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Once Upon a Time: A Rose for Beauty/The Shoemaker's Daughter/Better to See You/Lily's Plight
The stories from bedtime fairy tales are not just for children. Enjoy inspirational romance woven around beloved fairy tale themes in contemporary settings from authors Irene B. Brand, Lynn Coleman, Yvonne Lehman, and Gail Gaymer Martin.
352 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Irene Brand
58 books39 followersIn a writing career spanning three decades, Irene has won numerous awards and published 45 books that have sold more than two million copies. Irene primarily writes inspirational romances, but she has also published nonfiction books, devotional materials, and magazine articles. Before she became a full-time writer, Irene taught for 23 years in public schools. Her other passions include traveling (she has visited all 50 states and 35 foreign countries) and history (she holds a Master’s Degree in the subject). Her published titles include Where Morning Dawns, Listen to Your Heart, and the Kentucky Brides collection. Irene is an active member of her church and is affiliated with several writing organizations. She is a lifelong resident of West Virginia, where she lives with her husband, Rod.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 18, 2013
I'll agree with the previous reviewer that it would have been nice if they hadn't kept emphasizing they were Christians - I knew it when I bought it and wasn't likely to forget.
I think the Beauty and the Beast was my favorite.
Snow White was my least. One caricature characters are a pet peeve so the seven "dwarfs" were annoying. Also, I kept thinking "that's illegal to ask your employee if she's single or Christian or etc."
I think the Beauty and the Beast was my favorite.
Snow White was my least. One caricature characters are a pet peeve so the seven "dwarfs" were annoying. Also, I kept thinking "that's illegal to ask your employee if she's single or Christian or etc."
February 23, 2012
I like fairy tale type stories, even if they are a little predictable. I also like Christian literature, being Christian myself. But these stories seemed really preach-y to me, like the authors were overemphasizing the fact that these were CHRISTIAN characters. I wasn't going to forget, so that got annoying about awhile. But cute stories all in all.
August 30, 2009
There are four short stories in th book, each one LOOSELY based on a fairy tale. If you like fairy tales and Christian literature, than this is a book for you!
The first story is based on Beauty and the Beast. My favorite story in the book! It isn't a beast under a magical spell though, he has scares on his face from an accident. The girl is called Beauty and she is working at the house of the beast for her father who just suffered a stroke. Find out the details of why her family is poor? And what are "the beast's" secrets!
The second story is based on the Elves and the Shoemaker. There is a new shoemaker in town and he is having trouble keeping up with the orders. He has an accident with this woman and a surfboard, and when he comes into work and ten orders are completed he begins to think he suffered some memory loss from the accident. Does he have a secret helper? or is he losing his mind?
The third story resembles Snowwhite and the Seven Drawfs. Lily White is applying for a new job at an advertising agency. The agency turns out to be a big family with many characters, one thats really grumpy, another always telling jokes, and so on. . . She feels an attraction for her boss but it is obvious he is involved romantically with a client who used to be a model. Does she stand a chance at winning his heart? Should she even try? Who is in love with the former model?
The last story resembles Little Red Riding Hood and it takes place in Germany!!! How fun! This book has the heaviest christian undertones of the four and involves a rekindling of a romance with an exfiance who had no religious values before. Who is the "wolf" in this story?
If you don't want to read stories that contain scriptures and talk of God, than these stories are not for. But I highly recommend this book as a wonderful Christian example a love mixed in with a few of everyones favorite fairy tales.
The first story is based on Beauty and the Beast. My favorite story in the book! It isn't a beast under a magical spell though, he has scares on his face from an accident. The girl is called Beauty and she is working at the house of the beast for her father who just suffered a stroke. Find out the details of why her family is poor? And what are "the beast's" secrets!
The second story is based on the Elves and the Shoemaker. There is a new shoemaker in town and he is having trouble keeping up with the orders. He has an accident with this woman and a surfboard, and when he comes into work and ten orders are completed he begins to think he suffered some memory loss from the accident. Does he have a secret helper? or is he losing his mind?
The third story resembles Snowwhite and the Seven Drawfs. Lily White is applying for a new job at an advertising agency. The agency turns out to be a big family with many characters, one thats really grumpy, another always telling jokes, and so on. . . She feels an attraction for her boss but it is obvious he is involved romantically with a client who used to be a model. Does she stand a chance at winning his heart? Should she even try? Who is in love with the former model?
The last story resembles Little Red Riding Hood and it takes place in Germany!!! How fun! This book has the heaviest christian undertones of the four and involves a rekindling of a romance with an exfiance who had no religious values before. Who is the "wolf" in this story?
If you don't want to read stories that contain scriptures and talk of God, than these stories are not for. But I highly recommend this book as a wonderful Christian example a love mixed in with a few of everyones favorite fairy tales.
January 15, 2013
This was a very short read, my favorite stories where the "Beauty and the Beast" and "the Elves and the Shoemaker" retellings. I was glad I got to read this little collection. It reminded me of some other Catholic retellings of fairy-tales. I love fairy-tale retellings so this was right up my alley.
October 9, 2020
Not the best written but nice short stories.
April 4, 2015
So... I didn't really see the "God-ordained marriage" part on the back which was apparently a really big part of this book. There were frequent blessings, prayers, quoted scripture, and praising of Christ or God. I think it would have been ok if 1) I was expecting it and 2) it was toned-down a bit. I am not exactly against Christian literature, but this was a little over the top for me.
August 15, 2015
These stories feel like after-school specials from when I was a kid. While not bad, I felt they would be better if they let the similarities to fairy tales be less overt and give the story less of a staged feel.
June 13, 2015
Hmmm not sure.
Four romance stories that were written with fairytales in mind giving a modern twist to them.
Made for extremely light reading but I found it a little too frothy and biblical for my taste.
Four romance stories that were written with fairytales in mind giving a modern twist to them.
Made for extremely light reading but I found it a little too frothy and biblical for my taste.
June 29, 2008
Shoemaker's daughter has the best quote from renaissance theater. "My buttocks went jiggy joggy like a quagmire."
June 25, 2010
These were surprisingly good...I do admit I didn't have much hope for them going into it, since they were contemporary versions of fairy tales, but they were really nice and sweet.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews