Cinderella and the Ghost

The Cursed Princes #4

by Marina Myles

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…

Praise for Beauty and the Wolf

"Dynamic and sensual, paranormal readers will gobble up this sexy read."

—Donna Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Midnight’s Warrior

"Beauty and the Wolf is a deliciously dark retelling of the classic tale that will make you fall in love all over again."

—Erin Quinn, author of The Five Deaths of Roxanne Love

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Time Travel, Fiction, Historical Fiction

246 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2015

Reviews

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tried ignoring this book. A French ghost and time travel? Not my normal read. But something kept pulling me back. No it wasn’t something I would usually be drawn to, but a retelling of Cinderella with a side of science fiction was too good to pass up.

“Sauve moi.”
Save me.

With or without Cinderella this would be an interesting story. The addition of the classic fairytale is just a bonus to this wonderfully creative tale. From the first moment I started reading I was glued to the page. I loved the main characters and there was no way I couldn’t fall for Cinderella. Ella is timid at first but she has a huge heart. She’s also extremely brave and inquisitive. When faced with a ghost in her new home she doesn’t run away. Almost immediately she figures out that she and the ghost of Jean-Daniel are somehow connected.

REVENIR À 1703 JET’AIME.
Come back to 1703. I love you.

A large part of the book was devoted to Ella and Jean-Daniel trying to communicate with each other. The author did a great job of describing the ins and outs of all things ghostly. Even though this book is obviously fantasy, the explanation for time travel and apparitions were so well thought out they almost had me believing a ghost could appear at the end of my bed.

The single kiss was so satisfying that if Ella died tomorrow she would die happy and fulfilled.

While the science fiction aspect of the novel was fun, the romance stole the show. You think star-crossed lovers are romantic? Try a love that supersedes centuries. Jean-Daniel’s devotion to Ella was swoon worthy. It didn’t matter if she was a peasant girl or a klutzy modern woman he adored her either way. Their romance was sweet with just a touch of heat. It fit the time traveling, ghost storyline perfectly.

She wanted to fall in love and have someone love her back. “Doesn’t everyone deserve that?”

This was such a fun read and I’m so glad I didn’t push it aside. Even if you’ve never read science fiction if you’re a lover of romance you’ll love the sweet story of Ella and John-Daniel. A beautiful and fun retelling of Cinderella.

Review to be posted at Romance at Random and Love Between the Sheets
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[Sweets Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++ Cupcakes

I loved this whole series and I'm sad to see it come to an end. Although it would be nice if the author would oh I don't know maybe wrote a small lil'book with a update on each couple. Just to see how they all turned out. But on with my thoughts now...

I didn't feel bad for Ella at all, instead I found myself wanting her to be more like the person she was inside her head. I laughed when she thought she was going crazy, heck I would of too if I'd been in her shoes and those type of things happened to me.

Jean-Daniel, was very headstrong and hard to sway one way or the other. But once he fell for Ella it was for the rest of their life's. Although I am curious as to what happened him after Ella disappeared. I mean he left to go on their honeymoon with his wife and then he would be coming back without his wife. I wanted to know what happened too him? Did he go insane? Did people think he killed her? You know the typical questions!

Overall it was a great story, but I do have those lingering questions of what happened too Jean-Daniel and then what happened in the future with them?

Till next time - Sweets Books

[Shauni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally Reviewed For: Tea and Book

Almost two years ago I picked up a book called Beauty and the Wolf it was this amazing combination of romance and horror, Disney Princess and Lon Cheney Werewolf. Adding in a gypsy curse and all bets were off. Needless to say I totally fell in love with the book and the author Marina Myles went on to write three more full novels and two novellas in her Cursed Princes Series. Cinderella and the Ghost is Book four and the final one in this wonderful series.

Going with Ms. Myles' trademark mix and mash, she creates a delightful story about a love of the ages. Using reincarnation, the "cursed amulet" from all of the books and of course Cinderella.

