Cinderella at the Duke's Ball - Bronwyn Scott (HH #1815 - Sept 2024)

An extraordinary dress
To change her ordinary life!
 
Cora has one Season to find a husband and save her family from poverty! So, when her modest dress order is accidentally replaced with an above-her-station gown, she grabs the opportunity to wear it. The Duke of Harlow's ball is ideal for meeting a perfectly nice gentleman. Until the duke himself asks her for the first dance! Their connection is undeniable, but she knows Declan must "marry well," and she doesn't reach the high echelons expected of his position. As the clock strikes midnight on their time together, will this Cinderella get her happy-ever-after…?
 
Enjoyable rags-to-riches story. Cora is the oldest of an impoverished vicar's five daughters. Her aunt takes her and her next sister, Elise, to London, giving them a Season to find husbands. Since her mother's death, Cora has become the family's caretaker, putting everyone else's needs before hers. So when a mix-up occurs over her dress order, Cora subdues her qualms and wears the beautiful dress to the Duke of Harlow's ball. She never expected to catch the eye of the Duke himself!
 
Declan is under pressure from his mother to marry. She carefully selected several young women for him to choose from, with the proper breeding to be suitable matches. But when he sees Cora, all thoughts of those women disappear. He bypassed them all to dance the first dance with Cora.
 
I enjoyed the development of Cora and Declan's relationship. Their connection is immediate and strong. But Cora doesn't talk about her family circumstances, knowing that her background is not what he needs. Matters become more complicated when he invites her to the house party his mother has arranged. Declan finds every opportunity to spend time with her, and it is obvious that he is falling hard for her. Cora's feelings match his, but she doesn't believe they have a chance to be together.
 
I liked Declan's determination to have the woman he loved. He does an excellent job of standing up to his mother. But when the truth comes out, he doesn't react well. As I expected, Cora's decision to wear the dresses came back to bite her, and she must face the consequences of her actions. Once Declan realizes his mistake, he must work to earn Cora's trust before convincing her that they belong together. The ending was sweet and emotional, and the epilogue was a chance to catch up with them a few years later.