What do you think?
Rate this book
Часът на Пепеляшка
Часът на нуждата
Преди шестнайсет години Сноу Ашли Гейбъл бяга от Чикаго. Бяга от болката на любовта и от предателството. Сега, на трийсет и една, Сноу се връща у дома с пожъналото си успех радиопредаване „Часът на Пепеляшка“. Само че не всички желаят завръщането й.
Часът на доверието
За Сноу завръщането крие опасности и страхове. Бащата, когото не познава. Майката, разиграваща една след друга опасни фантазии. Съученичката от гимназията, разкрила най-съкровените й тайни. И Люк Килканън, непокорното момче, което е обичала.
Часът, който няма да забравят
Люк никога не е забравял Сноу и тайната им любов, нито детето, което са създали. Той иска да разбере защо е загърбила любовта и общото им бъдеще. Но собствената му тайна може да се окаже по-опустошителна, отколкото някой би допуснал...
Преди шестнайсет години Сноу Ашли Гейбъл бяга от Чикаго. Бяга от болката на любовта и от предателството. Сега, на трийсет и една, Сноу се връща у дома с пожъналото си успех радиопредаване „Часът на Пепеляшка“. Само че не всички желаят завръщането й.
Часът на доверието
За Сноу завръщането крие опасности и страхове. Бащата, когото не познава. Майката, разиграваща една след друга опасни фантазии. Съученичката от гимназията, разкрила най-съкровените й тайни. И Люк Килканън, непокорното момче, което е обичала.
Часът, който няма да забравят
Люк никога не е забравял Сноу и тайната им любов, нито детето, което са създали. Той иска да разбере защо е загърбила любовта и общото им бъдеще. Но собствената му тайна може да се окаже по-опустошителна, отколкото някой би допуснал...
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
816 people are currently reading
531 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Stone
71 books114 followersKatherine Stone is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two novels, including her new Christmas novel, SLEIGH BELLS RING.
Katherine's books have been translated into twenty languages and are sold worldwide. A physician who now writes full-time, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, physician and novelist Jack Chase (Fatal Analysis, Mortality Rate, The Magruder Transplant.
Katherine's website is www.katherinestone.com.
Jack's website is www.medicalthriller.com.
Katherine's books have been translated into twenty languages and are sold worldwide. A physician who now writes full-time, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, physician and novelist Jack Chase (Fatal Analysis, Mortality Rate, The Magruder Transplant.
Katherine's website is www.katherinestone.com.
Jack's website is www.medicalthriller.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
October 12, 2019
An excellent book.
January 27, 2019
I started out by reading a preview of this book and becoming entranced with it, so I picked it up and immediately dove into reading it. By the time I finished it, I felt mentally drained and unsure of my exact reaction to this book.
The first thing I think of when I think of this book is the slog that I had to force myself to do to actually get through it. There was just SO MUCH to process with this book! It was like a train wreck, where you don't want to watch but you can't look away. I felt it was really trying to be too many things at once: a redemption story, a second chances story, a women's fiction story, and finally a romantic suspense. It really felt just all over the place!
With that being said, I found that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters in the story. While I certainly felt for their situations, I didn't really care about what happened to any of them either!
I'm not sure I'd read anything else by this author.
The first thing I think of when I think of this book is the slog that I had to force myself to do to actually get through it. There was just SO MUCH to process with this book! It was like a train wreck, where you don't want to watch but you can't look away. I felt it was really trying to be too many things at once: a redemption story, a second chances story, a women's fiction story, and finally a romantic suspense. It really felt just all over the place!
With that being said, I found that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters in the story. While I certainly felt for their situations, I didn't really care about what happened to any of them either!
I'm not sure I'd read anything else by this author.
January 29, 2019
Absolutely stunned!
This novel kept me reading from the moment I began till the very end!
Rarely am I moved by such a book, Ms. Stone you missed nothing, true love, complete evil, parenthood proving how much we as parents can do to protect our children, to love at first sight. Emotional from the very beginning to the last moments, even the secondary characters were as much protagonists and antagonists, as the hero and heroine.
