Raised in a girls’ school, Annabelle Quinn longs for the world outside the walls of the academy. When she’s hired as the governess to an orphaned duke, Annabelle never expects the child’s breathtakingly handsome guardian to capture her imagination—or her heart.

Falling for his young nephew’s governess is an irksome complication in Lord Simon Westbury’s orderly life, but Annabelle’s quiet beauty and wry intellect are too much to resist. Meanwhile, a mysterious danger looms over the remote Cornwall estate. Will their newfound desire stand the test of time? Or are some happy endings just too good to come true?

Review

The first book in the new Cinderella Sisterhood series is a delightfully romantic story with a dash of mystery sure to keep readers guessing right until the very end.

Annabelle Quinn has spent her entire life living at a school for girls after being left on the doorstop as an infant. She dreams of traveling somewhere else and having an adventure. When her school is visited by Lady Mildford with an opportunity to become the governess to the young Duke of Kevern in Cornwall she knows that it is her chance to get her wish.

Lord Simon Westbury has put his life on hold to take care of his orphaned nephew, the Duke of Kevern. He wants nothing to do with the child who reminds him of the late duchess who he was in love with before she threw him over for his brother. He hopes to just make it through until the child can go to school and not have to worry about him anymore.

Annabelle is a very fun character. She takes her life into her own hands and pursues her dreams. When faced with the cold Lord Simon she makes him realize what he’s missing by ignoring his nephew. I loved her backbone and strength.

Lord Simon is cold in the beginning. He resents having to put his life on hold. When Annabelle arrives at the estate she makes him feel things he would rather not feel. He tries to fight the feelings, but when someone takes a shot at Annabelle and the young Duke he can’t hide the way he feels for them.
The romance between Annabelle and Simon is written beautifully. It matures slowly and feels like a natural progression of their relationship. I also like the parallel between their romance and the relationship between Simon and the young Duke.

There is a mystery and an element of something dangerous to the story. To me it felt more like Jane Eyre than a retelling of Cinderella. The twist of the identity of the villain is written perfectly. The reader is given two choices and left guessing up to the end.

If you are a fan of gothic romance authors like Anna Campbell, you’ll love Olivia Parker’s IF THE SLIPPER FITS.

Reviewed by Carrie

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