I enjoyed this book! It has been a while since I last picked up a historical romance and this book was a great opportunity to jump back into the genre. It was so easy to slip inside this delightful story full of characters that came alive on the page. I quickly became invested in Evie and Max’s well-being and couldn’t wait to see them find their happily ever after.

I liked Evie and Max a lot. Evie has spent her life working and doesn’t expect too much out of life. Max is a Duke but he sees something in Evie and makes a wager that if given the time he can turn her into the most sought-after lady at the ball. I thought that the chemistry between these two was incredibly well done and I couldn’t wait to see things work out for them. A few times, I was worried about how they might deal with the things happening in their lives that were out of their control.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of historical romance. I thought this was a remarkable story full of great characters and just the right amount of swoon-worthy moments. I cannot wait to read more of this series!

I received a digital review copy of this book from Forever.

I love a good historical romance and this book had everything. This one had all the vibes of a classic Cinderella story without making it too obvious. It had all the cozy vibes too that you'd expect to get from a book that takes place in a bookshop and I loved it.

London - 1896

Maximillian (Max) Shaw, 32, has decided to spend the entire season this year in London. Rather than open his too-large home in town, he has decided to stay at the Savoy Hotel. At the request of his cousin, he is asked to search out Evie Harlow, who owns Harlow Bookshop, as she is to help the chef at the Savoy to plan the decorations and food for a special dinner. She has done this before and the results have been spectacular.

At the bookshop, Max enters to find Evie trying to impress a young, entitled man while ignoring him as a customer. Therefore, their first meeting is not pleasant. However, having forgotten her promise to prepare for this dinner, she promises to have what is needed in a couple of days.

Later, Max decides to see if Evie will help him win a bet and under the shelter of his cousin, Delia, set her up at the Savoy with beautiful clothes and turn her out to be the belle of the season. At first, Evie is appalled, but a flood in her bookstore necessitates that she leave for awhile so she agrees. Soon, she is caught up in gown fittings, deluxe accommodations at the Savoy and learning to dance and spending time with Max. How could this not turn into something wonderful?

This is an adorable book and the love that builds between Max is Evie is simply beautiful. Some great characters that brings this story all together perfectly. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Laura Lee Guhrke never disappoints! This story was a bit more Rom-Com than most of her books, but it still was a fun read. Evie had a rough time growing up, so she wants nothing to do with society, but Max plans to show Evie that she is more than she believes. In the process, Max learns he doesn't really know himself as well as he thought. Can these two find common ground?

I received an ARC for free, but I am giving my honest opinion voluntarily.

When duke Maximillian offers to transform bookstore owner Evie into the talk of the ton, she hesitates. Then, calamity befalls her shop, and she's forced to accept. As Evie blossoms into a shining star, she captures Max's heart. Can he convince her she belongs by his side?

This is such a fun book! Max and Evie are a perfect match, but because of the difference in their stations, it takes them a long time to see it. The banter between them is delicious.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A Duke, a bookshop owner, a makeover, dancing lessons and shenanigans. When a woman believes her childhood friend is the man she's destined to be with will she allow her heart to be open for the possibility of love from another? What if that love was from someone who was in a different class difference?

A historical romance with heart, fun, and adventure. There is so much we can learn from books and the people who crave what they have to offer.

A duke with a tendency for good deeds, and a bookshop owner who needs a bit of escape, bring us another Pygmalion tale with a twist.

Of course, this story format has been done a million times, and at first, I honestly believed that Guhrke’s Duke of Westbourne was going to make me angry. Any man wagering on a woman’s beauty, lack of or unrealized, should probably be given a good smack. Imagine my surprise when this Duke with a heart of gold decides not only to wager, but to tell the heroine he’s done so! Cue the need for popcorn, a soda, and a comfortable seat. I’m finishing this book in one sitting.

I dug into the tale of Evie Harlow, who runs her father’s bookshop. It’s not a popular one but does provide well-known old books for collectors. To make ends meet, Evie has been running herself ragged with odd jobs on top of the bookshop biz. This woman might be the queen of historical hustle culture. Doing everything within her capable brain, short of selling her body and her bookstore, to successfully pay the bills.

When Westbourne shows up with an opportunity for her, albeit one she should probably refuse, it’s too good to turn down. The offer includes a new wardrobe and a vacation from her real life for a short time. Fully funded with no strings, only to attend a charity ball and dance every dance. Evie does what any over-worked, exhausted woman would do… she says yes.

What unfolds is the slow-burn romance between two people who are not right for each other at all. Definitely an opposites attract, as Evie and Westbourne have many other plans that don’t include being together. Though I loved watching them fall for one another as Westbourne provides private dancing lessons between Evie’s outings among the ton.

