Some criticize the traditional Cinderella fairytale because Cinderella is not the strongest role model out there since she’s usually a sweet, cheerful martyr to her evil stepmother and stepsisters. All she really has to do is be a good girl, fit into some dainty slippers, and a prince will be hers. Invitation to the Boss’s Ball updates the tale for modern times, and does so in very appealing fashion.

For starters, Alice may struggle but she is no downtrodden martyr even though she’s a little too obsessed with her ex-boyfriend, a man who seems unworthy of her devotion. Still, Alice has managed to build a small computer business for herself and in her free time, she pursues what has become her true passion – vintage clothing. Together with a good friend, Alice manages a vintage clothing stall at an outdoor market while the two save their earnings toward their dream of opening a store.

Alice has resigned herself to feeling very ordinary and given up on the notion that men might find her attractive. For most of her life, she has been the “buddy,” everyone’s friend, but not usually the girlfriend. This doesn’t make her truly happy, but she has decided to live with it. At least that is how she thinks until a certain Cameron Hunter comes into her life.

A chance meeting with an old acquaintance – who happens to be Cameron’s stepsister – puts Alice in touch with Cameron, a man she met once at a party years ago and was impressed with, and all that she knows now is that he plans to throw a launch party for his business. At his stepsister’s suggestion, Cameron wants to use Alice’s vintage clothing for a benefit auction at the party. Unknown to Alice, Cameron does not have the ordinary small business she envisions but is instead the owner of a very large software company. However, he is still the same thoughtful, intelligent person who drew her notice years ago, and she finds him quite intriguing now.

What follows is a grand Cinderella story in which Alice eventually ends up in charge of planning the launch party itself. While working alongside Cameron, Alice discovers not only her attraction to him but also her capacity for really good, creative ideas. The jaded Cameron finds himself loving life again, as well as falling for Alice. Watching the two leads discover themselves as well as one another is a true delight, made more appealing by the fact that the characters manage to stand as equals. Though not a software magnate, readers learn that Alice is far from helpless, and she is actually a very appealing heroine.

Though the romance between Cameron and Alice could have used a touch more development due to their final conflict arising at the very end of the story and then being rather glossed over, I still really liked this book. The author manages to use the Cinderella plot, complete with a miraculous ballgown and perfect shoes, while letting her heroine have a more active role in being swept off her feet by the very dreamy hero. Definitely a winner!