Overall: 2.5 rounded to
Plot/Storyline:
Feels:
Emotional Depth:
Tension:
Romance:
Sensuality:
Intimate Scene Length: 0
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 0
Humor: Just a bit
Basic plot
Eleanor is a lady’s companion and has been quite in love with her employer’s nephew, Peter. He makes her days wonderful when he visits, makes her laugh and look forward to time spent with him. Sadly for her, her employer gives her strict orders before he next arrives – not to talk to him or even be in the same room. Peter realizes he’s missing her presences and ends up proposing a marriage of convenience as a form of revenge on his aunt, as well as completing his duty to society by securing a wife. Unfortunately his proposal is so lacking, it makes Eleanor run away that night.
Give this a try if you want:
– low steam – there are a few kisses and zero intimate scenes in this story
– enemies to lovers – they begin as friends, but fairly early in the story their relationship undergoes what the hero considers a betrayal and it’s enemies for much of the book
– jerk heroes – I found this one to be a bit of a doozy, so you’ll have to be tolerant of that
– secret identity – heroine pretends to be someone else for much of the book
– unrequited love – heroine was quite enamored with the hero from working with his aunt as a paid companion
My thoughts:
Sadly this book was a bit rough for me! I really struggled with liking the hero, even by the end of the book. And this left me without the feeling that the heroine would be happy with him and they would get a true happily ever after.
Eleanor I had a few issues with, but as I got to know her more, I understood her lack of choices. With no where to go, it was quite unwise for her to just run away in the beginning of the story – she’s quite lucky anyone picked her up at all and the plot progressed the way it did. Almost a bit too much to believe (but much of what the duchess was involved in felt that way for me). The thing with Eleanor though, was that I still had sympathy for her. She was so limited. Her employer seemed quite intolerant, unpleasant and unlikable. She didn’t have family she could rely on. The family we do meet towards the end of the book shows how slim her choices are. I just felt so bad for her this whole story. She had such a lack of choice, freedom or security and was taken advantage of by basically everyone in the story I felt like.
Peter just left so much to be desired from me. I can definitely take a jerk hero. And he pulls some lines out in the beginning that just make him so unlikable – I expected him to make up for this in the following pages, at least by the end! But I found much of the story him continuing to be like this and act like a victim here. Basically his ego was hurt and it felt to me he wanted revenge on the heroine the whole book for daring to say no to his horrendous proposal.
I didn’t mind the pacing too much – though I definitely prefer more page time of the hero and heroine together. There was a lot of time of the heroine adjusting to life with the duchess after she escapes her employment.
I also just didn’t feel the story wrapped up nicely. I just was left unhappy I guess?
Author
janet
2 years ago
3.5 Stars
Lady’s companion Eleanor Mitcham longs to escape her unhappy life. Having been told she’s too lowly to speak to Peter Lord Lavenham, Eleanor defiantly accepts his challenge to teach her employer a lesson—by marrying him! He is an eligible earl after all! However, his determinedly cynical view of marriage makes her dissolve their convenient betrothal and flee leaving the drama of the household behind and Lord Lavenham hot on her heels!
A well written book that was well paced. The characters had plenty of depth & were well portrayed. I did enjoy the book but whilst I liked Peter & Eleanor I didn’t love them & felt that there wasn’t much chemistry between them. Maybe because a large part of the book focused on Eleanor’s time with the
Duchess rather than with Peter.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Author
elodie
2 years ago
From Cinderella to Countess
Annie Borrows https://www.facebook.com/AnnieBurrowsUK/
Release date 06/01/2020
Publisher Harlequin Historical / Mills&Boon Historical
Blurb :
From Cinderella in the shadows
To countess in the spotlight?
Lady’s companion Eleanor Mitcham longs to escape her unhappy life. Having been told she’s too lowly to speak to Lord Lavenham, Eleanor defiantly accepts his challenge to teach her employer a lesson—by marrying him! He is an eligible earl after all. However, his determinedly cynical view of marriage makes her dissolve their convenient betrothal and flee, leaving the drama of the household behind…and Lord Lavenham hot on her heels!
My review :
Will a country mouse make her way in London’s ton …
I so liked the previous book by Mrs Annie Burrows, this one leaves me with mixed feelings.
First what I do not understand is the blurb, never before she felt she had to flee was she betrothed, she was proposed marriage but she refused the offer.
And it was such an awful proposal.
Then upon her escape, she sets a feet in the twilight zone with a bored aging dowager duchess more a scheming aging lady than a magical godmother.
