The third book in the Never a Wallflower series. Charlotte Browne and Rafe Dorchester, Duke of Rockford's story is a fun Cinderella retelling. The story is well written with a very good storyline that held my interest until the end. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This book is a reimagined fairytale Cinderella with many heartfelt and wrenching moments. I cried, yelled and loved! Even though Charlotte has gone through the wringer she still had genuine empathy for the people around her and gave as good as she got. YES, it's definitely swoon worthy but the spark and tension is enough to cause a fire. Charlotte and Rafe's first encounter and tension is sublime gave us the lost heel scene without actually realizing it was the lost heel scene. Devon did a wonderful job on the villain's story and approaching the difference between the protagonist and antagonist story and what got them at their ending scenes. I did have a few moments where I wanted to throw my book because Devon did wander from the usual path its always the usual love, fight, and HEA but nope she gave us her twists and now her deviation from propriety has ruined me and I find scandal far more appealing.

I had to lie down and stare at my ceiling after finishing this Cinderella retelling. Typically when I do, it’s because I’m crying and trying to figure out how I’ll ever recover from such a perfect book. This time?? I just kept whispering “this was SO bad” immobile like a broken timepiece.

I ultimately loved the first two books in this series. To add to it, the secrets/lies trope is like catnip to me, so to say I was excited to pick this up is a gross understatement. Where could it go wrong?

It turns out that I kinda despised this trope when the “reasons” as fickle as thin ice in early springtime are dragged out to a too-late and very underwhelming reveal. Mix in too much page-time given to the villain with a lame comeuppance and a plot twist out of left field that made my eye twitch, to brew the perfect storm for me to actively dislike the entire* experience. (*except grandmama was a gem and Francesca was refreshing)

Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader copies via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

There was a lot I liked about this book. Charlotte was a fantastic leading lady. She was so caring, selfless, and protective. I loved how she was the perfect mix of damsel in distress and fierce independence. I also enjoyed Rafe’s character. Despite occasional moments of doubt, he was generally very loyal and dedicated to Charlotte. His staunch support and adoration of her was lovely.

However, the writing wasn’t as compelling as it could’ve been. It was a touch clinical, which decreased the emotional intensity of the romance. The book’s surprise twist was also too farfetched, though a few clues earlier in the story might’ve helped it make more sense. Nonetheless, the ending was very sweet and satisfying.

Overall, this was a heartwarming romance with okay writing. I recommend it to those who love historical romances.

*I received an ARC of this novel. This is my complete and honest review.*

Thanks to Entangled Publishing LLC and NetGalley, thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this lovely historical romance.

For me, historical romances are the grown up's version of a child's fairytale storybook.

The characters are likable. I would highly recommend this book for fans of historical romances.

Charlotte, who believes she is nothing more than a maid in her step-father's household, unwittingly catches Rafe, the Duke of Rockford's attention. He is pulled to her and as a result, she spins a bunch of half truths to continue to see him. That is until her step-father catches on and threatens to expose her secrets. In an unsuspecting turn of events, her true identity is revealed and she can marry the Duke. It was a fun but stressful read due to the abuse and mistreatment Charlotte and her stepsister are subject to but it definitely fits the bill of a Cinderella story.

Charlotte lives as a servant in her own home. Her evil step-father controls her life and denies her any happiness. Rafe, Duke of Rockford, is being bribed to marry by his mother, but he only wants to marry for love. A chance meeting sets the spark of attraction and Rafe wants to marry Charlotte. To be together they must overcome secrets, lies and an evil step-father. Heat level 3.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This book is #3 in the Never a Wallflower series. It is a stand alone book.
Charlotte's mother passed away when she was 5 and she was raised by her uncaring stepfather. He treated her like a servant. The Duke of Rockford's mother told him it was time for him to do his duty, get married and begin a family. She threatens to stop funding for the foundling hospital that means so much to him. He goes to call on Francesca, Charlotte's stepsister as a potential bride. Instead he falls in love with "Lady" Charlotte. She falls in love with him. She doesn't think they can have a future together because of her stepfather's lies. There were twists and turns before the truth comes out and Rafe and Charlotte have the happily ever after ending.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A great retelling of Cinderella. Great pacing, characters, and plot. A very enjoyable romance. Devon writes delicious romances.

I loved the first meet between Rafe and Charlotte! I thought that scene would be a great representation of each of their personalities. However, from there, Charlotte’s character seemed to switch where she became this timid and disappointing milksop. While I understood her first set of lies to Rafe were to deflect his attention from her, her continued lies befuddled me especially when Rafe showed her, on numerous occasions, how compassionate and understanding he was. I also didn’t understand Rafe’s mother’s obsession with having Rafe marry any woman just to make sure the lineage would continue. Especially given the family’s history of love matches! Charlotte’s stepfather was the villain but for me didn’t really have any “teeth”.
This book started off well for me, but unfortunately I was disappointed with the rest of it.

