What do you think?
Rate this book
A Worthy Love: A Collection of Historical Fairytale Retellings
Beyond the Bookery invites you to step into a collection of heartwarming, thrilling, and romantic historical fairy tale retellings.
Follow a WWII spy's adventure in a Beauty and the Beast retelling that features a decaying chateau and danger around every corner, then immerse yourself in two Cinderella tales. One young woman seeks both answers and an escape from an evil stepmother and an arranged marriage. Another seeks an enduring hope for a brighter future. Join a Bavarian homestead in a retelling of Snow White where a woman learns the family she's agreed to help may not only have strange gifts, but face hidden danger as well.
Follow a WWII spy's adventure in a Beauty and the Beast retelling that features a decaying chateau and danger around every corner, then immerse yourself in two Cinderella tales. One young woman seeks both answers and an escape from an evil stepmother and an arranged marriage. Another seeks an enduring hope for a brighter future. Join a Bavarian homestead in a retelling of Snow White where a woman learns the family she's agreed to help may not only have strange gifts, but face hidden danger as well.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 13, 2025
I absolutely loved each and every one of these stories! France, you’ve captured me. And then, the whole storyline was absolutely EPIC!! 🤩 everyone of these authors did an amazing job and my heart was absolutely held captive by each story. I read these all literally in one sitting! You will laugh and smirk and love EACH of these. Every time I finished one story it took me a moment to get into the next but after I
Did, I was lost in the story. I don’t think I could pick a favorite!
For clean, romance, fairytale retelling readers, I highly recommend these!! Thanks guys so much for the hard work you poured into these stories!
**I received the ARC for this anthology and all thoughts are honestly my own!
Did, I was lost in the story. I don’t think I could pick a favorite!
For clean, romance, fairytale retelling readers, I highly recommend these!! Thanks guys so much for the hard work you poured into these stories!
**I received the ARC for this anthology and all thoughts are honestly my own!
October 11, 2025
As Old as Time by Aliana Jane
4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). I'm always a sucker for a Beauty & the Beast retelling AND for a WWII story, so the two combined are chef's kiss. I enjoyed the picturesque dilapidation of the story, and the lowborn, childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers arc between the S.S. MMC and Résistance member FMC. I called the twist before it happened, but it delighted me; and I loved the unusual, lyrical writing.
A Worthy Hope by Liz Chapman
4 stars. I have a weak spot for immigration-to-Australia stories because of one of my favourite childhood novels, so I particularly enjoyed that aspect of the story. The Cinderella retelling was also very fun to trace. I was a little confused by the alternate reality dream, but I loved how the author incorporated unusual local history into the story! And finally, I enjoyed the theme.
Nothing but a White Leather Boot by Rebecca Lange
3.5 stars (3/10 hearts). I struggled somewhat with the plot of this story—had a hard time keeping up with everything that happened, especially in the first chapter. But I enjoyed identifying the Cinderella elements! I didn't particularly care for the romance, but I appreciated the message of worth, and I admired the FMC.
Schneewittchen by Aubrey Reiss Taylor
4.5 stars (4/10 hearts). Ooo, this was such a good Snow White retelling! It's very rare to see WWII stores from a German perspective, and I highly appreciated that. The seven boys were so cute, and Thomas was a sweetheart, little as he showed up (and I was delighted to find his backstory referenced in my next read, Every Life Treasured ). The suspense kept me intrigued, too.
Content: swearing, a stalker.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). I'm always a sucker for a Beauty & the Beast retelling AND for a WWII story, so the two combined are chef's kiss. I enjoyed the picturesque dilapidation of the story, and the lowborn, childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers arc between the S.S. MMC and Résistance member FMC. I called the twist before it happened, but it delighted me; and I loved the unusual, lyrical writing.
A Worthy Hope by Liz Chapman
4 stars. I have a weak spot for immigration-to-Australia stories because of one of my favourite childhood novels, so I particularly enjoyed that aspect of the story. The Cinderella retelling was also very fun to trace. I was a little confused by the alternate reality dream, but I loved how the author incorporated unusual local history into the story! And finally, I enjoyed the theme.
Nothing but a White Leather Boot by Rebecca Lange
3.5 stars (3/10 hearts). I struggled somewhat with the plot of this story—had a hard time keeping up with everything that happened, especially in the first chapter. But I enjoyed identifying the Cinderella elements! I didn't particularly care for the romance, but I appreciated the message of worth, and I admired the FMC.
Schneewittchen by Aubrey Reiss Taylor
4.5 stars (4/10 hearts). Ooo, this was such a good Snow White retelling! It's very rare to see WWII stores from a German perspective, and I highly appreciated that. The seven boys were so cute, and Thomas was a sweetheart, little as he showed up (and I was delighted to find his backstory referenced in my next read, Every Life Treasured ). The suspense kept me intrigued, too.
