Lady of Disguise is a we written medieval romance.. I am not a big fan of medieval novels but found myself enjoying this one. I recommend it.. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Louisa is so incredibly kind and good. I loved that her character is always looking for ways to help or show kindness to others. Sir Charles is also noble and good. He just wants to do what is right and make the world a better place. When their paths meet on a potentially perilous mission their goodness combines to include many others.
I loved the side characters that Louisa and Charles meet along their journey. They were interesting and varied. This is a book that left me feeling happy and wanting to show more kindness. I would highly recommend.

<i>Lady of Disguise</i> by Melanie Dickerson is the sixth installment of the Dericott Tales, a series of medieval fairy tale retellings, and it is a (very loose) retelling of “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

I think my problem with this series as a whole is that the fairytale elements seem much lighter than in her earlier Haggenheim series. This one didn’t have hardly anything to do with the fairytale until the last third of the book. I liked the beginning okay,’with Louisa fleeing her uncle who is determined to marry her off. Louisa has heard of treasure guarded by a giant and wants the money so she can take care of herself and her kid sister Margaret. Since women don’t normally travel alone, she disguises herself as a boy named Jack.

However, the middle seemed to add almost nothing to the plot and felt like filler. Random side characters showed up, were in the story for a few pages, and then disappeared, and none of them really seemed to have a point.

Louisa was an okay character but didn’t really stand out to me. She had no trouble standing up to people (which really felt out of place in a medieval story) but she also seemed to burst into tears on every other page. I lost track of the number of times she cried. It was a lot. Charles was more likable. Overall, they weren’t my favorite couple but they were fine.

My favorite part of the story was definitely the spin on Jack and the Beanstalk. It went in an interesting direction. I would also say Allistor was my favorite character.

Overall, this wasn’t my favorite by this author, but it was a quick read and if you have enjoyed other books by her, you will probably like this one as well.


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

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

A great read that kept me hooked from the beginning. I am always looking forward to any Melanie Dickerson book and so far I have been loving the Derricot tales series. In this reimagining of Jack and the Beanstalk, we meet Lousia, a spunky young woman with dreams of finding the fabled "Giant's Treasure" that would ensure that neither her or her younger sister wouldn't be married off to the highest bidder by their greedy uncle.

So Louisa sets off to find the treasure when she meets Charles, one of the brothers from the other Derricot stories who accompanies her on her quest. Throughout the story, we meet interesting characters as Lousia and Charles head for the treasure that turns out to be a surprise all of its own.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next installment of the Derricot Tales.

This book is appropriate for ages 13+ for thematic elements.

"..He knew he had to help them. People were so fearful of the devil that they often forgot that God was more powerful. Had the Lord not admonished His people many times, “Do not be afraid”?"

So this was a nice read. A tale of knights, fair maidens, selfish men and a quest to help those who cannot save themselves.

The main female character Louisa loves her little sister Margaret dearly, and would do most anything she could to see her live a happy life. So when her vile uncle starts trying to set Margaret up with one of many unscrupulous and old suitors, Louisa strikes out to find a way she and her sister can break free of her uncle's clutches for good.

While this wasn't my absolute favorite in this series, it was a pretty good read.
I really loved the cover design.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for the complimentary e-book I received to review through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and the thoughts above are my own.

This was the sixth tale in the Dericott Series, and could be read as part of the series or as a stand alone. The “ Lady of Disguise” is a very loose retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. Most of the tale involves her journey to find the treasure for herself and Margaret, her sister. She meets a lot of interesting people along the way. There was a lot of mention of faith and God in this book which I always appreciate.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and was not required to write a review. These are my honest thoughts.

Enjoyable historical romance. Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own

Lady of Disguise is the sixth book in Melanie's A Dericott Tale series. It is a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. I haven't read many Jack and the Beanstalk retellings, so I was excited to discover a new one!

Louisa loves her little sister and would do anything to protect her, but she still doesn't want to marry just to increase her uncle's social standing. She is determined to ensure safety for herself and her sister and find her way out of her uncle's influence. Louisa is always willing to help others and has such a big heart. I love how Louisa wants to be independent but still accepts help when she needs it.

Charles is eager to make his own way in the world. He is a noble and honorable knight and a big sweetheart. I love seeing how Charles protects Louisa. And he is so good with kids!!! It's so adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved the parts with the giant! I love how Melanie shows the characters interacting with him! Melanie's expertise and compassion from working as a special ed teacher really shone in those scenes.

The subplot with the merchant and the widow was so sweet!!!! I loved watching them interact and how their story mirrored Charles and Louisa's story!!!!!!!!!!

There were some great sister moments in this book! I loved seeing how protective Louisa was of her sister and how her little sister would help Louisa believe in herself. I love when books portray sister relationships in a positive light.

Melanie's Lady of Disguise is a beautiful, inspiring retelling! I highly would recommend it to anyone who loves Christian romance and fairy tale retellings!!!

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

Overall I'd rate it 3.5 stars. For my current age a 3 star read, as a teenager I'd have given it 4 stars, so meeting in the middle. Enjoyed the traveling the most and all of the interesting people Louisa and Sir Charles encountered. Triggers: mentions several times Louisa having been almost sexually assaulted from a past suitor which gives her anxiety and fear over men.
I'd like to thank Netgalley for letting me read this arc, the opinion expressed is entirely my own.

Melanie dickerson has been on of my favorite authors for years and I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. The romance was so amazing and the story was very well thought out. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

This book takes place in England in 1388, a very different time, woman were to be owned and not really people, according to some. Two young sisters, one eighteen and the other twelve, are being raised by their aunt and uncle, or as you will soon see paying their way. The guardians now want more money to marry them both off, yes, both!

