I had difficulties following but the concept of this book was very good. I got lost in the extras mainly but I am positive I will read more from this author to give her another shot.

When I think about how much I’ve loved category romance and how much of that love has diminished, I do thank the romance gods for Marion Lennox. Though I didn’t love her last romance, she’s come back in signature form in Cinderella and the Billionaire. Like Betty Neels and maybe Carla Kelly, Lennox has a set of romance elements that speak to me, never feel formulaic or repetitive, and put romance in the best of lights. There’s a man; there’s a woman, neither of whom are very happy, nor terribly unhappy. There’s a dog, or a child, or a vulnerable need somewhere. They answer the call of caring for another, or the land, or work that needs to be done. Their journey is funny, and touching, and painful, in the way that coming alive and feeling things after an emotional hibernation is. In Cinderella and the Billionaire, Matt MacLennan is “one semireclusive billionaire” who brings one grieving-7-year-old boy to Australia to give him over to his grandmother’s care, after his mother (Matt’s employee) is killed in an accident. (Matt had seen Henry around the office, as his mother worked all hours and grew to feel liking and sympathy for him.) Henry’s grandmother, Peggy’s care lives on an isolated Australian island. Matt needs to hire a private boat to reach it. In comes one skipper fisherwoman, heroine, Meg O’Hara, whose boss hands them a ramshackle boat named “Bertha,” the last of his meagre, dilapidated fleet, with which to reach Peggy’s Garnett Island.

Meg is loathe to travel in Bertha, but Matt’s monetary offer is so good, she can’t refuse … given her tumbling roof and lack of finances to fix it. Besides, there’s more to Matt and sad Henry than dollar signs, there’s bringing a grieving boy to his beloved grandmother and Meg is moved. It sounds sentimental and conventional, doesn’t it? Except for what Lennox can do with it, which is really all a writer can do, bring her voice and take to stories as old as time. And Lennox is a gentle, ruefully humourous and unabashedly, sentimentally tender writer, witness how she describes Meg’s “thawing” regarding Henry:

” … We haven’t been able to track him [Henry’s father] down and no one else seems to care. Apart from Peggy.” And just like that, her bristles turned to fluff.

” … She [Peggy] made arrangements for an escort service to collect Henry and bring him to her, but, at the last minute, I … ” “You couldn’t let him travel alone.” The last of her bristles disintegrated.

Initially, Meg is unwilling and curmudgeonly about transporting Matt and Henry, but Meg can’t ignore Henry’s sadness and vulnerability. She’s kind-hearted and caring. As is Matt.

Lennox writes good-people heroes and heroines. The circumstances that bring them together are often unusual and acute. In this case, Henry. Until Bertha goes up in flames. The three escape in a dinghy and live on a deserted isle till slightly-senile Peggy rescues them before the big search and rescue team. Before Peggy’s arrival, Meg coaxes a smile from Henry and hug thanks to her dog, Boof. Her care and Matt’s begins to heal Henry by offering him comfort, affection, and safety. Peggy does no less. As for Meg and Matt, their liking and admiration, especially Matt’s for Meg, and love of nature bring them close. Meg and Matt are lonely, not alone and not miserable, but in a lull of loneliness. Their closeness is also physically reciprocated.

Matt and Meg also from two different worlds: Matt, a billionaire, is Manhattan financial wizardry and Meg, well, Meg, is a high school drop out, with a “career” driving fishing parties on ramshackle boats. Her backstory and Matt’s make for solid foundations for being who they are and where they are. Lennox makes opening up to love possibly only with personal transformation. This is particularly important for Matt. As long as he’s in Meg’s natural world, their connection is strong. But when he brings her into his, his high-powered, go-go-go life ends their magic. And Meg proves the wiser and stronger one.

Though I am not a fan of the closed door romance, as Cinderella and the Billionaire, Lennox comes closer than anyone to convincing me of its rightness. Though Meg and Matt are passionate lovers, love-making doesn’t fix their problems. The bedroom is like their deserted isle, a way to keep the real world at bay, an important and profound respite, but just that, a respite. When their worlds collide and love comes knocking on their emotional door, their tender emotional spots ache. Lennox shows us how important it is to experience an emotional reckoning, an inner transformation and realization before love and family are possible. As for the HEA, it’s as magnificent as Meg’s Southern Ocean, as beautiful as Matt’s Hampton beach, as precious as Henry’s growing love and confidence, and as delightful as Boof’s bark. As always, Lennox is happy-sigh Lenox. With Miss Austen, we agree Cinderella and the Billionaire proves “there is no charm equal to tenderness of heart,” Emma.

Marion Lennox’s Cinderella and the Billionaire is published by Harlequin Books. It was released on July 1st and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-ARC from Harlequin Books, via Netgalley.

Matt McLellan is a Manhattan financier who ends up taking care of Henry, the son of one of his colleagues who was killed in a traffic accident. Matt feels responsible for him and is at a loss of how to help him. Henry has been in contact with his grandmother in Australia and Matt sets out to bring him there. Meg O’Hara works for a charter boat company and is hired by Matt to bring them across Bass Strait to the island where Peggy, Henry’s grandmother lives. Meg questions Matt about Henry to make sure that he is on the up and up. There are many adventures the three face before they even get to Peggy’s island. The boat goes on fire and they have to get to shore on a deserted island and wait for help. Meg proves to be well equipped to help them survive. She also helps Henry begin to open up using her dog Boof. After meeting Peggy, they realize that she is incapable of taking care of Henry and convince her to leave the island. Meg offers Peggy and Henry to live with her, but things change when Henry’s biological father is found. The father has conditions for Henry to be adopted by Matt and he agrees. Matt convinces Peggy and Meg to return with him to NYC. They go. Soon Meg realizes that Matt is a workaholic and is using that as an excuse because he can’t express his feelings for Meg. She decides to go back to Australia. Matt soon realizes what he has lost and decides to do a grand gesture to get her back.
I loved this story. It was so sweet. Meg is a strong independent woman who impressed Matt with her skills. He was man enough to let her take control in order for them to survive. They had great chemistry. My heart broke for both Henry and Peggy, but I was happy that they found each other. This is a feel- good story that has a happily ever after. Couldn’t put it down.

I very much enjoyed this story. I loved the main characters

This book was such a quick read and I didn't want to put it down.

Very good book. Matt is a billionaire workaholic in New York, well known for his financial dealings. One of the lawyers who works for him is a single mother who often brings her young son to work with her. Matt frequently finds Henry in his office, reading or playing computer games. As the book opens, Matt has taken Henry with him to visit McLellan Place, one of Matt's properties. I loved how Matt tried to bring a little fun to Henry's life and ached for the little boy whose mother had imposed such control on the boy. When Henry's mother dies in an accident while he is with Matt, Matt takes responsibility for getting Henry from New York to his grandmother in Australia. I hurt for Henry, but also for Matt, who was at a loss about how to help him.

Meg is the captain of the charter boat Matt hires to take him and Henry to the island where Peggy lives. She left school at sixteen to help her grandfather after her grandmother died. They raised her after the deaths of her parents. She fished with her grandfather, and after his death, continued because that was all she knew. She has debts to pay from her grandfather's illness, so she feels stuck in a dead-end position.

I liked the first meeting between Matt and Meg. There were sparks between them from the beginning. She's pretty much forced to take the charter by her boss but accepts because the money is good. She makes it clear she's not happy and is overheard by Matt. I liked how Meg stood up to him, checking on his credentials and right to have Henry with him. He's a bit leery of her qualifications but quickly overcomes his doubts. What truly impresses him is how quickly she bonds with Henry. For two weeks, Matt hasn't been able to break through Henry's shell, but Meg manages in a few minutes. I loved watching Henry take to Meg's dog, Boof, and start to act a little bit like a normal kid. I loved how Matt was impressed and thankful for what she did.

But delivering Henry to his grandmother does not go smoothly. The boat that they are on goes up in flames, stranding them on an unoccupied island. To make matters worse, Meg's boss did not outfit the boat with the proper emergency gear. I loved how Meg and Matt worked together to make sure Henry was safe and to maximize their chances of rescue. While on the island, the attraction between Matt and Meg continues to grow. Their rescue adds further complications to the plans for Henry, as his grandmother is not in a good position to safely care for him, and Henry's father is located. Dad has demands of his own, motivating Matt to offer Peggy and Henry a home at McLellan Place. He wants Meg to come along, too, and comes up with what he believes is the perfect plan.

Oh, how I wanted to shake Matt. His belief that he can continue his lifestyle and work habits while being a part-time father and husband shows how skewed his values are. He can feel that he wants to spend more time with Meg but fights hard against admitting what his feelings are. I ached for Meg, who knew she had fallen for Matt and wanted more than what he offered. I loved seeing her reach the point where she had enough and laid into him for being selfish. It seemed to take forever for Matt to finally see the truth, but when he does, he discovers how much loving her has changed him. His big moment at the end is sweet and romantic.

I usually adore Marion Lennox books and this one started nicely. But then it slows down and stalls within the first 1/2. He's checking her out but realizes he shouldn't - then keeps doing it. She does the same in reverse. She also didn't impress me with all the various ways she didn't look into the status of the boat they were on before they got stranded.