The
Shoe
The Believe Series – Book #2
Trista Jaszczak
Genre –
Romance, fairy tale retelling
Publication
Date – 6 August 2013
Publisher –
Front Porch Romance
Cover Artist
– Designs by Charisma
All Blair Miller has ever wanted was to
study fashion in New York City. But as one door closed for her,
another door opened. A bright and beautiful door that led her
straight to a job at celebrity frequented, high end fashion boutique,
ATTRAYANT, where she has now worked for years. When an invitation
arrives for a masked ball that is being thrown to celebrate a world
famous rock band’s new album, Blair finds herself being transformed
into Cinderella for the night. When Blair not only falls for Prince
of Rock, Hunter but also loses a precious $8,000.00 shoe, she finds
herself in possibly the biggest mess of her entire life. How can she
reveal who and what she really is to Prince Charming? How can she
afford to replace such an expensive shoe? With the help of her two
“Fairy God Fathers” who are pushing for her happily ever
after…anything could happen.
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EXCERPT
It’s difficult to
feel at ease here. The guests are all so…expensive? Perhaps that’s
not the right word. They’re…elite. A far cry from the girl who
sells them all the goods. I wander around, taking in each person,
their costumes, who they’re talking to. I float among the guests, a
few even taking a moment to say hello, as though they truly recognize
me. Ugh. Why did I let Christian and Anthony talk me into this? What
the hell am I supposed to do here? Really try meet “Prince
Charming?” Honestly, does Prince Charming exist? Is there some man
out there ready to sweep me off my feet, fly me to exotic places and
treat me like a queen? I manage to hold back a laugh and I smile as I
work my way passed the masked waiter with the tray of champagne and
wiggle my way to a corner. I look up to immediately connect my eyes
with his. I’m shocked. So shocked that I glance away as quickly as
I can. For some reason though I find it hard not to look at him and
instead of keeping my gaze on the floor, I find myself staring,
trying to keep control and a closed mouth. He finally smiles
underneath the simple black mask that covers only his eyes, but even
with part of his face covered, he is a vision of perfection in his
traditional black tuxedo. The same masked waiter passes him and he
gingerly takes two champagne flutes from the silver tray. He begins
working his way through the crowd, moving bit by bit, closer to me.
Suddenly he’s standing right in front of me before I have time to
truly make sense of any of it.
“Hi,” he says,
softly.
I look at him and
force myself to speak, “Hi.”
“Would you like a
drink?” He asks, extending the champagne to me.
“Might as well,
you were sweet enough to bring me a drink. Thank you.” I say,
taking the glass from him.
“What’s your
name, Princess?” He asks.
I look up and into
his deep blue eyes. Even under the mask there’s no mistaking who he
is. His dark, messy styled hair, that sly smile, and hypnotizing
eyes. His tall, well built frame. He is Hunter. He is the man
throwing this masked ball for the release of his band’s album
“Hidden.”
I swallow a gulp of
champagne. What the hell have Christian and Anthony gotten me into? I
finally smile, “Just call me Cinderella.”
He laughs, “Oh
really?” He glares around us for a moment, “No Prince Charming?”
I give my head a
shake and have another sip of the rather tasty champagne, “No
Prince Charming. I’m here alone, actually.”
“What a
coincidence, I’m here alone, too.” He beams, his sneaky little
smile almost making me go weak in the knees.
“What?” I say,
“You don’t count your band mates?”
He grins and gives
me a little “you got me” smile. “You can tell me it’s me?”
I laugh, “Please,
anyone in the world would know Hunter, even under a little mask.”
He laughs again and
has a drink of the champagne, “You got me.”
“I’m just that
good,” I smile.
“Well, what do
you say to a dance?” He asks. “Since, you are the only one in
this room to guess that it’s me.”
I think for a
moment. It’s a dance. What could one dance possibly hurt? I finally
nod. He takes the champagne flute for me and places them both on a
table draped in a silvery cloth and then reaches for my hand. His
face meets mine, “Better go easy on me.”
I laugh, “I think
I can do that.”
“Mind if we stick
with the slow ones?” His hand immediately finds my waist and he
draws my body near his and the song changes to a slow paced ballad.
I hesitate and then
finally nod. He begins to gently sway our bodies in a circular
motion, “Remember, go easy on me.”
I laugh, “What,
they don’t teach you to dance in rock star boot camp?”
This makes him laugh
as he gives me a gentle squeeze. He shakes his head, “I sing and
play guitar. That’s the limit to my abilities.”
“For some reason
I doubt that,” I tell him.
The
Shoe - Character Bios
Hunter
Stats:
Age: 28
Height : 6’1” ish
Eyes: Blue eyes
Hair: Short, styled dark
hair
Facial hair: Stubble most
days, shaved the rest
Tattoos: yes - right
bicep, half sleeve. Both wrists, both ankles, down the spine.
