Think fairy tales and Disney movies. Now combine plots of several of them and you will have Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson. Cute, happily ever after, and lovable characters. Very suitable as a YA book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lady of Disguise by @melaniedickerson123
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sweet, clean romance that is a modern retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. I’ve only read one other book by this author but I loved it so thought I’d give this one a chance. It was the same narrator, which I was excited about because she sounds like one of the actors in Downton Abbey. 🙌🏼🤩
My oldest devours Dickerson’s books and was mad that I got to read this one before she did. 😆

It is set for release on 2/13. All opinions are honest and my own.

Thank you @melaniedickerson123, @netgalley, and @thomasnelson for an ARC ebook and audiobook of Lady of Disguise! #netgalley #goodreads #bookstagram #literarypearlsof24 #ladyofdisguise #cleanreads

Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson is a great historical fiction that is the sixth book in The Dericott Tales series.

A loose retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. Louisa escapes her uncle’s house as he is trying to marry her and her sister off to the highest bidder. She will do anything to keep her sister safe, including disguising herself as a boy (Jack) and going on a quest to look for the Viking treasure which is said to be guarded by a giant. On the way, she meets up with Sir Charles of Dericott, who knowing she is a girl in disguise decides to travel with her to keep her safe.

Charles and Louisa each have their own challenges but with faith, and hope, they work together to overcome the obstacles they face.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Christian romance and fairy tale retellings.

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

'Lady of Disguise' by M. Dickerson is a gentle romantic read set in England 1388 that has a soft fairytale vibe, it's also about adventures, brave knights, fair maidens, greedy individuals and common folks. It would also be correct to name it a Jack and the Beanstalk retelling.

I enjoyed reading the dual perspectives of the story. The pacing was a bit slow at the start and slightly repetitive towards the middle. But I do understanding the point of this as it shows insights into both of the characters thoughts and respective growth. The female lead Louisa is a very brace, kind and loving sister who risked it all to escape the life her greedy relatives wanted for her. It still astonishes me to this day about the way the womenfolk were treated in the past... (we still have a long way to go). May I also add the male lead, being the actual 'knight in shining armor', Sir Charles, is such a sweetheart and chivalrous man and I was rooting for all to go well for him from the very start. I found this story very straightforward and doesn't twist and turn like some of the books I had read before, and it was refreshing and positive! While I haven't read any of Dickerson's works before, I read this without knowing it was a series - it was still enjoyable.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the complimentary e-book I received to review through Netgalley. All thoughts above are my own.

I enjoyed this book as a light read, from an author I could trust to have quality content. I liked the characters, and I thought Dickerson did a good job using the original fairy tale but still creating something new. I thought that Lousia was a strong protagonist, although I did find her character arc was maybe not as full as it could be. All in all, I quite enjoyed the whole story, and I always like the tie-ins to the previous books in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Louisa has had a hard life. Her Uncle wants to marry her and her sister off to the highest bidders. She will do anything to keep her sister safe, including disguising herself as a boy and going on a quest to look for the Viking treasure which is said to be guarded by a giant. On the way, she meets up with Sir Charles of Derricott who decided he needs to travel with her to keep her safe.
This is a loose retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. It is a clean, magic free, young adult Christian fiction story. As always, Melanie Dickerson has woven a great tale. It is solidly done. The audio book narrator does a great job of bringing the character alive.
I would recommend this book to the young and old alike who love fairytales. If you don’t care for the fairytale type stories this would not be the story for you.

With this sixth installment in the Dericott series the reader gets to meet Sir Charles, one of the younger brothers all grown up. It has been a fascinating journey to follow all the siblings in their fairytale retelling quests. Seeing how they grow in their faith and learn to live lives devoted to God, King, and country. Sir Charles has decided to allow God to lead him to his next noble quest, helping any who are in need along the way. Louisa has her own quest and learning to do on the journey ahead. As they join together on the journey, each needs to experience exactly what God has in store for them and to be reminded of all the wonderful things God has accomplished in their lives. Melanie Dickerson does a wonderful job using words to paint a vivid picture of the landscape these adventuring characters travel through. The reader is transported back in time to experience medieval England and all the dangers involved in that time. The characters are written so well it feels like friends are telling you about their latest adventure. Louisa is sweet and so caring, Sir Charles is so noble and sturdy. The sub characters help to set up surprising twists in the story that pull the reader along on the trip. I have enjoyed Melanie Dickerson's interesting twists on many fairytales and look forward to the next trip to Medieval England with the last brother. It will be hard to say goodbye to this family when it is over. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"None of us get what we deserve," Louisa was quick to say, "because God is merciful and forgiving, and He has forgiven you."