Ella Benoit had promised her father that she would take care of her stepmother, who abused her to say the least. Her useless and vain daughters were of course petted and spoiled (you know the story). But upon her death, Ella inherits a crumbling chateau in France and enough money to restore it. Off on a journey of a lifetime she goes. Only the chateau is way more disrepair than she could even imagine and it seems it's haunted.

Jean-Daniel Girard was killed the night of his ball. No one is sure how he died and 300 years later, he really wants to find out who and why. Only he isn't quite sure how he can escape limbo and accomplish anything. That is until Ella shows up. Finally he has a chance if he can only find a way to communicate with her.

Now here's where it gets a little unbelievable.. Jean-Daniel managed to seduce Ella with a very limited means of communication and she returns to 1703 with him. Where all of the characters of her life, still exist. Seems she's not the only one who has been reincarnated.

These two souls belong together, soul mates across time. Only Ella has to find a way to save Jean-Daniel from whoever killed him. But the thing is, she is wearing the "cursed" amulet. You know the one that's curse says the person who wears it is doomed to kill their lover... hmmm.

As much as these two belong together, as Jean-Daniel is supposed to be the hero.. I found him annoying. I can deal with rakes but he lacked depth of character. While his brother who was supposed to be the evil twin.. Oh yeah did I mention there was an evil twin? *grins* Anyway, he had the depth that was missing in Jean-Daniel. I liked him. He added a fabulous presence. Yes he was the "bad" twin but to paraphrase Jessica Rabbit.. He wasn't evil he was just written that way. Honestly, I kept hoping Ella would toss over Jean-Daniel, convince Corbet to mend his ways and find her HEA with him.

Now that would have been a twist! Jean-Daniel's annoyingness aside.. Ella and Jean-Daniel maneuvered through some twisted paths to find love. And that is where Ms. Myles excels. What a mind!

Ghosts
Reincarnation
Time Travel
An evil twin
A wicked stepmother (ok two in a way)
Same for the wicked stepsisters
A "fairy godmother" or two
and a cursed amulet

What's not to love?

A great ending to a truly unique series.

Shauni

This review is based on the ARC of Cinderella and the Ghost, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on February 17, 2015

[Didi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Ah, fairy tales. Who doesn’t love it. Prince Charming or knight in armor charging to the rescue of damsel in distress. Or the other way around, like The Fog Prince or Beauty and The Beast. I love the idea of modern fairy tale meets time travel and the blurb had me eager to read this. Alas, the writing execution left a lot to be desired. I found the storyline dragging and the characters unimaginatively boring. At first I was sort of hoping for something more on the mystery of the vicomte murder and the twist of how our modern heroine could have a happily ever after with the 18th century nobleman hero. These hopes were soon dashed.

Note: ARC was kindly provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great and compelling retelling of the Cinderella story. A castle in France, a time travel, a fascinating ghost, a gentle and sensitive protagonist: it is hard not to love this book.
After the death of his step-mother, Ella discovers that she has inherited from her father a castle in France. It's a wonderful opportunity to start a new life. But the castle is in poor condition and there are many jobs to do. She also will have to conquer the ghost that occupies the house. Jean-Daniel Girard was killed the night of his ball and doesn't know how. Ella will return with him back in time to discover the truth.
I loved the protagonists of this story: Ella is shy but brave with a big heart, knows how to fight. Jean-Daniel is a viscount very snobbish but his love for Ella is strong enough to overcome his sense of duty, is willing to give up everything for her. A really romantic love story!
It's a great, lovable, fast-paced book, the author keeps you enthralled and engrossed throughout the book. The writing was pleasant, clever and flowed easily ..
If you enjoy reading sweet romance, then definitely pick this up!

[Kiltsandswords · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinderella and The Ghost (The Cursed Princes book #4) by Marina Myles
Overview by Netgalley:
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.