I was unable to really care for both main characters, while he is a jaded and bitter lord, he is eventually the one achieving a complete arc, he comes from a man seing only to his own pleasure and refusing to allow any thought to feelings. To a man who weights someone’s sentiments, who cares for its security, who is moved by others’ tragedy, who is able to swallow his pride and grovel if necessary.
When Eleanor is a doormat for the whole book, letting everyone tramples her, too weak to really voice her objections, too afraid to confront the others, finally too happy to comply to others’ will if she can avoid conflict.
Even if it means engaging in a masquerade punishable under the law, because she is doll who does not know how to say no.
I do not know in fact at whom I was the more upset, she for being so feeble she is unable to decide what she really wants while all along she is telling herself lies or him for being so set on extracting revenge when he was the first cause of her flight.
Then they continue once everything had been laid down to misinterpret each one reaction to the other.
It only when she feels sorry for herself does she reconsider his proposal, that she did a mistake by rejecting his offer even if it was a sham of a marriage, his view of the ton’s unions but still.
The end resolution was a bit on the youpla-boom side.
3 up to 3.5 stars as I like the author’s writing style, it was just no a story for me.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: 5/28/20
Number of Pages: 368
*** Maybe 3.5 Stars ***
This was my first time reading a book by this author and I thought the writing style was good, but the pacing seemed a little slow, the scene transitions sometimes seemed a little abrupt and it felt a bit – unfinished. I had a hard time coming to like Eleanor – it wasn’t that I disliked her – it was more that I didn’t come to care about her. I found her to be flighty, gullible, judgmental and constantly jumping to the wrong conclusions – especially about Peter. Peter wasn’t my favorite hero either, but I think the story gave me a better understanding of him than it did of Eleanor.
Both of Eleanor Mitcham’s parents were scholars who were wrapped up in each other and their scholarly work. Eleanor was always an afterthought with them. When they died, she wasn’t even an afterthought – she was left totally destitute. Rather than living with relatives, she decided to seek out a position as a paid companion. Unfortunately, the woman who employed her was a spiteful, vindictive, mean-spirited old woman who didn’t appreciate anyone or anything. One of the few bright spots in Eleanor’s employment was when her employer’s nephew came to visit. He was intelligent and made her laugh. Even though she never considered there could be anything between them, she still enjoyed his visits – until her employer accused her of ‘setting her cap’ for him and forbid her from speaking to or even being in the same room as him during his visit.
Peter, Earl of Lavenham, grew up in an unhappy household. His parents constantly used him as a pawn and he soon understood that marriage was not a good or happy thing. It was definitely something that would never happen to him – he’d never marry. Until… he went on a visit to his aunt and found that she’d forbidden Eleanor from having any interaction with him at all. How dare she! What was his solution? He immediately proposed to Eleanor. Because of his pride, he botched the proposal horribly by making it sound temporary and businesslike. He was astounded when she very firmly declined his offer.
Eleanor fled her employer’s home that very night – out into the cold and fog – and the misadventures begin. You have manipulative duchesses, pretend princesses, fake major domo’s, relatives who are users, and a very concerned earl. I began to wonder if they’d ever get their act together and then – wham – it was over. I would have preferred to see a little less time with the duchess and a good bit more time at the end. I felt a bit as if I’d been left hanging. I’d have liked to see the wedding and maybe an epilogue showing that he really could be happily married to one woman.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Author
elizabeth
2 years ago
3.5
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review.
From Cinderella to Countess by Annie Burrows is a new Harlequin Historicals title. Based on that title, I expected this novel to be a Cinderella retelling, but that’s not really the case, despite a protagonist named Eleanor and the rags-to-riches element. Instead, From Cinderella to Countess is a story about what happens to Eleanor Mitcham after she runs from an unexpected marriage proposal and why she can’t stop thinking about Lord Lavenham, even though his proposal was shockingly unappealing.
I thought From Cinderella to Countess was a fun read, and it reminded me a bit of Tessa Dare’s The Duchess Deal, as both have a gruff and grumpy hero who has a hard time admitting how much they need the love the heroine offers. I just wish From Cinderella to Countess delved a bit more into the emotional growth of both hero and heroine, though I think the hero’s “tortured past” could use more exploration to make readers more sympathetic to his perspective. I enjoyed the writing style, except for a few abrupt scene transitions that left me momentarily confused.
I think historical romance readers who enjoy when a hero and heroine are at odds will like this novel.
