Golden Gown Review and Giveaway!

Elyse has lost everything; her parents, her family home, and the town where she is loved and respected. When she arrives in a new community, she must prove her skills as a seamstress by creating an elaborate gown overnight. In the moment when she doubts her ability to complete the task, a mysterious stranger with a talent for tailoring and a penchant for damsels in distress appears. Elyse could never imagine that accepting his assistance would send her on a journey that would end in the arms of a prince. Golden Gown is a blending of the classic fairy tales Rumpelstiltskin, and The Shoemaker and The Elves that will touch the hearts of all of its readers.

My thoughts: I love this book! I've enjoyed Sarah's previous two stories, since she has a unique way of retelling fairy tales and bringing them to life in a way that makes the magic real and believable. I also like how he puts her own twist on the stories.
Golden Gown is now my new favorite fairy tale retelling! I loved getting to know the characters, and could totally see putting myself in the predicament that Elyse does. I highly recommend picking up this delightful retelling! It's such a fun read.
I received a copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review and is in no way influenced by receiving a complimentary copy.

Giveaway!
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Character Feature:
Meet Gilberto de la Vega (aka Rumpelstiltskin):

Inspired by the portrayal of Rumpelstiltskin in the television series Once Upon a Time, I wanted to spin my own tale with Rumple as the hero. My longtime book boyfriend Gilbert Blythe (from Anne of Green Gables) crept in and made Gilberto the perfect blend of rake and best friend/boyfriend. As a tribute to the Latino people I have always loved, Rumple became a Spaniard

Voila! Gilberto De La Vega was born.

Gil is the type of man who would climb your balcony in the dead of night to bring you flowers. (Or scare you to half to death, he’s not picky.) He has a fairly well-developed hero complex and loves swooping in at the last minute to save fair maidens from certain disaster. He’s adept at flirting and teasing and he adores women, but nothing he does is quite conventional. If he took you out on a date, it would definitely involve something slightly shady and probably illegal.

No matter what, time with Gil is always an adventure! Enjoy Elyse Morley’s first run in with the delightful scamp:

The twilight breeze drifting through the neighborhood reached me on the porch. It did nothing to calm my nerves. I jabbed the needle through the skirt with more force than necessary.
“What has the fabric done to deserve such treatment, mi querida?”
I jumped at the voice, jabbing the needle straight into my finger. I promptly popped my finger in my mouth to keep the blood from dropping onto the gown. With my heart thumping, I turned to face the speaker. A dark haired man of medium build perched on the edge of the porch, his shoulders thrown back and a grin tugging at his lips.
“I didn’t mean to startle you, cariño.” A slight Spanish accent flavored the words. “Allow me to introduce myself. Gilberto de la Vega at your service.” He bowed.
I remembered that my finger was still in my mouth. I took it out and wrapped it with a scrap of fabric. “How did you get in here?” I glanced around the backyard, which was enclosed by a tall fence.
“Do you believe in magic, mi amor?” Dark eyes set in a finely-boned face watched me closely.
“No, I do not. And you might like to know that my aunt is just inside. She will come if I call out.”
“In her whole life, Lady Lydia has never been a danger to anyone. Besides, her bedroom light has been out for hours, querida.”
I glared up at him. “Someone will come if I call out.”
He tapped his lips with a forefinger. “That too is true. But what will you tell them? I have done you no harm, mi amor, and I can escape as easily as I arrived.”
My teeth ground together. “Stop calling me that, whatever it means.”
“If you insist, bonita.” His lips curved up into a wide grin. “It would be easier to call you by your name. Miss . . .?”
My lips pressed into a line.
He shook his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I can see we are getting nowhere.”