Always Ella: The Stepmother's Story by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee -- Review

About the Book

The beautiful and headstrong Victoria Noble has lofty dreams for her life, but none of them involve being wicked. Despite her humble existence as a maid at The Seaside Inn, she intends to marry a wealthy man. This hope is challenged when Henry Blakeley, a kind-hearted wanderer, enters her life and sees in her every admirable quality she yearns to actually possess. As Victoria attempts to balance her desires for wealth and love, tragedy strikes, sending her running into the arms of Alden Knight, an intriguing and affluent gentleman.


Navigating the complexities of the upper class as well as motherhood to her willful twin daughters is more difficult than Victoria ever imagined, especially when she finds herself suddenly alone. All hope seems lost until a widowed Henry reappears in her life with his own angelic daughter, Ella. Victoria believes her dreams are finally coming true, only to have them shattered, leaving her heartbroken and reluctantly dependent on Ella's kindness and humility. Years later, amidst the excitement and commotion of a royal ball, a hardened Victoria is forced to confront her past choices and their consequences.


Told from the perspective of the “wicked stepmother,” this poignant and realistic Cinderella retelling explores the power of forgiveness and honor, as well as the intricacies of family relationships. Victoria Noble's journey through love, loss, and motherhood is a powerful reminder that the path to redemption is never walked alone.

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About the Author

JESSILYN STEWART PEASLEE loves fairy tales and bringing them to life. Her debut novel, Ella, was awarded the Silver Quill by the League of Utah Writers, and her third novel, Finding Beauty in the Beast, was awarded the Gold Quill, both in YA Fiction. She loves encouraging youth in their writing and in achieving their dreams, and has visited schools throughout Utah and surrounding states. Jessilyn graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English. She grew up in Southern California in a family of avid readers, music lovers, movie quoters, and sports fans. She now resides in Utah with her amazing science-teaching husband and their five hilarious, stupendous boys. As you read this, she is probably folding laundry . . . or should be.

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Review

A charming twist on a classic fairytale, Always Ella by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee captures the story of Cinderella’s wicked stepmother beautifully.  Victoria is a strong and independent woman who must pick up the pieces of her broken life and do the best that she can with them.  This story captures her joys, her sorrows, and her pain and brings them to life so that even readers who don’t want to like her will be wishing her story has a happier ending, possibly even with forgiveness and redemption.  Another excellent story from this fabulous author!  

Series: Ella
Genre: historical, romance, fairytale, retelling, young adult
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: July 11, 2023
Number of pages: 389

Other books in the series:
1-Ella
2-Ella’s Will

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.