Eva Devon has become one of my favourite historical romance authors hands down. And this cinderella retelling doesn't disappoint.

Charlotte has no real family and her stepfather has no real love for her. with both parents passing away she is reliant on him and his money. Although she lives in her mother's home, she knows he can take that from her in a heartbeat.

while attempting to save the cook's husband from prison( something her stepfather organized) she runs into Rafe Dorchester.

Rafe Dorchester is looking for a wife and images his dismay when he runs into the beauty he was entrapped with on the street at the home of the young lady his mother has recommended for a wife

And from there the story gets more interesting

I love the twists and turns that Eva can intertwine into her stories. This one had to be captivated and want more

Some fairy tales are just meant to be adapted as historical romances, and the story of Cinderella never fails to be a perfect basis for the ton.

I loved both Rafe and Charlotte. After losing her mother, and all her mother's possessions in the process, Charlotte was left at the mercy of her stepfather - a man who kept far too many secrets from his family and from society. But when Rafe mistakes Charlotte for a lady, he'd much rather court her than her step-sister. Unfortunately for both of them, Charlotte's wicked step-father will do whatever it takes to come out on top.

Charlotte had a horrible lot in life. I felt bad for her, and I felt even worse the more we learned about her step-father. Thank goodness that Rafe could see through all the plots to get to the real Charlotte. She was tenacious and caring, always concerned about everyone else's wellbeing. It's clear right from the very beginning that Charlotte is made of stronger stuff than most ladies in society. She's willing to risk danger for the one's she loves. Fortunately for Rafe, that soon extends to him.

All of Devon's characters - both main and secondary - created such a whimsical story that very much had all the fairy tale elements. I absolutely loved the ending, and I wish I could read this book for the first time again just so I could relive that big reveal.

Devon combined her fantastic storytelling with an amazing cast of characters. The story did a great job at taking the original Cinderella story and turning it on its head. I adored the ending and thought Devon gave Rafe and Charlotte the perfect happy ending.

Eva Devon is another new to me author, and I'm so glad to have discovered her.
In The Duke's Secret Cinderella Charlotte Browne is just a plain and simple servent. She has cinder-stained hands and her step father has been evil to her since the day her mom passed away.
The Duke of Rockford, Rafe Dorchester, mother has laid down the law & he has to find a bride immediately. He has been avoiding marriage but will do anything for his mother. However, after helping a stranger, he finds himself with totally different outlook. Charlotte tells a few little white lies from the start a now finds herself in an unexpected situation all while trying to help make sure her loving step sister gets married.
It was so fun reading this story. I loved a heroine who cared for everyone & their happiness above her own. And a hero who is a true gentleman, that cares about honor & the happiness of others too.

I absolutely loved the wonderful twist on the classic Cinderella story. An evil step dad. A stepsister who is kind & like a real loving sister to Charlotte. Then add in a charming duke to come to the rescue. Don't forget a cherished  ribbon left behind after a special moment. What an adventure.
I loved her writing style. A story that
keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what happens next and makes you feel like your part of the story,
This was a wonderful reading adventure. I can't wait to discover more from Eva Devon.

I just reviewed The Duke's Secret Cinderella by Eva Devon. #TheDukesSecretCinderella #NetGalley

One of my favorite things is when the hero falls in love with the heroines brain and her wit. It’s fine for him to recognize her beauty but I want him to be mesmerized by her intelligence. This Duke is completely bowled over by Charlottes brain. Her terrible upbringing has been tolerable because of her stepsister. Francesca is lovely in her own right. I

I loved the interactions between the Duke & Charlotte. However, the last 1/8 of the book took a very melodramatic turn that took a bit if the shear from the story.
It’s still a good Cinderella retelling.

4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice

A nice twist on the classic Cinderella story. Charlotte and Rafe are so perfect for each other... true soulmates.