By annieburrows
Overall: 2.5 rounded to
Plot/Storyline:
Feels:
Emotional Depth:
Tension:
Romance:
Sensuality:
Intimate Scene Length: 0
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 0
Humor: Just a bit
Basic plot
Eleanor is a lady’s companion and has been quite in love with her employer’s nephew, Peter. He makes her days wonderful when he visits, makes her laugh and look forward to time spent with him. Sadly for her, her employer gives her strict orders before he next arrives – not to talk to him or even be in the same room. Peter realizes he’s missing her presences and ends up proposing a marriage of convenience as a form of revenge on his aunt, as well as completing his duty to society by securing a wife. Unfortunately his proposal is so lacking, it makes Eleanor run away that night.
Give this a try if you want:
– low steam – there are a few kisses and zero intimate scenes in this story
– enemies to lovers – they begin as friends, but fairly early in the story their relationship undergoes what the hero considers a betrayal and it’s enemies for much of the book
– jerk heroes – I found this one to be a bit of a doozy, so you’ll have to be tolerant of that
– secret identity – heroine pretends to be someone else for much of the book
– unrequited love – heroine was quite enamored with the hero from working with his aunt as a paid companion
My thoughts:
Sadly this book was a bit rough for me! I really struggled with liking the hero, even by the end of the book. And this left me without the feeling that the heroine would be happy with him and they would get a true happily ever after.
Eleanor I had a few issues with, but as I got to know her more, I understood her lack of choices. With no where to go, it was quite unwise for her to just run away in the beginning of the story – she’s quite lucky anyone picked her up at all and the plot progressed the way it did. Almost a bit too much to believe (but much of what the duchess was involved in felt that way for me). The thing with Eleanor though, was that I still had sympathy for her. She was so limited. Her employer seemed quite intolerant, unpleasant and unlikable. She didn’t have family she could rely on. The family we do meet towards the end of the book shows how slim her choices are. I just felt so bad for her this whole story. She had such a lack of choice, freedom or security and was taken advantage of by basically everyone in the story I felt like.
Peter just left so much to be desired from me. I can definitely take a jerk hero. And he pulls some lines out in the beginning that just make him so unlikable – I expected him to make up for this in the following pages, at least by the end! But I found much of the story him continuing to be like this and act like a victim here. Basically his ego was hurt and it felt to me he wanted revenge on the heroine the whole book for daring to say no to his horrendous proposal.
I didn’t mind the pacing too much – though I definitely prefer more page time of the hero and heroine together. There was a lot of time of the heroine adjusting to life with the duchess after she escapes her employment.
I also just didn’t feel the story wrapped up nicely. I just was left unhappy I guess?
3.5 Stars
Lady’s companion Eleanor Mitcham longs to escape her unhappy life. Having been told she’s too lowly to speak to Peter Lord Lavenham, Eleanor defiantly accepts his challenge to teach her employer a lesson—by marrying him! He is an eligible earl after all! However, his determinedly cynical view of marriage makes her dissolve their convenient betrothal and flee leaving the drama of the household behind and Lord Lavenham hot on her heels!
A well written book that was well paced. The characters had plenty of depth & were well portrayed. I did enjoy the book but whilst I liked Peter & Eleanor I didn’t love them & felt that there wasn’t much chemistry between them. Maybe because a large part of the book focused on Eleanor’s time with the
Duchess rather than with Peter.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
From Cinderella to Countess
Annie Borrows
https://www.facebook.com/AnnieBurrowsUK/
Release date 06/01/2020
Publisher Harlequin Historical / Mills&Boon Historical
Blurb :
From Cinderella in the shadows
To countess in the spotlight?
Lady’s companion Eleanor Mitcham longs to escape her unhappy life. Having been told she’s too lowly to speak to Lord Lavenham, Eleanor defiantly accepts his challenge to teach her employer a lesson—by marrying him! He is an eligible earl after all. However, his determinedly cynical view of marriage makes her dissolve their convenient betrothal and flee, leaving the drama of the household behind…and Lord Lavenham hot on her heels!
My review :
Will a country mouse make her way in London’s ton …
I so liked the previous book by Mrs Annie Burrows, this one leaves me with mixed feelings.
First what I do not understand is the blurb, never before she felt she had to flee was she betrothed, she was proposed marriage but she refused the offer.
And it was such an awful proposal.
Then upon her escape, she sets a feet in the twilight zone with a bored aging dowager duchess more a scheming aging lady than a magical godmother.
