About the Book:
Title: Bookshop Cinderella
Author: Laura Lee Cuhrke
Series: Scandal at the Savoy #1
Page Length: 336
Publication Date: June 20, 2023
Publisher: Forever
Synopsis: Evie Harlow runs a quaint little bookshop in London, which is the biggest adventure an unmarried woman with no prospects could hope for. Until Maximillian Shaw, Duke of Westbourne, saunters into her shop with a proposition: to win a bet with his friends, he’ll turn her into the diamond of the season. The duke might be devilishly attractive, but Evie has no intention of accepting his ludicrous offer. When disaster strikes her shop, however, she’s left with little choice but to let herself be whisked into his high-society world.
Always happy to help a lady in distress, Max thinks he’s saving Evie from her dull spinster’s life. He’ll help her find a husband and congratulate himself on a job well done. But as shy Evie becomes the shining star he always knew she could be, she somehow steals his heart. And when her reputation is threatened, can Max convince her to choose a glittering, aristocratic life with him over the cozy comfort of her bookshop?
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My Review:
Bookshop Cinderella is the first novel I’ve read by Laura Lee Guhrke, and I really enjoyed it. It’s a fun and entertaining historical romance about a duke who makes a bet with his friends about turning a bookshop owner into the diamond of the season. Evie, whose bookshop has flooded, leaving her without her livelihood and a place to stay, reluctantly agrees to help Max win his bet.
The story definitely has some Cinderella vibes, but it more reminded me of the movie She’s All That and the play Pygmalion. I love the scenes where Evie, like Julia Roberts’s character in Pretty Woman, experiences new things, like riding in an elevator and going to the opera. Her wide-eyed wonder and enthusiasm are infectious. Max is very much Evie’s Prince Charming, but he’s also her fairy godmother. Providing her with clothes, lodgings, food, and everything else she needs, Max shows Evie a life she’s never known. It’s interesting to see how these two different people from different social classes connect.
Max and Evie come from very different worlds, and because of past experiences, they must work through the misgivings and reservations they have about societal expectations and prejudices. This causes issues in their budding relationship, as neither sees a successful future with them together. However, their feelings for each other are strong, and both have to decide whether these feelings are worth risking everything. I enjoyed their love story. It had a ton of chemistry and sexual tension, and their declarations for each other are lovely.
Evie’s friend Anna and Max’s cousin Delia are great secondary characters too, and I especially liked Delia. She’s fun and funny and so vivacious. I’m hoping we’ll see more of her and learn about her story in future books. I also like how supportive and kind Max’s family is. When he’s struggling, they all come to help him, and I found this part of the story really endearing.
I also love how fierce Max is in convincing Evie she is amazing. He does and says so many things that reveal how much he admires, respects, and cares for Evie, and it’s clear long before he admits it that he loves her. I love how he boosts her self-confidence and makes her feel like the beautiful, wonderful person she is. And I’d love to have a dance partner as swoon-worthy as Max! Their love story is funny and romantic, and the banter is fantastic.
This was a unique historical romance and a great start to a new series. I buddy read the book with Leslie from Books Are the New Black, and we both liked the characters, plot, and romance. Thanks so much to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance.
- The characters.
- The Cinderella/She’s All That vibes
Favorite Lines:
“Even our greatest joys can become burdens,” he said gently. “Especially when we no longer have something to prove.”
He took her hand in his and slid his other hand to the small of her back. “Evie,” he said tenderly. “After what happened between us at Idyll Hour, did you really think I could pass up the chance to hold you in my arms again?”
Tropes:
- Cinderella – Pygmalion vibes
