The Cinderella Solution

by Cathy Yardley

When Charlotte Taylor’s best friend Gabe Donofrio agreed with her that she wasn’t the type of woman men fall in love with, she bet him a thousand dollars she’d have a marriage proposal in three months. She turned her tomboy self into a sexy siren, the world’s most eligible bachelor moved in next door… and Gabe realized he’d made a big mistake!

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Harlequin, Contemporary, Ebooks, Chick Lit

186 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Cathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin's, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and that sometimes being a little wrong is just right.

Reviews

[Bona Caballero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una novelita que te da exactamente lo que ofrece: una historia cortita que lees con una sonrisa y cierras satisfecha,... para no acordarte de nada cinco minutos después.
La leí en pleno confinamiento, marzo de 2020, cuando justo esto era lo que me apetecía. La cabeza no estaba para nada más complicado que esto, un friends to lovers en modalidad «jóvenes amigos que están enamorados sin saberlo». Charlotte Taylor y Gabe Donofrio apuestan sobre si ella logrará o no una proposición de matrimonio en el plazo de un mes. Hay un makeover en que Charlotte empieza a cuidar su apariencia, y Gabe está encantado con esta nueva versión de su amiga. Aunque es un poco perro del hortelano, si hemos de ser sinceros, ni está dispuesto a comprometerse con ella ni tampoco le gusta que ella atraiga a otros.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ~ This is not really a Cinderella story; no evil step-sisters or step-mother, and the heroine isn't necessarily poor. It is a sort of make-over story where the not really ugly duckling becomes the swan; or in this case, the stuck in her ways tom-boy transforms into a ravishing sexy woman on the prowl.

Charlotte and Gabe have known each other since childhood, and since Charlotte finished college they've been best friends. After a bad relationship, Charlotte embraced her tom-boy image and was just happy to be one of the guys. Gabe never really saw the woman inside the baggy jeans and sweatshirts, she was just his little pal, his go to person when his relationships failed or when he had something to celebrate.

When her girlfriends (one is Gabe's sister) challenge Charlotte to follow "The Guide... How to Go from Miss Wrong to Mrs. Right in One Year", make herself over and actively prowl for a husband, Charlotte's horrified. That is until Gabe puts his two-cents into the matter …

Gabe shook his head, throwing a casual arm around Charlotte's shoulders. "Why push her? Charlotte's my best friend, and I know her better than anyone. You can't tell me that she's going to read one stupid paperback, get a new hairdo or something, and suddenly turn into a wife. That's ludicrous."

Charlotte had been about to protest, also, but not in those words. "Not that I have any interest-"

"She's not even from the same planet as those women that do The Guide thing," he continued. "I mean, the women who use that as a game plan go at it like pros. They've got the looks, the moves, the whole nine yards. They turn men into putty." He grinned at her. "We both know you're not like them, Charlie."

Ah, that was like throwing down the gauntlet for Charlotte …

She wanted to smack that smug grin off his face. The words tumbled out before she could think about them. "One hundred dollars, Casanova. And I'll be wearing things that would make even you blush."

"That in itself would be worth betting on. Sometimes I think you were born in a sweatshirt," he said, his grin growing. "One hundred dollars is still child's play, angel. Maybe make it two months, and we'll talk."

"Two months," she agreed, her voice low. "And two hundred dollars."

Finally, some of his amusement slipped. "Charlie, come on now. You're getting in way over your head."

His patronizing tone threw gasoline on the fire. "Five hundred."

He was no longer smiling. In fact, his face looked grim. "This is ridiculous. I'm not going to listen to one more-"

"One thousand dollars. ---- One thousand dollars says I get a marriage proposal in two months," she repeated, staring at Gabe's face as if there was no one else in the room. Her hands bunched in fists at her sides. "One thousand dollars says you don't think I can do it. That no man would have me."

He paused, then looked at her shrewdly. "Only if you make it one month." He waited for her to back down.

She didn't waver. "Deal."

And the fun begins! This is one of those hilariously charming love stories that sweeps you along on the whirlwind the hero and heroine are caught in. Gabe and Charlotte are so perfect for each other but blind to what a great future they could have together. There are some poignant moments for Charlotte and some whopping eye opener ones for Gabe.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Yardley's debut romance!

[Sabrina (Soter) Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

«Non sapevo che questo significasse essere innamorati. Ho sempre creduto che l'amore fosse urlare, litigare, soffrire. Quando mi sono reso conto di provare delle emozioni mai provate prima, ho avuto una paura del diavolo di rovinare tutto e di perderti. E così, ho fatto esattamente quello di cui avevo paura. Ho rovinato tutto e ti ho persa.»
«Sai, è per questo che le donne pensano che gli uomini sono degli idioti» lo stuzzicò lei.

[Sandy Ⓢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Reto 2017, libro #21: apuesta]

Ligero y entretenido.

