Book Blurb:
Hester Flanders went to the ball for the food. She didn’t expect a prince to follow her home.
If there’s one rule Hester learned during her country upbringing, it’s never accept a gift; that’s how the Folk get you. Although she’s left her farm behind, she can’t leave her superstitions, even if no one else in the capital city seems to care. Hardworking but hungry, she’s looking for loopholes, and the king’s annual Commoners Ball seems like the perfect way to get a free meal that’s not technically a gift—and it would have been, too, except a pesky prince took a shine to her.
Inglebert Lucas Chesingwick isn’t just the crown prince; he’s also practical, responsible, and very annoyed to see his younger brother causing a scene by flirting with a peasant at the ball. He can separate them for one night, but his mischievous brother is determined to see the poor girl again. And again. And for some reason, Lucas keeps running into her, too. If only there was some way he could help her.
The princes might mean well, but Hester knows better than to accept favors from anyone, even royalty—even if it’s cheese—and even if saying no breaks her heart. After all, just because the Folk have never been seen in the city doesn’t mean they’re not around.
Cinderella meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this cozy fantasy romance from debut author Elisabeth Aimee Brown. Whirl away into a whimsical story of glittering gaslamps, frisky Folk, and huggable hogs.
Tropes:
*Netgalley ALC *Historical Romance *Fairy tale retelling *Strangers to more *Fantasy
*Superstitions *Hardworking FMC *Prince MMC *Cozy read/listen *just kissses (no spice)
*Dual Narration *forbidden relationship *Protective MMC *Funny
Thoughts:
Hester (FMC) is a hard working woman who has left the country for the big city and once she hears that the Commoners Ball is happening she decides to go, she is a commoner after all... even though her friend advises her that it's not really what they meant and she doesn't have an invitation she shows up anyway about to be turned away by staff of the palace for not having an invitation... an invitation shows up just in time.
Lucas (MMC, Prince) is and always has been responsible he does what is expected of him but he truly is kind and cares about the people, he also feels its his job as the older brother to keep his younger brother out of trouble (which he often gets into). The night of the commoners ball his brother is up to his old tricks and decides that he's going to find someone to fall in love with... when he sees Hester he narrows in on her and invites her in to enjoy the festivities.
While Hester has a wonderful time and enjoys spending time at the Palace with the princes (the older one more so than the younger)... she knows thats what it is one night of fun, it's back to work the next day... only the younger prince isn't done with his shenanigans and keeps bursting into her life in unexpected ways... leading to Lucas attempting to help clear up his younger brothers unhelpful actions by actually helping Hester and getting closer to her along the way.
Hester continues to struggle with accepting favors from anyone as she believes in "Folk" and "changelings" she is very adament about keeping her special wards to keep them away and knows that people in the city don't believe... but she does and if she can't repay a thoughtful action she can't accept it with the help of her friends she grows to see that true friends want to help not for what they can get in return but because there are genuinely kind people out there.
Our girl Hester is just doing her best... but can be tempted with cheese. Even when down she picks herself back up and moves forward and even helped our serious Lucas have fun from time to time as they both deal with Hugh (the younger brother) while he feels he's being helpful but really just does what he wants without a care for the fall out.
I received this ALC through Netgalley and I really enjoyed this one! it was a cute cozy listen with fantasy elements blended with a Cinderella (ish) retelling. The leads were very sweet and easy to love and it was so cute seeing Hester and Lucas find that even though he is a prince and she is a commoner some things are worth breaking the rules for... Love and even though they knew they couldn't/shouldn't be together they couldn't help just seeing each other one more time.
I enjoyed how everything weaved together at the end this book was a light funny easy read.
If you read it go in knowing its over the top quirky at times and reads as more of a YA romance! Have you read this one? What did you think?
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