The story of Cinderella has continued to fascinate us since the European myth began. With the publication of Charles Perrault’s Cendrillon in 1697, it captured the attention of centuries. The reason I think this story is so enduring is the moral lessons it imbues. The concept of good triumphing over bad is one that all people enjoy reading about. Life isn’t fair and that is a lesson we learn in childhood. For every person that has been unjustly treated, the story of the cinder girl is a message of hope. Its hope that with enough patience, perseverance and fortitude one can overcome the wrongs done to them. The Cinderella story also relies on the support and help from others. Cinderella had her fairy godmother to help her at the most dire moments. How many times have you wished to have someone help you when facing insurmountable odds? It is a reminder that we must help others and put an end to tyrannical behaviour. When I think of Cinderella, it is impossible not to think of the Disney classic, but this novel has created a new narrative for me. This story takes the classic and makes it into a real life, tangible story that has passion, adventure and steamy moments. It even comes with a pair of beautiful glass shoes to complete the story.
What I loved about this story was that it was part historical romance and contemporary novel. It was a Cinderella story and at times a Gothic novel. I could immediately make parallels to the Cinderella story, yet it felt fresh and new because of the contemporary story. It was pretty scary at some parts when Ella gets to the Chateau and meets the portrait of Jean-Daniel. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when the hauntings began. I despise paranormal movies – I refuse to watch them period. But although this was frightening, the machinations of Jean-Daniel were out of love and hope. He desperately needs to communicate with Ella to come back in time and save him from his fate.
I just finished another time travel historical romance novel, so I am really starting to get into the genre. This book was different because it takes place away from England, like the majority of historical romance novels. It was interesting to learn about French culture and society at the time of Louis the ‘Sun God’. I laughed out loud at the intrepid Ella googling time travel theories once she figured out what the ghost wanted of her.
Ella was a wonderful character to read. She has been dominated by her step mother and step sisters since her father died. She has given up her life to fulfill a promise to her father to take care of her menacing step mother. Once Adelaide passes, Ella is free to live her life on her own terms. We learn that she loves to cook, but put those dreams on hold, while her ugly step sisters frittered away their lives doing what they wanted. Not only is Ella beautiful outside, she is kind and compassionate inside. She longs to belong to a family and to a man who loves her. She is the survivor of a sexual assault as a teenager and is very nervous of men. However one man who completely captures her attention is Jean-Daniel. I didn’t blame her for lusting after the beautiful man in the portrait. Knowing Jean-Daniel’s ghostly thoughts, I was so excited for the adventure that Ella would be embarking upon.
Jean-Daniel is explored as a character before Ella travels back in time. We know his thoughts, his feelings and frustrations. He was essentially a playboy Viscomte during his time, but all that changed when he met Ella. He fell in love like a ‘thunderbolt’ striking him. He is as beautiful as a god, with a hard body and piercing eyes. He meets Ella as a servant in his home, but can’t stay away from her even though there is a rule that nobility can’t marry a lower class. What I loved about Jean-Daniel was that he TRULY loved Ella. It wasn’t just a physical response, but he took the time to get to know her and loved the woman beneath the beautiful exterior. I adored that he was willing to give up everything, including his responsibilities to the people of France, just to be happy with her.
Obviously with a book that features ghosts, time travel and cursed Egyptian artifacts, you have to suspend belief. That is not a problem with this story. I found it captivating and heart wrenching. I loved the many different elements of this story. I found the haunting of Ella by Jean-Daniel creepy, but rewarding. The experience Ella has back in time were so beautifully developed and described, I felt like I was walking through the lavender fields myself. This story achingly explores hope, tragedy and love with a depth that most books lack. I feel so fortunate that I found this book to read and I really, really couldn’t put it down. It was a fresh take on a classic story with lovely characters that made me believe in love that spans centuries and the hope that all is never truly lost.
Reviewed for www.kiltsandswords.com Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[ItsAboutTheBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review can be read at It's About The Book

This was a surprisingly delightful version of the Cinderella fairy tale with a time-travel element to give it a new twist and I really enjoyed it! Descriptive prose and realistic character development worked together to give a modern feel to this age-old tale of the beautiful, orphaned daughter left with a cruel stepmother and stepsisters who treated her like a slave and made her feel not only unwelcome in her own home but in her own skin. And the inevitable but surprising twist at the end gave a HEA that anyone would love. Kismet, meet time-travel.

