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Rating: 
Summary: a charming fairy tale-like romance
Review: "When the Slipper Fits" finishes the fairy-tale trilogy by Lynn Collum that centers on three very good friends Sara, Ella and Rosamund. "When the Slipper Fits" is Ella's story and is, as the title suggests, modeled on the fairy tale CINDERELLA. And of the three ("Miss Whiting and the Seven Wards" & "A Kiss At Midnight" being the other two books in the trilogy), I actually liked this one best. (Which of course totally messes up my previous ratings of the other two books in the series, but then that's life.)Gabriel Crowe, the Earl of Shalford, has unintentionally put himself in an untenable position. In order to save his younger brother, Daniel, from their father's wrath, Gabriel has taken the blame for Daniel's latest scrape. The last thing that Gabriel expected, however, was for their furious father to decree that Gabriel must find a suitable bride (of wealth and acceptable connections) within a month and in the country. Gabriel is appalled but has little choice but to comply. Once in the country, however, Gabriel meets Ella Sanderson, whom he first mistakes for a maid, and is immediately drawn to this beautiful, intelligent and kind young lady. Unfortunately Ella doesn't meet his parents' standards as a suitable wife -- she's a poor relation in spite of the fact that she's a viscount's daughter. On top of it all, Gabriel's mother has made up her mind as to whom Gabriel should marry and is hell bent on pushing the match down his throat! What will Gabriel do? Give up the young lady who has stolen his heart? Or stand his ground and face his parents' anger? What made this novel really memorable was the slightly complex family relationship that Gabriel and his siblings had with their parents. Lynn Collum does a wonderful job here of developing that theme. She also does a really good job with 'fleshing ' out the different characters in the book -- esp those of Ella and Gabriel. As with the other two books however, the romance that developed between Ella and Gabriel was a little sketchy. You know that they're both attracted to each to each other, but the developing romance was, I felt, a little sketchy. However, the authour does maintain that fairy tale-like air splendidly, and I found this book to be a rather charming and pleasing one, so that I'm going to vote it as a book to be read if you're looking for something lighthearted to enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: A delightful end to the Fairytale Trilogy
Review: A charming rendition of the Cinderella story by an author who is quickly becoming my favorite. I recommend you read the other two stories of Sarah and Lady Rose.
Rating:
Summary: Cinderella as a Regency!
Review: Luella Sanderson (called "Ella" by her friends) is the heroine of this near-perfect Cinderella tale. After parting with her close school friends, she is sent to live with unpleasant relatives. Her aunt (who is as wicked as any evil stepmother) tells her she must earn her keep. She must rise at 6 o'clock each morning and work as Mr. Banks' personal assistant. (Mr. Banks is her aunt's brother). After taking the fall for his troublesome brother, Gabriel Crowe, Earl of Shalford, is sent to Surrey by his father. While he is there, he has a month to chose a respectable, weathly country bride. She must be a diamond of the first water, for his parents would accept nothing less. And Gabriel has agreed to follow the wishes of his parents & Society. ...So why does he feel drawn to Ella, the penniless viscount's daughter? There is SO much to be enjoyed in this book. There's a misunderstanding between Ella and Gabriel's mother, who hires the girl to be the cook at her garden party. There are flights in Mr. Banks' hot air balloons. (I perceive Mr. Banks to be Ella's fairy godmother). There is one snotty cousin, and one very daft cousin. There are geese. There are slippers sliding off of Luella's tiny feet. All in all, the book is 222 pages of pure delight! In the end, love conquers all! Break open & enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Cinderella as a Regency!
Review: Luella Sanderson (called "Ella" by her friends) is the heroine of this near-perfect Cinderella tale. After parting with her close school friends, she is sent to live with unpleasant relatives. Her aunt (who is as wicked as any evil stepmother) tells her she must earn her keep. She must rise at 6 o'clock each morning and work as Mr. Banks' personal assistant. (Mr. Banks is her aunt's brother). After taking the fall for his troublesome brother, Gabriel Crowe, Earl of Shalford, is sent to Surrey by his father. While he is there, he has a month to chose a respectable, weathly country bride. She must be a diamond of the first water, for his parents would accept nothing less. And Gabriel has agreed to follow the wishes of his parents & Society. ...So why does he feel drawn to Ella, the penniless viscount's daughter? There is SO much to be enjoyed in this book. There's a misunderstanding between Ella and Gabriel's mother, who hires the girl to be the cook at her garden party. There are flights in Mr. Banks' hot air balloons. (I perceive Mr. Banks to be Ella's fairy godmother). There is one snotty cousin, and one very daft cousin. There are geese. There are slippers sliding off of Luella's tiny feet. All in all, the book is 222 pages of pure delight! In the end, love conquers all! Break open & enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Cinderella in a Hot Air Balloon?
Review: Luella Sanderson, upon the close of the lady's academy that has been her home for the past several years, must leave her dearest friends and journey to her aunt's home in Surrey. Ella, left penniless by her parents' untimely deaths, is forced to depend on her aunt by marriage's goodwill. She sees immediately that she will not be the beloved niece fallen on hard times, but the unpaid servant of her mercenary aunt and spoiled cousins. Ella is forced to act as the housekeeper and cook for her aunt's brother, Mr. Banks, who lives in a cottage on his sister's estate. She is frightened by her cousins' story of a crazy uncle, only to find he is a dear elderly scientist who spends all his time working on a hot air balloon. He treats Ella with kindness and they become like father and daughter. Ella is actually happy in her new situation. Then HE arrives... The Earl of Shalford has been sent to Surrey by his father to find a wife. Gabe got into the whole mess by taking the blame for his younger brother's latest scandal, saving Daniel from being sent to the family holdings in Calcutta, but forcing Gabe to lose his freedom to the parson's noose. Now the neighborhood is in a flurry. Matchmaking mamas are biting at the bit and marriageable ladies are popping out of the woodwork. Perhaps that is why Gabe and Daniel were so relieved to find a distraction in their interesting neighbor Mr. Banks and his hot air balloon. And why Gabe has taken an interest in the only young lady in Surrey who has not thrown herself at his head...a little maid named Ella...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read! I loved it.
