It has been a while since I’ve read a book from Guhrke, but I’m so glad I came across this book! And to think this is the first book in a series. So ready to read the next installment! I was definitely not disappointed. Was it equal amounts of sweet, funny, and steamy? Yes, yes it was. Think She’s All That set in the Victorian-era! And I’m all here for it!

Evie is our steadfast heroine willing to stay independent despite things not going the way they should. She owns a crumbling bookstore which is barely making money, is accumulating a mountain of debt and to top it all off, she thinks herself in love with Rory, her childhood friend, who pretty much just uses her for money.

Max is the Hero of the story who apart from being so good looking and intelligent, he sees Evie for who she truly is which is not in any way a homey wallflower like his young peers think she is. And that’s where the wager comes in. If Max can turn Evie into the belle of the ball by the end of the season, he wins the bet.

At first Evie thinks it’s ridiculous and complete refuses, but when some unfortunate circumstances occur, she ends up accepting Max’s offer and they work together in order to win the bet. These two characters together is heaven. You see them begin as strangers, ease into a friendship, until suddenly they begin looking at each other differently and heated glances become forbidden kisses.

I loved this slow-burn, steamy but sweet romance. Max was such a sweetheart with equal amounts of wicked comments, I lost count how many highlights I had throughout the book. Definitely worth the read. My only issue was Rory. I forgot he existed for a big chunk of the book. I figured he was just a villain to move the story along, but he was very much a cookie cutter bad guy. More personality would have worked? Or maybe his motive could’ve had higher stakes.

All in all an amazing, fun read. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

I read a lot of reviews that billed this as more She’s All That than Cinderella and I certainly got that vibe with the bet. This was a cute story and an easy read. I liked the FMC more than the MMC. If you’re a historical romance fan, I’d give this one a shot!

As a historical romance reader, I am ashamed to say this is my first book by Laura Lee Guhrke and I am so happy it was because it was beautiful. Strong characters, strong plot, strong secondary characters, vivid writing, and a fantastic wrap.! I finished this in one sitting, and at the end, it made me remember why I love historical romance so much! Great story and I can't wait for the next book in the series. Now, have this need to read all of Laura's backlist!

I loved Max. He was so cautious of his heart and position that he was willing to let everything go to make things right. Evie was such a strong female character, being an independent lady and trying to get by. I loved these two characters because they help each other build themselves up, not down. They were both open about what they wanted, and it was their insecurities that got them thinking they didn't deserve happiness. Lovely.

Engaging story about proving society wrong and being courageous in the face of the unknown, about learning the difference between love and lust, settling for what is safe and boring vs seeking true happiness. He is her “fairy godmother” and “Prince Charming” and so they also deserve to get their fairy tale ending. As always, Laura Lee Guhrke does not disappoint with this enjoyable tale.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

This was a nice fun quick read. It reminded me of My Fair Lady. Evie Harlow runs a bookshop that was passed down to her. She loves the bookshop, but lately she has been wanting more out of life. In walks a Duke, who comes at a time when she's more interested in another and doesn't have time for his judgement. One thing leads to another and a bet comes into play. Evie is thrust into high society where she gets to know the Duke more. Can a working class woman fit into the Duke's high class society? I enjoyed both of the main characters and the story put a smile on my face. Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bookshop Cinderella was a fun, fast read! It's been a little while since I read something by Laura Lee Guhrke, but this was a great return to the author. I appreciate that the hero was up front about the circumstances of bargain at once, as that can easily lead to some simple miscommunications. While at times awkward, overall I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be looking out for more of her books in the future!

thank you netgalley & forever for my advanced copy of Bookshop Cinderella! I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve posted a general book review, so I apologize if I’m a bit rusty!

I tend to not read many historical romances because they generally do not hold my attention for long, but this one was easy to digest and a quick read! It’s the first in a new series called Scandal at the Savoy. I haven’t read anything else by this author, but her writing felt polished and expert to me. I enjoyed the story that unfolded between our main character, Evie Harlow, and the love interest, Maximillian (Max) Shaw, Duke of Westbourne.