When the story opens, Ella Benoit is taking care of her dying stepmother even though the woman and her daughters had treated Ella like crap since her father’s death. She’d had to live on scraps and hand-me-downs while her stepmother and stepsisters had lived in style, blowing her father’s vast fortune on themselves. Now there was only debt and an empty mansion. The two stepsisters had flown the coop long before, and when the news of their mother’s illness reached them, they refused to come back to nurse her. It was left up to Ella to take care of her–and she hated Ella for it. It’s a special kind of hell taking care of a dying parent, and it was especially difficult for Ella since her stepmother was so resentful–never thanking her or even speaking to her at the end. Thank goodness it was over. But how was she to support herself? Where was she to go?

Thankfully her father had provided for her in his will, and left her a château in France along with some funds to refurbish it and live there. Since that’s where her parents had met and her mother had been French, it was a welcome gift and she was so excited to leave California and head for a new adventure and a new life. Dusting off the stepsisters was going to be harder than she realized, however.

Sometimes being an asshole supersedes time, and Jean-Daniel Girard had been a super asshole. However, right before his death in 1703, he’d started to turn around. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in time to stop his murder. Dying so abruptly caused his spirit to hover over the scene of his death, waiting for it to be solved so that he could finally cross over to the other side. Unfortunately this created a dilemma for the current owners of the château and the small town that surrounded it. Having a haunted chateau in the neighborhood didn’t have quite the cachet it used to, apparently, and people preferred updated electricity and running water to apparitions appearing nightly. Jean-Daniel feared his days were numbered and since the mansion hadn’t been inhabited in quite some time and he fed off of electrical currents, he was quite weak and couldn’t show himself to Ella when she finally arrived. For he knew she was returning to him after three hundred years–returning to the scene of their burgeoning love affair and to help him cross over and for them to be together forever. He was a little hazy on how but he knew she was the key.

When Ella arrived at the château she had a feeling of deja vu, and kept looking for a large painting. When she finally found it she had it returned to the downstairs drawing room. The uncanny feeling she got from the eyes of the handsome Jean-Daniel in the huge portrait gave her the heebie jeebies, and what’s more? She kept having dreams about him and what seemed like their life in the past…the very distant past. What did it mean? And why did she feel his presence so acutely?

The writing is so clever. The author incorporates the elements of the traditional fairy tale into this modern story in such a common sense manner that it’s never contrived or insincere. Always delightful and funny, never too much, the character development and pace are perfect and the description of the château and the characters surrounding the couple are perfect. Read it if you love the reconstructed fairy tales but know that this one has an extra-special twist–time travel, pre-destination, and a handsome French comte who’s waited for his love for over three hundred years. Je t’adore!

[Carra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I’m definitely one to love stories based on fairy tales, and now that I’ve read Cinderella and the Ghost, I’m wondering how I haven’t read anything by this author previously-and I’m now adding the rest of this series to my TBR list.

Although there are some places where the story gets a little sluggish, for the most part it moves along well and kept me entranced with its fantastic fairy tale storytelling. That I just HAD to see what would happen next kept me flying through the pages. The setup is just right, and prepares you well for the upcoming events.

REVENIR À 1703 JET’AIME.
Come back to 1703. I love you.

This…*sigh* Who wouldn’t want to travel back in time to save the one with whom they’re meant to be? Especially when it’s Jean-Daniel. The setup does a great job of letting us see who he really is-not the runaround playboy he once was, but the caring man in love with Ella. Of course the fact that he’s absolutely gorgeous and stunningly sexy just adds to his allure. And Ella’s character, meek and timid at the start, goes through a wonderful growth process to become a stronger person by the end.

There’s a great cast of secondary characters in both modern day and their counterparts back in 1703. With the characters and the storyline doing such a great job in paralleling the original Cinderella fairy tale while throwing in the twist of time travel, Cinderella and the Ghost is an entertaining read that will keep you riveted to the story until the end. The only loose end that I wish had been addressed was what happened to Jean-Daniel from 1703 in the end.

