Healer's Apprentice

Rose is the daughter of a wood-cutter, and has been appointed as the apprentice to the healer.  She tries to her best to do well and make the healer proud, but the sight of blood makes her queasy!  When the prince comes in needing assistance with a gash in his leg, Rose must gather the strength to mend his wound thus beginning an unlikely friendship.  Hamlien encourages Rose to accept his brother Rupert despite his reputation in an effort to get her off his own mind and heart.  Hamlien has other things to worry about such as finding an evil sorcerer so that his betrothed (whom he has never met) may come out of hiding.  Rose and Hamlien struggle to hide their feelings for one another, will they be able to forget their feelings?  Will the prince find his betrothed?  Read on to find out!


I have read Melanie Dickerson's Merchant's Daughter previously and enjoyed her re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.  Healer's Apprentice is her take on Sleeping Beauty.  She does a wonderful job at presenting a new story for these classic fairy tales.   The novel is considered Christian fiction and Dickerson does a great job incorporating those elements into the story without them being too overwhelming, such as the characters praying or encouraging one another with a verse.  It didn't feel overdone or thrown in the readers face.  Perfect execution of this.  Another thing she does wonderfully are the romantic elements.  She develops the romance through friendship and interaction.  Anytime Rupert suggests something scandalous Rose rebukes him informing how inappropriate it would be.  She even flusters at either man kissing her hand in public or being seen unaccompanied with them.


This being the second book of Dickerson's that I have read, I have come to love this author.  She has an outstanding talent for writing and captivating her audience.  While this is a "romance" novel it is not typical romance in that it does not have sex scenes and shows healthy development of the relationship, something young women need to read.  I think this is a great book for a young woman and older women as well to pick up and read on a Saturday afternoon.  I finished it in an evening, okay I may have been  up until 2 am wanting to finish it.  The story really draws you in and makes you eager to know what happens next.  I know there are other books in this series and I certainly will be looking for them.


Healer's Apprentice is the type of book to make young woman daydream about the perfect man.  Every woman wants a valiant man like Hamlien, some may even want a little imp like Rupert.  I am excited and happy to have this book in my collection.  I am giving it a rating of 4 out of 5.  The story of the evil sorcerer seemed to have taken a backside to the romance, I would have liked to see more of that in the story.

RedDress Two Wives by RA Winter

RedDress Two Wives By RA Winter is the third book in her Kiowa in love series.  One of the great things about the series is you don't need to read the books in order, but I would recommend doing so because things are referenced in each books that relate to the previous ones.

RedDress follows Sarah who is RedHorse's sister (we meet Redhorse and other characters in previous novels), she travels with Painted Girl to New York to help work on a project.  While there she begins a sorid affair with John, a man she had been flirting with for months over the phone.  She quickly discovers this is not just a fling, but she has some strong feelings towards him, maybe even love.  Once the girls return home, all kinds of mischief breaks out and humorous situations ensue.  Everyone has a plan for each other and most of those plans collide.  Grandfather learns a quick lesson about trying to manipulate his grandchildren, and the girls learn a lesson in life and love.

RA Winter does it again with this book, she really knocks it out of the park.  I had fallen in love with her writing with Little Sparrow, and I continue to love her books.  One of my favorite things is while this is a romance novel, the focus is on the relationship building rather than the sexual aspect.  She shows how each couple builds their relationship and fall in love with one another.  All the while there is humor and comedic situations, the moments with Dingle are amazingly funny.  One gets the feeling that he may be a spirit animal of sorts. 

I enjoyed how she relates this novel with the other novels showing the unity of the tribe and growing the interest in other characters.  I want a book about Grandfather, Redhorse and a few other characters.  The only thing that I missed in this book were the Kiowa traditional elements.  It felt like those elements set the series apart from other novels, it was something unique to RA's writing.  Granted I still love her writing and her books, I crave more.  RA Winter has a writing style all her own and draws her readers into her story.  Her characters are easy to relate to and feel for, everyone can relate to loving someone and overcoming hardships to achieve your relationship dreams.  RedDress Two Wives has so many things that will entertain readers and keep them wanting more.

RA has become an author that I admire and respect.  I look forward to reading each of her books and hope she continues to write more.  I give this novel a 4 out of 5 because I really missed the Kiowa elements that make the series special.

For more of my review please read my review on Online Book Club.