Review: Eva Devon's THE DUKE'S SECRET CINDERELLA

 

Rafe Dorchester, the Duke of Rockford, knows better than to ignore his mother’s ultimatum He reluctantly agrees to pay a call to the sole name on her list of bridal candidates. When Rafe arrives at the lady’s house, he finds the captivating blonde he had helped earlier. He is disappointed to find she is not the candidate on his mother’s list. Charlotte proves to be everything Rafe wants in a wife and duchess. However, the lady in question thinks otherwise. Can Rafe convince Charlotte to be his duchess? Or will her deceit destroy that possibility?

Charlotte Brown is nothing more than an unpaid maid to her cruel and power-hungry stepfather. She encounters Rafe on her way to rescue a beloved servant wrongly incarcerated. Charlotte never expected to find her handsome rescuer paying a visit to her home and her stepsister. She knows a duke would never choose a lowly servant, but she still alludes to being a lady. However, Charlotte soon learns that her falsehoods have dire circumstances. Will Charlotte tell Rafe the truth? Or will she pay the ultimate consequences for her lie?

Sometimes Rafe seemed too good to be true! He is aware of the power he wields as a duke, and he uses it for the common man. Rafe never once came off pompous, arrogant, or snobbish. He actually seemed to dislike his peers’ attitude.

I like the fact that Charlotte’s stepsister is an ally. Francesca helped where she could. She encouraged Charlotte to be the woman she wanted and grab whatever bits of happiness she could. What I adore the most about Charlotte is her dedication and loyalty to those she loved. She refused to abandon a servant of her household because of her stepfather’s cruelty. Charlotte shielded them from the brunt of his malice.

THE DUKE’S SECRET CINDERELLA is the third book in Eva Devon’s historical romance series, NEVER A WALLFLOWER. I am new to this author, so I have not read the previous two books in the series. The story can easily standalone. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the author’s past and future titles.

Generally, I skip over fairy tale retellings. There have been a few novels that I made an exception. The book’s premise captured my interest. It did not disappoint.

I have noticed a trend in historical romance Cinderella retellings. They all have a “good” stepsister (instead of the evil one) that the heroine adores. Well, the two retellings I have read, did. And honestly, I like it that way.