While the building of the romance drove me crazy, I respected the evolution as what was needed based on the character’s past. Add in a villain I absolutely couldn’t stand, a true heroine conquering her fears, and I really enjoyed this book. It had similar elements to the Pygmalion trope but gave a completely different twist that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Overall, this worked as a great standalone and is a good entry for the first in a new series. I’m eager to see what comes next and for whom. If you love Victorian-style romance, dukes, and opposites attract, you can’t go wrong with this one.

~ Landra

This was a great historical romance! I really liked the couple in this one, and I liked the bookish aspects of the book as well! Overall, I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

First Impressions
Bookshop Cinderella is the first book in the newest series by Laura Lee Guhrke. It has been so long since I have read anything by this author, and I will admit that I was drawn to this one when I saw the title and the cover. It had me super intrigued and I have such a soft spot for any type of retelling. So if you love cinderella retellings, then I do recommend this one. Its a loose retelling though but still a fun way that the author implemented this book and actually had some healthy communication that was implemented and I really respect that this author was willing to go that route for sure. What we see in this one here though is a fun bet, a bookish heroine, class differences and some pining from the hero. So definitely has many elements that will appeal to many readers, and if you love historical romance, I highly recommend this one. It had such a solid balanced amount of factors that we all love to see in a historical romance and Gurhke really delivered on this one for me.

Summary
Evie Harlow runs a bookshop in London, and she runs her own business that her father left to her and she was able to get her family out of debt and be independent and fight for women’s voting rights. She enjoys her life but she also aches for something more and she doesn’t realize what she was missing until she meets Maximillian, the Duke of Westbourne. From their first meeting, their was a spark of attraction between Evie and Max. When Max runs into some acquaintances from school, claiming that no one in the Ton would have Evie, Max knows that there is a beauty that shines from within and is determined to show these shallow men what one can do if they have the will and determination. So he makes a bet with them that he can turn her into a victorian era Cinderella and that she will have a full dance card at the upcoming ball. Immediately Max goes to Evie and they join forces to win this bet and for Evie to have an adventure she never imagined for herself. What starts out as a playful bet, turns into something deeper when Max and Evie find a love neither expected to find…

What I Loved
Bookshop Cinderella was such a charming and lively romance that left me with a smile from beginning to the very end. I absolutely couldn’t get enough of these two. Seeing their interactions I was on the edge of my seat. I became quickly endeared by both of these characters. They both have such solid growth in this story and truly the author did a splendid job in focusing on their connection. We truly see what they have together and that spark of interest that begins to bloom the moment they are together more …..and more. Max may be a Duke, but he has suffered heartache, loss and betrayal. He knows that he needs to have an heir, but is still hurt by losing his previous wife who also spurned his heart and hasn’t been able to allow himself to open to anyone else until he meets Evie who shows him what loving someone and being loved in return can be like and that its worth fighting for. Evie on other hand, is more apprehensive of the class differences between them. She isn’t afraid of love but she knows that loving Max will come at a price, the price of never being together. She knows that they are too different and their lives could never be together and she can’t see herself being “duchess” material. But when Max comes to the point of realizing he can’t live without Evie, he will do whatever it takes to win Evie’s heart and mind. We see such determination from the hero to fight for his girl and seeing this sweet pining was so adorable. Even before he realizes that he loves her, he builds a connection with her and gives her these thoughtful gifts that are so endearing. I really appreciated seeing the interactions between Max and Evie. Their banter was so delightful and had me laughing all over the place. The pacing is steady and keeps you interested. Sometimes this author can be a hit or miss on the pacing, but this is so easy to read for a historical and I highly recommend this one. And if you are curious about the retelling, it really is just the aspect of seeing the change of appearance. So its probably closer to a Pygmalion retelling over a Cinderella one. But still wonderful in whichever way you look at it. I am very curious to see where the author will be taking this series moving forward and very thrilled for book 2.

What I Struggled With
There wasn’t too much I struggled with this one to be honest. The heroine was a bit frustrating in always pushing the hero away. I understand why she was, but it did stretch out a bit longer than I felt was fully necessary. But I did appreciate the heroine fighting for the hero in the end. That was quite refreshing to see, as its not very common.

Overall View
Bookshop Cinderella is a endearing and witty historical that delivered an impactful story that will capture the readers attention from the very beginning. You will be charmed by the humor, the easy way of reading it and the strong connection these two build between them! A SATISFYING GEM!

Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke is a perfect historical fiction romance. While Max was not the best I still found I enjoyed his character. And Evie was just adorable. I really liked this story of a classic and set in a bookstore! I need to read more from this author!

I'm head over heels for this fun historical rom com! This is absolutely my idea of a fun, summer beach read. It was fast-paced with a delicious slow burn, and the nods to works like Pygmalion and My Fair Lady were perfect. It gives She's All That vibes, too.

I adored Evie, a shy bookshop spinster who loves to live vicariously through others but is hesitant to try new things herself. And the Duke of Westbourne- Max? His sense of decency, honor, and kindness had me melting. I loved that he let her in on the wager about bringing her successfully out into society, that he didn't lie to her about his intentions. It made for hilarious banter between the two!

I definitely recommend if you love:
•Wallflowers finding love
•Dukes with hearts of gold
•Romances between class differences
•Glow ups
•Wagers where everyone is in on it
•Secret dancing lessons
•Library shenanigans

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Pub for the advanced copy!

The heroine runs a bookshop that the hero visited to give her a proposition: make her become a fashionable lady to win a bet. The heroine agrees after a disastrous event and is whisked off into the world of high society. The hero thinks lightly of the bet until he ends up falling in love with the heroine. Will the hero be able to convince the heroine to take a chance with him or will he let her go back to her bookshop?

This is the first book of the SCANDAL AT THE SAVOY series by Laura Lee Guhrke. The book is a historical romance with vibes from the Cinderella fairytale and She's All That movie. The main characters had strong presences in the book, though I liked the heroine more than the hero since she feels more relatable to me. I also liked certain secondary characters that supported the couple, especially the hero's cousins. I do think that the story could have been better with more details in certain areas of the story, like maybe placing some revelations earlier in the book. Overall, a nice first book to this Laura Lee Guhrke series and I look forward to reading future installments to it.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

A bit of a rough start for me, but by the end I was having a great time.

It reminds me a lot of "My Fair Lady." He's basically giving her a makeover so she can fit into society and it's all for a bet. (Which she does know about from the start, which was refreshing.)

Although the whole conceit of the bet was a little distracting, and I didn't feel the plot really needed it. I know this is the whole premise, but the importance of wager itself quickly fades away anyway. They just spend a lot of time setting it up and that was extremely tedious. This could have been like two paragraphs and instead the friends talk for almost an entire chapter about the parameters, etc.

I liked the moment when Evie starts to wonder if Max wants her to be his mistress, since he is buying her all these clothes and putting her in a hotel. Her internal panic and the subsequent drama that unfolds was very satisfying for me; lots of tension.

I liked the setting in the very late Victorian era; it's just a personal favorite of mine.

There were a few scenes where she called him "Duke" and it was very off-putting. It didn't seem to be a nickname, just used instead of a "your grace." IDK what was going on there and maybe it will be fixed in the final copy.

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #BookshopCinderella in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book with no expectations because I haven't read any books by Guhrke before this one and I ended up really enjoying it. I like Guhrke's easy to read writing style. This gave me She's All That vibes so if you enjoyed that trope, you will enjoy this book. Even better is that our hero tells the heroine about the bet early on so there's no stress to the reader while you wait for the other shoe to drop and for the FMC to find out about the bet. Two major thumbs up for that, Laura Lee! This is a relatively low angst story and it is also very sweet.

This book was a good read, evenly balanced between drama and romance, but the ending was abrupt.
This review may contain spoilers.
The heroine of this story is a book shop owner about 27 years old. She and her father lived in a small apartment in top of the shop. The heroine's mother died young. When her father passed, she was left with the business and debts, so she worked hard and was able to lower the debts and all she had was a mortgage on the shop.
The heroine had been helping a young noble lady who was part of many clubs and charities. The heroine was able to research themes, decorations and recipes for the noble lady's many parties, dinners and fund raisers. The heroine is happy to help her and thinks it would be nice to attend one if those many parties, but she is very insecure about her humble beginnings. The heroine, while being a capable business woman, has a let her insecurities get in the way of her happiness. While she does believe in love, and she has a gentleman she admires, she does not try to put herself out as a possible partner. She has let her negative self image bring her down. 
The noble lady has to travel to the continent and she asks her cousin to get the material needed from the heroine and help the heroine converse with the French chef who tends to be arrogant. The lady asks her cousin because he is a duke and will not be intimidated like the heroine would have been.
The cousin, who is the hero, goes to the book shop to contact the heroine for the information. The hero takes his responsibilities seriously is looking for a wife. He was married once before, to an American heiress, who ran away to America because she could not handle being a duchess. When the duke goes to America to talk to his wife, he finds out that she has died in an accident when she was crossing a road. The hero always felt this happened because he forced his expectations onto his wife. He vows he will not do this with this second wife and has picked out the Diamond of the season. He is one of many suitors and when the Diamond asks him to squire her twin brother around town, he ended up being saddled with three young men who only wanted to drink, gamble and wench. The hero was not happy that he is now expected to bring the three troublemakers in line. But they are with him when he goes to the bookshop. The hero goes inside by himself and witnesses an interaction between the heroine and her crush. He is appalled at how the man takes advantage of the heroine. He waits his turn and when he asks the heroine for the information, the heroine realizes she forget to get the information together because her Crush returned from his travels the same week the lady asked for the information and the heroine forgot about the request. The heroine asked for a few more days and the hero was agreeable when the three troublemakers came into the store and messed up a book display because they were drunk. The heroine scolds them and the troublemakers start making trouble. The hero is able to wrangle the troublemakers out of the shop by offering to buy them drinks at the Savoy American Bar. After they have been drinking for an hour, the Diamond's brother bets that the hero cannot dress up the heroine and make her popular at the next charity ball. The hero takes the bet because he has over six weeks to do it and his cousin will return in four weeks and she can help him then. But how will he convince the heroine?
This book was funny and down to earth. The characters are all likeable.The heroine was so relatable and the hero did not act like a typical nobleman. The story was not slow, it was easy to immerse yourself into and enjoy what was going on. I will give 4.5 stars because of the abrupt ending, but I also strongly recommend reading.

Evie is just a working class gal in regency era London. She's plain but she's proud, and she owns her own bookshop. One day she encounters a rakish duke named Max, who makes a bet with his friends that he can get Evie to be the talk of the town in six weeks. Evie is whisked away to a world unlike anything she's ever dreamed of: a fancy hotel (The Savoy, to be exact!), gorgeous gowns, delicious food, and dazzling events. But, best of all, is the charming man orchestrating it all! Their chemistry is off the charts, which they discover in spades as he teaches her to dance. The problem, however, is that the love they feel could destroy them both!

I LOVED this book. It's a fun spin on the classic Cinderella story. If you enjoyed other takes on the tale, such as "My Fair Lady," "She's All That," or "Pretty Woman," then you'll love this book! I enjoy a cozy escape with moments that make me sigh, and this book DELIVERED. The scenes in the hotel and the opera. Dress fittings. BEAUTIFUL dresses brought to life in full detail. These were all fun, but then it gets even better. The romance! Max and Evie, dancing in a dark ballroom in the middle of the night, talking over an indoor picnic of insanely divine food, and there are several super spicy scenes as well! I was never expecting a particular plot twist in the middle of the story, but it made it even more compelling. I would have given this book five stars, but the third act wasn't exactly what I wanted. It goes to show that the author did a great job because I was so invested in the characters that I was stuck to my own plans of how things should have unfolded, haha!

I will most definitely be reading more books in the Scandal at the Savoy series! I would like to thank Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Bookshop Cinderella, the first in a new series from Laura Lee Guhrke brings us a dazzling new romance in turn-of-the-century London, full of glitz and glam and dusty bookshelves!

Evie Harlow is happy running her fathers old bookshop. She has a potential beau and she gets to spend her days with gorgeous antique books. She’s happy in her life, that is until the Duke of Westborn steps into her shop and proposes a sort of holiday…

A holiday, where she steps out of her own life, and into the life of the diamond of the season!

Usually, I am not a fan of romances that require a character to completely change themselves in order to be seen and excepted by their potential partner. Bookshop Cinderella creates a fun dynamic between Evie and the Duke, where you his appreciation for her before the external changes occur.

Evie enjoys her holiday and transformation – I would definitely enjoy it too! A few weeks in London‘s best hotel with unlimited fine dining, a new wardrobe and all the fun entertainments that you never had the funds or time for in the past. It is definitely a chance of a lifetime, and I was so excited when Evie steps out of her comfortable routine to take up the offer.

No opportunity like this is without strings. Evie and needs to become a diamond. The Duke sees her as and fill her dance card at his upcoming ball.

I loved seeing these to work together on the skills she needed to become the diamond that he already saw her as. From private dance lessons to the shopping trips, the process is just as much fun to watch as these to transform each other and fall in love!

This book has so many things that I love it historical romance, it was an absolute delight!

I loved how Laura Lee Guhrke was able to use difficult tropes and make them very enjoyable and palatable to the reader, from the makeover, to the love triangle and the bet, it was all written in a way that still had me rooting for the Duke and Evie to find a way to be together!

This is a must read for historical romance lovers!

Thanks to Forever Publishing for my gifted review copy.

