Once Upon a Time

I imagine that many romance readers spent their childhoods repeating the same request I did, "Tell me a story."  The favorite stories were always fairy tales.  Romance novels and fairy tales have quite a bit in common:  they contain some level of formula and some element of fantasy, they focus on a romantic pair, and they are both often dismissed as trivial.  To the last claim, I will say that almost anyone, anywhere knows a basic version of the stories grouped below without me having to give any further information.  That's cultural power.

These books are some of my favorites that take a familiar fairy tale plot and spin it into a romance novel.  Did I miss any of your favorites?

Beauty and the Beast

Ravished by Amanda Quick          The Bride and the Beast by Teresa Medeiros

Cinderella

A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James        Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie

Sleeping Beauty

Waking the Princess by Susan King        Spindle's End by Robin McKinley

The Little Mermaid

Goddess of the Sea by P.C. Cast        Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

The Ugly Duckling

Charm School by Susan Wiggs        Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn