Hometown Cinderella

Book Description: It was her first time back in Northbridge since graduating from high school and Eden Perry still felt like an ugly duckling. Yet her gorgeous transformation impressed her small-town neighbors, not to mention long-ago crush Cameron Pratt. And as luck would have it, Cam's dark good looks had only improved with age. Now forced to work with him on a local investigation, Eden couldn't slow her racing pulse or control her sweaty palms. But as the intimacy between them grew, could the way she looked on the outside conquer the fears of the vulnerable teenager living inside? ***I tried, very hard, to like or even tolerate the heroine but could not and went beyond frustration to all out dislike. A flawed heroine is fine, but I expected and wanted to see some growth and development into a better person. Instead a cruel, horrid girl who lacked the strength of character to confront her persecutors misdirected her anger and took it out on an innocent person. Okay, she's an adult now; she's grown into a kind, caring adult who has seen the error of her ways and is better for it. --Not!!! She returned to her home town and visually the facade of "Hometown Cinderella" was appropriate; but her behavior was so far removed it was unbelievable. That one character alone greatly diminished the story for me. If only we could hit the "undo" button and "redo" this Cinderella's character; perhaps make her less like one of Cinderella's step-sisters. I found very little, really nothing, redeemable in this story's Cinderella. I absolutely loved the hero, the secondary characters, the humor, wit, and other aspects of the story going on around the town and families.