Love Found in Cinders

A Backwards Fairy Tale

By: Marinela Ortiz

Narrated by: Erin Manly

Alexa is a princess that is expected to please her subjects and take on responsibilities that make her one. When her father returns from a trip with a fiancé for her, everyone is expecting her to marry him despite not having feelings for him. Just when she meets Sidney at her garden tea party with a plate of famous tarts, she not only visits the café his family owns, but hatches a plan to change her into someone to help out and know more about him, all while returning on time for the ball.

Sidney is a kind-hearted guy with a burn scar on his face that gave him the nickname "Cinders" all thanks to sleeping too close to a hearth. Not only is he his stepmother's and stepbrothers' housekeeper, but also the waiter and cook at their café attached to their home. After seeing the princess at the café and finding the note attached to a tip, he couldn't stop thinking about her, even when a stranger shows up to take a job in their café. He wonders who this person is until the disguise falls and the secret is revealed, not only about him, but his love towards the princess that is engaged to someone else.

This tale is based on the classic Cinderella story with a modern twist! Not only do we have guy meets girl, but the usual magical deception and a heart warming story in between.

Marinela is a writer and producer of her own blog on WordPress. She has interviewed numbers of voice actors and artists at local conventions with the help of her fiance, Richard, and her friend, Kristen, due to being visually impaired with a rare form of Retinitis Pigmentosa.

She lives in Orlando where she writes on her computer and IPad with voice over and enjoys designing costumes from her own head and reading some of her favorite authors such as Jim Butcher, Lara Adrian, and others. She is hoping to become an instructor to teach Assistive Technology to people who have disabilities themselves.

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Falling for Cinders

Just about everyone enjoys a good fairytale., and I have to tell you this one is quite special. From the first scene, I knew I’d love this book. While my usual reading preference are romance novels, I found this love story just as intriguing, amusing, and enjoyable as a traditional romance.
The author did an excellent job of creating an entirely different story that captured the essential essence of the Cinderella classic. There was an element of slavery with Sidney and a feeling of being trapped even for the princess. The princess didn’t seem to be any freer than Sidney. The idea of both of them being trapped either by circumstance or family is an intriguing theme that runs throughout the novel.
While we feel that constant tension of confinement, there are elements of joy, laughter, friendship, and hope under the stress of never being able to rise above the standards others have set for our main characters.
I love the way Sidney is the male counterpart to Cinderella and Alexa is the counterpart to the prince. We see the classic characters in a different light. We begin to see that no matter their different circumstances, they were in similar situations.
The character development was excellent. I could tell who was speaking by their actions or even the dialogue. I laughed, groaned, and yelled at the book. I wanted things to go my way, and kicked my feet against the bed as I read and pretty much behaved like a toddler. There was magic, intrigue, and darkness along with the feeling of optimism throughout the book. The ending made me happy, and as a reader of romance that was a plus.
If you’re looking for a relaxed read with some tension, elements of fantasy and fun, then, try this book. The narrator did a good job.

Great Book

I liked the story. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes paranormal romances and fairytales with a modern twist.

Lively & Action Packed Who's Who

The series title Backwards Fairytales is aptly named. This memorable twist on old stories will get you thinking and keep you entertained. A definite reread.