An Offer from a Gentleman, by Julia Quinn

Cinderella is the clear inspiration for this third Bridgerton novel, focusing on second son Benedict Bridgerton as Prince Charming. Sophie is the illegitimate daughter of the late Earl of Penwood, relegated to servant status by her wicked stepmother and two ugly-hearted stepsisters. Infiltrating a masked ball as the silver lady, she enchants Benedict then disappears. Will the magic remain when they finally meet again two years later and how will they deal with their social disparity? The story touches on some interesting themes – the downside of being a second son; class mobility; and the economic vulnerability of women. But the romance is the dominating force, regardless of plot holes, dodgy timelines, behavioural inconsistency and jarring anachronisms. More Bridgerton siblings feature in this story - to its benefit, as the heart of the novels is the strong and loving bond of the central family.

Daughter of Albion, by Ilke Tampke

Ailia is a foundling, raised in the Royal kitchen of a British tribe under threat of Roman invasion. The girl is well cared for but her future is limited by a lack of family; regardless of her talent or ability, learning and marriage are forbidden. But Ailia’s talents are remarkable and she finds herself called to a higher purpose. She must overcome her shortcomings to achieve her potential and help her tribe to survive. Tampke seamlessly fuses ancient history with fantasy elements based on druid lore to create a thoroughly believable culture and an appealingly flawed heroine. Some bizarre time shifts are very convenient to the plot, but are made more acceptable by their patent inconvenience to the heroine. There is a bit of a rush to the finish, with one glaring inconsistency not adequately explained. It paves the way for a sequel, which will hopefully build on a promising start