The Cowboy's Fairy Tale (Sweet Water Ranch Western Cowboy Romance Book 6) Kindle Edition

In The Cowboy's Fairy Tale, book 6 in her Sweet Water Ranch series, Jessie Gussman reimagines the classic Cinderella story. Sometimes these stories get unrecognizable and lose the magic of the original. Jessie Gussman gets it right!Ryder Peterson is neither a prince nor a recipient of a "get married, stay in North Dakota, inherit a billion dollars" letter. As the heir to his great-uncle's ranch and New York-based import/export business, Ryder needs to fulfill the letter's terms, but he must also host a masked ball at the ranch and choose a bride there--all things he dismisses as "stupid and dumb". But he wants the money and position from the business, so he gamely has invitation brochures printed and drives to North Dakota.Nell Easterly is not a current or future princess. She's the de facto servant of her stepfather Tom and stepsisters, Brittney and Bethany. Beth really takes advantage and demands that Nell cut her long blonde hair short, agrees that Nell will make 1000 whoopie pies for an event the next morning, and insists that Nell move out of their shared room into the eaves--servants' quarters. Whenever Nell says anything to him, Tom says she has to earn her keep and is welcome to leave. Not wanting to break her promise to her dying mother to look after little Vinton, Nell swallows her anger and does what's asked of her.When Nell gets a flat tire on the highway and a mysterious stranger in a sports car and business suit changes it for her, then gives her a ball brochure and a pair of fancy shoes as if compelled by a force beyond him, the two meet. But true to the story, he doesn't know who she is.Nell, thinking she won't be allowed to attend the ball, hopes she can get a part-time job as a server. Clay, the ranch foreman nicknamed the Preacher after his straight-arrow beliefs and actions, convinces Tom to let her work half-weeks until the ball, with her wages going directly into his account because she "owes him" for the "room" (eave space) he has to keep open for her. Ridiculous, Ryder thinks. But Nell wants to be like her saintly mother and agrees to his demands. They go to the ranch, where she works on the grounds design with Ryder's sister Roxie. There's no equivalent to Roxie in the original, but it shows Nell's ability to charm someone whose prickly outside hides a tender interior. Roxie likes Nell but realizes she'd wither in New York, so she advises her brother to choose a woman who knows his world. Her friend Michelle is ideal. Suddenly, Michelle appears at the ranch and interrupts Ryder when he's about to kiss Nell. Ryder isn't only into Nell, however; he's spending time with Clay and falling in love with North Dakota ranching. NYC business--and Michelle--can't compare.A few nights before the ball, Ryder and Nell talk about their mutual attraction and potential long-term issues, which they leave unresolved.The morning of the ball, Nell sees Michelle with her blonde hair cut short but doesn't think much of it. She also learns that she will have a 30-minute break during the evening. She asks Beth to borrow her own dress for the break, and Beth refuses but then has an apparent change of heart. When Nell appears in her own dress, Ryder tells her he'll choose her. But...When Nell meets Beth in the pantry and returns the dress, Beth dashes away and locks Nell in the dark room. Used to solving problems at home, Nell unlocks the door and dons an empty flour sack as a dress. She hurries to the ballroom and sees Ryder unmask the woman in her dress--Michelle!Knowing Beth and Michelle conspired to give Michelle a victory and Nell a defeat, Nell takes the mike and identifies the dress, scarf, and shoes as hers. Before Michelle can grab the mike back, a man claiming to have made the shoes asks Ryder what happened when he came toward Michelle. Ryder describes resistance, even though he thought the masked woman was Nell. Were the shoes magic?By going back on his irrevocable choice, Ryder surrendered his inheritance, but he gained what made him happier: Nell, a ranch (hers since Tom sold it to move out of state), Vinton (they adopted him since Tom's new woman didn't want him in her house), and even a billion dollars because he married and settled in North Dakota...a very different ending from the original, but still happily ever after!I was pleasantly surprised by this modern fairy tale and highly recommend it! Go Jessie!

What a well written cowboy fairy tale. Jessie Gussman is really a great writer with well developed characters in interesting situations. This was a fun book to read!

Jessie has written another action packed novel with sprinkles of humor and a Cinderella love story. From the first page I was pulled into the story and felt like a part of it. Jessie has an amazinggift for story telling about relatable characters,Roni FodyMay 6, 2023

This is a lovely story about finding true love. It's delightfully entertaining, and the ending rights many wrongs which have been foisted on the innocents!

A fairy tale retold with a North Dakota farm girl who smiles and does everything to keep her family together and the city boy who discovers money is not always the answer. Fun adventure in Sweet Water.

This twist on Cinderella was interesting. I thought the author did a good job of creating the characters. The only part that seemed out of place was concerning the shoes. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. If you enjoy clean, contemporary, cowboy romance and fairytales, you might enjoy this book.

Wow! A story with great characters. I could relate right away with Nell. I have seen things like what happened to her happen in real life. Yours, mine and ours are difficult for most families. Sometimes people like Ryder don’t know the difference between money and happiness. Glad he found out.

I’m kind of surprised Hallmark hasn’t bought the rights to this story. It seems right up their alley. I do want to find out what comes next for these characters.

Enjoyable Cinderella-like story with great good guys and bad guys. A difficult situation made impossible by the huge gap in lifestyles of the mains. Nice read

Nell's stepfather's truck gets a flat tyre and Ryder is compelled to stop and help her. He gives her a pair of shoes. Her two stepsisters are mean and she does all the work at home, she'd like to leave but that would mean breaking a promise to her mother to look after her little brother.A modern Cinderella