Jordan C C itibaren Jathlana, Haryana 135133, Intia itibaren Jathlana, Haryana 135133, Intia

I picked up this novel at a Book and Author dinner for the local Literacy Council. He is an engineer from India who settled in the Houston suburbs, just like the hero of his story. The book is easy reading and not very artful, but I liked the author's sincere affection for Texas and Houston.

I give this two stars because the pictures were okay and the writing was decent, but I absolutely hated the story!!! It enhances the petty aspects of the Cinderella story and does nothing to enrich the good parts. The father pretty much says that ALL stepmothers will be jealous of their stepchildren (that is, it isn't just one jerky woman's issue with Cinderella!) Moreover, the romance was pathetic and revolting--the "prince" figure finds "Cinderella's" sandal where she dropped it by the bridge the night before (they had not met prior to this, mind you--she had been at a women's only party prior to a townswoman's wedding) He thinks the sandal is so dainty and beautiful that he simply must find the woman to whom it belongs and then he goes to his mother and says he wants her to find that woman to be his bride. Um, wow. I know fairytales can be "superficial" but at least in the regular telling Cinderella and the Prince do MEET and we can hope it's a true love-at-first-sight connection. That any marriage should be founded based on the looks of a SHOE...!!! My feminist views and my romantic ideals were both offended by this tale.