Review: Miss Luella "Ella" Sanderson, daughter of the late Viscount Sanders, was a poor relation. When school was over, Ella was sent to reside with her aunt, Mrs. Leona Newton. Mrs. Newton made sure Ella knew she was not worth more than a servant. Mrs. Newton only cared about her own daughters, Iris and Daisy, making a good match. Ella was to get up before dawn each day and travel to "Uncle Addison's" residence to work for him. Gabriel "Gabe" Crowe, Earl of Shalford, had no choice but to comply with his father's edict. Gabe had one month to find a country-bred bride of suitable wealth and position. Gabe had no interest in any of the ladies that were thrown in his path. However, there was one spirited beauty that had stolen his heart, Ella. Yet the lady ran away anytime his mother came near. **** Author Lynn Collum place this Regency Romance in a country setting and made it interesting by adding the hobby/art of ballooning into it! I have read very few romances with ballooning in them, but have enjoyed every one immensely. This one is no exception! The heroine, Ella, is not a weeping leading lady either. She is very spirited and has a level head on her shoulders. Thank goodness, since I detest wimpy ladies. Excellent story that only loosely resembles the fairy tale of Cinderella!
Rating:
Summary: Fairytale Delight
Review: The fairytale has long been the premise for romance writers and Miss Collum has used the Cinderella tale here creating a wonderfully origin take on the story. This is a delightful end to a trilogy of fairytales by this author who is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine.
Rating: 
Summary: Slight - but prettily charming
Review: The third and final of Collum's 'fairytale' Regencies is based upon Cinderella.
Ella (Luella from where the name comes is excruciatingly irritating as a name for an English young lady!)Sanderson is a poor orphan forced into servitude by her most uncharming Aunt. Fortunately her 'service' is not to her and her cardboard daughters, but the aunt's brother Addison Banks, a typical absent-minded scientific gentleman with a balloon.
Her prince is Gabriel Crowe, sent down into the depths of the country to find a bride on the express orders of his irate father. Here, his mother madly (and rather unbelievably) informs the whole county of this intention, so that every mother and daughter are in hot pursuit.
Naturally the pair meet through circumstance and Ella is mistaken for a servant by her dreadful appearance.
There is much fun had from her small feet in quest of a pair of shoes that actually fit.
The ball becomes a garden party and Ella never actually is the cynosure of all eyes in dancing with her 'prince'. They merely sigh in a secluded corner of the garden.
The evil aunt, the unfeeling mother, the eccentric uncle, the feckless brother of Gabriel etc. all combine in a climax where hero and heroine accidentally fly off in a runaway balloon.
This was a pleasant, charming, very light tale. Ella and Gabriel are well done, but their supporting cast are mostly far too lightly sketched in, as are some of the situations that move the story forward. The mother, aunt and daughters are especially weak. The secondary thread involving Gabriel's brother's romance is unbelievable and irritating. The finale - the timely inheritance to make all right - is also just too pat.
Definitely not memorable. However, this was an entertaining read for an idle few hours.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting; fairy tale come to life in a Regency!
Review: This is a very different kind of Regency. Not just the fact it is "fairy-tale" based but the characters are different and interesting. I really enjoyed Gabriel Crowe, Earl of Shalford. He is twenty-six and in trying to deflect his father's anger from his younger brother Daniel, his autocratic father declares that Daniel and Gabriel are banished to the country estate and Gabriel must marry within the month. His father would cut off his funds if the marriage did not occur. Off to Surrey they go with Gabriel's mother doing her best to find a suitable bride. Luella (Ella) Sanderson, an orphan (of course!) has just arrived at her Aunt's home in Surrey. Her aunt, being a nasty woman, has decreed that Ella will earn her keep by taking care of the aunt's "crazy" brother during the day at his nearby cottage. The crazy brother turns out to be a delightful but eccentric scientist who insists that Ella call him Uncle Addison. He works with hot air balloons and Ella assists him, his dog and an aging valet in their daily routines. Gabriel and Ella meet up when Daniel and he spot Uncle Addison's hot air balloon and check it out. There are several misunderstandings to resolve since Ella has been mistaken as a servant! Even the dragon "Lady Latimer," Gabriel's mother thinks she is a cook and hires her to prepare pastries for an elaborate picnic luncheon. The party is being thrown for Gabriel to select a bride. (Of course, Lady Latimer already has selected for him but that plan goes awry). There are many adventures in this book - a lovely party (the ball), a beautiful dress from Uncle Addison (fairy godmother), mean cousins and aunt (evil stepmother and daughters) and an unexpected ride in a hot air balloon (coach and four?). Being a Cinderella story, there are many instances of lost, ill fitting shoes scattered in the storyline which comes to a delightful conclusion when Gabriel sends Ella some that are just the right size! There are many hurdles to overcome before the happily ever after, especially when Gabriel thinks Ella has run off and married Uncle Addison! I loved the variety of people we meet in this adventure. I have only touched on a very few and not very well. Even Gabriel's father comes around a bit and is not so tyrannical in the end. This is a warm delightful tale and the last of a trilogy about three young women who were school friends. This book stands alone just fine since I have not read the other two (yet!). They each mimic a fairy tale too and hopefully will be as much fun as this one!
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