So the oldest decides to set off disguised as "Jack", can she pull it off? Wow what an adventure she is about to find and have, but can she return in time to save her sister?

I so enjoyed this story, could it be based on fact? Probably, a different time, but for this time it reads a bit like a fairy tale!

I loved the ending of this read!
I received this book though Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.,

Historical fiction with a light slow burn romance. This book was a bit heavy on religious themes for me, but would be a perfect read for someone interested in Christian fiction/romance. It’s a sweet story.

Lady of Disguise was a fun read that gave me an evening of entertainment. It’s been far too long since I’ve curled up with a Melanie Dickerson book. Reading this one made me want to go reread the whole Hagenheim series. I love those ones so much🥰
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The story was fast paced enough to keep me interested and turning pages later than I should be. It was a fun adventure story with a cast of interesting characters and sweet romance. I was rooting for the main characters the whole time.
I have not read the rest of the Dericott Tales so this can be read as a standalone.
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*I received a free copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts expressed are strictly my own.*

The sixth installment from The Dericott Tales, Lady of Disguise, is just what I would expect from Melanie Dickerson. It was great. Five stars.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson is a historical romance reimagining of Jack and the Beanstalk that opens up with the MC, Louisa, concerned that she or her younger sister will get married off to a much older man. Louisa decides to go after a treasure that is guarded by a giant by dressing as a boy and going by the name Jack.

Sir Charles, the love interest, is a knight who loved the daughter of his lord but her engagement to another lord reveals that she was more interested in the ideas of courtly love and being loved than she was in a relationship with Charles.

What I appreciated was the atmosphere and the worldbuilding as it did feel relatively accurate to the time period from what I know about it and the use of period accurate Christian prayers and attitudes.

The romance felt a bit rushed to me as Charles got his heart broken and very quickly fell for Louisa after meeting her as well as immediately seeing through her disguise. I was also a bit disappointed at how quickly Louisa stopped dressing as a boy as that was a chance to explore gender further in that time period.

I would recommend this to fans of YA historical romances who are OK with Instalove. I would not recommend this to readers who do not enjoy Instalove or who need more gender exploration when a character dresses as another gender than the one they are assigned at birth.

In the fourteenth century, Louisa and her 12-year-old sister live with their vile uncle whose only interest in them is how high a bride price he can receive for them. Determined to escape and find a rumored treasure, Louisa disguises herself as a boy. She comes across Sir Charles Dericott, an honorable knight who sees through her disguise and watches out for her. They meet interesting people along the way and come to the giant who supposedly guards the treasure with a Fee Fie Fo Fum challenge.
This is a version of Jack and the Beanstalk for young adults. Part of a series following the Dericotts through fairy tales. Good versus evil that should appeal to teens.

Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson starts out with the heroine wanting to find a buried treasure in the side of the mountain. As the journey begins, she leaves dressed as a boy in order to keep hidden. Then she meets the hero and the plot pushes forward from there. Many moments were the hero must save the damsel in distress, which of course, the heroine finds enduring and sweet. The plot kept throwing the hero and heroine into dangerous situations because of the supporting cast. Of course, as the plot moved forward; the romance moved forward also. Really didn't feature many of the Dericott siblings that were prominent in the previous books in this series. This reads more like a standalone novel to the series. According to the synopsis, this story is a Jack in the Beanstalk remake. There is elements of the familiar story with climbing to a high place with a giant protecting the prize. But there are differences too. Nice giant who has been taken advantage of by the people in the low lying village. Overall, Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson features a protective hero who shows his devotion to the heroine while flipping Jack in the Beanstalk on its head.

I received a complimentary copy of Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Content warnings: emotionally abusive guardian, attempted robbery, being forced into marriage

Louisa and her sister are orphans living under the guardianship of their aunt and uncle. When their guardians start parading 12-year-old Margaret out to meet potential husbands, Louisa makes a desperate attempt to save them both -- she cuts off her hair to travel as a boy and goes off in search of Viking treasure.

Like the other books in the series, one of the many Raynesford brothers of Dericott happens upon Lousia and feels it's his knightly duty to protect the young woman from brigands. They pick up several companions along the way and discover a plot that is a great service to the kingdom of England and all are handsomely rewarded by the king. Like the other Dericott novels, this is a very loose retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk (without the beans).

Recommended for fans of the series. Fun fluff with very PG romance that's formulaic but might have teens swooning.

Representation: orphans

It's hard to find good fiction for teens these days. Most have inappropriate topics or innuendos. Enter Melanie Dickerson. She has written a series for teens that is clean and set in Medieval times. Lady of Disguise is the retelling of the classic fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Louisa and her younger sister, Margaret, are wards of an unkind uncle and aunt. Her uncle only thinks of money and plans to marry both sisters off the richest men he can find. Louisa feels that her only choice is to sneak away and try to find the rumored giant's treasure so she and Margaret can live independently. After cutting her hair and dressing as a boy, she meets with Sir Charles, a young knight of King Richard. She tells him her name is Jack. Charles knows she a girl but feels duty bound to help keep her safe. The two of them begin an adventure filled with danger, interesting characters and a clean love story.

This book is good for teens. It is clean and wholesome. Adults might feel it is a sappy, puppy love story. Charles and Louisa kiss but there are clear boundaries and restraint. This book is also about compassion for others less fortunate than you.

This book was simple. Too simple to be considered historical fiction. So much so that I had to go back and double check the genre. It's labeled historical fiction/teen YA. Louisa is on a quest to find a hidden treasure to save her sister and her from being married off by her greedy uncle. The problem with the story is, Louisa is way too old to be chasing after a treasure...and fighting off a giant... It all felt very much like a fairy tale. If you like that sort of story, then you'll be happy to have found it.