Today we have Hope Tarr, author of A Cinderella Christmas Carol stopping by to talk a little bit about the Cinderella’s in her stories.
Hope Tarr is the author of twenty historical and contemporary romance novels including Operation Cinderella and A Cinderella Christmas Carol, both in her “Suddenly Cinderella” Series of contemporary fairytale-themed romances. She is also a co-founder and current principal of Lady Jane’s Salon™, New York City’s first—and only—monthly romance fiction reading series, now in its fourth year with four satellite salons nationwide.
Getting Your Cinderella On
I grew up eating, breathing and dreaming fairytales and decades later not much has changed. My favorite fairytale is Cinderella. It always has been and probably always will be. I remember watching Rogers & Hammerstein’s televised musical production of the classic fairytale, which aired annually. Leslie Ann Warren starred as the cindery heroine, and unlike the Disney heroine, she had brown hair just like me, which perhaps explains why I felt such an instant and deep affinity.
As a grownup I like to think there’s a little Cinderella in all of us—the part of us that is willing to be brave, to take a chance, to transform.
In my new Suddenly Cinderella Series for Entangled Publishing, four unlikely Cinderellas are helped along by uber-cool fairy god friends and a pair of princess-worthy vintage red stilettos as they meet their matches in modern day New York, Washington, DC and Los Angeles. They may not go about singing “Ten minutes ago I met you…” or “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful” as the young Ms. Warren did in the musical, but they are searching for love all the same, not at the ball but in the Big City—New York, Washington, DC and Los Angeles..
In Operation Cinderella goth-girl magazine editor, Macie Graham comes up against sexy conservative radio talk-show host, Ross Mannon. Determined to dig up the dirt on Ross for a no holds barred exposé, Macie goes undercover as his live-in housekeeper. Managing the masquerade requires that she make a Cinderella transformation in reverse. But when Ross reveals himself to be more prince than frog, only the surprise gift of a pair of vintage red velvet shoes once belonging to a famous silver screen era actress link her to her “true” self. Will Macie ditch Operation Cinderella or risk losing the Happily Ever After she didn’t realize she could still want?
A Suddenly Cinderella Christmas Carol, (November 2012) also set in New York, features Macie’s Scrooge-like managing editor, Starr. The cute curmudgeon receives a surprise gift on Christmas Eve: a pair of vintage Saks red slippers. Trying on the shoes may just give Starr a turn at Christmas Happily Ever After with sexy Art Director, Matt Landry—assuming she’ll take the plunge and change her attitude on both Happily Ever After and the holiday.
In Book #2, Project Cinderella (February 2013), the Cinderella fairytale undergoes a major makeover—a male Cinderella! Famous fashion photographer Francesca St. James gets more than she bargained for when she leaves New York for Los Angeles to join the cast of a newly launched reality TV show as a fashion coach. “Project Cinderella” aims to remake fashion frogs into styling Cinderella princes and princesses. Contestant Gregory Knickerbocker is a geek with a heart of gold, easily the program’s “least likely to succeed” as a finalist. Fortunately Francesca loves nothing more than a challenge and serving as Greg’s “fashion fairy godmother” promises to be that and then some. Can a pair of vintage Saks Fifth Avenue red slippers help her look beyond Greg’s center-parted hair and ubiquitous gray hoodies to the Prince Charming that lies beneath?
The series will conclude with THE CINDERELLA CAPER (tentative title, June 2013). Plus-size personal chef, Stefanie Stephanopolis is one of DC’s most sought after personal chefs. Cooking gourmet in-home meals for couples is her specialty—only Stef is eating her meals solo. Convinced by her diet-obsessed stepmother and stepsisters that she’s fat, Stef hides her pretty face beneath glasses and messy bangs and her sexy curves beneath baggy sweaters and “mom” jeans. Accepting an exclusive two-month contract to cook for visiting Greek tycoon, Nicholai, catapults Stef far beyond her kitchen—and her comfort zone. Can the surprise arrival of a pair of vintage red shoes help her to see the princess-perfect vision that Nick does?
A Cinderella Christmas Carol
By: Hope Tarr
Genre: RomanceGoodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
There’s nothing On Top managing editor Cynthia “Starr” Starling hates more than Christmas. With an important deadline looming, plus her dreaded Christmas Day birthday, Starr just wants the holiday to end. But when she wakes up Christmas Eve night to the ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future—all in the form of the super-hot Matt Landry, the new art director—she knows she’s in for a long night.
Matt is the one person on Starr’s team she can’t boss around and the only one she doesn’t need to. He’s also her employee and totally off limits, even if he does seem interested. Though he’s seven years younger and all kinds of forbidden fruit, he’s the form the Powers That Be decided she’d be receptive to.
Because they have a message for her: learn the true meaning of Christmas spirit or risk being alone for the rest of her life.
I really like the sound of these re-tellings, and Cinderella would have to be one of my faves, too.
Love the Hope’s author photo with her cat!