A fascinating take on the Cinderella theme, throwing in some pretty cool supernatural elements made for a solid 4-star read for me. I’d definitely recommend to readers who love paranormal stories and variations on classic fairy tales…but make no mistake, this is definitely an 18+ read ;-)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinderella isn't one of my favorite fairy tales but this one intrigued me and it paid off. Cinderella and the Ghost was a fresh take on an old classic. This is book four in the series The Cursed Princes, and a stand alone story. I was not expecting the story line to go as it did. I think that is why I enjoyed as much as I did, it wants predictable and it was a very pleasant surprise.

Jean-Daniel Girard died and it was rumored that it was either murder or suicide. His ghost was trapped in the painting his mother commissioned for him free raine of his old castle after the strike of midnight. He has been biding his time waiting for a woman gathering things together for when she finally arrives; four hundred years of waiting and she has finally arrived.

Ella Benoit lost her mother at an early age her father remarried a woman with two daughters of her own. Years later her father dies and her stepmother and stepsisters use her make a maid out of her and when her stepmother becomes sick Ella becomes a nursemaid. When her stepmother finally dies and leaves nothing but debt Ella was expecting it what she didn't expect was that her father left her a trust and a castle in France. Ella moves to France excited to be starting over and with high expectations of the castle. What she finds is a castle that needs more work than she thought and with a spooky reputation. Ella starts renovation on the castle but it also stirs up more activity. The painting of the original owner in the Georgian garb and the intense blue eyes starts to haunt Ella's dreams. Jean-Daniel knows he has found his Ella and will do anything to get her back.

I loved the story and where it went it makes me want to find the other books in the series just to see what she did with the other fairy tales.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an e-ARC of Cinderella and the Ghost from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Read on for my thoughts on Cinderella and the Ghost. No true spoilers, promise.


I absolutely loved Cinderella and the Ghost. Some might call it a retelling novel, but it was so much more than just putting Cinderella in a different time period. I find I really don’t want to tell too much of this story. You have the blurb above to give you the basic premise – after that I’d love for you to just dive into it.

The author, Marina Myles, has managed to bring us to an amazing woman, Ella in the present time… and pair her up with a handsome ghost who needs a bit of help in order to claim his lady-love.

The journey for Jean-Daniel and Ella to finally get to their happily ever after is as simple as falling in love – and as complicated as time travel. The blending of a contemporary love story with a time travel epic, mixed liberally with a haunting ghost story is simply amazing. Oh, don’t forget to toss the step-sisters (please toss the step-sisters down a staircase)!

Not everyone is going to enjoy every novel. Some will want just a historical romance, others will be content with a modern day telling and others will go wild for the possibility of time traveling. No matter which genre you enjoy the most, please give Cinderella and the Ghost a chance to win your heart. I do not think you’ll be disappointed.

I would recommend this one to anyone who just wants to fall in love.

[Melissa F · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I received an e-ARC of Cinderella and the Ghost from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.***

I really enjoyed Cinderella and the Ghost. Marina Myles does a great job of taking classic fairy tales and adding a fun twist. I've read each book in this series and I can say that Ms. Myles does not disappoint with this final installment.

Ella is the abused caretaker of her stepmother who has squandered away the family fortune. When her stepmother dies, Ella finds herself the owner of a dilapidated French chateau, a bequest from her father to Ella alone. Ella is determined to renovate the chateau to it's former glory and finds herself entranced by a life-sized portrait of Jean-Daniel Girard, it's first owner.

Jean-Daniel is a ghost who has been forced to haunt the chateau since his death in 1703. He's been waiting all this time for Ella to return and go back in time to change what happened to him. As the connection between Jean-Daniel and Ella deepens, time is running out; Ella must help Jean-Daniel by the anniversary of his death or he will be trapped for yet another year.

The chemistry between these two characters was great. Ella was very relatable and Jean-Daniel was hot! I liked the way the author tied in aspects from the classic Cinderella tale with a modern-day setting. Overall, this was an excellent way to finish a very entertaining series! I'm only sad that there won't be more of these stories in the future!