Tropes:
Class differences
Fake/Secret identity
Soulmates
Dual POV

Knowing this was a Cinderella retelling or at least inspired by that classic fairytale, you go in with a bit of expectations. And I wasn't disappointed. Charlotte had an evil stepfather and stepbrother but at least has a stepsister as an ally and friend. She was raised as a servant from the age of 5 and treated so badly... it's a wonder she has any fire in her spirit.

When Rafe, the Duke of Rockford, meets her he's instantly enchanted. And even though she was raised as a servant she still had the skills to pull off pretending to be a lady. But the more they saw each other the harder it was for her to keep up the ruse and that she wasn't available for marriage... because how can he marry a servant girl?

I loved how everything came together. The tension, the passion, the betrayal, the secrets, the love... it was all there. There is some spice but this is more of a slow burn, which worked perfectly for this historical romance.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Abuse, Death of parents (discussed), Manipulation, Violence, Graphic sexual content

Title: The Duke's Secret Cinderella
Author: Eva Devon
Pages: 352
Rating: 4/5 stars
.................
Angst: 3/5 stars
Steamy: 4/5 stars

I love historical romance books so I was so excited when my request approved.

The Duke's Secret Cinderella is a fairy tale retelling between Charlotte and Duke Rafe. Charlotte worked as a servant in her stepfather's house since her mother passed away. Duke of Rockford, who avoid marriage at all cost, needed to find a duchess.

I liked the plot, the first meeting, the insta love, the passion and the chemistry, the charming duke and the strong Charlotte. I found it interesting that her step-sister was supportive and with a good heart. Something that soured me was the constant miscommunication between the couple , the stubborn Charlotte and her refusal to tell the truth.

It was a quick and fun reading! I recommend it to everyone who wants to read a cute romance story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook in exchange of my honest review.

This is a a wonderful and charming story. Charlotte is a great character in the role of the stepsister who is being treated cruelly by her step father. Despite everything she remains witty, kind and upbeat. The Duke, Rafe, becomes her Prince Charming and protector. The story plot is steeped in the romance of fairytale. Charlotte with the help of her stepsister, a fairy godmother, and her prince is able to vanquish the evil stepfather that has been keeping her captive.

3.5 STARS!!!

1 thing about this book - 10 year old me would have LAPPED THIS UP.

There is something about fairy tale retelling-s that is so timeless and compelling. Perhaps that is why I hold them to a higher standard as compared to other novels.

This book is well written and engaging - but the plot is predictable though there IS a twist at the end.

What I liked - Charlotte! A great main character, torn between wanting the world and wanting to be safe.
-Francesca, Matthew and George made great side characters.

What I did not like - Charlotte was amazing, which resulted in Rafe being kinda insipid in comparison.
-The stepfather. He just did not make a very convincing villain. He was disgusting (and there are details of physical abuse), but not Cindrella-stepmother level scary. Which kinda takes away from the plot.
-Honestly, I would have liked the book to be more angsty, since it kinda teeters between humor and angst, never finding purchase anywhere.

What I loved -this quote - "...it went straight from his heart to her heart and back again."*Chef's kiss*

My thanks to the author, the publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Very enjoyable Cinderella themed regency romance. Rafe and Charlotte have an instant connection, kindred spirits and the story builds to a satisfying happily ever after.

Treated as a servant her whole life, Charlotte is surprised to find Rafe, a duke, so down to earth. He helps her free a fellow servant from prison. Rafe feels an instant kinship with Charlotte but they can not see how a relationship between them can exist. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for my honest review.

The Duke's Secret Cinderella can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. 3.5 stars

Great first meeting and solid beginning, where our hero and heroine meet in the gritty streets and a debtor's prison. This gives a first glimpse into their solid, charitable natures. Charlotte wants to help the people in her life that she loves, no matter their station, Rafe, the Duke of Rockford, wants to use his station in the world to learn and to make a difference. Rafe indulges his mother and is willing to look for a bride, but he wants to fall deeply in love and not just marry out of duty.

The middle was a bit slow. Yes, this is a Cinderella story, but the lies went on for a bit too long. In this retelling there is an abusive step father, and a supportive and sweet step sister, and many great secondary characters. The steam and chemistry between Charlotte and Rafe is palpable.