I loved that Evie is a character who runs her own bookstore, is smart, quick-witted, and speaks her mind. I enjoyed the fun banter between Evie and Max as their feelings grew for one another. And I could feel the author’s love of historical romance and books through the pages of this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars from me, I will definitely check out future releases in this series.

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Scandal at the Savoy series. Max is doing a favor for his cousin by collecting research and plans for a dinner party from bookseller Evie; when he meets her, he’s tailed by a few boisterous younger men who disparage Evie’s plain and bookish demeanor. He ends up wagering that with a bit of polish, she’ll be able to fill her dance card at a ball in six weeks time. Max tries to enlist Evie to be part of his wager, but she refuses at first, until a boiler bursts in her bookshop, closing it down and leaving her without a place to stay. Evie has basically been alone in running her shop and barely making ends meet and has never experienced any balls or parties, so Max’s offer forces her to experience new things. Meanwhile, as a duke with no heirs, Max is seeking the perfect society wife and trying to learn from the mistakes he made with his first wife, who was ostracized in society. While Max and Evie grow closer with their talking and banter, they both know that the social class differences between them would be unrealistic to try to overcome. This was a fun book to read and I liked reading about Evie gaining more self-confidence through the book.

The Bookshop Cinderella was a delightful and sweet romance! My first book from Laura Lee Gukrke was a treat. A Regency twist on the She’s All That bet brings a Duke and a working girl together and sparks fly. From learning how to dance to experiencing new foods Max and Evie get to know each other with the main objective to win the bet but of course fall for each other. Max unfortunately knows this is doomed based off his tragic first marriage but their connection can’t be denied. An easy read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing an eARC of this title for review. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

In Bookshop Cinderella, shy, bookish Evie and suave, confident Max— Duke of Westbourne— pair up to turn Evie into a diamond of the first water and win a bet, never expecting that their bet will be complicated by real feelings.

Bookshop Cinderella is a light and frothy historical She’s All That, with a touch of Joanna Shupe. I never felt like I 100% connected with these characters, and I wouldn’t say this is my personal favorite that I’ve read by Guhrke, but I would definitely recommend it to interested patrons and still think it will make a good fit for our collection. 3.4 stars

I loved this unconventional story about the romance between a jaded, widowed duke and a spirited bookstore owner.

Things I loved the most:
1. He actually tells her about the bet that is the reason for his attention and the impetus behind the makeover. I loved that she was a willing participant and fully on board.
2. The dancing lessons! His patience and encouragement were so wonderful.
3. He appreciates her intellect and defends it. He makes it clear he would never stand in the way of her pursuit of anything- whether society deems it ladylike or not.

This is the first book Laura Lee Guhrke has released in over 4 years. I was so looking forward to it. Hen I started reading it and thought ,this is a take off on Eliza Doolittle or She's all That, I was a little disappointed.
But the story was just different enough and the characters so likeable that I really enjoyed reading it.
Evie was just a hard working girl who was just trying to make it on her own. She had enough schooling and polish that she could talk to aristocrats and fit in to some sort extent.
Max was a spoiled arrogant Duke who thought he knew better. He was able to learn a few things from Evie
The story was good. It flowed easily. The characters were very likeable ( I hope Delia gets her own story).
4⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Some of my favorite books were written by this author. This is not one of them. Others have compared this to She's All That. Except the FMC knows about the bet from the get go aaaaaand there goes all the tension. Basically this is a really long conversation between two people who are exceedingly polite and well, boring AF. The hero, can't even remember his name he was so unremarkable, is nice and polite and has the personality of a wood plank. That being said this is very well written and the setting Edwardian times (I think) was unique and well researched and this would be a great read for anyone who loves a low angst, low conflict read. But I like my heroes with an edge and my romance with a big helping of sexual and romantic tension. I didn't get any of that here.

Firstly, I’m delighted to see a new series by Laura Lee Guhrke! Secondly, I adored this Cinderella retelling in late Victorian settings featuring a fairy duke daddy, who spoils you, champions you, and waltzes away your worries.