So many underlying themes, all relevant, a true psychopathic character, one misdirected, one growing up in a third world country, you gave this novel so much I simply am having the hardest time writing this without summarizing your, obviously best seller novelist, work!
This is truly a novel to read on a cold winter day when you plan to begin and find you cannot stop till the end!
One note, Vivian and Daniel are totally waiting for their story to be told!
From the blurb, I certainly did not get what I expected! I got a thrilling novel that was lost in from the beginning almost three hours ago!
Absolutely loved, THIS IS A MUST READ!
Karen
This novel kept me reading from the moment I began till the very end!
Rarely am I moved by such a book, Ms. Stone you missed nothing, true love, complete evil, parenthood proving how much we as parents can do to protect our children, to love at first sight. Emotional from the very beginning to the last moments, even the secondary characters were as much protagonists and antagonists, as the hero and heroine.
So many underlying themes, all relevant, a true psychopathic character, one misdirected, one growing up in a third world country, you gave this novel so much I simply am having the hardest time writing this without summarizing your, obviously best seller novelist, work!
This is truly a novel to read on a cold winter day when you plan to begin and find you cannot stop till the end!
One note, Vivian and Daniel are totally waiting for their story to be told!
From the blurb, I certainly did not get what I expected! I got a thrilling novel that was lost in from the beginning almost three hours ago!
Absolutely loved, THIS IS A MUST READ!
Karen
September 4, 2018
The book jumps around in the beginning, switching between past and present. It takes a little bit to get into it, and makes it hard to connect with any particular character. It's a suspense novel with very little (very little) romance. There are almost too many storylines that all get wrapped up super quickly at the end. It ends with a very predictable fairy tale ending, similar to Cinderella. All the good guys end up living happily ever after, even the ones who strayed and did wrong, were easily forgiven. The villain, so evil that he would never repent, dies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2019
If there were half rating, I would have given this 3.5 stars. The story revolves around snow Ashley Gable and Luke Kilcannon, who meet in a small town outside of Chicago when she is 8 and he is 11. Both are outcasts and have difficult parents, but Luke insists that they keep their friendship secret.
The story moves back and forth between the present and the past and I'd guess about half the story takes place 25 - 15 years ago, to give the reader the background for today's storyline. While interesting, I kept thinking, "Okay, let's get to today's story."
After a tragedy at 15, Snow leaves town and remakes herself as a successful talk radio host. Now, 16 years later, she's returning to Chicago and bringing her show, The Cinderella Hour, with her. She has unresolved issues to work out with Luke, who is now a firefighter.
Thrown into the mix are Vivian Larsen, the town's leading socialite; her husband, Blaine Prescott, a prominent psychiatrist in women's mental health; Mira Larsen, Vivian's younger sister who is a veterinarian and the polar opposite of her sister; Thomas Vail, an intensive care doctor who once dated Vivian's best friend, and a farmer and his daughter, Daniel and Wendy. All their stories interweave with Snow and Luke, some in good ways, some not.
Once the story moved completely to today, I couldn't put the book down. Some bad things happen and I started to figure out who was behind them but had to read on for affirmation.
Since there are so many characters and so many stories, I can see opportunities for several sequels, which I'd happily read.
The story moves back and forth between the present and the past and I'd guess about half the story takes place 25 - 15 years ago, to give the reader the background for today's storyline. While interesting, I kept thinking, "Okay, let's get to today's story."
After a tragedy at 15, Snow leaves town and remakes herself as a successful talk radio host. Now, 16 years later, she's returning to Chicago and bringing her show, The Cinderella Hour, with her. She has unresolved issues to work out with Luke, who is now a firefighter.
