(3/5⭐️) “A dandelion suddenly looked like a puff of smoke with a burned charcoal center. A forest looked like a group of soldiers in the dark, marching straight and tall. A cluster of wildflowers on a distant hill became a mass of color and texture that she contemplated how to duplicate with a brush and paint.”

Frederick is a the son of a peasant farmer while Adela is the youngest daughter of a duke. Frederick is determined to make a better life for himself through his craft as a woodcarver, carving the doors to Hagenheim’s chapel. Adela just wants to be normal. She’s a painter with a desire for creativity. She’s tired of being trailed by her father’s guards, and long to find her own adventure. When she begins to sneak into the marketplace under the guise of a peasant, she develops feelings for Frederick. He seems to be the only one who understands her artistic inclinations. But falling in love isn’t simple for them. Frederick is a peasant while Adela is expected to marry within her station. When outside forces interfere with their budding relationship, they must fight against all odds if their love is to endure.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I picked it up because of the pretty cover and premise, and because I was looking for a simple romance. That’s exactly what this was: a simple romance. There were no layers beyond that. Overall, there were things I liked and things I didn’t like. I enjoyed Frederick and Adela’s romance, and the forces that came in between them. It was the suspense that drove the plot forward and kept me reading. The romance was sweet and innocent. I can see there being a whole market for this kind of book, especially a religious/Christian based market because of the abundance of bible references.

What I didn’t like was the lack of overall character growth. Lack of layers. Lack of world building. Lack of complexity. The story is entirely plot driven; it’s not one that sticks with you for long or leaves you thinking about it after finishing it. Neither Adela or Frederick went through any kind of internal conflict driven personal growth/change/development. Aside from the love they gained for each other, neither came away fundamentally different at the end of the story. The only conflict were the forces keeping them apart.

The world building was simple. While this was marketed to be a “Cinderella in reverse” story, I felt that was a big stretch. Yes, the roles are reversed where Frederick is the peasant and Adela, the duke’s daughter. But that’s where the similarities stop until the last few chapters. At the very end, Frederick must race to get to the ball in time before Adela agrees to marry someone else. This is the only “Cinderella-esk” aspect. The bishop plays the fairy godmother role of getting him prepared in time, dressed far above his means. Still, there was a definite stretch for marketing in such a bold statement.

The writing was really basic. I hate saying this, but it was. I can usually find a few pretty lines to quote in a book review. This one I struggled to find one snippet of text to put into this review. Melanie Dickerson must have written this in a very mechanical churn-and-burn approach. She resorted to repetitive sensation descriptions for budding love. If I had a penny for every time a character had a racing heart or fluttering stomach, I’d have a jar of change. I would have appreciated more creativity here. There were also a few strings left untied. For example, Frederick mentions multiple times that he wishes he could see Adela’s art and talent. Not once did Adela show him her artistic abilities, any of the work she created. She didn’t show the reader, either. She talks about how much she loves art and painting, but we don’t get a single scene where she’s “creating” anything. So we’re being told, but not shown any of the abilities that make her unique as a character. That was a disappointment because this was the thing we, as readers, need to connect with her.

The Bible stories referenced, with the frequent mentions of God, felt overdone. I’m a religious person, so I didn’t mind it too much. However, I felt that if mentioned this often, the stories should have tied into the main story better, either as a metaphors or analogy to something happening in the book. I was a turned-off and I could see it being such for other readers too. But I think women of the religious community looking for a wholesome romance might appreciate it. I’m thinking of my mom specifically here...

Overall, I enjoyed the read. It was simple, and I was entertained enough to keep going. This was my first Melanie Dickerson book, so I didn’t exactly have any expectations going in. Rather, I went in with an open mind. There were a few redeeming qualities to the book, such as the creative plot in bringing Adela and Frederick together. That was ultimately the only thing that kept me going. If you like simple, comfortable romance based reads, you will probably enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really sweet story. There is innocence and love -- and joy that overcomes evil. Since this is book # 11 in the Hagenheim series, there is already a very substantial world built and most of the story's time is spent solely focused on our main characters. The glimpses we get into Hagenheim are delightful though. I rarely read stories from this time so it's an absolute treat to pick up period-specific details.

