title: Sleeping Beauty: A Retelling of the Grimms' Fairy Tale (Read-It! Readers: Fairy Tales)
author:  Eric Blair 
description: Todd Ouren has been a professional artist for over 20 years. Todd has illustrated and designed numerous award-winning books and greeting cards. Raised near Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Todd now lives in Mankato, Minnesota with his wife and three boys. In our spare time we enjoy watching our kids play sports, traveling, hiking, kayaking and spending time at the lake. Todd Ouren is a published author and an illustrator of children's books.
zlib_text: _**Fairy tale for just one night?**_
  
  Cruelly mistreated by her stepfamily, Ellen Mountford retreated to the shadows
  of her father’s home, feeling unworthy and unloved. But when powerful tycoon
  Max Vasilikos wants to buy the glorious English country estate, Ellen can hide
  no longer…
  
  Under the scrutiny of the Greek’s arrogant stare, Ellen fights the urge to
  retreat further and stands up to him, yet Max is relentless. He tempts her out
  to a glamorous charity gala, where Ellen is transformed from dowdy recluse to
  belle of the ball. Now there is a new glint in Max’s eye that is even more
  devastating… _seduction_!
  
   **‘Take a look, Ellen,’ Max instructed softly.**
  
  Ellen looked.
  
  And made no response.
  
  She could have made no response even if someone had held a gun to her head, or
  shouted _‘Fire!’_ She could only do what she was doing—which was staring.
  Staring, frozen, at the couple reflected in the mirror. At the tall, superbly
  elegant and dashing figure of Max Vasilikos...
  
  And the tall,