[Cas H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a delightful read. Once I picked it up, I did not want to put it down.
The ghost of Jean-Daniel Duquesne haunts a house in France. he was killed on the property of this house years before. He must find his true love, who has been re-incarnated in the 21st Century and he must get her to go back in time and change the past.
Ella Benoit is a wonderful young lady who gave up her money to take care of her father's widow and step-sisters. Her father died years before, and Ella must take care of her family as her Dad would have wanted.
When her step-mother dies, she finds out that there is nothing left in the estate, and so do her step-sisters. When it is discovered that her Dad bought an aging property and put money into a trust to take care of this property, her step sisters decide they want some of that money too.
Ella leaves the USA and travels to France where she starts to rennovate her new home. She meets Jean's ghost and has to figure out how to make Jean live in the past, so he can be happy, and no longer be a ghost.
This book was really well written. It had some ideas that I found curious, like the re-incarnation parts, however the author blended the book together in a seamless tale that resembled Cinderella.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinderella and the Ghost by Marina Myles is another captivating fairy tale brought to life. Each one of the books in the series has added a different twist to the original. I really thought the reincarnation element worked well in this one. In both the past and the present, I wanted Ella to stand up for herself more. Perhaps the past would not have needed to be changed if she had, but I guess then there wouldn't be a story. Which would be sad since this is a splendid take on the fairy tale.

As with all these stories, there is a complication unique to Ms. Myles’ telling of the tale. In this story “Prince Charming” Jean-Daniel Duquesne is now a ghost that needs saving. The shifts in the story from past to present and vice versa are well balanced, flowing smoothly back and forth. Also, while everyone knows the basic tale, the characters, good and bad, are fleshed out through their thoughts, desires, motives, and needs. Well done, now I will always see Prince Charming as more like Jean-Daniel than the Disney too sweet version.

Copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Tammy Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the cover and the concept of this book and immediately requested it from Netgalley. It was a fun read and I loved how the author retold Cinderella. It's Gothic, mysterious, and completely engaging.

I'm usually not one to read a lot of contemporary stories, but the blend of contemporary and historical, along with the mysterious chateau in France kept me interested. I also quite enjoyed Jean-Daniel's perspective. He's sexy, mischievous, and desperately in love with Ella.

Ella made me laugh quite a bit with her detective skills. She can be naive and unsure, but she's also quite determined to save her ghostly love. At times, when I found myself wanting Ella to be a little more assertive, I had to remember that this character was being true to form, and the real Cinderella was a bit of a people-pleaser.

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first I've read from this author, and now I can't wait to read more of The Cursed Princes.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Cinderella and the Ghost! Like all the other books in Ms. Myles series, this is a fun twist on a classic fairy tale. Ella is a beautiful young woman who used to see the good in everyone and every situation until her evil step-mother put her down at every turn and ruined her self confidence. Jean-Daniel is a ghost who was killed in 1703 and needs to correct the deed before the anniversary of his death or he will remain in limbo. As always, Marina Myles is a talented writer who captures your attention and sweeps you right into her character's world. I felt all of the emotions as if they were my own and I truly felt as if I was apart of the book. You will laugh and cry along with Ella and want to jump into the book and help her at times. Thank you Ms Myles for another wonderful book! I'm sad to see this series end but look forward to your future books.

[Judy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ella Benoit stepmother dies and learns that her fathers money is gone. Her stepmother and sisters squandered it all. The only thing left to her is a chateau in France with money to fix the place up. She is excited since she can now have a life of her own. The place needs much repair but she wants to restore it if she can just get past the ghost of the first owner that haunts her days and nights.
This is a modern yet historical Cinderella story with all the paranormal twists and turns. I love Cinderella so I was so excited to receive this ARC for my honest review from NetGalley. This isn't my usual read but I must say I was hooked and couldn't put the book down.
I will defiantly pick up the other books in this series.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinderella and the Ghost by Marina Myles is the fourth and final book in the Cursed Princes series. A fun and romantic read that ties in some paranormal aspects with some wonderful storytelling.

A love story that spans centuries, fairy tales and myth.

What happens to Cinderella when the evil-stepmother passes away? Well, she inherits a chateau in France of course. And when the chateau contains a hot ghostly portrait? You fall in love.