Speaking of the characters: while sweet, they were a little too one-dimensional for my taste, especially considering the amount of time we spend with them (as mentioned above). I didn't feel a personal connection with either of the main characters, so I wasn't as invested in their story as I normally would have been. On one side we have an innocent young woman who dislikes her reputation as "spoiled" and aspires to be an artist. On the other side we have an innocent, selfless, impoverished young man who aspires to become a wood carver. There is more to their personalities, but not much. They are beautiful characters though; just a bit untapped/unfinished.

My other personal struggle with this story is that it felt so ... depressing. Which is odd, because the overarching theme is quite the opposite. But I continually grew weary while reading it, and after a while I realized it was because there was such a substantial focus on the darkness, tension, and negativity surrounding the characters and their respective situations. There are a couple curve balls thrown at Frederick in particular that were emotionally tiring. The story’s tone significantly improves in the last 20% but it was quite an emotional ride to get to that point.

While this story adds to the Hagenheim world, and while the series is richer for its existence, I don't anticipate revisiting this one anytime soon. It is a good story, but not Dickerson's strongest.

Thank you, author and publisher, for the opportunity to read this story! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

DNF. The writing was so poorly done; the exposition dump made it unreadable: did an editor even touch this? The characters felt immature and the pacing was incredibly dull.

I found it unbelievable that this is considered publishable writing.

I am definitely sorry to reach the end of this series - but happy that Dickerson ended this particular installment with a couple of my favorite romantic tropes. This isn't my favorite of this collection, but it's what we've come to expect from Dickerson: a doomed romance full of trials, held together through faith. She definitely has an adept hand with fairy tale retellings with a fresh perspective.

This one is sadly not my favorite of the series. From what I hear it's the end, and it tied things up. It still has the medieval feel, the rich girl, poor boy/reversed Cinderella story. But something about the language or dialogue just sounds not as well written as her other ones. Maybe it's simple? It reads like its for younger kids, and her series is geared towards teens, but not that young. I picked the book up and put it down many times and had a hard time finishing it. That's very unusual because some of the ones in this series I've read in a day. I would save this one for last because it is supposed to be the end. And if you've never read the author I'd begin with the early ones in the series because those really are the best. It's sad to give a not so great review because even her last few were really good.

The Peasant's Dream
by Melanie Dickerson
Book 11 in the Hagenheim series
Rating: 4.5/5
Release date: July 7, 2020

Reverse Cinderella story? Yes, please. I always love a good fairytale retelling but when you reverse the roles and fill out the characters and backstory so much, I did not want to put the book down. I am a huge fan of Melanie Dickerson because she takes the time to really develop her characters and fill in the fairytale background. She brings you back into her world of Hagenheim and it was such a fun adventure. Though this is part of a series, you can read this book by itself but I still highly recommend reading the rest of the series because it's that good.

Frederick is a talented woodcarver who dreams of being able to escape his abusive father's farm and make a living for his mother and younger twin sisters. When he gets a chance to sell some of his carvings at the market, a priest sees his talent and convinces the bishop to hire Frederick to carve the new doors for the cathedral. While at market, Frederick meets Adela and a friendship begins.

Adela is the youngest daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim who wishes she could travel and pursue her painting and creative side. Her father is very protective of her and Adela just wishes she could explore the world without being recognized as the Duke's daughter. She disguises herself as a servant and goes off to explore the marketplace where she meets Frederick. She is surprised to find someone who understands her as an artist - someone who is kind and makes her smile. Although her parents are trying to help her find a kind nobleman to marry, Adela doesn't feel anything for him - at least not what she starts feeling for Frederick, who doesn't know who she really is.

What happens when Frederick finds out the truth about Adela's status? What happens when someone wants Frederick out of the way? Can Adela and Frederick find a way to be together?

I am never disappointed with a Melanie Dickerson novel. Her characters have depth and a charm that makes the reader want to cheer them on. She has been building this world of Hagenheim for many years and it's always such a pleasure to dive back into this fantasy world. I feel like the transformation that the main characters go through could have been developed more but it doesn't take away from the amazing adventure and the awesome reveals in this story.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy fairytale retelling with a twist.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

This is another great addition to the Hagenheim series and I can't wait to see more books in the series. Keep up the good work.

'Frederick, God is your Father, and in His yes, you are legitimate.'

