Rating; 4
Julia Beaumont is a penniless spinster, who desperately
wants to escape servitude to her spiteful stepmother. She is determined to
secure a potential husband at her friend’s ball. However, Julia risks scandal
by rescuing a roguish duke from the unwanted advances of a noblewoman. When the
duke returns her slipper, Julia proposes a solution that will benefit them
both: a marriage of convenience. They deceive the ton into believing their
upcoming nuptials are like a Cinderella fairy tale. Can Julia keep her heart
safe from her rakish husband? Or will she become one of his conquests?
Gregory Carter, the Duke of Ashworth, has a reputation as
London’s most sought-after rake. He grows weary of fending off married women’s
unwanted advances and dueling disgruntled husbands. Gregory attends a friend’s
ball only to be accosted by a determined matron, but a mysterious blonde comes
to his aid. His savior not only bewitches him with a kiss, but she leaves
behind a shoe too. When Gregory returns her slipper, Julia offers him a way to
escape his licentious admirers. Can Gregory and Julia continue to fool the ton?
Or will he truly and irrevocably fall in love with his wife?
I had a rough time connecting with Julia. There were a
few instances when I simply could not stand her. I understand that Julia is a
strong-willed woman, one who is not afraid to speak her mind or be herself.
However, she came off more bratty than self-independent, like she, being a woman,
could do no wrong. I am not a fan of those types of heroines. What I like the
most about Julia is her close relationship with her stepsister. She did not let
her stepmother’s apathy keep Julia from forming a sisterly bond with Susannah.
There was no ill will toward each other but instead genuine affection. Susannah
and Julia looked out for each other.
Gregory is not your typical fairytale “princely” type. He
is a man disillusioned by the sanctity of marriage and of love. Gregory has
witnessed not only the discontent in his parents’ marriage but with most of his
peers also. I admire his determination not to follow in that trend, despite his
need for an heir. I empathize with Gregory’s insecurity. He has never
experienced his parents’ love, and their cool indifference caused Gregory to
believe he is undeserving of it. What I like the most about Gregory is his
generosity. He secretly helps the less fortunate while letting his peers
continue to believe he is a hedonistic rogue.
CINDERELLA AND THE DUKE is Lydia Drake’s debut novel. The
author does a great job revamping the classic fairy tale but with a regency-era
flare. Julia and Gregory are nothing like the usual cookie-cutter couples
typically found in fairytales. The heroine is not the damsel in distress but
the knight errant. I also like, and approve, the direction the author took with
the stepsister. Those little tweaks and changes made the retelling the author’s
own.
CINDERELLA AND THE DUKE is a fun retelling of the classic
fairy tale Cinderella, but with an entertaining twist. I wonder if this novel
is a one-shot, or if the author plans to write more books to go along with this
story. It would be fun if she continues with the fairy tale themes.
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