Of Pine and Pretense: A Rumpelstiltskin Retelling (A Twist of Tales)

Deirdre has finally reunited with her dearest childhood friend. But something's not right...

Princess Deidre and Oran were inseparable throughout childhood, until Oran was drafted as a soldier to fight an enemy kingdom. Their lively correspondence brought Deirdre comfort in Oran's absence, even stirring a dream they might have a future together once the war ended.

Until the day Oran's letters stopped arriving.

Convinced he couldn't have vanished without a trace but unable to persuade her father to search for an orphan woodcutter, Deidre's hope reignites when she discovers a piece of woodworking that matches Oran's unique style. She'll stop at nothing to track down its maker, but the young man at the end of her quest only raises more questions.

He claims to be Oran and looks the part, but then why does she feel more distant than ever from her longtime friend? He insists on working at night, and even his former cat doesn't seem to recognize him. Deirdre finds more and more projects to test the carver's claims, hoping time and proximity will restore their former camaraderie. But what if her pursuit of friendship and budding romance instead uncovers a dangerous pretense?

This book is part of A Twist of Tales, a series of nonmagical Christian genderbent fairy tale retellings with epic adventures and animal companions. Of Pine and Pretense retells Rumpelstiltskin with a hint of Cyrano de Bergerac, featuring a friends-first, royalty / commoner romance.