I was unable to really care for both main characters, while he is a jaded and bitter lord, he is eventually the one achieving a complete arc, he comes from a man seing only to his own pleasure and refusing to allow any thought to feelings. To a man who weights someone’s sentiments, who cares for its security, who is moved by others’ tragedy, who is able to swallow his pride and grovel if necessary.
When Eleanor is a doormat for the whole book, letting everyone tramples her, too weak to really voice her objections, too afraid to confront the others, finally too happy to comply to others’ will if she can avoid conflict.
Even if it means engaging in a masquerade punishable under the law, because she is doll who does not know how to say no.
I do not know in fact at whom I was the more upset, she for being so feeble she is unable to decide what she really wants while all along she is telling herself lies or him for being so set on extracting revenge when he was the first cause of her flight.
Then they continue once everything had been laid down to misinterpret each one reaction to the other.
It only when she feels sorry for herself does she reconsider his proposal, that she did a mistake by rejecting his offer even if it was a sham of a marriage, his view of the ton’s unions but still.
The end resolution was a bit on the youpla-boom side.
3 up to 3.5 stars as I like the author’s writing style, it was just no a story for me.
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/631330770789431/?d=n
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: 5/28/20
Number of Pages: 368
*** Maybe 3.5 Stars ***
This was my first time reading a book by this author and I thought the writing style was good, but the pacing seemed a little slow, the scene transitions sometimes seemed a little abrupt and it felt a bit – unfinished. I had a hard time coming to like Eleanor – it wasn’t that I disliked her – it was more that I didn’t come to care about her. I found her to be flighty, gullible, judgmental and constantly jumping to the wrong conclusions – especially about Peter. Peter wasn’t my favorite hero either, but I think the story gave me a better understanding of him than it did of Eleanor.
Both of Eleanor Mitcham’s parents were scholars who were wrapped up in each other and their scholarly work. Eleanor was always an afterthought with them. When they died, she wasn’t even an afterthought – she was left totally destitute. Rather than living with relatives, she decided to seek out a position as a paid companion. Unfortunately, the woman who employed her was a spiteful, vindictive, mean-spirited old woman who didn’t appreciate anyone or anything. One of the few bright spots in Eleanor’s employment was when her employer’s nephew came to visit. He was intelligent and made her laugh. Even though she never considered there could be anything between them, she still enjoyed his visits – until her employer accused her of ‘setting her cap’ for him and forbid her from speaking to or even being in the same room as him during his visit.
Peter, Earl of Lavenham, grew up in an unhappy household. His parents constantly used him as a pawn and he soon understood that marriage was not a good or happy thing. It was definitely something that would never happen to him – he’d never marry. Until… he went on a visit to his aunt and found that she’d forbidden Eleanor from having any interaction with him at all. How dare she! What was his solution? He immediately proposed to Eleanor. Because of his pride, he botched the proposal horribly by making it sound temporary and businesslike. He was astounded when she very firmly declined his offer.
Eleanor fled her employer’s home that very night – out into the cold and fog – and the misadventures begin. You have manipulative duchesses, pretend princesses, fake major domo’s, relatives who are users, and a very concerned earl. I began to wonder if they’d ever get their act together and then – wham – it was over. I would have preferred to see a little less time with the duchess and a good bit more time at the end. I felt a bit as if I’d been left hanging. I’d have liked to see the wedding and maybe an epilogue showing that he really could be happily married to one woman.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review.
From Cinderella to Countess by Annie Burrows is a new Harlequin Historicals title. Based on that title, I expected this novel to be a Cinderella retelling, but that’s not really the case, despite a protagonist named Eleanor and the rags-to-riches element. Instead, From Cinderella to Countess is a story about what happens to Eleanor Mitcham after she runs from an unexpected marriage proposal and why she can’t stop thinking about Lord Lavenham, even though his proposal was shockingly unappealing.
I thought From Cinderella to Countess was a fun read, and it reminded me a bit of Tessa Dare’s The Duchess Deal, as both have a gruff and grumpy hero who has a hard time admitting how much they need the love the heroine offers. I just wish From Cinderella to Countess delved a bit more into the emotional growth of both hero and heroine, though I think the hero’s “tortured past” could use more exploration to make readers more sympathetic to his perspective. I enjoyed the writing style, except for a few abrupt scene transitions that left me momentarily confused.
I think historical romance readers who enjoy when a hero and heroine are at odds will like this novel.