The story ends on a happily for now.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Going into this, I expected the instalove between our main characters (given that this is a Cinderella retelling), so I wasn't that bothered by that, even though usually I'm against that trope.

I really liked the main characters - while Charlotte was your typical strong and independent heroine, Rafe was very different from the usual historical romance heroes; he wasn't a rake, and he was determined to find love, which was a breath of fresh air in a genre that usually has heroes that are reluctant to admit they even have feelings at all.

While this was nothing groundbreaking and I did have some issues with the plot and the romance, mostly with the fact that Charlotte's reluctance to trust Rafe and tell him the truth kind of cheapened their connection for me, it was a quick and enjoyable read, and I'd be interested in picking up more books by Eva Devon.

Cinderella is my favorite princess story so I am always up for a story with this theme. This one fared in the middle for me as it lost my interest about halfway through. I did enjoy that the character traits for each Charlotte & Rafe were shown by actions with Charlotte's willpower in freeing a close family friend from jail and Rafe's involvement in the Children's Hospital. I also enjoyed the beginning and the end of the book where the plot is at a faster pace.

Where I started to lose interest was in the middle as the plotline stalls while Charlotte battles insecurity of whether or not she is good enough for the Duke. This seems to be a common problem in romance novels where the lack of communication and insecurity are the main conflicts. The villain was especially heinous but also present perhaps a bit more than necessary. I also did not enjoy that the speech in the internal thoughts did not match the regency times. There were an excessive amount of questions asked internally from each perspective and it was more the style of the rhetorical questions that bothered me. A question was asked more for dramatic effect than out of curiosity or in an effort for clarity. For example:

<i>"Perhaps she had no wish to marry him. But their kiss? Their dance lesson? It certainly suggested otherwise".

"Now? Now he looked as if he would follow her to the ends of the earth and back again. And his passion for her, his admiration? It was more than she ever could have dreamed of in her little turret room". </i>

I did not realize that this book was the third in a series and easily read it as a standalone. I would not be surprised if the series continues with Charlotte's sister. I would recommend this book for fans of regency romances and true love. On the other hand, I would not recommend this book for those younger than 18 due to the explicit sexual scenes, violence, physical and psychological abuse, and foul language.

Please note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. At the time of posting this review, the book is due to be released February 21, 2023.

This regency Cinderella retelling crackles with sparkling banter, a gooey self-aware cinnamon roll Duke, and steamy sex scenes.

The plot echoed the 90s Cinderella movie, Ever After starring Drew Barrymore, which gave me cozy nostalgia vibes millennials like myself will appreciate. I also liked how the step sister was more of a friend than a villain. It was fun to root for the step sister for once!

The emotional prose had me breathlessly flipping pages. It was such a satisfying experience. The author did such a great job with the pacing that I’m certain my bosom heaved at one point.

This is the first Eva Devon I’ve read and I hope she does more adaptations of 90s movies, but make them regency. It was a super fun experience and I want more!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Ever, After is one of the most beloved movies of my adolescence. Drew Barrymore saving herself and the people she loves the most, using all possible tools
.
That's why I really enjoyed this book, this version of Cinderella is very similar but with more significant scenes, a lot of passion and very steamy scenes
.
The Duke of Rockford, Rafe is a perfect gentleman, kind and honorable but with a different perception of society that changes when his path crosses with that of a young woman walking a dangerous path of the city to free a friend from a debt in prison
.
Rafe offers to help her and from the few words they exchange, he is surprised and even more so when he finds her in the house of the well-bred and proper lady that his mother wants to be his wife
.
Charlotte begins to cover her steps with lies while they both fall madly in love but without knowing the tests that fate plans or if love will be enough when he learn her true identity, which is nothing more than an employee in her stepfather's house
.
Just like in the movie, but with much more action and a more passionate dynamic. And also Rafe who is the perfect Prince for this hidden Cinderella
.
Thanks to Eva Devon and Entangled Publishing LLC for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

If you ever need an MMC who is kind, gentle, emotionally mature, romantic, and honorable, look no further than Rafe, the Duke of Rockford. He is the most annoyingly perfect MMC I've experienced in a book, though how can I complain when he is The Standard?