Lady of Disguise is the sixth installment of Melanie Dickerson's The Derricott series. I really enjoy the series she writes because of how relatable her characters. I love that she does retellings of fairy tales, even some that you wouldn't expect, like Jack and the Beanstalk. This was an easy to read, fun book that I couldn't put down from page one. I finished it in a day. Louisa was such a sweet, brave soul who truly deserved to find happiness and I loved how protective and honorable Charles was. And, as much as I loved the two main characters, I think my favorite character was Allistor. He truly melted my heart. I hated how difficult of a life he had lived and was glad that he has the hopes of better now. I only wish the other Derricott siblings could have been featured more in the story. It would have been good to be able to "visit" with the rest of the family some. That said, Dickerson truly does introduce some amazing new characters in this story. Some of them, I loved and some I absolutely hated. I really did like the cover design even though it doesn't really match the rest of the series.

A very loose retelling of Jack & the Beanstalk, it another entertaining story by Melanie Dickerson. Not wanting to be married off to a man of her uncle's choosing, and to protect her sister Margaret, Louise disguses herself as a boy and runs away to find fabled Viking treasure. A day after starting out she meets up with Sir Charles, who, seeing through the disguise, decides to go along as protection on the quest for treasure. At different points along the journey (and for various lengths of time), they are joined by various people who treat Louise differently, depending on their overall attitude of women. It's a sweet romance.
I received an ARC copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Another great fairy tale retelling from Melanie Dickerson. This story along was filled with sadness, a controlling Uncle but also happiness, a heartfelt love and faith elements. Melanie always writes the right amount of faith in her books to have to feeling at peace and not feeling like God is being shoved down your throat. Another great story in this series of wonderful stories with the Dericott family.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for my review ARC. These words are my own.

Another Amazing Reimagining Of A Favorite Fairy Tale!

I should not be surprised when I’m finished with another Dericott Book that I’m ready for more! Run to get your hands on this book!

Louisa was delightful and I loved her portrayal as a strong woman with a heart for God. Charles was honorable and such a kind heart. I felt all the characters were very interesting. Of course you wouldn’t have a fairytale without a villain!

Audiobook: Narrated by Jude Mason
The Narrator is amazing. The different accents are spot on and are not distracting. She gives another dimension to the book. I was so drawn in I got my kitchen clean before I knew it!!!

I can’t wait for her next book!

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

Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson is the next Dericot tale, stories about knights and ladies in King Richard’s court. Sir Charles meets Louisa on the road. She is disguised as a boy and headed to find a treasure that is supposedly guarded by a giant. Along the way, they meet new friends and start to fall in love. But how can they make things work when her uncle is determined to make her marry a man of his choice. Thanks NetGalley for the chance to read and listen to this book.

I did not realize this was part of a series until after I started reading. This can definitely be read as a stand alone. I liked the take the story took on the folk tale of Jack and the Bean Stalk. I thought it read more like a young adult book than adult book. I think this could have been a great short story.

** 3.5 stars 🌟 🌟 **

At this point, I believe I've read almost all of the books in this series. I liked the earlier books more as they were closer to their medival fairytale counterparts they supposedly originated from

This story was based on Jack and the Beanstalk. Louisa is all about protecting her sister and getting away from her uncle, but in a time when women are considered more chattel than people - she will do anything to do that even following crazy stories like giants and treasure. Women can't travel alone during medieval times so she dresses like a boy to easily hide and move about.

Louisa isn't a character that grabs your attention. She cried a lot. And I mean A LOT. Ugh, like a river it seems. I was rolling my eyes often. I found myself liking the side characters, like Allister and Charles more than the main character.

While I like the prior books better, I still liked the direction the author took the Beanstalk retelling.

** Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion * *

#LadyofDisguise #NetGalley
This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone novel. A retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. Two sisters are being forced to marry so that their uncle can claim their bride money. Louisa is determined that she will run away and find a treasure and buy back her father's property so they won't have to be under their cruel uncle's schemes of marriage. A journey to find the treasure finds Lousia disguising herself as a young servant boy and not fooling anyone with her beautiful features shining underneath her disguise. She meets several people on her journey making friends along the way. She also meets a dashing knight who saves her life. A fast paced novel for teens that held my interest.

I always look forward to Melanie Dickerson's new books, as it's always exciting to discover what fairytale she's going to adapt next

I've never personally read a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk before, so I was eagerly anticipating this one, as I couldn't wait to discover how the author was going to tackle this slightly more obscure fairytale. While I will say I enjoyed how she wove elements of the original into her own story, it did feel pretty "lightly" inspired by, and I would have loved it to have been adapted on a bit more.

Lady of Disguise carries on the stories of the Dericott siblings we were introduced to back in Court of Swans, and this time one of the younger brothers, Charles, is stepping up to the plate as the main male protagonist. Our female protagonist is a a young woman named Louisa, who has run away from her Uncle's strict household to try and find the treasure she's grown up believing in, in order to create a better future for her and her younger sister than marrying one of the many old, rich men her uncle keeps forcing their way. She decides to disguise herself as a boy to try and go unnoticed, and soon stumbles upon Sir Charles along the way. He feels drawn to help her with her quest, and soon the two set out together to try and prove or disprove the treasure's existence once and for all, picking up a band of merry misfit characters to join them along the way.

