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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Sent by his mother, Rafe approaches a potential bride only to fall for her half-sister Charlotte. Little does he know that Charlotte is treated as little more than a servant in her own home by her greedy, conniving stepfather. What happens when the truth comes to light?
This is an emotional fairytale retelling with well-drawn characters and lots of twists. I enjoyed the audiobook narration as well.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is an emotional fairytale retelling with well-drawn characters and lots of twists. I enjoyed the audiobook narration as well.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
On a mission to free one of her friends from a debtors’ prison, Charlotte Brown gets help from an unlikely source: a duke, and that duke thinks that she is a lady.
Rafe Dorchester, Duke of Rockwood, is in need of a wife. His mother is putting the pressure on and has selected a candidate to become his duchess, but when Rafe goes to visit Lady Francesca, he finds Lady Charlotte there as well. And it is clear to him that Lady Charlotte is his true match.
This twist on Cinderella serves up one loving stepsister, a self-centered stepbrother, and an evil stepfather. I thoroughly enjoyed Charlotte and Rafe’s story, the clear affection shared between Charlotte and Francesca, the dynamics of the friendship between Rafe, George, and Matthew, and the theme of good triumphing in the end. Rafe’s mother is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the ton and is quite entertaining to watch, and I adored his interactions with his grandmother, a force in her own right, as well.
It’s a story of two exceedingly good and honorable people falling in love as one struggles internally against the difference in class and ultimatums from her stepfamily. Along the way, we see Charlotte visiting places she hasn’t always been welcome—alongside a duke in Vauxhall, being fitted for dresses at the modiste, and in the salons and ballrooms of the ton—as she chafes under the lie that she is a lady.
Plus the attraction between the Rafe and Charlotte is palpable, and Eva Devon serves up some excellent steam. This one is open door—or should I say goes a bit al fresco—my friends.
If you enjoy fairytale retellings, this take on Cinderella may be the HR novel you have been searching for.
I received an advance copy from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.
Rafe Dorchester, Duke of Rockwood, is in need of a wife. His mother is putting the pressure on and has selected a candidate to become his duchess, but when Rafe goes to visit Lady Francesca, he finds Lady Charlotte there as well. And it is clear to him that Lady Charlotte is his true match.
This twist on Cinderella serves up one loving stepsister, a self-centered stepbrother, and an evil stepfather. I thoroughly enjoyed Charlotte and Rafe’s story, the clear affection shared between Charlotte and Francesca, the dynamics of the friendship between Rafe, George, and Matthew, and the theme of good triumphing in the end. Rafe’s mother is certainly a force to be reckoned with in the ton and is quite entertaining to watch, and I adored his interactions with his grandmother, a force in her own right, as well.
It’s a story of two exceedingly good and honorable people falling in love as one struggles internally against the difference in class and ultimatums from her stepfamily. Along the way, we see Charlotte visiting places she hasn’t always been welcome—alongside a duke in Vauxhall, being fitted for dresses at the modiste, and in the salons and ballrooms of the ton—as she chafes under the lie that she is a lady.
Plus the attraction between the Rafe and Charlotte is palpable, and Eva Devon serves up some excellent steam. This one is open door—or should I say goes a bit al fresco—my friends.
If you enjoy fairytale retellings, this take on Cinderella may be the HR novel you have been searching for.
I received an advance copy from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.
I have not been this moved by a story in a long while! To say that this story was filled with emotion is an understatement. From the very beginning I was filled with empathy for Charlotte’s struggle, the anguish behind her every decision. She is a woman of immense character far apart from her status or lack thereof. Despite being low in her house, she goes above and beyond for those she cares about. This character is her very core, her foundation and what calls out to Rafe the moment he met her. A Duke pushed into the marriage mind, and yet still believing in love is rare. He is a man of conviction despite his lofty status. He does not allow his position to prevent him from helping those in need. In this they are of like mind. Her bond with her stepsister Francesca is beautiful in that they have suffered together, standing side by side despite a difference in class. I loved that her sister sought only to support her. The women in the Duke’s life as well, were such strong and wise women who guided him with nothing but love. A well-written romance from the beginning, but at a certain point the story exploded into another level. The last 1/4 of this story had me in perpetual tears, overcome by the emotions and struggles playing out. There were moments of pure astonishment, literal heartbreak and an uncompromising level of anguish and at last pure bliss. A truly phenomenal story that will stay with me for a very long time.
DNF at 25%
What a shame this isn't working for me.
I really like Rafe, the Duke of Rockford whose first question to fallen books is whether the spines have been broken
What a shame this isn't working for me.
I really like Rafe, the Duke of Rockford whose first question to fallen books is whether the spines have been broken
3.5 stars
Charlotte has been a servant in her stepfather's house since her mother died when she was 5, one day when she is on her way to Marshalsea to free one of the servants that her stepfather had jailed to teach her a lesson she's attacked by a thug. Rafe witnesses a beautiful lady wrestling with a thug and decides he should intervene when she wallops the thief with her purse(with a brick inside) and the guy takes off, then she hits Rafe as well when he sneaks up and surprises her without considering how she'd react after the previous incident.
This was a really fun meet cute and the rest of the story takes the Cinderella track of misrepresenting her status, but I liked that she and the step sister are friends and that for once it's the evil stepfather instead of stepmother.
