Review: Swept Away by Vanessa Riley

Swept Away

by Vanessa Riley

Upon his death in 1818, the Duke of Charming’s daughter, Charlotte, becomes duchess. Charlotte is a strong willed young woman who knows exactly what she wants. She’s tired of a man telling her what to do, and she looks forward to ruling over her own life. When she and her friend Mercy, better known as Miss Goodmom, go to a cobbler, Charlotte spots the perfect pair of slippers to wear with her gown to her coming out ball. Yet the salesman assures her that the slippers are not for sale. Edwin Cinder, owner of the Ella shoe store, notices Charlotte as she and Mercy are leaving and immediately falls in love, yet he is unwilling to let the special shoes go. When the two attend the same ball, tragedy strikes. Edwin came to Charlotte’s rescue once before. Will he be willing to let her do the same for him?

I loved this book. It was just a fun and whimsical take on the classic Cinderella story. I like that the roles were reversed, and the regency setting was delightful. The writing is nicely paced and charming. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep one guessing and references to the original story are subtly and perfectly woven in. The characters felt real and relatable. It’s a lovely novel.

All in all, Swept Away is a charming spin on Cinderella that any fan of Jane Austen and fairytales will enjoy.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.