Book 3 of the Never a Wallflower series is inspired by Cinderella though there is an evil stepfather, an evil stepbrother, and a stepsister who is her best friend.

Charlotte’s horrible stepfather has kept her as a servant since her mother passed away. While Charlotte is on her way to bail out a kind elderly servant who was placed in debtor’s prison by her stepfather she is attacked by a robber. And who comes to her rescue but the handsome and eligible Rafe Andrew William Henley Dorchester, Duke of Rockford. His kindness is unexpected from a Duke and she is charmed, but she must not reveal who she is. Her stepfather would be angry and threaten to hurt the people she loves once again and he may be even worse than debtor’s prison. And so her ruse begins.

Rafe rescues an odd, outspoken, and intriguing young woman and assists her in freeing her friend from prison. Before Rafe knows who the woman is she is gone and he feels blindsided. The next day Rafe is on his mother’s mission to obtain a wife and secure his heir to the Dukedom when he is greeted by none other than the woman he saved. It appears she is the relative of the woman he is calling upon, but his unsuspecting heart has already chosen his future bride…he just needs to convince her of that.

As observant and understanding as Rafe is, it bothered me that he couldn’t figure out Charlotte’s predicament sooner. It was also annoying that Francesca, Charlotte’s stepsister, couldn’t have asked for help before everything got so desperate. But then you wouldn’t have a heroic rescue and an amazing discovery in Charlotte’s life.

The story has several supporting characters who helped move the tale along. Charlotte has a lot of support from Francesca who is in a precarious situation as well. After all her nasty father is wanting to marry her off to the highest bidder. I loved the fact that Rafe is surrounded by so many strong and formidable women who have his best interests at heart. His friends are delightful as well and I want a story on my favorite character, Lord Matthew Darrow. He’s the bad-boy twin with the droll and scandalous sense of humor.

If you love a good Cinderella story with engaging characters and a few surprises along the way, give this book a try. You can never lose with an Eva Devon book.

Thank you to Ms. Devon for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

This is a historical romance set in the Regency era. This is the story of Charlotte Browne, a young woman with a troubled past, who meets Rafe Dorchester, the Duke of Rockford. It all begins when Charlotte tells Rafe she is a lady. This lie sets off a chain of events, leading to Charlotte and Rafe's relationship developing unexpectedly. Rafe is searching for a bride and has strict criteria for his future wife, but Charlotte's charm and wit capture his attention. The plot has enough twists and turns that kept me invested in the story. The audiobook was narrated by Sasha Higgins and I enjoyed hearing her and the way she portrayed the characters, I would recommend getting it as well.

3.5⭐️, 🔥🔥
Through most of this book my head was screaming “Just tell him”!
This book uses the Cinderella premise to tell the story of Charlotte, the step daughter of the evil Lord Palmerton and Rafe , Duke of Dorchester. The story loosely follows the “Ever After” film. I enjoyed that Ms Devon made Rafe a nice, thoughtful and kind Duke and Charlotte of course is the same. But Charlotte is lying to the Duke about who she is and it’s because of the fear of her stepfather and her savior complex for everyone in her life that she doesn’t tell him the truth for reasons I won’t spoil. I see why the author was doing this. But if you write a character like Rafe, who is the only Duke who seems to want to help the poor, the orphans, the downtrodden and give him all the virtues that make Charlotte fall in love with him, then you have to let the Charlotte trust that he is the good person she sees him as and let him help her. And this is why I was frustrated through most of the book. It’s a nice story and I like the MCs but the author doesn’t trust them to do the right thing for each other. The ending is interesting and you knew some big revelation had to be coming, but it was a bit too pat for me and I ended up skimming at the end. Oh and I was waiting for the evil stepfather to be……. More Evil? I mean he’s a bastard, but the innuendo through the book make me believe that he has done and will do more violence then he actually does.
Not that I’m looking for violence, but it would help me to understand the absolute fear that Charlotte (and her stepsister, Francesca ) have for him.
I was kindly given a ARC by NetGallery for my honest review

I always enjoy Eva Devon’s book but I think this one is my favorite so far.
What on earth possessed Charlotte Browne to tell the Duke of Rockford that she is a lady? Something about the duke’s handsomeness and kind intelligence makes Charlotte blurt out the teeniest, tiniest falsehood. Now it’s too late to admit she’s just plain Charlotte of no particular importance. Rafe Dorchester, Duke of Rockford, has done what every self-respecting duke must do—avoid marriage at all costs. But the only thing stronger than the duke is his mother. When she lays down the highest ultimatum, he’ll need to find a duchess. Immediately. Only, when he calls on a potential bride, he instead finds the pert, fresh-faced Lady Charlotte. And now marriage seems like an incredible idea…
I’m in love with these two. I adored Charlotte from the very beginning, but I had my doubts about Rafe because he seemed like a mama’s boy with no character. But then, he surprised me and I absolutely fell in love with him. He’s generous, honest and with a modern mind that made Charlotte feel fascinated with him. She’s sweet, strong and resilient. They are great together.
The story is super romantic, with the perfect amount of aghast, villains and a happy ending a bit over the top for my taste but beautiful nevertheless. It’s a slow-burn romance with nice moments and witty dialogs. I highly recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a fresh take on Cinderella. I greatly appreciated that the protagonist meets her prince by bashing him with a brick lol. This is a fun fluffy read with plenty of fresh thoughts for that time in history and plenty of spice to keep the storyline going. I would recommend this title to anyone who likes twisted fairy tales or regency romance.