Thrown into the mix are Vivian Larsen, the town's leading socialite; her husband, Blaine Prescott, a prominent psychiatrist in women's mental health; Mira Larsen, Vivian's younger sister who is a veterinarian and the polar opposite of her sister; Thomas Vail, an intensive care doctor who once dated Vivian's best friend, and a farmer and his daughter, Daniel and Wendy. All their stories interweave with Snow and Luke, some in good ways, some not.
Once the story moved completely to today, I couldn't put the book down. Some bad things happen and I started to figure out who was behind them but had to read on for affirmation.
Since there are so many characters and so many stories, I can see opportunities for several sequels, which I'd happily read.
February 1, 2019
This book had a little bit of everything, romance and mystery and even a bit of psychotic thriller. I have to admit, that the start of this book was a little slow for me, but as I got into the book, I could not stop reading. It was an intricate story of the two main characters Luke and Snow. There friendship began when they were young and despite their upbringings they had a blossoming love for each other, but forces kept them from turning that young love into a future. Like all things in life, you can get a second chance when life begins what I though of as "6 degrees of separation" kind of thing and the past becomes the present and then the future.
This was my first Katherine Stone book, but not my last. I was glad I kept on reading.
This was my first Katherine Stone book, but not my last. I was glad I kept on reading.
January 28, 2016
The twists and turns this story took kept you wanting to read more. Sometimes with all the characters, I found it hard to keep up with the plot and how they were all connected, but it was well worth reading.
November 6, 2017
Wow what book. It had romance suspense and mystery. I haven't read Katherines books in a while. But this was excellent book. Love her book got more to read of her
June 18, 2025
-TW: prostitution, rape, drug use, and miscarriage
I first gabbed this book years ago without read to see what it was about. I thought it would be a retelling of Cinderella, but it wasn’t. It was a little hard to follow at first, but then I figured out who everyone was. With that being said, the transitions within the chapter were not as smooth as I would have liked. I got so invested in the story that I finished within 5 days of starting it.
********************************SPOILERS AHEAD**********************************
I would loved it if we were able to get a little more insight to Dr. Blaine Prescott and his mind. Why did he do it? Was there an underlying condition that caused his psychotic mindset? We were getting to see a little bit into his mind at the end of the book, but I wish that part was longer.
I love the development of Vivian and Mira. At first I did not like either, but with the events that happened it gave them more character. I loved how things got mended between them and with Luke. I’m glad that Snow and her mother got closer in the end. I would have loved to see more into Mira and Thomas’s life in the epilogue. I think I might check out some more of her books.
I first gabbed this book years ago without read to see what it was about. I thought it would be a retelling of Cinderella, but it wasn’t. It was a little hard to follow at first, but then I figured out who everyone was. With that being said, the transitions within the chapter were not as smooth as I would have liked. I got so invested in the story that I finished within 5 days of starting it.
********************************SPOILERS AHEAD**********************************
I would loved it if we were able to get a little more insight to Dr. Blaine Prescott and his mind. Why did he do it? Was there an underlying condition that caused his psychotic mindset? We were getting to see a little bit into his mind at the end of the book, but I wish that part was longer.
I love the development of Vivian and Mira. At first I did not like either, but with the events that happened it gave them more character. I loved how things got mended between them and with Luke. I’m glad that Snow and her mother got closer in the end. I would have loved to see more into Mira and Thomas’s life in the epilogue. I think I might check out some more of her books.
April 1, 2019
I really thought I would like this book more as the description was so intriguing.
While I felt an emotional connection to the main characters and their hardships, I didn’t feel anything about their relationship. The characters seemed 3-dimensional, but their “love” was flat if that makes sense.
Also, we spend a lot of time when the hero and heroine are children, though the backstory is relevant, every single minute detail and long drawn out conversation takes up more than half the book. Then we fast forward 16 years and it’s like the author only had so many pages left and wanted to cram the rest of the book in to fit, so it felt very rushed and disjointed and too convenient, compared to the intimately detailed beginning of the book.
Overall the plot was good, I just wish the execution was better.
While I felt an emotional connection to the main characters and their hardships, I didn’t feel anything about their relationship. The characters seemed 3-dimensional, but their “love” was flat if that makes sense.