In true Melanie Dickerson fashion, the Medieval period was fun to read about, and the writing style keeps the reader engaged in the story from start to finish. Unfortunately, however, I didn't end up feeling that this was one of the author's better stories as I didn't end up enjoying either main character, some of the liberties she took with the time period to make the plotline work, and I thought the romance seemed a lot more insta lovey/insta lusty than has been the case with any of the other novels I've read by her.

That being said, I did wholeheartedly end up enjoying the last few chapters of the book, and without spoiling anything, the emphasis on things not always being what they seem and how no one is ever too far gone to be covered by the never ending grace of our Heavenly Father.

Final Rating: 3/5.

I'd recommend this one to anyone who enjoys fairy tale retellings with a heavy faith presence, but I would personally recommend many of Melanie's other retellings over this one.



Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this title!

I voluntary read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

3.5

Lady of Disguise is the 6th book of Dickerson’s Dericott Tales. This book focuses on the 5th brother, Charles. As well as Louisa Lenton. An orphan since 12, she and her sister have been living under the roof of their greedy uncle whose only wish is to marry them off for a hefty bride price each. Fed up at her uncle, especially when he starts forcing her 12 year old sister to attend marriage meetings, Louisa embarks on a long, dangerous journey alone to find the famed treasure that’s guarded by a giant in Yorkshire. But even though Louisa goes dressed as a boy, she still comes across a lot of trouble until the recently heartbroken Charles begins to protect her. Can the two get over their pasts and find a way to reach the treasure as well as come to terms with their own growing feelings?

Stable. Reliable. Good ol’ Melanie Dickerson. If you want an earnest, soft, sweet, tame love story with heavy religious elements? This is the series for you. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Come to Dickerson for a solid, innocent re-telling of a beloved fairytale and you will leave warmhearted and content. Truly, pick any fairytale, she’s probably already written a retelling or will soon.

Like I said, this is the 6th book of the series. You do not need to read any previous books to be able to understand this one, though it is recommended. You can even read the books in any order.

Overall this was a very decent instalment. I wasn’t in love with either of Louisa’s or Charles’ character until maybe the last 5 chapters. Before that they were both wishy washy to me. I am looking forward to book 7 though, which I assume will focus on David. I just hope that he’ll have more of a personality than that of just a ‘man of god’, which would be fine if this wasn’t the 6th time I’m reading of a MMC with a boring personality.

Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickersons is the 6th book of the Dericott Tale by Melanie Dickerson and didn’t disappoint. It is well written and kept me reading. The story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Louisa, Sir Charles and Margaret were such lovable characters.
Louisa meets Sir Charles on her quest to find the treasure. They meet many interesting people and had such a great adventure.
They were afraid when they met the giant, but he was so lovable and kind that Sir Charles and Louisa wanted to help him.
I received an ARC from NetGallery and the publisher Thomas Nelson. All options are mine.

This was a fun continuation of the series about the Dericott brothers. This was has a hint of Jack and the Beanstalk, without being overt.

Louisa is being sold off at a price in marriage by her uncle, her 12 year old sister too. She decided to leave and search for a treasure her deceased father has told her stories about. She is met and saved on this journey by Sir Charles, a knight without a post, and their adventures begin.

This is a clean, young adult read.

Lady of Disguise is Melanie Dickerson's sixth installment in The Dericott Tale series. It is a Jack and the Beanstalk retelling, which I don't believe has ever been done before. I was excited to read this as I have never read Melanie Dickerson previously, and I was intrigued by the Jack and the Beanstalk story as a child.

There are a few triggers for younger readers, such as familial abuse, domestic abuse, kidnapping, lust, and discussion of child marriage/selling of a child bride.

Louisa and her sister, Margaret, who is 12, are living with their aunt and uncle, after the death of their parents. When their uncle tries to sell Louisa and Margaret into marriage, Louisa remembers the story of the Viking treasure hidden in Scotland and guarded by a giant. Louisa decides she needs to save her sister and herself so she cuts her hair off, dresses as a boy, and runs away in search of the treasure. On the road, Louisa, dressed as "Jack" meets Sir Charles, a young knight who decides to go on the journey with Louisa. After learning her true identity, the twosome has many adventures and surprises on the journey, and they start to fall in love.

I enjoyed the story of Louisa as "Jack" and the relationship she has with Sir Charles. There were a few parts of the book that I felt dragged a bit, but the side stories of the widow and her son meeting the shoe merchant and the woman named Richie were lovely. I felt that the parts of the book with Louisa and Sir Charles were secondary to Richie and wanted to delve more into her story rather than our two main protagonists. I loved the part with Charles, Louisa, and the precious giant. The ending was fast and left me wanting a bit more. You do not have to read the other books in The Dericott Tale series to read this book as it was a standalone story.

One thing that does bother me is that the cover (while pretty) does not match the other books in the series. When I purchase a book in a series, I like my books to match. Maybe it's just that I am odd, but it would bother me to see the oddity in a series on my shelves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.