Content: swearing, a stalker.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
November 3, 2025
Unfortunately, some things came up and I wasn't able to get this review out as quickly as I intended. However, I'm happy to share my review now! Please let it be known that I was provided an ARC copy of this book, but that in no way shaped my review. My opinions are my own and are genuinely what I felt about reading these stories.
As Old as Time by Aliana Jane
Fairytale Retelling: Beauty and the Beast
I felt pulled into this story straight from the prologue, immediately intrigued by how Olivier's character changed between his childhood and adulthood, especially involving his childhood friend! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this exceeded those expectations! It fits perfectly as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I found myself craving the next opportunity to sit down and learn more about Lilianne's time in the Beaumont Chateau with her once-childhood-friend, who is now very much on the wrong side of history.
A few favorite quote(s) from the book:
"We pick up the pieces, love. And we learn to live with the mosaic."
&
"Different, but one day we'll find it's just as beautiful."
A Worthy Love by Liz Chapman
Fairytale Retelling: Cinderella
This story had a twist that I most certainly never saw coming! (Don't worry, I won't spoil it!) There were several occasions while reading A Worthy Love that I found myself clutching at my heart, anxiously & achingly wondering how this story would end. It did not disappoint, but I must say that I felt a lot of emotions.
Nothing but a White Leather Boot by Rebecca Lange
Fairytale Retelling: Cinderella
This book reminded me that I enjoy Western-inspired stories, and I really should start reading more of them. Another book with some twists that you might not see coming. The prologue hooked me with wondering how it would be connected to the rest of the story, and let me say it was wonderful and everything was tied up well!
Quote(s) from the book: "We are our own harshest critics. The kind people around us may see beauty in us that we cannot yet see in ourselves."
Schneewittchen by Aubrey Reiss Taylor
Fairytale Retelling: Snow White
I thought the idea of having the traditional "dwarfs" of the Snow White story being part of the family that our Snow White, named Gerda in this tale, stays with. I found myself eagerly wondering how things would turn out when things took a concerning turn of events regarding Gerda and the family's safety, and hoping that soon Thomas (the oldest son) would soon come in.
Overview:
I couldn't possibly pick a favorite of these stories, because I enjoyed each of them for very unique reasons! Each author did a splendid job of bringing their chosen fairytale to life in a historical setting, which I greatly applaud them for! I'll certainly be recommending this book to others!
As Old as Time by Aliana Jane
Fairytale Retelling: Beauty and the Beast
I felt pulled into this story straight from the prologue, immediately intrigued by how Olivier's character changed between his childhood and adulthood, especially involving his childhood friend! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this exceeded those expectations! It fits perfectly as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I found myself craving the next opportunity to sit down and learn more about Lilianne's time in the Beaumont Chateau with her once-childhood-friend, who is now very much on the wrong side of history.
A few favorite quote(s) from the book:
"We pick up the pieces, love. And we learn to live with the mosaic."
&
"Different, but one day we'll find it's just as beautiful."
A Worthy Love by Liz Chapman
Fairytale Retelling: Cinderella
This story had a twist that I most certainly never saw coming! (Don't worry, I won't spoil it!) There were several occasions while reading A Worthy Love that I found myself clutching at my heart, anxiously & achingly wondering how this story would end. It did not disappoint, but I must say that I felt a lot of emotions.
Nothing but a White Leather Boot by Rebecca Lange
Fairytale Retelling: Cinderella
This book reminded me that I enjoy Western-inspired stories, and I really should start reading more of them. Another book with some twists that you might not see coming. The prologue hooked me with wondering how it would be connected to the rest of the story, and let me say it was wonderful and everything was tied up well!
Quote(s) from the book: "We are our own harshest critics. The kind people around us may see beauty in us that we cannot yet see in ourselves."
Schneewittchen by Aubrey Reiss Taylor
Fairytale Retelling: Snow White
I thought the idea of having the traditional "dwarfs" of the Snow White story being part of the family that our Snow White, named Gerda in this tale, stays with. I found myself eagerly wondering how things would turn out when things took a concerning turn of events regarding Gerda and the family's safety, and hoping that soon Thomas (the oldest son) would soon come in.
Overview:
I couldn't possibly pick a favorite of these stories, because I enjoyed each of them for very unique reasons! Each author did a splendid job of bringing their chosen fairytale to life in a historical setting, which I greatly applaud them for! I'll certainly be recommending this book to others!
