Cinderella's Rebellion
July 2005
Ellora's Cave
ISBN-10: 1-4199-0283-0
Cinderella escapes from her fairy tale, determined to lose her virginity with a handsome man in the mortal world! But Derek, king of the book realm of IsBn, vows to hunt her down. Her rebellion has stirred up other fictional characters. Derek decides he will seduce Cinderella and send her back to the story, restoring order once more.
Cinderella loathes the idea of scrubbing the castle floors and marrying a nancy boy prince. She'd much rather own
a condominium, shop at Neiman Marcus, and be an electrician. But when she meets Derek reading a book by the condo's hot tub, she falls head over glass slipper heels.
Once he sets eyes upon the lovely cinder wench, Derek is
lost in a haze of wild, uncontrollable desire. When the
queen of the ash heap makes love with the king of all
fiction, their passion turns into a raging inferno that
threatens to scorch the very pages of the book world.
"Valentine's erotic story is definitely not your mother's fairy tale. The sexual scenes between Derek and Cyn are tender as well as scorching, and there are many humorous scenes, such as when Derek shape-shifts into a German shepherd and finds that he is in danger of being neutered!" —Faith V. Smith, RT BookClub
"I really loved reading CINDERELLA'S REBELLION. I laughed out loud while reading and couldn’t put the story down. Ms. Valentine’s re-imagining of Cinderella as a 21st century working woman was truly inspired. She wrote Cinderella's character in a way that made me sympathize with her and her plight. Cinderella’s introduction to the amorous arts was skillfully done. Derek was a gentle lover and the love scenes between them were erotic, passionate and extremely arousing. Readers who enjoy the retelling of fairy tales with an adult spin will love CINDERELLA'S REBELLION." —Tanya, Fallen Angel Reviews
"This is a warm, witty, fun book to read. Ms. Valentine has written a book that gives thought as to what would happen to the characters in our fantasy world if they jumped from the pages of the book. This is a class A book. Definitely a keeper. It made me laugh out loud on a number of occasions." —Cherokee, CoffeeTime Romance
"This is a laugh-out-loud until you can’t breathe anymore kind of book! Derek and Cinderella have a blatant chemistry that will keep you engrossed right from the start. Not only are they both beautiful and sexy, but they’re also witty. Enjoy this clever, fun twist on the traditional fairy tale." —Trang Black, Just Erotic Romance Reviews
"CINDERELLA'S REBELLION is a fun, fantastic romp through the wonderful world of storybook characters we have heard all our lives. Ms. Valentine shows a great deal of ingenuity with Derek and Cinderella’s story. The secondary characters are hysterical to read and the story gives you some insight into the fun world of publishing as well. The sex is hot between Derek and Cinderella and also very emotionally touching. CINDERELLA'S REBELLION is one story you should not miss."
—Julie Esparza, Just Erotic Romance Reviews
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His gaze seared into her like living fire. She found herself melting a little under his intense scrutiny. “You’re very charming. Do you always have such a cheerful outlook on life?”
Cyn found herself yearning to get closer to this intriguing man. “Of course. Especially now since I’ve met you.”
His brow wrinkled. “Me?”
“The prince of my dreams.”
She gave him a flirtatious smile. He laughed.
“So are you here for the Season? Or are you a permanent resident?” she asked.
“I’m visiting. There’s someone I’m here to see to try to convince her to move back home. She ran away.”
“Oh, really? Does her family miss her terribly?”
“Yes, they do,” Derek said.
“Why did she leave? Was she ill-treated?”
“Perhaps a little,” he admitted. “But not by the people who really cared about her. She was set to marry a very, very wealthy man of great importance who was in love with her.”
“Sounds like a fairy tale.”
“Yes, it does,” he agreed.
“You know, sometimes what appears to be wonderful on the surface isn’t so great after all. It’s really just an illusion that looks nice on paper,” she said slowly, regarding him with those sapphire blue eyes.
Silence draped between them.
Her words jolted him with a ring of truth. Maybe her story was an illusion she needed to flee to find her own identity. Derek felt a distant pang of guilt, remembering another time and place. For a moment, he felt stricken.
“What are you going to do when you find her?” she asked.
“What I must. Bring her back where she belongs.”
She gave a little sniff. Then her voice lowered. He barely heard her over the rush and froth of the bubbling hot tub. “Where you think she belongs.”
Derek’s guilt vanished like smoke. Rebellious wench. She had broken the rules. Ruined the story. The renegade Cinderella would not make him waver in his mission. Books all had their place nicely shelved and catalogued and characters must do as they were written. The end of the story. Period.
She left her cold hearth in search of passion’s fire. He’d show her exactly how dangerous playing with fire could be…
Incinerating. Consuming.
In his arms, she would ignite. And burn until she begged and screamed for him to stop. Or not stop.
Derek focused his smoldering gaze on her.
Oblivious of his intentions, Cinderella turned toward him with a defiant expression.
“I feel sorry for your friend. Maybe she ran away because she wanted to be alone. Maybe she wanted to become her own person instead of what some man expected of her. I bet you think you can catch her, but you can’t,” she challenged.
Derek uncoiled his body and stood, stalking over to her. He hunkered down near her, unsmiling. He was more than six feet of muscled male, overshadowing, but not touching. Intimidating, but not threatening. The predator uncloaking himself to let the prey know.
The hunt had begun.
She had been marked. He could almost taste victory in his salivating mouth. You’re mine, sweetheart.
The confident smile fled her lips.
“Oh you’re quite wrong,” he said softly. “She expressly stated she does not want to be alone. I will catch her. And when I find her, she’s going to pay for being such a naughty girl.”
“What are you going to do with her?” she whispered.
A slow smile filled with promise curved his lips. “Everything she’s asked for. And much more. Much more.”
The cinder wench gave him a startled look, but mingling with apprehension was something else.
Arousal.
Derek hid a smile of pure male satisfaction. Good. The first goal, the prologue and introduction, accomplished.
Now for the next chapter. Touch. He’d accustom her to his hands. His touch, and his touch alone.
Derek picked up the abandoned bottle of suntan lotion. He envisioned ripping the pink bikini off. Stretching her lovely, pale body out on the deck, caressing her slowly with the lotion, claiming every inch of her creamy skin. Initiating and preparing her for what was to come…the ultimate possession of her body by his…