I received this ARC through NetGalley and Entangled Amara
Charlotte has been a servant in her stepfather's house since her mother died when she was 5, one day when she is on her way to Marshalsea to free one of the servants that her stepfather had jailed to teach her a lesson she's attacked by a thug. Rafe witnesses a beautiful lady wrestling with a thug and decides he should intervene when she wallops the thief with her purse(with a brick inside) and the guy takes off, then she hits Rafe as well when he sneaks up and surprises her without considering how she'd react after the previous incident.
This was a really fun meet cute and the rest of the story takes the Cinderella track of misrepresenting her status, but I liked that she and the step sister are friends and that for once it's the evil stepfather instead of stepmother.
I received this ARC through NetGalley and Entangled Amara
I so desperately wanted to love this book. Anything historical fiction with a romance between a Duke and a Cinderella-esque character has me instantly intrigued so I decided to read it however whilst the first 1/3 of the book I found great I found the last 2/3 rather disappointing. The adventures of Charlotte and Rafe were so intriguing and whimsical at the beginning and I was sucked into this retelling of Cinderella with the main character Charlotte having a cruel step-family she is fearful of but then after it’s this onslaught of info dumping. It was still a fun read don’t get me wrong I just felt it could’ve been so much better in the end if there was more of the Cinderella adventure.
Will I reread in the future? Probably only the first third portion as it was really good.
Will I read anything else by the author? I feel like I might.
Thank you Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Will I reread in the future? Probably only the first third portion as it was really good.
Will I read anything else by the author? I feel like I might.
Thank you Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was okay! Not bad, but I felt very meh about most of it. The romance didn't do much for me, and there was too much lying and not enough genuine connection, but a decent Cinderella story.
CW: Sexual content, child abuse, death
CW: Sexual content, child abuse, death
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This scratched the historical romance itch, but this wasn't super intriguing. The Duke was tooooo perfect. He didn't have any flaws. She didn't actually have any flaws, she just over-agonized about telling the truth, despite a LOT of evidence that the truth wouldn't actually bother him because he is basically a saint. I dunno. Too perfect, PLUS she is .....
Spoiler ...
A literal princess. 🥱
Spoiler ...
A literal princess. 🥱
This was my first Eva Devon book after having heard rave reviews about her work. I really enjoyed the plot and the writing style. It was a fun and easy read that had me both laughing and crying. I loved both characters, the Duke for being such a good and caring man and Charlotte for being so strong and fiercely herself. Watching the two of them fall in love was entertaining and heart warming. I really liked that the author made Charlotte and her step sister Francesca so close. It wasn't the usual evil step sister scenario like most books, though Palmerton was definitely the epitome of evil step father! I never saw that end coming, but it explained a lot about why Palmerton did what he did. I do wish the book had more spice. The cover made it seem like it would, but it didn't have nearly enough!
A slight twist on the classic story of Cinderella!
I had some back and forth with this book. For one, it is an enjoyable read overall, but breaking apart the more tedious elements, I just couldn't quite give it a full five stars.
The bond between Francesca and Charlotte is so sweet and heartwarming. Completely different than the evil stepsister of the classic tale. For me, the sister relationship was one of the most enjoyable parts and for a romance novel, that is a bit of a disappointment. I just didn't feel that spark between the MMC and FMC.
Rafe, The Duke, is swoon-worthy and he pretty much loves Charlotte from the first moment he lays eyes on her. He's protective and kind-hearted...pretty much the embodiment of your next book boyfriend.
Charlotte is a fairly complex character though she comes off meek at times. She really does blossom through the story. I did get rather annoyed with how long it took her to confide in Rafe though.
And Grandmama was my favorite of them all. She's strong and independent and loves books!
The pacing felt slower through the bulk of the book then sped up drastically toward the end. The epilogue, though, was a welcome addition.
Recommend reading this book if you love...
Cinderella twists
Swoon-worthy, protective Dukes
The guy falling first
Huge thank you Amara (Entangled Publishing) via Turn the Page Tours for the copy to read and honestly review!
I had some back and forth with this book. For one, it is an enjoyable read overall, but breaking apart the more tedious elements, I just couldn't quite give it a full five stars.
The bond between Francesca and Charlotte is so sweet and heartwarming. Completely different than the evil stepsister of the classic tale. For me, the sister relationship was one of the most enjoyable parts and for a romance novel, that is a bit of a disappointment. I just didn't feel that spark between the MMC and FMC.
Rafe, The Duke, is swoon-worthy and he pretty much loves Charlotte from the first moment he lays eyes on her. He's protective and kind-hearted...pretty much the embodiment of your next book boyfriend.
Charlotte is a fairly complex character though she comes off meek at times. She really does blossom through the story. I did get rather annoyed with how long it took her to confide in Rafe though.
And Grandmama was my favorite of them all. She's strong and independent and loves books!
The pacing felt slower through the bulk of the book then sped up drastically toward the end. The epilogue, though, was a welcome addition.
Recommend reading this book if you love...
Cinderella twists
Swoon-worthy, protective Dukes
The guy falling first
Huge thank you Amara (Entangled Publishing) via Turn the Page Tours for the copy to read and honestly review!