October 1, 2025
This is a beautiful fairytale retelling collection that contains 4 different stories from some of my favorite fairytales!! I love how I could finish one story and immediately jump into the next one! Even though these are all novellas, the storylines did not feel rushed. I really enjoyed this collection!!
If you are looking for your next fairytale retelling grab this book and enjoy these 4 beautiful stories!
Thank you to the authors and publisher for my complimentary copy. I am voluntarily leaving my review. All thoughts are my own.
If you are looking for your next fairytale retelling grab this book and enjoy these 4 beautiful stories!
Thank you to the authors and publisher for my complimentary copy. I am voluntarily leaving my review. All thoughts are my own.
December 17, 2025
Well, I wasn't expecting three tales, some in first person and all in present tense, but I did enjoy them...
I will be rating them all separately because, sadly, one I did have to DNF.
As Old As Time 🕰:
Lilianne had such courage and beauty... I loved her heart for her Papa. Olivier, poor boy, but what courage as well 💙.
I really loved the WWII setting. The chateau was haunting yet beautiful. And the dresses 👗😍!
My favorite scenes were definitely the garden. And the garden shed (minus the kissing that was a bit much). And the ending 🥲❤️🩹.
Though I would have preferred more direct actual mention of God, I could see that the author highlighted the light vrs darkness
This quote sums that up: "My Papa used to say when you're at rock bottom, the only place to look is up, and that's exactly where we're meant to be."
The story wonderfully represented the struggle for freedom by the Resistance. And the hope, oh such hope, after the liberation for the future. The ending was so perfect 👏🏻🩷.
CW: semi-described kiss, thumbs, or fingers brush against cheeks frequently, feeling his heart pounding against her cheek
My rating/Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)/ 20+
A Worthy Hope 🦘:
Okay, this would have been my favorite except the alternate time slip/reality kind of lost me as the entire rest of the story already drove the theme home beautifully, in my opinion. And the kiss was also a bit much for my liking.
I did love everyone of the characters, though (Well, except for Stepmother and Daphene.). I adored Lady Jane 👏🏻🤭. Elaine and Silas were so sweet. And George was a doll helping Lady Jane and Silas out 🤍.
The masquerade ball and conservatory/hothouse were definitely my favorite scenes 🦋💐. But I loved the opening too where he rescues her 😍.
I also loved how much scripture and faith was incorporated into the story. It definitely made the story for me . No matter what, we have to hold onto hope in the Lord. He is the only one worthy of that hope because He never fails.
CW: semi-described kiss, how touches felt, abuse (it is cinderella after all), death
My rating/ Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)/ 20+
Nothing but a White Leather Boot:
So the beginning pulled me in, but I ended up having to DNF this story.
The romance was at a level I was uncomfortable with only 4 out of 9 chapters. In my opinion, even if Charley liked Tate. He should have respected her wishes and not stolen the kiss. Also, she was always noticing how muscular he was, which I did not find appealing either.
From the first chapters, I loved the set-up, Mrs. Trout and Charley's Uncle. It had so much potential and intrigue, but the focus on the romance just wasn't my cup of tea.
CW: Detailed kisses, hands lingering for seconds, muscles described, pulled into embraces
My Rating/ Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars for Mrs. Trout and the Uncle)/ None, I DNF(ed) it
Schneewitchen 🍎:
Okay, this one definitely earned the favorite spot. I really loved seeing the war from the Germans' side. I also loved how the author incorporated a side of Snow White but made it her own story. The stalker was so chilling evil *shiver*. Nasty stepmother 😠.
There was just such an authenticity to the story. Especially the first letter, make me sad and laugh - coffee and cake indeed 🤭😃.
The hints of faith were subtle, but I am glad the author included them.
It was so sweet to watch Gerda fall in love with his picture and then in person. Their romance was so light it was perfect.
Thomas is such a protective sweetheart. And I felt so sorry about his jokes, I can understand as the oldest because mine fall flat too often 😅.
I love the brothers. The banter is so funny. And I loved their protective spirit. The little boys sleeping with Gerda was darling 😍. I loved how good and kind she was. And the heart of Heidi to take in all those boys ❤️.
And the ending - the raw, beautiful reality. I loved it!!!
CW: a lot of mentions of cursing (no words were spoken though), God's name said, but not in addressing Him several times (this was the only thing I disliked about the book), stalker, blood, cut, poisoning
My Rating/ Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5, it nearly made it to five, but I wasn't fond of continual mention of cursing or God's name in vain)/ 16+
Overall, the storylines and themes of this anthology were beautiful. Well done to the authors.
I will be rating them all separately because, sadly, one I did have to DNF.
As Old As Time 🕰:
Lilianne had such courage and beauty... I loved her heart for her Papa. Olivier, poor boy, but what courage as well 💙.
