booksjenrecs 's review for:

The Duke's Secret Cinderella by Eva Devon

4.0

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

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Some fairy tales are just meant to be adapted as historical romances, and the story of Cinderella never fails to be a perfect basis for the ton. 

I loved both Rafe and Charlotte. After losing her mother, and all her mother's possessions in the process, Charlotte was left at the mercy of her stepfather - a man who kept far too many secrets from his family and from society. But when Rafe mistakes Charlotte for a lady, he'd much rather court her than her step-sister. Unfortunately for both of them, Charlotte's wicked step-father will do whatever it takes to come out on top. 

Charlotte had a horrible lot in life. I felt bad for her, and I felt even worse the more we learned about her step-father. Thank goodness that Rafe could see through all the plots to get to the real Charlotte. She was tenacious and caring, always concerned about everyone else's wellbeing. It's clear right from the very beginning that Charlotte is made of stronger stuff than most ladies in society. She's willing to risk danger for the one's she loves. Fortunately for Rafe, that soon extends to him. 

All of Devon's characters - both main and secondary - created such a whimsical story that very much had all the fairy tale elements. I absolutely loved the ending, and I wish I could read this book for the first time again just so I could relive that big reveal. 

Devon combined her fantastic storytelling with an amazing cast of characters. The story did a great job at taking the original Cinderella story and turning it on its head. I adored the ending and thought Devon gave Rafe and Charlotte the perfect happy ending. 

[A huge thank you to Entangled for providing a review copy of The Duke's Secret Cinderella. All opinions are my own.]