This book follows Charlotte who's been a servant in her stepfather's house since the age of 5. Despite his abuse and neglect, Charlotte is a headstrong and confident woman. I enjoyed her as a character while also screaming in my head about her decisions. When Rafe meets her, he is swept off his feet by her view of the world and promptly decides she will be the one [his mother is pressuring him] to marry.

Shenanigans ensue, all of it sickeningly sweet and perfect for a light read when you just watched Ever After and you need more.

Thank you, Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, for the free copy of the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ms Devon is another new-to-me author. One of the reasons I love participating in NetGalley is that I get to try new authors. Discovering new authors is the most fun part of Netgalley. On to the book, the plot is taken straight out of a 1997 movie called 'Ever After' (an excellent retelling of Cinderella starring Drew Barrymore, Dougray Scott and Anjelica Houston as the evil stepmother, watch it if you can - highly recommended). However, you have an evil stepfather here instead of a wicked stepmother.

Things I liked:
- I loved the first meeting between Rafe and Charlotte. I thought it was cute.
- I liked the chemistry between Rafe and Charlotte and the fact that they wanted the same things in life (love, family, etc).
- The writing style is good. Easy to read and clear.
- The pacing is also excellent.
- Rafe's friends. They give the book a comedic tone.
- A fast read. This book is ideal if you're in the mood for a light-hearted read.

Things I did not quite like:
- The characters can be more fleshed-out. They feel pretty shallow to me.
- Some of the plots didn't make sense to me, i.e. the fact that no one knew or was bothered about Charlotte's existence/well-being seemed implausible to me as the stepfather continued spending her inheritance money.
- The stepfather got off too easily in the end. I wanted him to hang for the things he made Charlotte suffer (I'm bloodthirsty that way).
- I wished there had been more interactions between Charlotte and the servants (to show Charlotte's character). We were told that Charlotte is generous and kind, but this was never really shown. The servants disappeared after the first few chapters.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and would like to try out more of her work.

Unfortunately, I will not be recommending this title for purchase at our library. Historical romances are already a tough sell for our library's limited fiction section, and after reading this ARC I do not believe it would excite readers. The main characters had Too Perfect syndrome, the villain was overdone, and I had trouble believing some of the characters' motivations.

Cinderella With a Twist or Two:
Rafe is a duke with a good heart, but not looking for love.
He tries to help a young girl against a bad guy and in the process gets whacked over the head with a brick. Not the way you would like to meet an attractive young lady. The duke does help her in many ways throughout the story.
The story was fun to read, and I liked the characters other than the stepfather. The mother
and grandmother of the duke were a hoot. 
This is an emotional tale of Charlote and Rafe who find romance and conquer some very disturbing situations. 
From there this story which is similar to a Cinderella story with a number of differences.
I laughed out loud at times, was surprised and shocked more than once but a little frustrated when the deceit continued a bit too long. I found myself skimming several pages to finally get to heart of the plot and the thrilling heartfelt ending.
Adult Advisory:

Eva Devon is becoming one of my favorite Regency authors. This time she does a twist on Cinderella. Our heroine, Charlotte, is being raised by her evil stepfather after her mother dies. She meets our hero, Rafe the Duke of Rockford, when she goes to a debtors prison to post bail for a beloved servant at her home. Rafe helps Charlotte free her friend and in the process Charlotte does not tell him that she is really just a servant. Her lie intensifies when her step-sister convinces here to attend a ball with her since her stepfather is out of town.

Charlotte's lies continue as she tries to hide her birth origins from Rafe, who has a deep soul connection with her. As their forbidden relationship grows, the lies Charlotte tells also increase. When the unraveling begins, and surprising truths are revealed Rafe is not sure who he loves. A truly remarkable story that I couldn’t put down.

Thank you NetGalley, Eva Devon and Entangled Publishing for the ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Publication date: 2/21/2023