I really loved the WWII setting. The chateau was haunting yet beautiful. And the dresses 👗😍!
My favorite scenes were definitely the garden. And the garden shed (minus the kissing that was a bit much). And the ending 🥲❤️🩹.
Though I would have preferred more direct actual mention of God, I could see that the author highlighted the light vrs darkness
This quote sums that up: "My Papa used to say when you're at rock bottom, the only place to look is up, and that's exactly where we're meant to be."
The story wonderfully represented the struggle for freedom by the Resistance. And the hope, oh such hope, after the liberation for the future. The ending was so perfect 👏🏻🩷.
CW: semi-described kiss, thumbs, or fingers brush against cheeks frequently, feeling his heart pounding against her cheek
My rating/Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)/ 20+
A Worthy Hope 🦘:
Okay, this would have been my favorite except the alternate time slip/reality kind of lost me as the entire rest of the story already drove the theme home beautifully, in my opinion. And the kiss was also a bit much for my liking.
I did love everyone of the characters, though (Well, except for Stepmother and Daphene.). I adored Lady Jane 👏🏻🤭. Elaine and Silas were so sweet. And George was a doll helping Lady Jane and Silas out 🤍.
The masquerade ball and conservatory/hothouse were definitely my favorite scenes 🦋💐. But I loved the opening too where he rescues her 😍.
I also loved how much scripture and faith was incorporated into the story. It definitely made the story for me . No matter what, we have to hold onto hope in the Lord. He is the only one worthy of that hope because He never fails.
CW: semi-described kiss, how touches felt, abuse (it is cinderella after all), death
My rating/ Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)/ 20+
Nothing but a White Leather Boot:
So the beginning pulled me in, but I ended up having to DNF this story.
The romance was at a level I was uncomfortable with only 4 out of 9 chapters. In my opinion, even if Charley liked Tate. He should have respected her wishes and not stolen the kiss. Also, she was always noticing how muscular he was, which I did not find appealing either.
From the first chapters, I loved the set-up, Mrs. Trout and Charley's Uncle. It had so much potential and intrigue, but the focus on the romance just wasn't my cup of tea.
CW: Detailed kisses, hands lingering for seconds, muscles described, pulled into embraces
My Rating/ Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars for Mrs. Trout and the Uncle)/ None, I DNF(ed) it
Schneewitchen 🍎:
Okay, this one definitely earned the favorite spot. I really loved seeing the war from the Germans' side. I also loved how the author incorporated a side of Snow White but made it her own story. The stalker was so chilling evil *shiver*. Nasty stepmother 😠.
There was just such an authenticity to the story. Especially the first letter, make me sad and laugh - coffee and cake indeed 🤭😃.
The hints of faith were subtle, but I am glad the author included them.
It was so sweet to watch Gerda fall in love with his picture and then in person. Their romance was so light it was perfect.
Thomas is such a protective sweetheart. And I felt so sorry about his jokes, I can understand as the oldest because mine fall flat too often 😅.
I love the brothers. The banter is so funny. And I loved their protective spirit. The little boys sleeping with Gerda was darling 😍. I loved how good and kind she was. And the heart of Heidi to take in all those boys ❤️.
And the ending - the raw, beautiful reality. I loved it!!!
CW: a lot of mentions of cursing (no words were spoken though), God's name said, but not in addressing Him several times (this was the only thing I disliked about the book), stalker, blood, cut, poisoning
My Rating/ Age Recommendation:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5, it nearly made it to five, but I wasn't fond of continual mention of cursing or God's name in vain)/ 16+
Overall, the storylines and themes of this anthology were beautiful. Well done to the authors.
Read
April 30, 2026All of the Fairy Tale Frenzy collections are now out in ebook, paperback, and on Kindle Unlimited!
Find your favorite format here: linktr.ee/beyondthebookery
Find your favorite format here: linktr.ee/beyondthebookery
December 26, 2025
Sweet retellings…
I loved all of the stories, but I think the last one, Schneewitchen, touched me in some ways. Perhaps it did because WWII is part of my history. As someone who was born and raised in Germany and who heard many stories from my grandparents and other old relatives, I can imagine the hardships quite well because I know what my loved ones went through. I have no more living grandparents, but I still have my memories. If you enjoy fairytale retellings, you’ll love these. Each one has a different spin and is set in different times.
I loved all of the stories, but I think the last one, Schneewitchen, touched me in some ways. Perhaps it did because WWII is part of my history. As someone who was born and raised in Germany and who heard many stories from my grandparents and other old relatives, I can imagine the hardships quite well because I know what my loved ones went through. I have no more living grandparents, but I still have my memories. If you enjoy fairytale retellings, you’ll love these. Each one has a different spin and is set in different times.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews