Review: Charming Take on the Cinderella Fairytale  ***4 1/2 Stars***
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2014
This charming regency set short story is loosely based on the Cinderella fairytale and is very much like a fairytale itself.  Julian, Viscount Ashe has five seasons within which to find a bride.  According to the Ashe tradition, each viscount must select his bride from among the ladies attending the Ashe Masquerade Ball.  At his very first ball, Julian finds the love of his life, Ella Cynders.  When the two meet there is an instant, electric connection between them.  Unfortunately, Ella is in attendance under false pretenses.  Just prior to the unmasking she departs the ball, leaving Julian with no way of finding her. For the next five years, at each annual ball, Julian searches for his lady love, to no avail.  This ball will be his last chance to secure a bride, according to the family tradition he must choose a lady to wed at this ball.  In the meantime Ella, who is the orphaned daughter of a soldier father and aristocratic mother, is working as a seamstress at a modiste shop.  She has never forgotten her magical night at the Ashe ball...the night she met the man of her dreams.  Unexpectedly, Ella gets the opportunity to once again attend the ball.  Immediately upon espying Ella, Julian recognizes her as his lady love, despite the mask.  From there the story very quickly develops to the HEA.  The book could do with some minor editing, and the ending was a little too quick, but other that this story makes for delightful reading.  I loved it and would recommend it.  Happy reading!