Cinderella's Secret Diary (Book 1: Lost) [Kindle Edition]

Ron Vitale (Author)

Book Description

What happened to Cinderella after she married the Prince? Set in the late 1700s as Napoleon is rising to power, Cinderella embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to come to terms with her failed marriage and her inability to have a child. Torn between the Queen's insistence that she try all means necessary to conceive and her own desires, she agrees to travel to Paris to consult with a witch to help her become pregnant. Her journey leads her to find her long lost Fairy Godmother and aids her to solve the mystery behind her mother's death. Yet the Fey Lord, the Silver Fox, also takes notice in her and her world is suddenly turned upside down...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Book reviewer Jess Olsen Faulkingham: "The intrigue in this story pulled me in and wouldn't let go."

Book reviewer Tania Collins: "Written in a rich, beautiful style, so as not to take away from the original story, Cinderella's secret diary is definitely worth a read as well as a re-read."

About the Author

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ron Vitale was influenced by the likes of Tolkien, Stephenie Meyer and French culture, but has never forgotten his roots, proud to be able to correctly order a cheese steak at Pat's steaks.

During his early 20s, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and French and then went on to obtain his Master of Arts in English, at Villanova University. After graduation, Ron entered the world of medical publishing, utilizing his editing and technological skills. In October 2007, Ron published his science fiction short story collection The Jovian Gate Chronicles that answers the question: What happens when humans cross paths with intelligent aliens who claim to be prophets from God? In the fall of 2008, he released his fantasy novel Dorothea's Song, a tale of a young high school student who copes with his parents' divorcing by dreaming up the story of Dorothea, an elf who lives in the magical forest.

Currently, he is keeping himself busy, penning articles on social media and writing, and on learning how to be a good father to his kids all while working on his next novel.

Product Details

• File Size: 612 KB
• Print Length: 197 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615530443
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005IHDX18
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,075 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Creepy, original imagining of the Cinderella myth August 24, 2011

By Kcpeyton

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Secret Diaries of Cinderella: Book One, Lost, is an original, heartfelt imagining of what life was like for Cinderella after the prince saved her from her evil stepmother and stepsisters. No longer a "cinder girl," Cinderella finds herself in a not-so-elevated position when, after 4 years of marriage, she has failed to conceive an heir for the royal family. Increasingly sensing that something in her life is not right, Cinderella begins a diary, and thus ensues a journey of painful, and often treacherous, self-discovery.

Like the old fairytales, before modern-day softening, much of what Cinderella experiences on her quest is not necessarily good or happy: a kind yet passive father, a mother whose past is cloaked in darkness and eerie entanglements, a witch who seems most concerned with wielding the power and magic of her old religion, and a fox, whose gradually revealed true nature manifests as a disturbing and terrifying testament of how deeply twisted true love can become.

Cinderella is appropriate for a young adult fantasy fiction audience and more than substantial enough for an adult readership. It may be especially inspiring for young female readers, for its support of female independence, imagination, and fortitude.

Readers of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, The Gemma Doyle Trilogy, and The Dead Father's Club may find this book particularly enjoyable.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Surprisingly Enjoyable Read March 30, 2012

By Elpwen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I chose the title of this review, not because I was surprised that I liked the book, but more because I came upon it, really, by chance. Regardless, as many of the other reviewers have already given a little "back-story" to this work, I mainly wanted to focus on the fact that what I enjoyed most about it were not just the surprising twists and turns that take you far from where you thought you were going, but also the way that the message you think you're ultimately receiving, ends up not being the message at all.

While I think it's important to never discount the miracle of "true love" (I am, after all, a die-hard romantic), I love that this work points out that self-love must exist prior to the success of any other type of love we may pursue, whether romantic or familial. To many, this may seem an obvious message, but considering the demographic for this book, I think it's still an important one.

At the risk of repeating others, this is not a "sweetness and light" Cinderella story; it is dark and permeating, but the reader comes out the other side having had a very unexpected adventure, which, frankly, is what I think reading is all about. Give it a try...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Made the Grade: Cinderella's Secret Diary (Book 1: Lost) by Ron Vitale November 7, 2011

By Jess @ From Me to You ... Book Reviews

Format:Kindle Edition

3 out of 5 stars, this story/diary sets Cinderella in a mix of the "real world" for that time-period (the 1700's) and fantasy (as she has fey after her). It's truly a well-written story and if you like reading in a historical diary format with a little bit of magic in it then this is the book for you!!

The only real reason that I gave this book 3 stars is because this book wasn't for me. I choose to read it because of the fairytale aspect of it but I'm so use to reading books from multiple points-of-view that this book wasn't as interesting to me as it should have been.

However, I will freely admit the reason I finished reading this story is because of how the plot laid out, as once I began reading the story I had to find out what happened to Cinderella. The intrigue in this story pulled me in and wouldn't let go. Therefore, with that being said, if you like the mysterious novels you might enjoy this book because of that reason as well.

Review By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews
(read more of this review and two teasers on my blog)

More About the Author

Ron Vitale was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Influenced by the likes of Tolkien, Margaret Atwood, C. S. Lewis, and Philip Pullman, he began writing at an early age, creating short fiction for his classmates.

In the fall of 2008, he published his fantasy novel Dorothea's Song as an audiobook on Podiobooks and for sale in the Amazon.com Kindle store, and in 2011 he published Lost, the first book in the Cinderella's Secret Diaries series and in 2012 the second book in the series, Stolen, was published.

Currently, he is keeping himself busy by writing his blog, and on learning how to be a good father to his kids all while working on the next Cinderella's Secret Diaries novel.