"The Peasant's Dream" by Melanie Dickerson

Frederick dreams of a better life. Raised to support his family since his cruel stepfather can't be bothered, he hones his artistic talent when he can. A whole new world opens to him on the day he hears that the bishop of Hagenheim is looking for a woodcarver to make new cathedral doors.

Lady Adela, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Hagenheim, wants to see life from a different perspective. Donning her servant's gown, she sneaks out of the castle to visit the marketplace. The young woodcarver Frederick captures her attention right away. Is he truly as kind and interesting as he appears? She loves to paint, and feels a true connection with a fellow artist.

Social standing and events are primed to keep these two apart. This story is a reverse Cinderella loosely retold. While I thought both Frederick and Adela were okay as characters, I never really connected with them, so this story wasn't as captivating as some of the earlier Hagenheim stories. I look forward to Melanie's new series coming out next year.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.