Series: Fairy Tales, #1
Traits & Tropes: fairy tale retelling (Cinderella); titled hero; impoverished heroine; hero must marry for money; forbidden; hidden identity; house party
Publication Date: 07.27.10
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; Lancashire, England
Heat Level: 4
Rating: 4/5
Narration Rating: 5/5
Kate Daltry doesn’t believe a happy ever after is in store for her anymore, thanks to her stepmother’s machinations. Now, with her stepmother forcing her to attend a prince’s ball whilst pretending to be her stepsister, Kate is miserable. She doesn’t expect to meet the prince and engage in a flirtatious battle of wills that can ultimately lead nowhere. Gabriel is betrothed to a Russian princess who will bring the wealth he needs to maintain his castle and its inhabitants.
Gabriel’s fiancé is a lovely woman, but he doesn’t love her, and he can’t help but be distracted by beautiful, impoverished Kate even if he should be wooing the princess instead. Kate and Gabriel may have fallen in love, but circumstances seem destined to keep them apart, unless Gabriel can set aside his princely nobility and follow his heart instead.
This was a very fun take on the classic Cinderella story and a great escape from the monotony of some office work for me. Kate’s situation was definitely frustrating, as it was meant to be, but I loved that she was able to finally make her own life with her godmother, Henry, away from her stepmother’s machinations. Sidenote, I loved Henry’s character with her unapologetic brashness and disregard for accepted decorum. Gabriel’s gruffness was also inexplicably charming, and I loved how befuddled he seemed to be by his reaction to Kate. Though he did make some annoying assumptions about Kate and her circumstances at first, those didn’t last very long. Gabriel saw through her disguise almost immediately, which I also loved, and pursued her despite her resistance because he just couldn't seem to help himself. I wasn’t the hugest fan of this, but it did work here, especially since Kate was more than capable of holding her own with him. Gabriel might’ve been gruff and princely on the outside, but he was really a big softy who just cared for the misfits of his family and wanted to see them well looked-after. My only other real complaint here is how often Kate laments about being old and the loss of her nubile years and beauty. She’s only 23 so this isn’t exactly what I want to be thinking about when I’m – ahem – past that age in particular. Otherwise, Gabriel and Kate were a cute couple, the side characters were entertaining, and this story was a great escape from the real world and well worth the read.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1596255060
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1967596592
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