Also, we spend a lot of time when the hero and heroine are children, though the backstory is relevant, every single minute detail and long drawn out conversation takes up more than half the book. Then we fast forward 16 years and it’s like the author only had so many pages left and wanted to cram the rest of the book in to fit, so it felt very rushed and disjointed and too convenient, compared to the intimately detailed beginning of the book.
Overall the plot was good, I just wish the execution was better.
February 2, 2019
There is A LOT happening in this book. Stuff coming at you from everywhere and multiple pov's. I kept seeing lead ins to other books, but it wasn't, it was all packed into this one.
There's more more more, which was mostly ok until near the end, where there just seemed to be MORE, and then one of the main story lines almost fizzled to an end. It was a bit odd that the build up was just so big, to go, you know what, we're going to sort that out and leave it there.
So saying all that. It wasn't bad. There were some really good bits and good characters. I would probably have enjoyed it more if I had a little warning about the 'more' and the 'fizz'... so, for those who've stumbled across my review and want to read... Be warned and Enjoy ;)
There's more more more, which was mostly ok until near the end, where there just seemed to be MORE, and then one of the main story lines almost fizzled to an end. It was a bit odd that the build up was just so big, to go, you know what, we're going to sort that out and leave it there.
So saying all that. It wasn't bad. There were some really good bits and good characters. I would probably have enjoyed it more if I had a little warning about the 'more' and the 'fizz'... so, for those who've stumbled across my review and want to read... Be warned and Enjoy ;)
February 10, 2019
Entertaining enough read, but I thought the character development was severely lacking. It was hard to buy that an 8 year old girl and 11 year old boy go from a negative first interaction to inseparable and in love with no true story or character development. It felt like watching a movie on fast forward. You see where they are, with no real understanding or engagement in how they got there. All the characters felt superficial...maybe trying to tell too many stories in one book and fantasizing all of them?
Other issue for me is that this book could have used another proof read. There were lots of sentences that had extra words which required me to go back and reread to make sure I understood what they were saying. Petty annoyance, but an annoyance all the same.
Other issue for me is that this book could have used another proof read. There were lots of sentences that had extra words which required me to go back and reread to make sure I understood what they were saying. Petty annoyance, but an annoyance all the same.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2019
Excellent read
Such an awesome story. I laughed and I sobbed. This story takes you from one extreme to the other and everywhere in between. The scene when Snow is at her lowest had me crying so hard I had to stop reading for awhile. The characters are very believable and the situations are so intense they keep you riveted to the book. The diverse themes that are covered are all subjects that really deserve attention and are covered with tact and sensitivity. I like that four couples get the happy ending that they deserved even though some needed much forgiveness. I would recommend this story to anyone who loves a moving, humorous and exciting romance.
Such an awesome story. I laughed and I sobbed. This story takes you from one extreme to the other and everywhere in between. The scene when Snow is at her lowest had me crying so hard I had to stop reading for awhile. The characters are very believable and the situations are so intense they keep you riveted to the book. The diverse themes that are covered are all subjects that really deserve attention and are covered with tact and sensitivity. I like that four couples get the happy ending that they deserved even though some needed much forgiveness. I would recommend this story to anyone who loves a moving, humorous and exciting romance.
August 1, 2019
I felt like this book couldn’t decide what it wanted to be - romance or mystery, which character to follow. It would switch character perspectives in the middle of a scene or sometimes even the middle of a paragraph. The villain wasn’t too much of a surprise. It seemed so obvious I thought it would be someone else. The fairy-take metaphors kept mixing too - why was it sometimes Cinderella and sometimes Peter Pan? Plus, Some of the themes hit a little close to home at this stage in my life, which made it less enjoyable for me if I had read it another time. But, definitely different than a lot of the books I read, which was the point!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2020
Realistic...yes and no. Perfect...NO. Exhausting...YES. There were a lot of things to process in this story...maybe too much...couldn’t really connect with any one character because of the switches...but I was definitely entertained and interested enough to not put it down for very long.