What a true villain we get in this book. I really wanted to reach in and slug that guy.
Charlotte has been living as a servant in her own home since the passing of her mother and under the thumb of her cruel stepfather. Meeting Rafe causes Charlotte to feel things she's never felt before.
It also brings trouble into her life, the lies are building and when her stepfather finds out she and her stepsister try their best to go along with his plans.

Charlotte Is on a mission to release a beloved servant from jail when she bumps into the Duke of Rockford. He assumes she's a lady and doesn't bother to correct him, figuring she'll never see him again after this encounter.

Rafe, the Duke of Rockford, has done his best to avoid marriage. But his mother recently issued an ultimatum he can't ignore and he must finally get married. None of the ladies of the ton interest him until he runs into Lady Charlotte. She's unlike any of the ladies he's ever met. For the first time ever he's hopeful to have a marriage that's more than a business arrangement.

Thank you so much to the author, Entangled and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Do you like fairytale retellings that put a new spin on an old story? Romances between Dukes and women who think they could never be with a duke? Fun, if somewhat convoluted, plots with truly unhinged villains? The Duke’s Secret Cinderella ticks all the boxes AND the hero falls in love first, which always is the cherry on top of a fun book.

Charlotte and Rafe don’t experience insta-love, but there’s absolutely an instant connection, an instant intrigue between them, and the strongest scenes in the book are the ones where they’re bantering and challenging each other. They bring out the best in each other, and their clever, flirtatious chemistry truly jumps off the page. And when Rafe decides she’s the one and he’s in love, that’s it. He is the rare regency romance man who is not afraid of love, but seemingly runs headlong into it without hesitation once it hits him.

Charlotte’s hesitance makes so much sense. She’s the Cinderella in this story, after all, and her cruel stepfather takes evil to a new level. At least she’s got some solidarity with her stepsister, who is also treated cruelly by her own father, which is what turns the fairy tale on its head. No evil stepsisters here. It got a little tiring reading Charlotte try to push Rafe toward her stepsister over and over again when he had made it clear he only wanted her, but the reader does understand why she’s doing it. Her stepfather has such control over her that it’s difficult to read about the pain he causes.

I really enjoyed this book. Charlotte is an easy heroine to root for, and Rafe is so much fun when he’s utterly besotted. There was a reveal toward the end of the book that completely shocked me, and I was so excited that I didn’t see it coming at all. It’s so off the wall, the shock is part of the fun.

The Dukes' Secret Cinderella is a different retelling of Cinderella. Charlotte (our Cinderella stand-in) meets her Prince Charming while out on a mission to rescue a servant. She is robbed minutes before, and Rafe (The Duke) assists her in her rescue by giving her money. During this short but intense encounter, they learn much about each other and gravitate toward one another.

Enjoyed this book! Can't wait to read what's next in the series. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this was a very fun read. This twist on the Cinderella fairy tale worked for me, and I enjoyed reading it. Rafe and Charlotte had great chemistry and they were easy to root for. If you're looking for a cute read, that's going to give you some very nice feels, this one will do it.

Eva Devon tends to be a hit or miss writer for me (when she is good, she is really enjoyable!) and this book was unfortunately a miss for me. Charlotte Browne meets the Rafe, Duke of Rockford when she goes to rescue a fellow servant at her step-father's home from debtor's prison. He mistakenly takes her for a lady, a belief that is reinforced when he calls on her cousin later that day and again sees Charlotte in her non-servant garb. Charlotte cements his false impression by lying to him about her identity. Over the course of the book, Charlotte's lies entangle more people and get more complicated. She is not helped when her evil step-father returns home and decides to try and shift her falsehoods to his advantage.

While the premise has promise, this Cinderella-esque story feels very surface-level. I didn't really connect to any of the characters, and several plot points feel incredibly far-fetched, even in a fairytale inspired story. Rafe is essentially insta-obsessed with Charlotte. Her thoughts and opinions on their relationship are essentially ignored, which is portrayed as acceptable because she isn't saying what she really wants, but still comes down to her consent not being seen as necessary. The ending was fantastical and felt a bit drawn out as well.

Rating this 2.5 stars, rounding to 3 because I know the author can be better. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.