Saturday Shout-Out: Cinder by Marie Sexton

Cinder by Marie Sexton

Shouting-Out Marie Sexton,

I don’t know why I was so disappointed in this short. I guess I had a high expectation in the reading of it, because the author always delivers quality work.

An M/M spin on the classic fairytale Cinderella, where Cinder is the maid slave boy for his aunt and cousins after the death of his parents. When he meets the prince on a day out fishing, they instantly strike up a friendship and Cinder starts to fall in love. Downside, the prince has to find himself a wife by his birthday or lose his title and inheritance.

With the help of an old witch, Cinder is transformed into a woman, and sets out to see his prince for the last time. The set up is very close to the original fairytale, where Cinder loses a shoe and the prince has to find the owner of the shoe. The owner comes with a few surprises but with Cinder still in the mix.

I liked the story and I found it cute, but I guess I was expecting too much. I think it followed too closely to Cinderella. I would have liked if Cinder had went in there as a dashing male and charmed the pants right off of Xavier. I don’t like that he had to become a woman.

I wanted more humiliation for his aunt and cousins. I am a revenge kind of girl and they didn’t get what they deserved.

I did enjoy the build up friendship between Cinder and Xavier; there was an equality there that I really enjoyed.

So Ms Sexton this shout-out is for you. I liked this little offering but didn’t love it. 

3 Pants Off

Between Sinners and Saints by Marie Sexton

Amber Allure

Novel

Contemporary/Religious

5 out of 5

3.5/5 PL Scale

Blurb:

Levi Binder is a Miami bartender who cares about only two things: sex and surfing. Ostracized by his Mormon family for his homosexuality, Levi is determined to live his life his own way, but everything changes when he meets massage therapist Jaime Marshall.

Jaime is used to being alone. Haunted by the horrors of his past, his only friend is his faithful dog, Dolly. He has no idea how to handle somebody as gorgeous and vibrant as Levi.

Complete opposites on the surface, Levi and Jaime both long for something that they can only find together. Through love and the therapeutic power of touch, they’ll find a way to heal each other, and they’ll learn to live as sinners in a family of saints.

Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book. Marie Sexton is a wonderful author, and I have yet to be disappointed by any of her books. Between Sinners and Saints addresses some deep issues, which the author managed splendidly. Always a hot topic when dealing with homosexuality and religion, as a reader and a human being I have some opinions on it. Something I would rather not tackle at this moment.


What really bothered me in this book, were Levi’s parents. As a mother myself, I found it hard to read how his parents and family treated him. I always tell everyone around me, that there are worse things my sons could be, and being gay is not one of them. It was just somewhat disgusting to read about them in this book. Really irked me!


However, I really loved the book. I loved Jaime and his courage to overcome what was done to him. When a child innocence is taken away from a young age, it’s hard to come back from that. Miss Sexton handled it beautifully; Jaime was believable in all his struggles. Levi though a playboy at the beginning of the book, he grows into a wonderful character.

I recommend this book if you are looking for a deeply satisfying read, about love overcoming all odds. This book is definitely not about sex, it plays a role; yes. However, it’s less important than the overall plot. I enjoyed reading this book so much, and devoured it within a day.

Recommends:

Promises (Coda Books, #1) by Marie Sexton
Dreamspinner Press

6 books in the Series