GREAT WRITING (but found at least 3 major typos...dang, people...get a better editor!!!!!!!!)
I liked “The Cinderella Hour”, but it was NOT what I expected. Childhood trauma/mystery/love/betrayal/death...and a bunch of short stories that connect magically and show us (fictionally and unrealistically, of course) that fate is alive and kicking.
GREAT WRITING (but found at least 3 major typos...dang, people...get a better editor!!!!!!!!)
I liked “The Cinderella Hour”, but it was NOT what I expected. Childhood trauma/mystery/love/betrayal/death...and a bunch of short stories that connect magically and show us (fictionally and unrealistically, of course) that fate is alive and kicking.
February 10, 2019
Cinderella hour
I had my doubts at the beginning of this book, I wasn't sure if I'd read it at all, but the story started to pull me in. The characters started to matter, and the story builds momentum. I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The twists and turns, the trying to figure out who was who, who'd turn out to be the bad guy, and who was the good guy had me completely riveted. I never put it down until I'd finished it.
Would recommend this book to anyone. It's a brilliant read! Thank you
I had my doubts at the beginning of this book, I wasn't sure if I'd read it at all, but the story started to pull me in. The characters started to matter, and the story builds momentum. I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The twists and turns, the trying to figure out who was who, who'd turn out to be the bad guy, and who was the good guy had me completely riveted. I never put it down until I'd finished it.
Would recommend this book to anyone. It's a brilliant read! Thank you
March 6, 2019
Snow and her mother, Luke and his dad, Luke and the townsfolk, Snow and Luke, Snow and Vivien, Vivien and Mira, Blaine and the mother and Vivien and Mira and Snow, Mira and Thomas....so many situations going on! It was spotty in the telling, but compelling to finish. I had the bad guy figured out about 3/4ths of the way in, but the clues weren't there all along which made it a bit confusing.
Overall I had a positive feeling after finishing.
Snow (the main character) was so forgiving it was pretty unrealistic. Mira was, too, actually.
Overall I had a positive feeling after finishing.
Snow (the main character) was so forgiving it was pretty unrealistic. Mira was, too, actually.
January 27, 2019
Suspense, mystery, murder & romance.
This is a mystery, a thriller, and the love story for multiple couples who have to go through dark times before they can find their HEA.
it’s well written - though I needed a moment to catch up when the narration switched between all the characters.
There are miscarriages, violence against children & women ... it is a dark story, but it is well-balanced by the love.
This is a mystery, a thriller, and the love story for multiple couples who have to go through dark times before they can find their HEA.
it’s well written - though I needed a moment to catch up when the narration switched between all the characters.
There are miscarriages, violence against children & women ... it is a dark story, but it is well-balanced by the love.
January 27, 2019
This was one of those
Stories that when you start reading you don't want to put them down. The felt things for each other at such a young age, but each has secrets they held but knew they could depend on each other. Then he got sent away when his house caught fire and his dad died and he came back it was hard to be close but they tried. She got pregnant, but her mom needed to hide. The twist and turns of this story make you think and cry.
Stories that when you start reading you don't want to put them down. The felt things for each other at such a young age, but each has secrets they held but knew they could depend on each other. Then he got sent away when his house caught fire and his dad died and he came back it was hard to be close but they tried. She got pregnant, but her mom needed to hide. The twist and turns of this story make you think and cry.
January 30, 2019
An emotional roller coaster. this book had a lot going on, not just the main character stories. It was like reading a Spanish soap opera . I grew up watching Spanish sopa operas every night so this was great for me. I can see how others might not like it or find it hard to get into, but i loved it.
The only part i hate is that snow forgave Vivian so easily, i would have smacked a how. Other than that i absolutely loved this book. Finished it in less than a day.
The only part i hate is that snow forgave Vivian so easily, i would have smacked a how. Other than that i absolutely loved this book. Finished it in less than a day.