We get a helpful duke and a vocal wallflower, boss lady in Laura Lee Guhrke’s first book of her new series “Bookshop Cinderella!!!”

In the beginning, this book seemed to follow a She’s All That scenario and we look forward to the upcoming blow up, however I am glad it did not. This book is surprisingly low angst yet full of best friend type teasing with an underlining attraction adding to the intrigue!

Guhrke is still a new to me author, and I love her style! She writes in a time when women in breeches and aristocratic women working are more excepted which adds layers to the story. We never know the outcome of her stories making her books fast reads!

I especially love her characters! I was expecting Miss Evie Harlow to be quieter, however she does not mince words even if some thoughts should be kept to herself. I love that the Duke of Westbourne, Max, was upfront with Evie and he knew what he wanted before their situation got difficult.

If you enjoy reading about businesswomen, class differences, dance lessons, kind aristocrats, wagers, and wallflowers having a glow up, then I highly recommend this book!!!

Thank you to Net Galley and Forever Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke is the first book I've seen from Laura Lee in years. I am SO glad to see her writing again. I'd read a few of her books years ago and then moved on to other authors. From what I remember, her books always felt very smart with unique premises. Bookshop Cinderella is nothing incredibly groundbreaking but it is still a very solid romance book that had a few unique aspects to it.

A few sentences to summarize the story...
FMC, Evie owns a bookshop (hence the title) inherited from her father; she is like the cousin or something of someone in the ton but is more "working class"; she does research for this fancy lady who is cousin to our main character
MMC, Max, the Duke of Westbourne, married ten years prior, now a widower who has moved on from the heartbreak but vows to never again marry for love and passion especially to someone who is not from his class--he did marry a 17 year old American who clearly did not understand what she was getting into and honestly, she sounded like a stupid, spoiled brat and he was thinking with his southern brain, not northern brain, when he decided he must marry her. Not the best decision, dude.

At first, I thought this was going to be forced proximity working together but as it turns out it's more of a "She's All That" bet that he can make her into a beauty who dances ALL the dances at this extravagant ball that all the cool kids will be at. Circumstances line up so that she is forced to reside at the Savoy [hotel] and Manly Duke buys her a brand new wardrobe and such. They keep meeting for "reasons"--all of which do make sense, I promise--and over time develop feelings.

There were quite a few surprises in this book. One I already mentioned. Two, he is totally honest with her about the bet he made about her. I appreciated this bc I didn't want to see that ugly fall out if she found out she was a bet (Am I a bet? Am I a F*CKING bet?!) and I appreciate that LLG doesn't underestimate the intelligence of her readers, realizing we deserve better. Third, I felt that this book showed a lot of growth for the MMC and at times felt more about his transformation than hers. Sometimes books focus so much on the FMC's growth and not enough on the MMC or the MMC changes in a way that doesn't feel right or organic or even stunted. Like, all he does is lets these imaginary walls fall down and allows himself to love. Ok, great. And that does happen here in this book but there is more to it and we see his transformation internally more than we do in other books. HE is doing the work and not just letting her do the work on him. I hope that makes sense.

I would definitely buy this book on sale, get it from the library, and/or add it to my collection bc the cover is gorgeous. It is the first in a series and I'm VERY interested to see what is next.

There is like one full on sex scene from what my cloudy memory serves. So it's not overly steamy. There are some other scenes leading up to this moment. I like my sexy times in books A LOT but the story and characters were written so well that I didn't mind less steam.

Also there is a guy in the book that is a total skeeve that I thought was setting up a love triangle but thankfully was not. He didn't die so that loop is still open unfortunately.

If you actually read to the end: this was totally off the cuff, random thoughts of the book as I remembered it even though I finished it like ten days ago. As you can see, my thoughts are not in order and I cannot even remember people's names. OH! The Duke might be named Max.....?

Example of Evie's wit:
"Ah, yes." She gave a sight of mock rapture. "I always knew I could be a beauty if only some man would come along and show me how."

And from Max:
"After all, if you change things, you move into unknown territory. If you dream, your dreams might be crushed. If you aspire to more than you have, you might fail. If you hold your standards too high, you might never find romance. So instead, you try to reconcile yourself to the hand you've been dealt and tell yourself it's good enough. You settle for less than you deserve, including the attentions of a man who is unworthy of you."

If a book can’t capture my attention in the first third, it never will. There was no inclination of attraction between the MCs whatsoever. Even though the banter wasn’t too bad, I can’t see these two as anything but platonic friends. I also tried to switch to the audio book as a final Hail Mary but that was a HUGE mistake since it was intolerable to listen to.

Thank you for the arc via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.