Cinder & Ella (Cinder & Ella, #1)

by Kelly Oram

It's been almost a year since 18-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she's been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father's home, and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she's capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she's not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who's ever meant anything to her-her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder.

Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There's major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won't make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he's left his wild days behind and become a mature adult.

In order to douse the flames on Brian's bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn't thrilled with the arrangement - or his fake fiancée - but decides he'll suffer through it if it means he'll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.

• ISBN10: 0991457951
• ISBN13: 9780991457953
• Publish Date: 15 August 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Bluefields
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 322
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

I loved this book! I want you to understand that I am quite greedy with my 5-star ratings, but I think I knew from the prologue that this was a 5-star read. When I got the chills and my eyes teared up, I knew I was in for something special.

While I read, I felt Ella's pain, suffering, fear, frustration, happiness and joy. I was devastated for her when things were bad and happy for her when things went well. You cannot help but root for Ella. She is a great combination of a strong, but wounded heroine. She was dealt a tough hand, and she was knocked down (more than once), but she kept getting back up. You had to have some level of admiration for her. She could have become angry and bitter, but when she was on the precipice of giving into those dark emotions, she would take a step back, and reflect and would take her personal growth to the next level. I found her to be such a beautiful spirit.

Then there was Brian. ~~SWOON~~ He really won my heart. I don't want to reveal all the details, but I did find myself sighing and smiling until my cheeks hurt.

This is a story of survival, of love, of acceptance (of all kinds), of friendship and a testament to the human spirit. It may not be super realistic (it is a work of fiction), but I could not put it down and I smiled the whole time I read it. (I still have feels from it)

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

When I saw the title, I figured that this would be a re-telling of the story of Cinderella. Now I am a big fan of all things fairytale, (one of my favorite shows on television is Once Upon a Time) especially modern day fairy tales with a twist. I don’t generally rely on reviews to determine if I should read a book, but seeing that this author is fairly new to me I changed my modus operandi. The reviews I read indicated that this was a good read so I took the plunge and I was glad I did.
This is a beautiful story of love, acceptance and healing. Be prepared to be taken on an emotional roller coaster ride that will likely stay with you for few a days. It’s funny and entertaining. It had me LOL, smiling, crying and angry. I was especially angered when Ella’s stepsister treated her like a pariah. The tears were as a result of the degradation she suffered at the hands of her peers.
What I loved most about this book is the interaction between Cinder aka Brian Oliver and Ella. Their banter was fun. The fact that they never met added to the mystery of their relationship. Here are two persons who have been communicating by internet and IM for three years and were able to develop a friendship that would prove to be as enduring as time. This friendship grew into love that would be life changing for both Cinder and Ella.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful read. The characters, the plot and the writing were delightful. Cinder and Ella provides die-hearted readers like me with the perfect tools to escape reality, even if it’s just a temporary fix. If you love the concept of happily ever after and that of being swept off your feet by prince charming, then Cinder and Ella would the perfect read for you.
NB: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[e_rodz_leb]

I LOVED Cinder & Ella and I thank the awesome Bieke from Istyria Book Blog for reviewing this book and introducing me to Oram and her incredible writing (you can see her review here.)  As you can probably tell I adored this story.

I fell in love with these characters.  Ella is of Hispanic descendance (her mom was Chilean) and she went through a horrible accident and even worse recovery.  Her life is full of pain, disappointment, despair, constant therapy and doctor’s appointments, and to top it all she needs to move to a new place with people she doesn’t know.  She’s fun, smart, pretty, geeky, a fantasy hard-core fan, and a book blogger!  She was a bit whiney, but she had the right to be, and she was also very strong.

“I sat in my chair, staring at the e-mail while the room spun around me.  Ella was alive. Ella had e-mailed me. And she missed me. It was almost too miraculous to believe.”

Cinder - is handsome, brilliant, closet geek, upcoming actor Brian Oliver – user name.  He found Ella through her blog and became best friends through their love of books and movies.  They fell in love with each other in a platonic sort of way.  Cinder was devastated when Ella disappeared out if his life and he feared she was dead (she almost was.)

The banter between these two!  Their conversations and even their thoughts are gems to be treasured.  I loved their relationship and specially the way that Cinder always made her a priority, even when he as pressured by others to do things he didn’t want to do.  This sort of devotion, in spite of all the odds, is just so sweet and touching.

“Ella: You wouldn’t know normal if it bit you on your ridiculously good-looking face

Cinder: You’re never seen my face. How do you know it’s good-looking?

Ella: Because no ugly person could have an ego as big as you.”

Julliette, the good twin (as opposed to the evil twin) turned out to be a great friend and ally.  She introduced Vivian to Ella and they bonded instantly.  Not only that, but Vivian’s dad sort of “adopted” her and supported her emotionally.  Rob is interested in Ella and also becomes a good friend when he realizes that her heart belongs to another.   Anastasia (the evil twin) and Kaylee were awful typical bi**** (pardon my French.)

