Reviewed by: Angie
Book provided by: Publisher
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

Cindy Jones is like a modern day retelling of Cinderella. Cindy is used to being the only woman in her father’s life, but suddenly he has decided to marry Mrs. Barry, who isn’t exactly the nicest woman in town.

Through a lot of the book Cindy acts like any normal teenage girl who is used to having her only parent’s attention; a spoiled brat. Although, to be honest, I can totally understand not wanting Constance and Prunella as potential stepsisters – those girls are not nice in the least. Well, that’s not true. Prunella enjoys pets, even though her mother has a ban on them in their own home. Constance, however, almost seems to go out of her way to be mean to Cindy every chance she gets.

Cindy does not enjoy change, something else I can understand. Her beloved, yet completely chaotic home undergoes a transformation as Mrs. Barry hires workers to clean the place up. Unfortunately this means that most of the assorted pets Cindy and her dad have – fish, cats, a goat, tadpoles, turtles – suddenly find themselves displaced.

I enjoyed getting to know Jim, Miss Hopkins, Tom the fisherman – who ends up being more than just a fisherman – Jennifer, and Gretta, the town veterinarian. I absolutely adored Horace the cat, he is such a stinker!

This is a great story for any young woman whose life is about to be turned upside down by a parent’s decision to get remarried. Throughout the book Cindy really learns to accept that things need to change in order for things to get better. With a cast of characters who are largely on her side, though she doesn’t always realize this, Cindy Jones is a feel good story that is bound to delight any young woman from 12 on up. ( )