The Cinderella Countess by Sophia James

4*

Once upon a time (actually 1815), there was a beautiful, independent young woman of unknown origins who lived and worked as an herbalist in the worst part of London. One day, a handsome, rich aristocrat arrived at her door asking for help in curing his sister who has a “wasting disease.” Thus begins a tale that vaguely resembles the Cinderella we know with some pretty major twists. Instead of a wicked stepmother and stepsisters, Annabelle Smith lives with a kindly aunt and is being targeted for death by an unknown assailant. Lord Lytton Staines, the Earl of Thornton. is an unlikely Prince Charming who knows that falling in love and marrying a lowborn woman, especially one who is being less than truthful, is not a possibility in his world. However, he can’t ignore his natural instinct to protect her, so they keep being thrown together. What will it take to clear the path for a happily ever after?

The Cinderella Countess (the third book in the Gentlemen of Honor series) is not just another entry into the crowded Regency romance genre, but a compelling mystery and a love story with modern sensibilities. There are some instances that are less than historically accurate such as the Earl’s mother opening the front door and shouting about prostitutes and later the Earl himself welcoming Annabelle to his door because there is no servant present, the family estate being lost in a card game when these were generally entailed, and the Earl owning businesses which was very much frowned upon by the haute ton. However, these don’t detract from a story that features strong, well-defined characters, a series of attempted murders, and the mystery of where Annabelle really came from. This is a very worthy addition to the historical romance field.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin – Romance through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.