For lovers of paranormal or historical romance this could be one of your new faves.

[Darla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I overall enjoyed this book, it was a nice take on an old fairytale. Sure Ella and her slightly broken spirit got on my nerves, but then I suppose if you've been beat down all your life you're going to be 'broken'. I was glad when she started to grow a bit of a spine :-, I also liked how the book made it seem the characters were reincarnated again and again. I definitely liked how the book showed that just maybe sometimes a powerful love can transcend centuries and different choices made and two people can find one another again.....awwwww, I can be such a sucker for sappy romance notions!!! I suggest this book to anyone who is a sucker for sappy romance notions!! I will have to read the other books in the little series since this was actually book 4.

[Lisa Dess · Rating 5 out of 5]

received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for a honest review.

I have really enjoyed The Cursed Princes series and was very eager to read this book. I am definitely sad that this book is the final book in the series.

This book was magical. I've always enjoyed the Cinderella story and this twist on that classic story is AMAZING. The twist includes a ghost and time travel.

I love the characters in this book. Ella is down to earth and is easy to connect with and Jean-Daniel is totally hot. Their love for one another seeps through the pages.

Marina's writing continues to be superb. The book flowed well and kept my attention.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an unusual story. It was peculiar and charming at the same time. I loved the time travel element, as well as the haunting romance.

This story was indeed very much like the movie Somewhere in Time, but it also reminded me of the movie Dead Again.

Cinderella and the Ghost was about a love that lasted a lifetime and then some.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: Adult
Status: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/ Drama: Yes
Family Dysfunction: Yes
HEA: Yes (with a surprise twist)

[Ane Margaux · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review on NetGalley

I was disappointed by this book. The plot line was decent but the writing was a tad mediocre. I expected so much better. A lot of the concepts were wild and didn't quite belong. This book has a lot of potential though. I would love to read it again if it was rewritten.

[Heather McCorkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chances are, you have never read a Cinderella story like this one. In a mixture of modern and traditional retelling, Myles brings to life a very realistic Ella complete with flaws and emotional damage as well as a dashing yet deep prince who stirs sympathy as well as the heart. I highly recommend this for fans of steamy romance as well as fairy tale retellings.

[Alysa]

Nope

[Sapphyria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cinderella and the Ghost is the reimagining of the classic fairytale. The book takes place in modern day as Ella works through servant-type living arrangements with her stepmother, Adelaide, as her stepsisters do whatever they want and spend money they don't have. When Adelaide passes, the stepsisters come home to attend the reading of the will with Ella. Unsure of where to go of what to do, Ella is pleasantly surprised to learn her father kept a home in France for her, along with money for renovations. Leaving America and her rotten stepsisters behind, Ella flies to the chateau to begin her new life.

She's immediately drawn to the portrait of the first owner, Jean-Daniel Girard. He's handsome, strong, and appears to be focused on her whenever she's around. Little does she know, but is about to learn, Jean-Daniel's ghost resides in the painting and insists she's his savior. With a little bit of determination, time-travel, and mystical jewelry, Ella finds herself transported 300 years in the past and things about her past life draw an uncanny parallel to the life she just left.

The author's take on the Cinderella fairytale was interesting, though the story was a tad slow-going. Ella and Jean-Daniel had chemistry but their character development was flat. Ella's character was beaten down by her stepmother and stepsisters after her father died and she was not given the chance to work through her feelings and reconcile her stepmother and stepsisters' treatment of her. Her baggage would rival a socialite's travel gear and it's pushed to the back burner.

The theme of the book was interesting and I enjoyed the reincarnation aspect of the characters. The love between Jean-Daniel and Ella transcends time and the author pulled off a great time-travel romance. There are several elements to appeal to many readers; ghosts, time-travel, fairytale retelling, and romance.

My review copy came from my local library through use of the interlibrary loan program.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a time-travel romance - not my favorite type - but I was still willing to read it. The pacing was very slow. The ghost doesn't even talk to Ella until halfway through the book.

