Cinderella's Dress (Fairy-Tale Inheritance, #1)

by Shonna Slayton

[Kim Deister]

When I received Cinderella's Dress, I imagined a fairy tale, WWII-style. I assumed that the protagonist Kate was going to be a more modern-day Cinderella. The blurb for it called Kate "the next keeper of the dress" but I guess I thought that was another way of creating a new kind of Cinderella in Kate. This was not the case.

I've ended up with mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the story, enjoyed the characters, but I ended it feeling as if there was still so much I didn't know. The details of the era were there, however, and I truly appreciated that. There was a mention of Dior and the New Look, which I loved since I took a history class a few years ago on fashion and US History. Much of this book talked about fashion and clothes. I also loved Kate's great-aunt and great-uncle, although this is probably entirely a personal thing. I was a Polish linguist in the Army so I loved the interspersed Polish phrases and culture.

Honestly, I think the only true issue I had with this book was the vagueness that seemed to exist around the dresses. I wanted to know more about what their importance was, why Kate's family had been entrusted with them, the slippers, the purpose of Kate's necklace. I also think that I went into the book with a more fantasy, fairy tale mindset. And this book was really more historical fiction/romance with a fantasy element. It is a book that I am going to reread at some point with a more focused mindset, because I think it really has the potential to be great.

Things to love...

--Johnny Day. A bit arrogant at times, but truly a good guy who makes a perfect book boyfriend.
--Floyd. Kate's brother has a lot of loyalty and honor.

Things I wanted more/less of...

--More information. I wanted to know more about the dress and the story around them. This, after all, was the focus of the book.

My Recommendation: Read this with a mind more towards historical fiction, rather than fantasy. It's a fun read with an interesting premise. I gave it 3.5 mugs!