Here’s a light summer romance read, a tale of a Canadian small town lady out of her element. Jessica Winton runs a thriving bookstore which unites her community. When she receives a business proposal from a large firm based in Manhattan, this seems too good to be true. Maybe it is, but even so, she’ll go ahead and try CINDERELLA’S NEW YORK FLING.

The Cinderella retelling occurs because when senior business owner Vivian Ascot attends a festival in Copenhagen, she accidentally lets her little dog loose in a crowd and hurts her ankle. Jessica, Daisy and Aubrey are three strangers who come to her aid. Vivian decides to act as a secret godmother to them. She funds Jessica to visit New York and asks Jamie Gilbert-Cooper to escort her for a few days. He’s got a condo overlooking Central Park and access to the Ascot bookselling firm’s bottomless expense account. This is relevant because Jessica is immediately robbed at the airport and loses everything – ladies, carry your phone, passport and purse on you, not in your bag.

Rather unfortunately, the scenes which follow remind me of the Richard Gere and Julia Roberts film, the one in which the tycoon spends an inordinate amount of money dressing the impecunious heroine and putting her up in a luxurious and impersonal suite. I cannot believe this modern Canadian woman would imagine the fashion house clothes cost the same as her travel insurance was covering. What I do like is the way that the characters’ backgrounds are revealed by conversation through the story, not some immediate infodump.

Imagine yourself on a long weekend in New York, with a few business meetings, and lots to do and see. Well, if that’s a lovely thought for you, this fun romance with lively characters is going to be right up your alley. Of course, all good things come to an end. You’ll have to keep reading to discover how author Cara Colter, from Calgary, ties up the threads once the fairy tale is over. CINDERELLA’S NEW YORK FLING reminds us to get out and keep looking for better. The romance is suitable for any age of reader.

Next in this ‘Fairytale Summer’ miniseries will be Italian Escape with Her Fake Fiance, by Sophie Pembroke, which sounds delightful.