Review: Cinderella and the Ghost by Marina Myles

Cinderella and the Ghost (The Cursed Princes #4)
Author: Marina Myles
Release Date: 17 February 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Press

A DANGEROUS ATTRACTION

When her demanding stepmother died, Ella Benoit knew just how far their fortunes had fallen, unlike her spoiled stepsisters. So she never expected the bequest from her late father. A chateau in France and the freedom to live her own life, all at once!

The chateau has seen better days, but Ella knows she can put the ruined house to rights. The life-size portrait of its first owner, Jean-Daniel Girard, seems to watch her work with approval, even pleasure. With bright blue eyes, strong features, and an athlete’s body, the viscount is a tempting sight even now, more than three hundred years after his tragic death. But the more she looks at the portrait, the more convinced Ella is that she’s met Jean-Daniel before. In another life, perhaps—or maybe, as the form who haunts the halls at night, invading Ella’s dreams…

Review

Where to begin with this book.....I was excited by the sound of the story, I have to admit that a ghost love story with time travel is right up my street. I was also aware going into it that it would have to be done carefully for it to work. This book came close to my hopes for it sometimes, and then just failed at other times.

I liked the main characters Ella and Jean-Daniel. Ella was strong despite her horrid step-family and I liked her optimism. She's a bit timid at times but she's intelligent and very sweet. Jean-Daniel was the epitome of an honourable French nobleman.

Their ghostly romance was my favourite part of the romance. They managed to have a sweet chemistry even though they obviously struggled to communicate. I liked the explanation for the ghostly goings-on and seeing things from both Ella and Jean-Daniel's perspectives.

When Ella is transported back to 18th century France things began to unravel for me. I'll try not to give too much away, but suffice to say that I was a little disappointed. Their romance had a lot of promise at first and I was certainly intrigued to find out more about the mystery of Jean-Daniel's murder.

I'm just going to keep my thoughts on the ending brief because I was so, so dissatisfied by it. I was just so disappointed. It felt like all the romance of it had been killed. Maybe if we had had more of an epilogue or the last portion of the story had been developed I might have liked it. But I didn't.

Overall, I liked the idea and there were bits that I really enjoyed. The first half of the book was thoroughly enjoyable and built a great start for Jean-Daniel and Ella. Unfortunately it was pretty downhill for me after that, and I was left feeling let down and irritated.

*I received a review copy for my honest opinion. Thank you.