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srivalli's review against another edition
2.0
The Cinderella part finally made me read this book. It was staring at me since more than a year. I finished the book in 3 hours, not because I couldn't put it down. No, it was because I skipped a lot of pages.
The hero, Max was a good man; caring, compassionate, etc. Not the typical alpha male and I liked it.
Ellen made me wish I had her height and body. Sigh!
The stepmother and stepsister were evil and bad, Check.
The book had some beautiful dialogues and I loved Ellen tell Max about her past. Ellen was a strong character. Even when Max thought he was not giving her a chance to decide, she took her decisions. It shows when she decided not to g with him anymore.
Yet, the book disappointed me. As I started reading, I expected more from it. I wanted to see a confrontation between Ellen and her stepfamily. I wanted more of Pauline and Chole in the second half of the book as well.
It was as though, they vanished after doing their job. They should have been there at least in the end. Not as a mere mention, but in action.
Also, the epilogue wasn't an epilogue either. I was looking for something more than just discussion about the changes to the place. I wanted to see the changes done, to see Ellen confident, instead of still being doubtful about her body.
The hero, Max was a good man; caring, compassionate, etc. Not the typical alpha male and I liked it.
Ellen made me wish I had her height and body. Sigh!
The stepmother and stepsister were evil and bad, Check.
The book had some beautiful dialogues and I loved Ellen tell Max about her past. Ellen was a strong character. Even when Max thought he was not giving her a chance to decide, she took her decisions. It shows when she decided not to g with him anymore.
Yet, the book disappointed me. As I started reading, I expected more from it. I wanted to see a confrontation between Ellen and her stepfamily. I wanted more of Pauline and Chole in the second half of the book as well.
It was as though, they vanished after doing their job. They should have been there at least in the end. Not as a mere mention, but in action.
Also, the epilogue wasn't an epilogue either. I was looking for something more than just discussion about the changes to the place. I wanted to see the changes done, to see Ellen confident, instead of still being doubtful about her body.
thatcrazybooklover's review against another edition
3.0
I read the book because a few friends on Goodreads rated it low. I knew I had a copy of the book sitting around and it seemed the perfect time to read it.
So the story revolves around modern day Cinderella figure Ellen who is a gym teacher at the local school. Treated poorly for her athletic figure by her stepmother and stepsister especially after the death of her father where she is left to fend off the vultures in order to keep the family home.
In comes Max Vasilikos a self-made businessman aspiring to look for a home fit his future plans and Ellen's home is perfect. Judging her appearance he surmises that he was looking at an ugly frog but he was shocked when she shed her exterior to show a beautiful body toned and lean. Desire quickly overtakes him. With comments from her stepmother he is led to believe that she was a bitter young lady reluctant to sell the house to spite everyone. He whisks her off to show her what she is missing only to end up falling to his carnal desire.
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briarsreviews's review against another edition
2.0
A Cinderella for the Greek by Julia James was an interesting take on the classic tale "Cinderella".
This book didn't sit well with me even though I really wanted to like it. The story itself is a classic that I love (who doesn't love a Cinderella/Princess tale?) but what lies within the story is what bothered me. The big problem with this book for me is the comments about Ellen (our Cinderella's) weight. She isn't as thin as her step sister Chloe, and our male counterpart Max points that out a few times. The comments weren't healthy criticism's either, but he gets over her "ugliness" to be able to fall in love with her. It's that part of the story that turns my thoughts sour on this book. Everything else within the novel is quite lovely - the tale, the romance, the plot lines - it's all great but that little part. At first, Max does not describe Ellen as beautiful, but slowly he begins to love the way she looks. It felt kind of silly in my mind, since the description of her sounded to be nice (but comparing her to the thin step-sister...).
I liked that Max wasn't forceful as many male leads are these days. He's caring and tries his best (even if at times it seems a little forced). I liked that he was interested in Ellen's charity and that he seemed to be overall a good guy. The other characters (like the Evil Step-Mother and Evil Step-Sister) were perfectly evil in every way. The plot line followed the narrative it should have as well.
I felt this book got a lot better once it moved forward and continued to grow the relationship between Max and Ellen. That adds an extra star in for me as a reader. I think there was lots of potential here, to be honest! I'd like to read more by Julia James because I'm sure she has gotten better as her writing has continued.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! It is a really good book, it's just not for me! It is a lovely Harlequin Romance that should definitely be picked up if you love an ooey, gooey romance or a retelling of Cinderella!
Two out of five stars.
This book didn't sit well with me even though I really wanted to like it. The story itself is a classic that I love (who doesn't love a Cinderella/Princess tale?) but what lies within the story is what bothered me. The big problem with this book for me is the comments about Ellen (our Cinderella's) weight. She isn't as thin as her step sister Chloe, and our male counterpart Max points that out a few times. The comments weren't healthy criticism's either, but he gets over her "ugliness" to be able to fall in love with her. It's that part of the story that turns my thoughts sour on this book. Everything else within the novel is quite lovely - the tale, the romance, the plot lines - it's all great but that little part. At first, Max does not describe Ellen as beautiful, but slowly he begins to love the way she looks. It felt kind of silly in my mind, since the description of her sounded to be nice (but comparing her to the thin step-sister...).
I liked that Max wasn't forceful as many male leads are these days. He's caring and tries his best (even if at times it seems a little forced). I liked that he was interested in Ellen's charity and that he seemed to be overall a good guy. The other characters (like the Evil Step-Mother and Evil Step-Sister) were perfectly evil in every way. The plot line followed the narrative it should have as well.
I felt this book got a lot better once it moved forward and continued to grow the relationship between Max and Ellen. That adds an extra star in for me as a reader. I think there was lots of potential here, to be honest! I'd like to read more by Julia James because I'm sure she has gotten better as her writing has continued.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! It is a really good book, it's just not for me! It is a lovely Harlequin Romance that should definitely be picked up if you love an ooey, gooey romance or a retelling of Cinderella!
Two out of five stars.
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