Spinnner of Secrets ~ Annie Louise Twitchell ~ Book Review

Spinner of Secrets by Annie Louise Twitchell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given a ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

When her cruel step-father forces her to marry Crown Prince Kyle saying she can spin the finest linen thread from straw and moonlight, Letta Miller is caught in a complicated web of lies and deceit. Married to a man she is beginning to love, but who still loves another, Letta finds herself overwhelmed with her new life and runs away…straight into the arms of the very gypsies her talents are supposed to destroy. There she meets a strange man who, when she is taken back to the castle and locked in a room to spin the thread she is incapable of making, appears and offers to do it for her. But he requires payments, and on the third night, he demands her unborn child. Afraid, Letta agrees, but the promise tears at her and she withdraws into herself, becoming cold and silent, hurting Prince Kyle who has begun to care for her. Can Letta bring herself to tell her husband the truth and will she be able to save her child?

Gypsies, outlaws, rags to riches, Ms. Twitchell weaves together tales of love and loss in this unique re-telling of Rumplestiltskin…with a few surprises.

I have been privileged to know not only the author for many years, but this story since its beginning and of all the Rumplestiltskin re-tellings I’ve read, this is my favorite.

Letta had my complete sympathy. She loses her father whom she was very close to when she is young and is then treated like a slave by her step-father. Then he sells her off to a prince by telling ginormous lies and she is forced into becoming a princess and marrying a man who can’t stand the sight of her. She is no longer allowed to associate with her mother and then she begins to fall in love with her husband and he still doesn’t want anything to do with her.

Kyle was interesting. He has had some very tragic events in his life, but I think his obsession with removing the gypsies from the land was rather unhealthy. His sense of duty was quite admirable, but his treatment of Letta in the beginning I found very aggravating. I thought he could have made a greater effort to be kind to her. She didn’t want to be there anymore then he wanted her there.

I wanted to whack the King over the head with a wooden baseball bat.

Queen Isa was sweet. Kind and caring, but no nonsense.

I loved how loyal Jane, Letta’s maid was, even when obeying Letta meant risking Prince Kyle’s grave displeasure.

Rumplestilskin was a very well done villain, he seemed like just a kind old gentleman, but had that hint of black magic about him that made him feel sinister.

I rate this book 4 out of five stars.

Note: There is violence and a child’s death. I would not recommend it to anyone under 14.

So this is how Liberty dies...with Thunderous Applause...

  No, my liberty isn't dying, I watched Revenge of the Sith last night.  For the first time - well, the first time I watched the whole movie.  Years ago I saw the ending at a friends house.  It was a good movie, much better then Attack of the Clones but it was sooooooooo sad!!!!!!

  I know I haven't posted a lot this year.  I really should post more.  I've been doing a few new (and according to most of my family, CRAZY) things and I haven't gotten a few things done that I wanted to.

  From April 3rd to May 3rd, I went on a Vegan diet (yes, I haven't finished yet).  My whole family thinks I'm crazy fro this....except for my twin sister.  And I didn't do it for health reasons or anything like that...I just did it because I wanted to see what it was like.

by Paul Brennan

  I stayed off of Pinterest for Lent.  My whole family supported this.  It was surprisingly easy and since the 14th of April, I haven't been on there as much as I used to.

  I've been bouncing back and forth between wanting to be around people and gobbling up books and wanting people to keep the blazes away from me and shuddering at the thought of reading books.  Normally I love people and books, but lately they just haven't been appealing.

  I have also been to the local Library twice in the last month (both times were when I was in a books mood) which has been amazing because before that it had been close to 10 years since I was last in a library. 

by Vicky Van de Kerckhoven

 

  I have now seen the Original and Prequel Star Wars trilogies.  That was a lot of fun.  I like the Original Trilogy best.

  I still haven't seen Beauty and the Beast, which is rather disappointing.  Normally when a new movie comes out, I don't mind seeing all the spoilers and all that, but I have gone out of my way to avoid spoilers for B&tB, and I haven't listened to any of the songs.

  I am almost finished reading John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series.  I brought home #'s 11 and 12 from the library today.  So far I'm absolutely loving the series and I ship Will and Alyss (sorry Andie!).  Mel has hinted that a SHE dies in 11 or 12 and that I'm not going to like it.  We shall see.

by Karen Arnold

  I haven't gotten as far on re-reading LOTR to my little sibs as I should have.  We're supposed to be starting the first part of Return of the King, but we're still in the first part of Fellowship of the Ring.  My bad.

  I've been having lots of fun using Mom's new Spiralizer.  Also the Ninja style Food Processor that she found at the thrift store.  I'm totally loving making smoothies and I think I discovered how to copycat the McDonald's Wild Berry Smoothie!!  YUM!!!

  I've probably posted on Instagram too much.

by Paul Brennan

  I haven't done enough writing.

  I've found and fallen in love with The Great British Bake Off and another UK program Escape to the Country.

  I've been re-watching the kdrama Healer and I'm part way through Oh My Venus.  That one's hilarious.

  And I'm sure there are more things I could update you on, but I can't think of them right now.

by Karen Arnold

  Oh!!  I am really, really looking forward to seeing my good friends MovieCritic and PioneerGirl in a few days!  Can't wait to see you girls!!!

  I'm also hoping that pretty soon another friend, Keturah Lamb, will be able to come down and spend a weekend.

  Well, that's all the updates that my fried brain can think of.  Hopefully I can come up with things to post more often.  See ya later folks!!