I love fairy tales. I loved them as a child and love them still as an adult. Melanie Dickerson takes fairy tales and changes them up a bit into wonderful inspirational stories. This one is a reverse Cinderella and is beautifully told. Recommended.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.'

The Peasant's Dream was my first Melanie Dickson novel. I always think of stories of peasants, dukes, and set in the past as fantasy. I shouldn't unless there is magic/folklore/creatures. Therefore, I guess this is historical fiction? It's also book eleven, but it stands on its own. The couples who are mentioned are obviously from earlier books.

Adela is a flat character with no depth. She calls herself spoiled; others say she is not. She wants adventure, so she says, but really doesn't. She meets another flat character, Frederick, who loves to carve. His sisters are not the nicest girls but their father is an abusive man. Their mother cares for all of her children. Frederick ignores his father and takes care of the farm, spending his free time carving in wood. He's an artist like Adela. Adela paints and sews. They meet when he performs a good dead and goes to a healer for his neighbor. Adela, too, is a good person.

Adela determines to see more than castle in which she lives. Disguised as a servant, she sneaks out to the marketplace alone. She finds Frederick selling his carvings. They are drawn to each other. There are some kinks thrown into the plot for them to overcome before the novel can end. Nothing is terribly clever or unexpected Everyone is basically good. One man is the "bad" guy; well, the father is bad as well, but good overcomes bad.

In this end, the characters are simple characters, the plot is unoriginal and the ending is expected. It sounds like I didn't like the novel. It was a pleasant couple of hours for my brain to get a complete break. If you want a light-hearted, no-brainer, you'll enjoy this simple, escapist wholesome novel.

I received this review copy from Netgalley.

An interesting fairytale retelling as it is a reverse Cinderella. Poor peasant boy who has been treated badly falling in love with a girl of much higher statise. The Duke's daughter herself disguises herself to wander among the common people. I always find retellings interesting and what made this one so interesting is the twists to the traditional story. It was a simply told story making it quick easy read.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed reading Peasant Dreams from the very beginning. Everything I love in a book was here. There was love, romance, danger, good and evil, waiting in anticipation for all to be well all for it to it get worse. Adela and Frederick made me feel their emotions and champion their causes. I carried a torch for them from their first chance meeting at the healers where we got the first taste of Fredericks character and heart for others. Until the last scene which was filled with so much imagery that days later will make you smile and fill your dreams.
Adela wanted so much more than being a Duke’s daughter or a nobleman’s wife and was trying to find a way to see the world when she met Frederick on her wanderings. They both loved the arts, she with her drawings and embroidery and he with his woodworking, that they instantly found so much to talk about. Lots of situations tugged to keep Adela and Frederick apart including their stations in life, disapproving parents, an illegitimate child, a fiancé, a loyal advisor, dungeons, death, and even their own hearts. Would they be able to overcome all the obstacles set in their paths and still find each other?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a ARC in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own.

This wasn’t for me. It sounded great and promising, but I could never get into it. Giving it 3 stars because it had plenty of things going for it. Loved the premise and the cover.

This book was interesting and enjoyable. Ms Dickerson is known for her medieval fairy-tale stories and this one did not disappoint. I had a hard time with some of the names and because of the setting I pronounced everything with an accent in my head. Am I the only one who does that?
The main character is very like able, noble and courageous. The heroine does come across as a bit spoiled, but this just emphasizes the differences in their stations. I like how everything concluded in the end.
I did struggle a little bit to stay interested, it was very slow moving at first, but it did get better and ended well. I would highly recommend this book for YA.
I was given this copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions and review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Peasant’s Dream by Melanie Dickerson is an excellent historical fiction novel that is the 11th book in her Hagenheim series. Each book, I feel, can be a stand alone novel, but with a book this good, why would one not want to read the rest of the series!

This book is styled in a Cinderella-esc plot with role reversals: the impoverished half Frederick and Adela being the daughter of a Duke.

It was a refreshing and relaxing story of two opposites finding love and one another despite their differences and obstacles. I enjoyed the plot, the mystery, suspense, and action. All of these added facets kept me engaged. I also loved the positive ending.

