The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie
A sweet, fluffy modern fairytale, kind of like cotton candy, fun but no real substance. Of course, I love cotton candy, and I adored this romantic comedy.
Daisy is an artist and storyteller, a free spirit who can be scatter-brained but is warm and caring. Linc is an uptight history professor who desperately needs a fiancée to get the university job he has his eye on. Of course, Daisy being desperate for money agrees to play along for $1000. But then Linc needs an actual wife to keep the job, so Daisy moves with him to the tiny town of Prescott, Ohio.
“So you pick me up out of the gutter, and I get a new dress, and I pretend to be something I’m not, and then at midnight I run away and turn back into a pumpkin.” Her grin widened. “It’s a Cinderella story.” (pg. 29-30)
You can see where this is going I’m sure. When “midnight” comes, neither wants the charade to end, they want it to be the true story. It’s a standard opposites attract story, with the twist being that they’re already married they just need to admit they’ve fallen for each other. What I really liked about the story, other than the characters who just made me smile, was that Crusie showed that while you can’t change yourself to make someone else happy, living and loving someone does take compromise. It can also bring out the best in you.
And towards the end of the story there’s a wonderful Christmas celebration, a bonus as far as I’m concerned.
So, it’s predictable, so the characters are a little stereotypical. I picked it up to read for a minute and was thankful that my husband called, because half an hour had passed and I had somewhere to go. I got caught up in their story.
First published September 1, 1996
278 pages
Challenges: 100+
I borrowed my copy from the library and the above is my honest opinion. I am an Amazon associate.
She actually moves, wow, ok that does sound like a premise for a good story
This sounds like a pleasant way to spend a few hours.
Hi, Carol, you left a comment on my blog Lilac Gate, and thank you ever so much!! I came over to see what you write about, and have requested two books from my library as a result… I will be back!
I wouldn’t mind spending hours with this book too. LOL
I read my first Jennifer Crusie novel this year — Maybe This Time — and really enjoyed it! I’m looking forward to picking up more of her work. I have a feeling they’re all light, fun stories.
This seems like a cute story.
I love the cover!
The dog in the book is not quite as cute as the dog on the cover, but is certainly unique.