Don’t get me started on Ellla’s dad! Why is it that common for men to remarry and forget about their children from the previous marriage?  He sold Ella’s books, I felt faint at the very though! He and his new family were quite oblivious to Ella and her emotional turmoil.  I don’t think that most of the time they were cruel on purpose (well, except Anastasia, she was horrible), but rather lacked understanding, empathy and common sense.  Most of them redeemed themselves by the end, but I think they needed to work a lot more on becoming, if not a family, friends.

“Cinder? I wanted to kick myself for how small my voice sounded.

“Ellamara! That is you. My beautiful and wise mystic priestess of the Realm, we speak at last.”

“Holy crap, your voice is sexy!”

The writing is awesome.  As I said, the dialogue is a gem. This is not a fluffy romance, it deals with a lot of issues, such as abandonment, suicide, gay marriage, divorce, and abuse.  It is intense and at moments heartbreaking. But it’s SO good.

Overall, Cinder & Ella is a must read for all lovers of contemporary romance. Trust me on this, you won’t regret it.  

About the cover: I’m not a fan of the cover.  It is too literal and it doesn’t do this awesome book any justice.This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC

[lizarodz]

I LOVED Cinder & Ella and I thank the awesome Bieke from Istyria Book Blog for reviewing this book and introducing me to Oram and her incredible writing (you can see her review here.)  As you can probably tell I adored this story.

I fell in love with these characters.  Ella is of Hispanic descendance (her mom was Chilean) and she went through a horrible accident and even worse recovery.  Her life is full of pain, disappointment, despair, constant therapy and doctor’s appointments, and to top it all she needs to move to a new place with people she doesn’t know.  She’s fun, smart, pretty, geeky, a fantasy hard-core fan, and a book blogger!  She was a bit whiney, but she had the right to be, and she was also very strong.

“I sat in my chair, staring at the e-mail while the room spun around me.  Ella was alive. Ella had e-mailed me. And she missed me. It was almost too miraculous to believe.”

Cinder - is handsome, brilliant, closet geek, upcoming actor Brian Oliver – user name.  He found Ella through her blog and became best friends through their love of books and movies.  They fell in love with each other in a platonic sort of way.  Cinder was devastated when Ella disappeared out if his life and he feared she was dead (she almost was.)

The banter between these two!  Their conversations and even their thoughts are gems to be treasured.  I loved their relationship and specially the way that Cinder always made her a priority, even when he as pressured by others to do things he didn’t want to do.  This sort of devotion, in spite of all the odds, is just so sweet and touching.

“Ella: You wouldn’t know normal if it bit you on your ridiculously good-looking face

Cinder: You’re never seen my face. How do you know it’s good-looking?

Ella: Because no ugly person could have an ego as big as you.”

Julliette, the good twin (as opposed to the evil twin) turned out to be a great friend and ally.  She introduced Vivian to Ella and they bonded instantly.  Not only that, but Vivian’s dad sort of “adopted” her and supported her emotionally.  Rob is interested in Ella and also becomes a good friend when he realizes that her heart belongs to another.   Anastasia (the evil twin) and Kaylee were awful typical bi**** (pardon my French.)

Don’t get me started on Ellla’s dad! Why is it that common for men to remarry and forget about their children from the previous marriage?  He sold Ella’s books, I felt faint at the very though! He and his new family were quite oblivious to Ella and her emotional turmoil.  I don’t think that most of the time they were cruel on purpose (well, except Anastasia, she was horrible), but rather lacked understanding, empathy and common sense.  Most of them redeemed themselves by the end, but I think they needed to work a lot more on becoming, if not a family, friends.

“Cinder? I wanted to kick myself for how small my voice sounded.

“Ellamara! That is you. My beautiful and wise mystic priestess of the Realm, we speak at last.”

“Holy crap, your voice is sexy!”

The writing is awesome.  As I said, the dialogue is a gem. This is not a fluffy romance, it deals with a lot of issues, such as abandonment, suicide, gay marriage, divorce, and abuse.  It is intense and at moments heartbreaking. But it’s SO good.

Overall, Cinder & Ella is a must read for all lovers of contemporary romance. Trust me on this, you won’t regret it.  

About the cover: I’m not a fan of the cover.  It is too literal and it doesn’t do this awesome book any justice.This review was originally posted on Reading With ABC

[nitzan_schwarz]

KELLY ORAM WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!?
God dammit, I want more. Show me their cute adorable babiessssssss my babies need babies!
And Jules, and Vivian AND Rob need their own stories, respectively.
This was perfect. I can't even.

[ellieroth]

4.5

Tiene una cuantas cositas que criticar pero es Kelly Oram, es una de las pocas escritoras que en realidad puede meterme en una historia romántica.