I adored Evangeline. Here is a relatable heroine in her late 20s. Evie defies societal dictates and runs her own bookshop. She has no illusions about her plain features or her unremarkable personality. Nevertheless, this hard-working, good-hearted spinster gets the ultimate makeover, a dream holiday, and a chance at happily ever after. Evie is the shining star of the story. I enjoyed seeing the opulence of the Savoy through Evie’s eyes. It was gratifying to watch her blossom into a strong and confident person.

On the other hand, it took me a while to like Max. His backstory didn’t paint him in the best light. I’m also not comfortable with plots involving a wager. But to my relief, Max was honest with Evie about the wager. It took a little time, but he did overcome his insecurities. I loved that he saw Evie as an incomparable beauty from the beginning. He also helped Evie realize that she was sabotaging her own happiness.

Furthermore, I really liked Max’s cousin, Delia. Although I was hoping for a cute platonic friendship between Evie and Rory. That storyline took a U-turn, sadly. I wasn’t especially keen on hearing Rory’s POV either. But these are just minor pet peeves. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

High on sparkling banter and low on angst, Bookshop Cinderella is a splendidly romantic read with a very important message: never sell yourself short.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be honest - unlike most folks, I actually do love the "I lied and made about about you but oops I'm super in love with you" trope, so when Max told Evie the truth straight away, I was sort of disappointed. I LIVE for the angst! But - the writing of this one was so charming and the romance so sweeping that I immediately forgot my disappointment and enjoyed it immensely!

In my opinion the first half of the book was a bit slow. It took me a little while to get into but once I got past that it was a pretty enjoyable read. I liked the friendship between Evie and Max. I do wish we got more of Evie's perspective regarding their romance. I felt like we got a lot more of Max's perspective. Overall this was a good book.

Book Releases June 20, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the E-ARC

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Evie, a plain poor spinster, runs her own bookshop. When Max comes in he is drawn into wagering that he can turn Evie into the talk of the ton. Both of them never thought they could enjoy themselves so much. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Forever for my honest review.

This was a nice take on a Cinderella story. Evie, the fmc, runs a bookshop that takes up all her time and resources. She is known as a wallflower to people and also thinks that of herself. She meets duke max(m) who has made a bet to transform Evie from a wallflower to the talk of the ton. At first, Evie refuses, but when she has to close down her bookshop for some time agrees to partner with Max.

First of all, the heroine was so relatable in what she was going through. I liked both characters a lot, their banter and how opposite they were really did it for me. I loved that the duke didn't hide the bet but actually communicated with Evie, so they were both able to benefit from it. The plot was really cute, it did give Cinderella ish vibes. The romance is a slow burn, there is tension and chemistry between the main characters. This has low spice, there were two open-door scenes and some slow parts in the romance. Overall this was a good and interesting book. I really liked the plot, characters, and romance.

Read if you like:
- Opposites attract
- Class difference
- Cinderella retelling

Thank you, Forever Publishing, for this arc for an honest review.

Bookshop Cinderella was a happy marriage of the Bridgerton and A League of Extraordinary Women series. Evie, the stubborn, hard-working bookshop owner, was very likable from the beginning. I enjoyed the descriptions of her shop, her armchair travels, and the respect she merited from even the 'elite' of London society. Max, the Duke with a complicated marital past, is a bit predictable but overall I appreciated how he wanted to prove his arrogant acquaintances wrong about Evie.

The ending felt somewhat rushed to me as there wasn't really enough time between the big drama and happily ever after for me. I think expanding upon Rory's part in everything could have added more depth to the ending.

Overall, I highly recommend this read to anyone who loves a Cinderella romance with a little spice and everything nice!

This was fine - I did like the friendship between Evie and Max, but it felt a little underdeveloped in some areas. I also felt like we got a lot more of Max's perspective regarding their romance, but not as much from Evie.

I would recommend this as a good starter historical romance for someone wanting to dip their toe into the genre.