Thanks to the publisher and the author for providing this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

“Cinderella and the Duke” is Lydia Drake’s debut novel and for a first work, she has almost hit it out of the park. She has created a Cinderella story around two misunderstood and hurt people who think of themselves as undeserving of love. At one end is Julia Beaumont, whose father passed away when she was just 6 years-old, leaving her in the care of a stepmother, who in classic Cinderella style does everything she can to hinder Julia’s chances of matrimony. At the other end is Gregory Carter, a libertine — or so he shows himself as to society.

While Julia wants to catch the eye of any decent man and get married to him to get out of the clutches of her stepmother, Gregory wants to avoid matrimony at all costs. Each has their own reason to avoid falling in love. And a chance encounter between the both sparks the idea of a convenient marriage which the both of them embrace for their own personal reasons. Will these deeply hurt people get over their fear of rejection and meet the other one half-way, enabling them to embark on a journey of mutual love?

Drake has woven a story which grips the reader’s attention with its crisp narration; but what sustains it is her incredibly defined and clear characters. Her main characters all have distinctive personalities and definition. Not only Julia and Gregory, but even the people around them are given enough detailing that I really wanted to read their stories as well. In fact, I would love it if this book is continued as a series with these other characters as main protagonists.

There are many tastefully written intimate scenes in the story which might be loved by readers of romance. Overall, I had a great time reading this book and congratulate Drake on a job well done.

This book gets 5 out of 5 stars.