{Never a Wallflower Review} The Duke’s Secret Cinderella by @EvaDevonAuthor

The Duke's Secret Cinderella (Never a Wallflower, #3) by Eva Devon
Series: Never a Wallflower #3, Never a Wallflower
Published by Entangled: Amara on February 21, 2023
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Pages: 384
Source: Netgalley
Buy on Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Available with KU Subscription, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Publisher
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Cinderella meets Ever After in this witty and lively historical romance from USA Today bestseller Eva Devon.
Charlotte Browne could just kick herself. What on earth possessed her to tell the Duke of Rockford that she is a lady? But something about the duke’s handsomeness and kind intelligence makes Charlotte blurt out the teeniest, tiniest falsehood. Now it’s too late to admit she’s just plain Charlotte of no particular importance—with cinder-stained hands, a wretched stepfather, and no prospects for marriage….
Rafe Dorchester, Duke of Rockford, has done what every self-respecting duke must do—avoid marriage at all costs. But the only thing stronger than the duke is his mother., Wheand she lays down the highest ultimatum, he’ll need to find a duchess. Immediately. Only, when he calls on a potential bride, he instead finds the pert, fresh-faced Lady Charlotte. Rafe was warned to never mix the business of marriage with pleasure, but when it comes to Lady Chearlotte…oh, business would be a splendid pleasure.
Each book in the Never a Wallflower series is STANDALONE:* The Spinster and the Rake* Much Ado About Dukes* The Duke's Secret Cinderella

I received The Duke's Secret Cinderella (Never a Wallflower, #3) for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Also in this series: The Spinster and the Rake (Never a Wallflower, #1)

If you love the movie Ever After and any version of the classic tale of Cinderella, you will love Eva Devon’s new take exploring the lives of Charlotte Browne and Rafe Dorchester, the Duke of Rockford.

Charlotte is a servant in the house of her step-father, Lord Palmerton, and lady’s maid to her best friend and lovely step-sister, Francesca. She tries to avoid her vicious step-brother, Phillip, at all times. The story does start much like the movie Ever After in that Charlotte dresses as a lady to get another house servant out of prison when she meets The Duke. The twists and turns begin there.

While Rafe does enjoy wine, women, and song, he has a huge heart and a charitable soul. One of his families charities, a foundling hospital, is supported by and started by his family. When his mother threatens to hand the reigns over to someone else if he doesn’t marry soon, he thinks of the beautiful blonde who stole his heart in one of the worst places in London.

Charlotte has Francesca basically hyping her up to Rafe and going along with the belief of her status as a lady. Charlotte knows close to nothing about being a lady. She doesn’t dance or paint or play the pianoforte. Yet, none of that matters to Rafe. He loves all the things she’s not and she can’t help but fall for the enchanting man. While Charlotte believes she is unworthy of Rafe’s love and has Lord Palmerton threatening her at every turn, Rafe does everything he can to show her she is the one for him.

The end of the novel shocked and surprised me as it is not your usual Cinderella ending. If you love swoon worthy Dukes, strong heroines, and a good step-sister, you’ll enjoy ever word of The Duke’s Secret Cinderella.