Also, what really bothered me was this was NOT a happy ending for the hero per se, but was for the heroine. If you want to know what I mean, see the spoiler section below.

I also didn't like how Ella couldn't tell the two brothers apart. They had different color eyes!!! The author tells you many times in similar ways how the hero's eyes are blue and not a light blue a striking blue; his brother Colbert's eyes are "dark grey."

The story had a lot of potential but just didn't really do it for me.


SPOILER!!!! SPOILER!!!!!

DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT THE ENDING SPOILED!
So in classic Cinderella style she marries her "prince" (a viscount here) and they're still in 1703 on their honeymoon. And then she removes the magic amulet and he removes the bracelet - and she dissolves before his eyes and returns to the present.
Now it's a sort of happy ending for her as a modern-day dead-ringer for Jean-Daniel shows up on her doorstep. So I guess he's supposed to be a reincarnation of the 18th century guy? Ok, so happy ending for Ella. But what about poor Jean-Daniel in 1703?!!!! What the heck?? He watched Ella, the love of his life, disappear before his eyes on his honeymoon and he didn't travel forward in time with her. And there is no mention of him or what happens. Now you might not feel so invested in him EXCEPT the author spent a lot of time writing about Jean-Daniel and how he felt and how much he loved Ella so I felt attached to him and felt like he just got dumped and forgotten.

[Talina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I expected this to be a little cliché and was down for it because I love Cinderella, but then the writing was so bad as well. I was surprised to find this is #4 in the series because I was hoping to move on to the next few books and discover more finesse.
I loved the easy flow of the story until it became painfully aware the writing style could only use literal narration of facts and no metaphors, similes or creative use of language. Juxtaposing 1-dimensional characters with intimate scenes felt really awkward, like they were in written by a tween. It would’ve been easy, for example, to depict Cinderella as kind and Jean-Daniel as decent without literally using those words. Really disappointed because I was intrigued by the re-telling but the execution was soooo bad.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was missing something, an excitement/connection. I just never found that attention grabber.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't like the ending, felt it lacked depth.

[Lisa Downard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite...romantic...spicy...angsty...perfect...the best one of the series!

[Melindeeloo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 stars-okay. The ghost of a murdered French nobleman has only a few days before the anniversary of his death to get Ella to come back to 1703 and help him to rewrite his ending...

This story has the Cinderella framework in both the present, where Ella is finally free from her step mother and step sisters and inheriting a run down estate in France (complete with ghost), and in the past to which she is drawn back by some cursed magical objects - and there is a ball in the past.

I do generally like fairy tale retellings, ghost romances, and time travel romances , but Cinderella and the Ghost was a near miss for me. Mostly because the hero didn't work for me for several reasons, the first being that the I couldn't get past the image of the bewigged hero in the clothing of his era and imagine him as being attractive -especially when we are privy to the prelude to an intimate scene which had him removing his wig and which had me remembering the reason why wigs were worn and which had me picturing grimey hat 'hair'. I also had issues with differences in station when Ella gets drawn back in time, she's a serving girl working in his household and he's a rakish nobleman, so even though he's drawn to her in a life-changing way, I found his 'flirting´ with her creepy considering her powerlessness in that time period. And my final issue with the whole thing is the ending - it has my least favorite of time travel resolutions (which I can't elaborate on as it is a spoiler). And I am not even going to mention the cursed Egyptian artifacts that play a part in the story.

What I did like was that Ella was given a decent reason for sticking with her step mother in the present day situation - in olden times as a woman she'd have been trapped but in the present that wouldn't have been the case. And, on a personal note, I got a kick that present day Ella starts out in my Santa Barbara home town -and that when her step sisters head off to get drunk they head off to a well known bar in town.

So bottom line on this one is there were interesting things in the mix, but I would have preferred if this had been a straight ghost romance because there were a few too many elements involved in the time travel that didn't quite mesh for me leaving Cinderella and the Ghost more in the okay category.

ETA - The more I think about this the more issues I have with the time travel part of this story - I can handle paradox if the rest hooks together, but there at just too many things that don't tie together well here...

ARC via Netgalley Release date 2/16/15