Honky-Tonk Cinderella

This was my first read by this author and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. Although it dragged a little in the middle, it started out as a great story. I had an eye opening experience in her reference to the story in the Bible about the prodigal son (page 120) that being a Christian all my life, had heard several times. And an incredible surprise, that shocked me into tears.

A night of magic brought a stranger and truck-stop waitress Luanne Evans together. He thought he had been careful, but he unknowingly left Luanne pregnant. Without knowing his true identity, Luanne could not contact her baby's father, so she married her "best friend," Jeff Henderson. Jeff raised Luanne's son Chase as his own and pursued a career racing cars. A year and half after the stranger left Luanne behind, he returned to the states to put a racing team together. Luanne's stranger, Prince Alek of Carpathia, was stunned to learn his future driver Jeff had married Luanne and they had a son. Ten years later Jeff dies in a tragic racetrack accident, leaving Luanne seven months pregnant.Chase blames his mother and Alek for his father's death, as grief replaces the child's once sunny disposition. Alek persuades Luanne and Chase to accompany him home to Carpathia for two weeks. After all, the child is heir to his fortune and his throne. Chase quickly adjusts to life in the palace. Meanwhile, Alek's grandmother encourages him to marry Luanne and publicly declare Chase his heir. But complications with her pregnancy lead Luanne to return to the United States.Author Karen Templeton brings a fresh perspective to this Cinderella tale in HONKY-TONK CINDERELLA. Her characters are believable, flawed and human with the expected misgivings and insecurities that make them sympathetic. Rather than the classically beautiful Cinderella beneath the grime and overwork, Laura is pregnant, unwieldy, and resentful. Conversely, Alek transforms over the years, forsaking his Peter Pan/playboy existence for responsibilities and maturity. Further, as in PLAIN-JANE PRINCESS, Templeton captures that surely kid attitude in all its nuances, making her young character sparkle as he struggles with grief and new beginnings. Indeed, Templeton once again masterfully makes royalty and happily-ever-after-ending believable without dodging painful emotional terrain. Consequently, Templeton's trademark balance of convincing romance, well-developed characters and a healthy dose of humor makes HONKY-TONK CINDERELLA very highly recommended.

Luanne Evans had one brief night of passion eleven years ago with a prince of a guy--a man so different than the boys from home. That one night that gave her one of her greatest gifts--her son. Now, that man is back throwing her life into chaos as he whisks the woman who's never been far from his thougths, and the boy he just recently found out about back home to his kingdom. For Aleksander Vlastos is truly a Prince. Has he found his Princess in a Texas honky-tonk?Karen Templeton makes readers believe in the magic of love and in happily-ever-afters in a story that presents "real" characters making mistakes, making tough decisions...and making a fairy tale come true in Honky-Tonk Cinderella.

Luanne Evans Henderson is currently dealing with the death of her race car driver husband, her ten year-old grieving son and the impending birth of her baby. As if this all isn't enough, the man who walked out on her eleven years ago has now shown up on her doorstep. She had known him only as Alek Hastings, fellow race car driver and friend of her late husband. They spent one intimate night together, then Alek disappeared -- leaving Luanne pregnant and alone. Jeff Henderson was her salvation, offering marriage, security and a father for her son. The last person she needs back in her life is Alek, resurrecting long-buried memories and turning her and her son's lives upside down.Prince Aleksander Vlastos of Carpathia had been sowing his wild oats eleven years ago before having to settle down as leader of his country. Never did he dream that he would regret leaving Luanne behind all those years ago. Now, with the knowledge that she is the mother of his heir, Alek is back to atone for his mistakes and those of his friend, Jeff Henderson. Convincing Luanne of that, however, is another story.Karen Templeton is a master at in-depth characterization. Luanne is a tough cookie on the outside, confused and emotional on the inside. Alek is the perfect foil for her; compassionate, caring and as stubborn as Luanne. Luanne's ten year-old son Chase is an emotional and integral addition to the story, delivering realistic, emotional, and tumultuous dialogue and actions. HONKY-TONK CINDERELLA is filled with Ms. Templeton's trademark descriptive and narrative prose, witty and realistic dialogue and down-to-earth, real-life people. A heart-wrenching twist near the end will have readers reaching for the tissues.Readers will feel a true sense of affinity with these characters as they travel along the path of their incredible journey discovering each other and the power of familial love. I recommend HONKY-TONK CINDERELLA as one of Ms. Templeton's best works to date!