I also want to mention how much I ❤LOVED the Christian values and lessons this book had. This book is all about faith and trust in God. I will also mention again how much I ❤LOVE Rowan and Arabella as a couple.


**** Disclaimer I recieved a free copy of this book to review from the author. All opinions and thoughts are my own and I was not obligated to like or dislike this book.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.

[Ella J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I really liked this book! I read in in only a few days, which is something I don't do very often (it usually takes me a week or two to finish a book). This book has a perfect mix of action-filled moments, sweet romantic moments, and humorous moments that kept my attention the whole time.

My favorite thing about this book has to be the characters, especially the protagonist, Arabella. I found her extremely relatable. It was easy to imagine myself in Arabella's shoes, when she had a hard time adjusting to royal life. I also totally understood her struggles with letting go of hurt and actively forgiving. My heart truly broke for her when she experienced heartache and sorrow.
Now as for Rowan, I did have some mixed feelings about him. He made me sooo mad sometimes!!! His relationship with Arabella could be super toxic at times, so much so that I wondered how he could redeem himself. Thankfully, he had a great redemption arch. I cried when he finally let go and let God take ahold of him. The scene where he finally made things right with Arabella also made me quite emotional!

Overall I found this to be a wonderful Esther retelling. If you are looking for a great story of redemption and forgiveness and are a fan of authors like Melanie Dickerson and Lisa T. Bergren, you should totally check this book out! Please also check out the author's bookstagram! She is so nice!!!

[Carrie Cotten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was enthralled from the first page as Esther is one of my faaaaavorite stories! So powerful!
Ashton’s retelling was simply wonderful. I loved how she kept me guessing even though I “knew” what was going to happen. The details and descriptions drew me in and made me feel like I was walking the castle halls with the Queen! And that leading man... well, he’s to die for.
The relationships, the suspense, the romance and of course- the perfectly woven in spiritual message were all reasons I will read this book again and give it a full five stars!

[IyanuOluwa Olorode · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, I loved this book. From the cover to the fact it was a retelling of one of my favourite books of the Bible. I loved how it covered each base of the Esther story with a plausible, dynamic and creative angle.

I loved how Rowan and Arabella grew to love each other. Every part of the book was great and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves Christian fiction and story retellings.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. Great retelling of Esther but with many twist and turns. Engrossed throughout the whole book. Loved it.