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    Cinderella - A Retelling with Strength and Courage: Courageous Heroine Fairy Tales
    Cinderella - A Retelling with Strength and Courage: Courageous Heroine Fairy Tales
    Cinderella - A Retelling with Strength and Courage: Courageous Heroine Fairy Tales
    Ebook103 pages46 minutes

    Cinderella - A Retelling with Strength and Courage: Courageous Heroine Fairy Tales

    By Lisa Shea

    2.5/5

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    About this ebook

    69 pages 

     

    Cinderella made a vow to her mother, before her mother tragically passed away on midwinter's day. Ella swore to watch over her father and care for him. But then her father married anew. Her stepmother and two stepsisters took sharp delight in causing Ella grief from morn to eve. They bullied her, called her Cinderella, and treated her as little more than a slave in her own home. It took all of Ella's courage to swallow the insults and to honor her word.

     

    Now the crown prince has returned home from the battlefront; a ball is announced to celebrate his arrival. All eligible young women from the entire kingdom are invited to attend.

     

    Ella has but one desire left. She wishes to see the king's gardens one last time before she leaves home. It will be a final way to commemorate her beloved mother before counting her vow's terms as complete.

     

    She has no idea what awaits her on that arched stone bridge ...

     

    * * *

     

    Cinderella - A Retelling with Strength and Courage is Book 1 of a gently cliff-hangered short story series. The series honors the original intention of the Grimm Fairy Tales - to present women of strength and courage tackling challenges which seem insurmountable. With each new book a new heroine is interwoven into the story. The series sequence leads through five books up to a happily ever after ending. The series is clean romance and is suitable for teens and up. 

     

    Readers have the option to read each tale one by one or to get the complete set which contains all five tales.

     

    As fairy tales are so integral to so many young lives, it was critical for me to do my very best to present each heroine in a way which honored her strength and showcased her ability to stand on her own. It took me over five years to craft this series. I feel strongly that no woman should ever sit around waiting for a man to "rescue" them. Women should not endure abusive behavior in the hopes that a man will change or magically become a prince.

     

    Be the change you wish to see in the world.

     

    I have a library of over 450 books running the gamut from medieval romance to cozy mystery, from mythology to fairy tale to Biblical retellings. I support battered women's shelters. Feel free to contact me with any questions!
     

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLisa Shea
    Release dateApr 8, 2017
    ISBN9781386003939
    Cinderella - A Retelling with Strength and Courage: Courageous Heroine Fairy Tales
    Author

    Lisa Shea

    I love writing in a variety of genres. I currently have over 300 books published in all lengths from full 500+ page novels down to short stories. I love writing series. Some are with unconnected characters, like the 14 full-length medieval novels with a sword being passed from heroine to heroine. Some have connected characters, like the 31 mini-mysteries featuring a detective in Salem, Massachusetts. All of my books are written "clean" with no explicit intimacy, no harsh language, and no explicit violence. All are suitable for teens and up.For a full listing of my books please visit:http://www.lisashea.com/lisabase/writing/gettingyourbookpublished/lisalibrary.html

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      Book preview

      Cinderella - A Retelling with Strength and Courage - Lisa Shea

      Chapter One

      Ella wiped the sweat from her brow, then delved a sturdy stick into the hot, soapy water to swirl the linen tablecloth. Somehow Birgit had managed to spill red wine all over it – again – and of course her stepmother had blamed Ella for not laying the tablecloth smooth enough. Her own father had merely chewed on his roast pork, refilling his own pewter goblet.

      Ella tucked her honey-blonde hair back into its tight braid and directed her attentions to the stain. She knew if she wasn’t able to get the cloth back to its pure white state that she would go to bed hungry again. And as much as she craved something – anything – other than her gruel supper, it was certainly better than nothing.

      She glanced around the small kitchen. A frigid December wind battered the shutters covering the windows, but the wadding of cloth within kept out most of the chill. Smoky tallow candles in wall-scones lit the room. The heavy work table was pocked and scarred from long hours of chores. A low fire flickered in the stone-lined fireplace. The sound of wolf howled from deeper in the forest.

      For one mad moment she thought about following the call. About abandoning the washing, drawing to her feet, pulling on her boots, and just trekking through the waist-high snow out into the forest. Whatever wolves, bandits, and other threats might wait for her there, surely it could not be worse than this servitude she had endured for the past twelve years.

      But she had promised her mother …

      There were footsteps, and she looked up.

      Birgit waltzed into the room, her dark hair cascading around her face in gorgeous ringlets. Her deep blue dress perfectly showed off her firm curves and slender waist. She wore a golden belt with elegant silver chasing and matching slippers.

      She carried a silver bowl of raspberries in a hand and popped one of the juicy red bundles into her mouth.

      Ella’s mouth went dry. Breakfast had been long hours ago, and her stomach rumbled in pain.

      Birgit barely glanced down at Ella. Are you still working on that tablecloth, you stupid girl? It’s hard to believe we’re the same age, but you barely have the brains of a toddler. Put some effort into it. There’s still the goats to feed and then dinner to make. Father should be back from the market soon and you know how hungry he can get. She chuckled. If he doesn’t pass out drunk first, of course.

      Ella knew better than to respond. She put her head down and scrubbed harder at the stain. It did seem to be fading. Maybe if she tried some of her ash soap instead …

      Birgit stopped above her. You know, I’m sick of raspberries. I can’t eat another bite.

      She took the remaining raspberries and flung them down into the water.

      The water instantly turned deep, blood red.

      Ella bit her lip, fighting off the urge to grab Birgit’s slender wrist and do something which could never be taken back. She dove her hands into the steaming water, grabbing desperately at the floating berries to fling them into the fire. But it was too late. She could see the fabric taking on a darker, richer hue.

      Petra stepped into the room yawning. I couldn’t sleep a wink last night, Cinderella. My mattress is all lumpy again. You didn’t do a good enough job shaking it out. Her hair was a lushly curled as her sister’s, but where Birgit’s was ebony dark, Petra’s was shimmering blonde. Her dress was emerald green and embroidered with twining vines.

      Her eyes went to the red-tinged wash basin and her mouth turned up in a smile. Oh, mother won’t like that at all.

      Birgit’s gaze sparkled. "Come on, Petra. Let’s head into town. I hear that the baker’s boy is working alone this afternoon. I have a feeling we might get a pie each out of a

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