Synopsis

Appalled by his daughter’s vain and impertinent attitude, the king forces her to marry a peasant, hoping to teach her a lesson. Feeling devastated by this decree, Alora loses everything she knows and is thrust into a world she is not prepared for. The skills she learned to help her rule a kingdom have not prepared her for the drudgery of living the life of a peasant’s wife.

Larik, her new husband, is determined to help Alora and show her kindness despite her unfriendly personality. Will Larik’s example and affection towards her be enough to heal her heart of anger and grief so that she can see the beauty in the world once again? Can she let go of the past and allow herself to be loved? This is a retelling of the Grimms’ fairytale, King Thrushbeard.

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Praise

“What a wonderful book! It hooks you on the first page and doesn’t let go. It was full of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I loved it!” –Ann Ferri, Book Reviewer

“I didn’t really know what to expect. What I found was a sweet romance with heroes and villains and a surprise at the end! The story has twists and turns, and you won’t know what happens next until you keep on reading! It’s amazingly clever how the author retells the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, the spinner of gold. There was great chemistry going on in the romance, and it totally engaged me. Well done!” –Sunnie Reviews

“Promises of Gold by Serena Clarke is a retake on the fairytale of Rumpelstilkin. I really did like it. This is a love story with heroes and evil villains. I think the ending will surprise most readers. It did me but it was a sweet surprise. This story is different from the original version, but it still covers the gold from straw, guessing the real name of the hero and etc.” Debbie Curto, from Dusty Deliberations

Review

Take one spoiled princess, one weary peasant traveler, and a King set on making things right, and you have this fantastic fairytale story retelling of King Thrushbeard.

Alora lost the love of her life, and this has turned her into a bitter woman. So much so that her father decided to marry her to a random traveler who visited their kingdom. Let’s just say this did not go over well with Alora. Especially since that means she will not have the cushy life she has enjoyed for the past few years. It is an eye-opening experience for Alora as she has to travel to another kingdom to Larik’s home, is not garbed in the finest apparel, and has to watch what she says and does around others. This is the kind of experience that will humble nearly anyone.

Despite the living conditions, Alora learns much more about herself and her capabilities. She also learns to love and appreciate those around her. The interaction between Alora, Larik, and the neighbors was engaging, and I was able to watch Alora evolve from a petulant child to a kind and caring young woman. I also enjoyed her relationship with Larik, and learning how to be a giving soul to your spouse and that it isn’t all about what she could get from this world.

I had some suspicions as to who Larik might really be from a few hints dropped here and there, but I didn’t know for sure until the end.

This fairytale does have a happy ending, and we give it 4 paws up.

About the Author

Serena Clarke is from Sunny St. George in Southern Utah. Serena has a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and has taken several writing classes in college. Her favorite genre is fantasy romance. She is not only an author but also a member of the Red Mountain Shadows Publishing team and creates book covers for indie authors. She has three fantasy romances and two fairytale romances. Her fantasy/romance novels are The Treasure of Isian, The Alliance of Isian, and The Secret of Isian. Her fairytale/romances are Promises of Gold and In Royal Ruins.

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