February 15, 2019
When I picked up this book I thought it was going to be a spin on the Cinderella story. It’s not. Young love gets thwarted and many characters get slowly introduced. I’m done with the story about 70% in, but I continue. Bad guy seems to be on track to get away with his bad deeds, yet I know as most stories go, the good guys will somehow overcome and win. Yes they do, BUT the author just randomly kills him off and problem solved? 👎🏼👎🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2019
WOW!! This is my first book by Katherine Stone and I will admit I was a little put off when I started but something made me plough through and I fell in love with all of the characters and their side stories that all intermingled and overlapped one another. This writing style took some getting used to but once I understood that there were several stories inside the story itself it made a lot more sense to me.
October 6, 2022
This book had some strong points, I loved the medical situations that were so realistic. Come to find out the author is a physician. But overall I wanted more romance in a book that is marketed as romance. There were side characters that ALL got paired up. With a huge dose of insta love. As the book progressed I got more annoyed with the flat characters and predictable ending. Still I kinda enjoyed it.
January 28, 2019
Couldn’t do
This book had too many characters and plots for me. The prologue started one plot, however the story then introduced many more characters/villains/romances/despairs. I ended up flipping through the book and only trying to read the bits about the characters in the prologue. Some readers may enjoy the “busy book” but I did not.
This book had too many characters and plots for me. The prologue started one plot, however the story then introduced many more characters/villains/romances/despairs. I ended up flipping through the book and only trying to read the bits about the characters in the prologue. Some readers may enjoy the “busy book” but I did not.
February 6, 2019
AMAZING!!!
This book was absolutely AMAZING!! There were so many twists - I loved how all the characters connected in this story! I loved Snow and Luke's story so much! I wish there were additional books for the other couples that developed in the book so we could see the rest of their story!
This book was absolutely AMAZING!! There were so many twists - I loved how all the characters connected in this story! I loved Snow and Luke's story so much! I wish there were additional books for the other couples that developed in the book so we could see the rest of their story!
February 7, 2019
First book I am reading by this author and I was really impressed.
There were many timelines. Childhood, teenage and adult. All the timelines were handled beautifully.
The starting from the point of view of a young child was really good.
There were many characters and each of their stories were heard.
I am definitely going back for more books by this author.
There were many timelines. Childhood, teenage and adult. All the timelines were handled beautifully.
The starting from the point of view of a young child was really good.
There were many characters and each of their stories were heard.
I am definitely going back for more books by this author.
April 7, 2021
Excellent Novel
Katherine Stone is a talented author who develops characters with intriguing personalities which compel you to become part of their lives. Her intelligence creates ways to help you understand the challenges and joy of living involving many twists and turns. I look forward to reading more of her gifted novels.
Katherine Stone is a talented author who develops characters with intriguing personalities which compel you to become part of their lives. Her intelligence creates ways to help you understand the challenges and joy of living involving many twists and turns. I look forward to reading more of her gifted novels.
January 27, 2019
Nice
I very much enjoyed this book. It was touching and very engaging. Getting to know these characters and their story was intriguing. It was life, with love along the way. Beautiful
I very much enjoyed this book. It was touching and very engaging. Getting to know these characters and their story was intriguing. It was life, with love along the way. Beautiful
January 28, 2019
Intriguing
The author weaves several stories into a plot that will keep a reader entertained. This is a complex book with elements of love, betrayal, prostitution, estrangement, murder, hate and medical information that explains some behaviors.
The author weaves several stories into a plot that will keep a reader entertained. This is a complex book with elements of love, betrayal, prostitution, estrangement, murder, hate and medical information that explains some behaviors.
January 28, 2019
Enjoyed this book
Couldn't put this book down. It had romance, relationships and family dynamics, as well as a touch of suspense. The characters were like people you encounter everyday.
Couldn't put this book down. It had romance, relationships and family dynamics, as well as a touch of suspense. The characters were like people you encounter everyday.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews