Mismatched in Love: Almost Cinderella

by Jolene Betty Perry

Avery Cinder has gotten very little she’s wanted out of life. But with a scholarship to BYU and a membership to a church that suits her better than she imagined, Avery’s life is definitely turning around. With tattooed arms and worn out boots, she doesn’t exactly blend into the conservative school, but after a day or two in her new political science classes, Avery knows she chose well.

Aaron Price has gotten almost everything he’s ever asked for. But when the girl everyone assumes he’ll marry, ends up not being the one, Aaron swears off dating--at least until graduation. It’s okay. He’s found a new friend in Avery, and she doesn’t mind helping his pathetic scheme to use her to keep the girls away.

Problem is, the more time Aaron spents with Avery, the more he realizes she might be the one. And falling in love with your best friend isn’t as easy as one might think...

Genres: Lds, Romance, Christian Fiction, Clean Romance, Lds Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary

125 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2015

About the author

I started my first journal when I was 7,
there's a large box in my garage dedicated to the journals I've filled since then.

Now I only write longhand in the middle of the night or while waiting in my car.
Sometimes I can read it later.

I don't always like rules.

I survived swimming in the Rogue River two times on one trip.
I was not swimming on purpose.

I taught Middle School Algebra with a degree in Political Science and French.

I'm one of those crazy Mormons I used to make fun of.

I drew up the plans and built two houses.
When I say "built" I mean that I was outside with a hammer and nails, building a house.

I have two kids.
One has Moebius Syndrome.
Most doctors don't know what this is.

I survived my husband going to law school.
I survived my husband being deployed in the military.
After seventeen years, we still like each other.

I taught myself to play the guitar when my husband was in the Army and never home.
It's been ten years and I still play the guitar.

I have stories in my head that won't be quiet.
I like to write those stories down.
I hope people want to read them.

I love the editing almost as much as the writing, sometimes more.

At the age of 37 I finally know what I want to be when I grow up.
And I'm doing it.
Life is Good.

Reviews

[Lenore Kosinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, full disclosure -- I am not the target audience for this book. I generally stay away from Christian Fiction b/c I can't always relate, and I know next to nothing about the Mormon society. So why did I buy this book? Well it's written by one of my fave authors, and the synopsis sounded really cute! And it was! It was still a bit out of my wheelhouse, but when you can, as a non-Christian, still thoroughly enjoy the book? I say success. Though it took me 4 chapters to figure out that BYU was Brigham Young University...*rolls eyes at self*

So while a lot of the LDS specific stuff went over my head, it was a super sweet romance of 2 characters who taught each other a lot. LOVE stories of couples who become friends first and then have the romance bloom out of that. I was worried about the Hillary conflict, but that actually went ok in the end. And Lexi was a superstar -- such a sweet soul!

So even for a jaded soul like me, this was a sweet fun read. It wasn't preachy, but the characters were entrenched in Mormon society....so I guess it's a personal taste thing whether that will detract from your enjoyment...it didn't for me.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked both Avery and Aaron in this, and I liked their realationship.

This was a sweet read which I really enjoyed. Looking forward to reading the next one in the Almost a Fairytale series.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery Cinder is a new member of the LDS church and has just transferred to BYU - with tattoos and everything. When she meets her roommate's boyfriend, Aaron Price, she knows there isn't anyone who could be more wrong for her. Because they have classes together, getting to know each other is inevitable. The more she gets to know Aaron, the more she realizes she was wrong about him. As Aaron gets to know her better, he realizes that all the experiences that have made her look rougher on the outside have softened her inside.

Avery and Aaron were a cute couple, and I liked the message about not judging others by their appearance, and giving others the freedom to be who they really are!

Content: Clean
Source: Amazon.com

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book's guts. Honestly I do. One of my favorite things about this author is that she doesn't shy away from writing real LDS characters. Characters who have a past and who struggle with real issues. And oh man... the feels of this book, guys. Aaron is dreamy. I dare you not to fall in love with him. Avery is one tough girl trying to do the right thing despite her past. The dialogue in this book flowed, the storyline was spot on and... I just love this novella. And that is saying a lot because novellas usually aren't my thing... and if you noticed, it made my favorite shelf. So read it now and thank me later. Or thank the author later... Ah. Just read it.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! It's set at BYU and the characters are LDS but I didn't think it was at all preachy and could easily be enjoyed by anyone who has a basic knowledge of LDS culture. Seriously made me smile. Great book!
Content: clean (one mild swear word)
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Does have some editing errors

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like another reviewer said, I'm not the target audience for this book, and yet I still enjoyed the read, and didn't find the religious aspects of the story overbearing. In a way it was a relief that the main female character, although new to the LDS church, had already done her converting before the book began, so that the book could focus on the story unfolding between her and the hero, which was sweet.

It was quite eye-opening reading this, given that I am unfamiliar with the traditions that go along with pretty much all religions, including the LDS church. I was reading about people in a situation that is totally foreign to me, leading lives I can't relate to except on a "human connection" level I suppose. I did enjoy the sweet love story as well, and felt compelled to read to the end to see how things ended up.

I liked the characters and there weren't any jerks, so that was quite refreshing. :P

[Chels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love how it's not your typical lds romance. Cute story

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful :)

[Michele A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery and Aaron meet when she starts attending BYU after converting to LDS and finding her way. Aaron is in the midst of dating her roommate, Hilary, who is a childhood friend of his. Aaron quickly realizes that he doesn't have strong feelings for Hilary and is just going through the motions. After consulting with his sister, Vanessa, he decides that he needs to break it off. Hilary was quite moody and catty throughout this book and did not treat Avery very well at all. Aaron and Avery find themselves becoming good friends and then it leads to more. It was well done and cute in how they both questioned where this thing with them was leading and Aaron finally gets his mother on board with his new plans.

[Michael-Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute but LOTS of errors!

The story was predictable but enjoyable. The romance was sweet and fairytale-ish. There were MANY, MANY errors in this story. An editor was absolutely not used, or should be fired if one was used! Some errors made no sense until I realized the wrong word SOUNDS like a word that did make sense, like the author was using a dictation app and didn't check through it afterwards. Kind of odd and definitely annoying. Why publish something you're not going to edit?

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story. It was short, but not a short story, if that makes sense. This is an LDS book and is geared that LDS people will understand the culture and language. But I think anyone could relate to a person trying to change for the better and living different standards. This was a much deeper story then I had thought it would be and the characters had a great depth. It is a good writer that can make you sigh when the characters have there first deep moments together. The kiss was awesome:} I will be looking forward to this series:} It was .99 on Amazon and well worth the price.

[Teya Teya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a little weird in sometimes it read like a journal, having said that, I loved it. It was different in a good way. It showed two perspectives, which I love. I was not your typical cute girl meets cute boy and we have a love story. No, it was real, it had feeling and it was not anything typical. It was a story after my own heart. I loved the non judgemental aspect of her background. Well, for the most part. It was very heart felt and real with many converts to the church. I will be looking into this writer more.

[Terrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A convert to the church, Avery decides to attend BYU. Despite her checkered past and many tattoos, she falls in love with Aaron who is the poster child for the perfect Mormon guy. The book was an enjoyable, light read that just skimmed the surface of the problems faced by the difference in their upbringings.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute and fun! I loved it. I loved the different point of view from a convert to the LDS religion and the troubled life she came from. It certainly helped me to better appreciate some of the struggles that may come with adjusting to the culture, and certainly reinforces the statement of never judging a book (person) by its cover. Such a good read.

[Palabasalibro · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was engrossing though not a lot of humor in it which would have made the book a bit more enjoyable.
It is about love, responsibility, new beginnings, education and family.
It doesn't have a lot of depth though but it has a pretty good romance going on in there.
Easy going and a fast read

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is an LDS book, but discusses struggles and biases in the church. LDS people have moral temptation. There are members who have tattoos. The characters were flawed, but in a great way. I love this author and loved this book!

[Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Modern Fairytale

I love this story from beginning the characters pull you in and make you fall in love with them or make think how mean they are. But in the end you will love them all.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was nicely timed. Kindergarten is kicking us over here and I really needed something light and happy. Bonus points for it being a BYU Romance. There needs to be more of those. (Like fictional story romances. There are plenty real BYU romances.)

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A great LDS romance - loved the BYU setting! I liked the fact that it was "almost" Cinderella - a slight nod to the story but not really a modern retelling. Avery and Aaron were both real characters with real - although different - struggles. I stayed up way too late to finish it!

[Mary Ann Bulloch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was only okay too me. Coming off of an awesome LDS romance, I wanted another one and this one didn't quite do it for me. I liked the message of looking past someone's past and not judging but it just want a favorite.

[Cami · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good

I enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to reading more from this author. She had a way of telling this sweet love story without too many hormone-inducing descriptions, which I was grateful for.

[Chantele Sedgwick]

Super cute and fun! Loved both main characters and how their friendship gradually became more and more as the book went on.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! The realness of everyday life is shown in this book. I loved Avery!

[Cici · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light relevant romance.

The romance of the seemingly charmed prince and the down on her luck Cinderella. The characters are well defined. Clean good romance.

[Kaitlin Lowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

Clean, original, and gripping! I loved the characters from the start and throughout the book my love for them grew. This book is definitely worth your time and money!

[Mary Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my favorite read....

[Valerie Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. This book was cute. I liked Aaron a lot. I love reading the college scene. It's fun. I loved how Aaron treated her. He was such a good guy.

[Michael Burhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, and cute little romance story, pretty much exactly what you'd expect from the title, but done so well you cannot help but be charmed.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute fast read. LDS or not this sweet romance is refreshingly clean while bring contemporary. Just because the primary characters choose to be virtuous doesn't mean its easy, just worth it.

[Jamie Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story!