Tengo una sonrisota en este momento, kelly paga mis cremas para las arrugas!
Reseña más coherente pronto

Reseña más coherente (supuestamente) [También en: El Extraño Gato del Cuento]:

No es un hecho desconocido mi gran admiración por Kelly Oram, sus libros siempre son divertidos y hasta relajantes. Mis ganas con este libro eran demasiadas, cuando me llegó el mail con el eARC, I JUST CAN'T. Dejé todo por leer un nuevo libro de mi ya favorita Kelly Oram. Mi amor anticipado no solo era porque la protagonista tenga el mismo nombre que yo, aunque no negaré que las bromas que Kelly hizo en un mail reciente sobre mi nombre, fueron DEMASIADO para mi pobre corazón. Mi otra razón para leer el libro es también algo muy personal, no les voy a decir... por ahora xD

Mi nombre aparece en un libro ♫♫ Pero no solo por eso me gustó!

El libro fue lo que esperé, me lo devoré en cuestión de muy pocas horas. No sé si te pasa pero cuando uno de mis escritores favoritos publicará un nuevo libro, el miedo y la anticipación compiten por ganarse mi sistema nervioso porque ¿qué tal si no me gusta? ¿qué tal si no es tan bueno como el anterior? Sobre todo porque la discapacidad, como mencioné en otra reseña, no es un tema que se tome mucho en los libros juveniles. Hay poquísimos. Me ha gustado mucho la introducción de Ella (no yo xD ok ._,) al libro, juega mucho con los cuentos populares, burlándose un poco, por ejemplo el que las protagonistas de cuentos antes de tener su final feliz tienen que pasar casi un infierno y, como bien dice ella, en teoría es genial, excepto si tú eres la que pasa el infierno. Para mí Ella, más allá del nombre, me fue muy familiar, facilísimo de conectar con ella. Hay muchas cosas en el libro que me hicieron pensar "creo que Kelly está escribiendo mi biografía" (lástima que yo todavía no haya llegado al Happily Ever After, así que entenderán...)

¿No aman cuando las escritoras hacen crossover en sus propios libros?

Fue una completa sorpresa y algo que es la primera vez noto, al menos en un libro de Kelly, que mencione personajes de otro de sus libros. Cuando leí quién aparecía o quién era quién en otro de sus libros, tuve que parar de leer para proceder con el fangirleo necesario. Créanme, era necesario. PISTA: uno es cantante. YA, no digo más, son solo menciones, así que no crean cameos ni nada... ¿o sí?

Nuestra protagonista es latina!

Y aquí viene me crítica, aplaudo mucho a Kelly sobre está parte de la historia, sobre todo porque no es la típica latina, al menos al inicio. ¿Qué quiero decir con esto? Es que la autora va un poco más allá de sus fronteras y se viene hasta sudamérica. Lo cuál es mega genial, casi no hay protagonista latinas de este lado de la gran América pero (tenía que haber un pero) lamentablemente mezcló muchas cosas de los latinos, combinó algunas cosas de México con cosas de Chile, al final utilizó los mismo recursos que otros escritores utilizan con los latinos. Quizá me esté equivocando, lo cuál es muy seguro.

Me gustó demasiado la historia, el romance es parte muy importante del libro, sólo que para mí fue más Ella y su recuperación y todas las cosas que pasan, como les dije, ella y yo no solo tenemos el nombre en común, sino otras muchísimas cosas.

Es una historia para cosplayers :D Además terminé confundida ._. Ella es bloggera. No hablo de mí, DE LA PROTAGONISTA!

Quizá xD No solo para cosplayers, obviamente, lo que pasa es que es un libro que habla mucho sobre libros, sagas, eventos literarios, firma de autógrafos y obviamente cosplay (algo que siempre SIEMPRE he querido hacer). Y sí, es bloggera, ¿entienden la confusión? ¿Estás hablando de mí de verdad, Kelly???

Miren, lo voy a poner así: Hay un montón de cosas que hablar sobre el libro, podría hacer este post mucho más largo, hay un montón de cosas que no les he mencionado, personajes que me han encantado pero quiero ustedes descubran. Te habrás dado cuenta que para mí éste ha sido un libro muy especial. Tiene algunas cositas que quizá no me convencieron del todo, Brian como personaje no me gustó tanto como había esperado, terminé encariñada y más interesada en Ella.


Antes de leerlo:

(show spoiler)["Cinder & Ella" Un libro de Kelly con mi nombre.



UN.
LIBRO.
DE.
KELLY.
CON.
MI.
NOMBRE.



Y será genial porque es escrito por ella, y será divertido y romántico pero no cursi y habrá todo. *-* Y... Y *-*



Nuevo libro de Kelly.

] (hide spoiler)