5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

As always with Dickerson, this book was cheesy and a bit too simplified for me to feel any real “tension” for the characters. I had no fears that everything would work out in their favor at the end, but I suppose that's why it's a fairy tale. I like how Melanie did the reverse Cinderella aspects, though. It was interesting to have an “evil” step-father instead of a step-mother and it definitely makes a difference if the “peasant” is the boy and the royal is the girl. There were a few unexpected plot twists throw in there that gave the book another layer so it wasn't just the two main characters pining over each other for three hundred pages.

As for the story, though, it was predictable and easy. Some parts seemed way too illogical and ridiculous for me to believe and sometimes the characters acted more like lovestruck middle schoolers than new adults. I also tired of the repetitive narrative. The characters linger on the same though process over and over, and ideas are repeated way too often.

The biggest surprise, however, was how invested I became in Frederick’s mom . Her story, what she went through, what she does in this book to give herself agency and protect her family was so much better than the main story line. She was the best character and everything that happens to her is freaking great. You go, ma'am!

As always, I recommend Melanie Dickerson’s stories to a younger audience looking to read YA romance or for someone who doesn’t mind a simple, straightforward, and clean story.

The Peasant's Dream is the tale of a woodcarver falling in love with a Princess. Frederick lives with his abusive father, mother and two sisters in a run down hut on the edge of the kingdom. Adela is the youngest princess in the royal family and is about to be married off to the most appropriate match. The thing is, Adela wants to travel the world and paint - not to settle down and do nothing but look pretty and bear children for the rest of her life. She sneaks out of the palace one afternoon and encounters Frederick in the market. Frederick finally had a chance to sneak away from his endless farming chores to sell his exquisite carvings - a "hobby" his drunken father despises. Of course they fall in love, but Adela is being forced into marrying Lord Barthold. When Frederick makes a bad choice that tragically backfires, Adela has no choice but to go along with her parents' plans.

Melanie Dickerson has created another fabulous entry in her Fairy Tale Romance series. This one is an exciting twist on the Cinderella tale. Fans of modern or re-imagined fairy tales will love this, but any young fiction aficionado will enjoy it as well. I appreciate the chance to read the ARC!.

Frederick helps his abusive dad on the farm, but all he really wants to be is a wood carver. Adela is the Duke's daughter and wants to know what it would be like to roam the streets without everyone staring at her as if she was noble or something. She meets Frederick, who sneaks away from the farm, to try to make a life for himself selling his carvings. Things get complicated as they both try to keep secrets from one another and someone in the castle doesn't want them together and works hard to keep them apart.
When I read Melanie Dickerson books, it's because I want something light, easy, and fun. That's exactly what I got with this one. It was a fun read and easy to get into as I followed the adventures of Adela and Frederick. Their characters weren't complicated. The story had no crazy twists and turns. It was just sweet, straight forward and I loved it.
I give it four stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. Review and comments are my own. First of all this is a faith based book which was nice and refreshing. I loved how it was intertwined with the story....This is a reverse Cinderella story told wonderfully. Wealthy Adele first eyes Fredrick when he is getting "medicine" for a poor woman in his town, her child is deathly ill. So right off the bat, the reader falls in love with Frederick. I just loved loved these characters and watching the poor wood carver fall for the daughter of a wealthy duke. Great read!

I have really enjoyed this series but this book story wasn’t my favorite of the bunch.
Frederick and Adelas story was sweet but a little slow moving for my taste.
One thing I really love about Melanie’s books is getting peeks/insights about the previous characters of the series.

I love Melanie Dickerson's novelizations of well-known fairy tales. The Peasant's Dream is a kind of reverse Cinderella story.

Frederick is the son/slave of a drunken farmer, and he also carves wood in his spare time. He is always available to help out when needed by friends and neighbors. His mother encourages him to take his carvings to the market, where he is noticed by one of the Fathers who works with the Bishop. Thomas, the Father, buys one of the carvings to show the Bishop. Frederick also meets Adela, the daughter of the local Duke.

Adela is taken by Frederick, but at the same time, she is being courted by the son of another Duke. She feels for Frederick what people believe she should feel for the son of the other Duke.

Melanie has populated the book with the requisite self-absorbed half-sisters, the ubiquitous bad guys, and the abusive parent. She has added some secrets about her characters that only add to the story. Her settings are on point and lie in the background where they belong, but add to the story when they are described.

This is a five star book, two thumbs up, and a glass slipper.

Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. The opinions expressed are my own.