I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Glass Shoe (Once Upon a Time) by Kay Hooper
Series: Once Upon a Time
on November 29th 2016
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 192
Goodreads
FINAL DECISION: Sweet, funny and with just a touch of angst. This story is short and thus not fully developed but I enjoyed the characters and their journey.
THE STORY: Amanda Wilderman doesn’t believe in princes so she ruefully allows her cousins to convince her to attend a masquerade ball as Cinderella. There she meet Ryder Foxx, who is conveniently dressed as the prince. The two have a magical evening together and, of course, Amanda runs off before midnight, leaving a glass shoe behind. The two end up meeting again in Wyoming where Amanda is helping her uncle redecorate a hotel. Amanda doesn’t want Ryder to know that she is an heiress because she has been burnt before and she certainly doesn’t want him to know that she was Cinderella. Despite this, the sparks fly between these two. A wary woman and the man who wants her love and trust.
OPINION: This is a short novel but has a freshness that belies is being over 25 years old. I enjoyed the spirit of the book with has a humor mixed with some mild angst involving Amanda’s wariness. I liked how Amanda and Ryder challenge one another and enjoy each others company. There are such normal activities as board game playing and a fainting dog. The central conflict in the story is Amanda’s wariness, the secrets she is keeping, and Ryder’s own expectations.
Although there is a plot involving a potential technology that both their companies are competing for which might derail their romance, the plot mostly stays in the background in this book. This is a book about the heart of these two characters and overcoming a sad past.
I enjoyed this book when I read it years ago and it has aged very well.
WORTH MENTIONING: THE GLASS SHOE was originally published as a Loveswept category romance in 1989.
CONNECTED BOOKS: THE GLASS SHOE is the second book in the Once Upon a Time series. It can be read as a standalone because the books in the series are only loosely connected.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.