[Adric Rangel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es el primer libro de Cathy Yardley que leo, no obstante no el primero de Arlequín. Tengo que confesar que estuve dudosa de si leerlo o no, la portada para nada me atraía, sin embargo la síntesis del libro sí me pareció interesante, por ese motivo le di una oportunidad, sin tener grandes expectativas. Bueno el punto es que si logró atraparme la lectura y sí que me reí en varias partes con este par y su apuesta. Charlotte me pareció un lindo personaje, y entendí su miedo mientras se desarrollaba la apuesta. En cambio Gabe, estuve apunto de matarlo ya a pocas hojas para terminar el libro. ¡Que imbécil se comportó después que estuvieron juntos!... Al menos pudo solucionarlo (No diré cómo).

Es una novela corta, donde ambos protagonista son amigos, con una lectura amena y cómica en algunas partes. Con personajes tanto principales y secundarios muy buenos. Y cosa que temía de arlequín, y por la que estaba dudosa de si leerla, tiene escena de sexo (Ni modo, me tocó saltarlas y seguir con la lectura porque deseaba realmente saber como terminaba el libro)

[Mariana Ponce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un Friends to lovers. Un mujeriego que dice que ella no es el tipo de mujer que un hombre querría y ella una mujer decidida a demostrar lo contrario, apuestan 1000 dólares a qué ella consigue quien le pide matrimonio en menos de un mes. Me daba risa como desde el principio el se arrepintió de lo que dijo y de la apuesta, ella siguió adelante y se lo demostró.
Ninguno esperaba que surgiera el amor entre ellos. Y me encantó que él estuviera celoso y la escena final.

[Sandirae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun romantic comedy

[Natalia Trujillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Placer culposo. Adoro está pareja. Lo leí en una novela de Harlequin y se convirtió en uno de mis libros favoritos

[Hendrix Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Charlotte, or "Charlie" since she's a tomboy, just-one-of-the-guys kinda gal, is best friends with Gabe and the two of them have always challenged one another through wagers. After a wedding and a particularly hurtful realization that Gabe only saw her as another guy, not even a pretty girl, Charlie decides to take on a wager that she can get a proposal out of a guy within a month. Gabe has been perfectly happy keeping Charlie where she is in the "just friends" category, but sees that this could shake up the status quo...and he's right. Suddenly he sees Charlie as a very attractive woman and has no idea how to get things back on even keel. He's crazy jealous of the guy that Charlie does meet, but he doesn't realize what it is...he's still convinced Charlie's just a friend, but now he's attracted to her. Charlie on the other hand figures out that she's in love with Gabe pretty early, but he's not so quick on the uptake and he's likely to break her heart before long.

This was a classic make over story and friends-to-lovers combined. I like the friends-to-lovers, not so much the make over thing. I just don't like the idea that a guy has to see a woman turn into a "stunner" in order to finally be attracted to a woman (or to see her as a woman in the first place). Charlie was pretty likeable, even though she was in crazy denial over her reasons for hanging out with Gabe and accepting herself as one of the guys. She caught on pretty quick. Gabe was classic ignorant man who doesn't realize that his actions cause the very thing he's trying to prevent - the loss of his best friend. I did like that Charlie didn't walk away as a beaten down, broken doormat of a girl - instead she reminded herself that she was beautiful and intelligent and Gabe was the one missing out...but she didn't ignore the hurt. It really was an enjoyable story.

[Luisa B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relectura de este libro para el reto de lectura de popsugar: Un libro que puedas leer en un día.
Me ha gustado tanto como la primera vez... es más, por este libro empecé a leer chick lit. Es una historia fresca, divertida y ligera, que narra una apuesta entre dos mejores amigos que poco a poco se les va de las manos.
Es gracioso ver como Gabe pierde un poco el norte al empezar a gustarle su mejor amiga, y la evolución de Charlotte es genial.
Muy recomendable ^^

Reseña completa

[Yessenia Andaverde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I admit it. This book was perfect and I didn't find a single error. My favorite part was that although it started with all the changes from the outside, doing all the things her friends told her, then she begun in the inside, and didn't let anybody tell her how to look, to act or to think. She got confidence and attitude, which I think we're the thinks that made her so irresistible to men.

I am gonna read more of this author, now that I discovered her.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same old tomboy make-over story but I will say there were some funny moments. Got this book from my neighbor who said I "had to" read it because it was one of her favorites. It's a short read and if I hadn't been reading so many other books at the same time I probably could have read it in one sitting. If you want an easy, quick, modern romance read check it out.

[Sharon L · Rating 3 out of 5]

what do we have here?

A beautiful tomboy, a handsome male best friend, a bet, sexual tension and love.

or in another words, a great, light, fun and sometimes funny afternoon read.

so, If you are looking for something light and quick that would keep you smiking and satisfied I suggest you pick this romance. for what it is it is very enjoyable.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still updating my shelves with past reads. This is another book read and reviewed for All About Romance, the review is archived HERE .

[JennieWren17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 Aburrido, predecible...

[Flor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aburrido, predecible...la crítica en: http://mate-rosa.blogspot.com/2010/02...

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

—Gabe, eres como un hermano para mí, así que voy a hablarte con total sinceridad... —dijo Sean colocándole una mano en el hombro y mirándolo directamente a los ojos—. Eres un memo.

[Beth Barany]

I'm reading the manga digital version of this story. It's fun, so far1

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Happy go lucky read. Nothing serious, the characters aren't too developed but fun none the less.