Books with author Melanie Dickerson

She lost everything to an evil conspiracy . . . but that loss may just give her all she ever wanted. Since meeting Steffan, the Duke of Wolfberg, at Thornbeck Castle, Lady Magdalen has not been able to stop thinking about him. She knows—as a penniless lady with little to offer in terms of a dowry—she has no real hope of marrying such a highly titled man, so it comes as a great surprise when she receives a letter from him, asking for her hand in marriage. But all is not what it seems at Wolfberg Castle. Steffan has been evicted by his scheming uncle, and his cousin has taken over the title of duke. Left for dead, Steffan is able to escape, and disguised as a shepherd, hopes to gain entry to the castle to claim the items that will prove he is the true Duke of Wolfberg. Journeying to the castle, Magdalen has no idea what awaits her, but she certainly did not expect her loyal maidservant to turn on her. Forcing Magdalen to trade places with her, the servant plans to marry the duke and force Magdalen to tend the geese. Without their respective titles—and the privileges that came with them—Steffan and Magdalen are reunited in the shepherd’s field. Together they conspire to get back their rightful titles. But they must hurry . . . or else they risk losing it all to the uncle’s evil plan.

Mulan is trying to resign herself to marrying the village butcher for the good of her family, but her adventurous spirit just can’t stand the thought. At the last minute, she pretends to be the son her father never had, assumes his duties as a soldier, and rides off to join the fight to protect the castle of her liege lord’s ally from the besieging Teutonic Knights. Wolfgang and his brother Steffan leave Hagenheim with several other soldiers to help their father’s ally in Poland. When they arrive, Wolfgang is exasperated by the young soldier Mikolai who seems to either always be one step away from disaster . . . or showing Wolfgang up in embarrassing ways. When Wolfgang discovers his former rival and reluctant friend Mikolai is actually a girl, he is determined to protect her. But battle is a dangerous place where anything can happen—and usually does. When Mulan receives word that her mother has been accused of practicing witchcraft through her healing herbs and skills, Mulan’s only thought is of defending her. Will she be able to trust Wolfgang to help? Or will sacrificing her own life be the only way to save her mother?

From the streets of the Holy Land to an orphanage in a faraway kingdom, Aladdin has grown up alone. But then he meets Kirstyn. With the duke of Hagenheim for a father and the patroness of the orphanage where Aladdin lives for a mother, Kirstyn is a member of the most powerful family in the land-and way out of his league. Despite the difference in their stations, Aladdin quickly becomes Kirstyn's favorite companion for taking walks in the forest, and their childhood friendship grows as they do. Although Aladdin eventually earns a position in the Duke's household, he knows it isn't enough to grant him his one desire: Kirstyn's hand in marriage. If he hopes to become worthy of her, he must leave Hagenheim to seek his fortune. But once Aladdin leaves, no one is around to protect Kirstyn, and the greedy men desperate to take advantage of her father's wealth take notice. Now, more than Aladdin's background stands in the way of his future. His only hope is to rescue Kirstyn and somehow manage to win her hand as w

In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina faces threats from all sides. An outbreak of rats has overtaken the town, a mysterious beast of unusual size appears to be stealing away the village’s children, and her stepfather, the mayor of Hamlin, is a dark presence inside the walls of her own home. Katerina is determined to hunt and kill the Beast of Hamlin herself before more lives are lost. When Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son with a less than admirable reputation, comes to town seeking glory and reward, Katerina reluctantly decides he might be the ally she’s been looking for―the only person in town she can trust not to be under the influence of her stepfather. But there’s more to Steffan than she suspects, and she finds herself drawn to him despite her reluctance to trust any man. Katerina and Steffan must stop the enemy from stealing every child of Hamlin. Will Steffan be able to overcome his own longstanding issues to help the beautiful and brave Katerina? Or will their interference create a worse fate for them all?

Gisela's childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son, Valten. But since her father's death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela learns that Valten-the boy she has daydreamed about for years-is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, if only for a taste of a life she'll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten's eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.

Rapunzel's mother is suspicious of everyone, keeping her daughter isolated and illiterate in a country hamlet. After Rapunzel's beauty elicits a marriage proposal, Mother decides to move them to the large city of Hagenheim. The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight-Sir Gerek-Rapunzel in turn rescues him farther down the road. Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position? As Rapunzel uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life, will she finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?

Rapunzel can throw a knife better than any man. She paints beautiful flowering vines on the walls of her plaster houses. She sings so sweetly she can coax even a beast to sleep. But there are two things she is afraid her mother might never allow her to do: learn to read and marry.Fiercely devoted to Rapunzel, her mother is suspicious of every man who so much as looks at her daughter and warns her that no man can be trusted. After a young village farmer asks for Rapunzel’s hand in marriage, Mother decides to move them once again—this time, to the large city of Hagenheim.The journey proves treacherous, and after being rescued by a knight—Sir Gerek—Rapunzel in turn rescues him further down the road. As a result, Sir Gerek agrees to repay his debt to Rapunzel by teaching her to read. Could there be more to this knight than his arrogance and desire to marry for riches and position?As Rapunzel acclimates to a new city, she uncovers a mystery that will forever change her life. In this Rapunzel story unlike any other, a world of secrets and treachery is about to be revealed after seventeen years of lies. How will Rapunzel finally take control of her own destiny? And who will prove faithful to a lowly peasant girl with no one to turn to?“The Golden Braid is a delightful, page-turning retelling of the story of Rapunzel. Dickerson brings this familiar fairy tale to life with a fresh and unique plot that is full of complex characters, a sweet romance, and danger at every turn. Rapunzel’s search to understand her place in the medieval world is a timeless identity struggle that modern readers will relate to. Her growing courage and faith are inspirational and will have readers cheering her on and sad to see the story come to an end.” —Jody Hedlund, bestselling author of An Uncertain Choice“Readers who love getting lost in a fairytale romance will cheer for Rapunzel’s courage as she rises above her overwhelming past. The surprising way Dickerson weaves threads of this enchanting companion novel with those of her other Hagenheim stories is simply delightful. Her fans will love it.” —Jill Williamson, Christy Award-winning author of the Blood of Kings trilogy and the Kinsman Chronicles

Margaretha hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But when an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead, only Margaretha is able to understand him. Reluctant to translate the message for her father, Margaretha convinces herself that man is just an addled stranger. She is sure that he must be completely wrong about her potential betrothed. But when Margaretha overhears Claybrook's wicked plot, she realizes that she's been wrong about everything and that it's going to be up to her to save both her father and Hagenheim.

Annabel is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Even worse is the company of Lord Ranulf's bailiff-a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands. Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

Annabel is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Even worse is the company of Lord Ranulf's bailiff-a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands. Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina faces threats from all sides. An outbreak of rats has overtaken the town, a mysterious beast of unusual size appears to be stealing away the village’s children, and her stepfather, the mayor of Hamlin, is a dark presence inside the walls of her own home. Katerina is determined to hunt and kill the Beast of Hamlin herself before more lives are lost. When Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son with a less than admirable reputation, comes to town seeking glory and reward, Katerina reluctantly decides he might be the ally she’s been looking for―the only person in town she can trust not to be under the influence of her stepfather. But there’s more to Steffan than she suspects, and she finds herself drawn to him despite her reluctance to trust any man. Katerina and Steffan must stop the enemy from stealing every child of Hamlin. Will Steffan be able to overcome his own longstanding issues to help the beautiful and brave Katerina? Or will their interference create a worse fate for them all?