Build: Extremely well
defined and muscular.
Huntsmen band role: Lead
vocals and guitar
A tee shirt and jeans kind
of guy. He’s laid back, charming, sweet and romantic. He’s the
ultimate prince charming armed with a guitar, killer voice and deadly
good looks.
Sean
Stats:
Age: 28
Height: 5’11”
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Brown
Tattoos: yes - just one,
so far….left bicep, a Les Paul guitar
Build: Muscular, very well
defined
Huntsmen band role: Vocals
and guitar
A basic kind of guy who
uses his guitar and good looks to snag the ladies. A well known
ladies man that is just waiting for the right kind of girl to come
around and knock him down a peg or two.
Richie
Stats:
Age: 28
Height: 5’10”
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Short, brown, always
styled
Tattoos: Planning one
across the upper back
Build: Muscular, very lean
and toned.
Huntsmen band role: bass
and some vocals
Basic jeans and tee shirt
kind of guy, grew up poor so he appreciates what he has now. Loves
his family but is a bit of a ladies man and does shuffle from one gal
to the next leaving a trail of broken hearts.
Tyler
(Ty)
Stats:
Age: 28
Height: About 6’
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde, shaggy and
usually messy like a surfer’s
Tattoos: None
Build: Medium build, toned
Huntsmen band role: drums
Another laid back and
basic guy. Loved the ladies until Blair’s best friend Lyndsey stole
his heart. He’s a lover, not a fighter, and while he loved the fast
life before he’s loving slowing down with Lyndsey and being the
second Huntsmen to take the plunge.
Stats:
Age: 25
Height: Somewhere around
5’8”
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Long, blonde and
beautiful
Tattoos: One recent, right
shoulder.
Blair is level headed,
wide eyed, and outgoing. She’s fun loving and dreamed of being a
fashion designed. She’s got her wish as she’s now the head of
wardrobe for The Huntsmen. Best friend’s Christian and Anthony have
her back in hair, make-up and life.
The
Shoe – Author Playlist
Trista
could you please share a list of the music you listen to when you
write:
When
I write I listen to a huge mix. I mean…HUGE. I currently have 2,023
songs that I cycle through on my computer that just go on continuous
play while I write. So, I’m going to share some of my absolute
favorites!
Teenage
Dirt bag by Wheatus - This one is super special to me. My best friend
was killed at 17 and this song had came out not too long before and
this became our theme song.
Unity
by Shinedown - I love everything about this song. The lyrics speak
volumes for me.
A
Warrior’s Call by Volbeat - This is the ultimate song. If this
doesn’t get me pumped, I don’t know what will, haha.
I’m
So Lonesome I Could Cry by Volbeat - While I do love the original,
there is something about this one that I love. Maybe it’s that
guitar… ;)
Starlight
by Weezer - A song that brings back some really great memories for me
and helps to inspire me.
I’m
Glad You Came by We Came As Romans - Another newer cover that speaks
to me.
If
You Leave by OMD - I’ve loved this song for years and for years
it’s brought back good memories. When good things are on my mind,
the writing juices flow much better.
Why
Part II by Collective Soul - Another one, that, though I have no real
reason, it speaks to me.
So
Far Away by Avenged Sevenfold - This one makes me think of my friend
who was killed. Perfect since this was written for Rev, their drummer
who passed too soon. Syn’s guitar solo moves to goose bumps and
tears. This one, speaks louder than any of my words could ever. I
don’t just hear this song…I feel it…and, that is the most
amazing feeling ever.
Enemies
by Shinedown - This one is so great for any character that I don’t
like, haha!
Wait
For Me by Theory Of A Deadman - My husband is deployed and this makes
me think of him. I’m waiting. I think this song was written for us
military families. If not, they hit the nail on the head.
I’m Sexy
And I Know It by LMFAO - Because a time or two ago I weighed over 300
pounds. I’ve lost about 180 pounds (I lost a Backstreet Boy, haha!)
and this song just makes me feel good. Again, when I feel good,
creative juices really flow.
Carry On My
Wayward Son by Kansas - An all time favorite.
Don’t Stop
Believing by Journey - Another al time favorite.
Take Me Home
Tonight by Hinder - I wasn’t a fan of Hinder until this song.
And…WOW.
Hotel
California by The Eagles - Come on….do I need to put a reason here?
Haha.
Heartache
Tonight by The Eagles - Another top favorite.
The
Shoe - Soundtrack
Trista
could you please share the soundtrack to The Shoe for your guests:
How
Cinderella and Prince Charming Rock Out
The
Shoe, book II in my Believe series is without a doubt a clever little
spin in Cinderella. While I did make the decision to keep some things
traditional to the Cinderella story…I had to make a lot of changes.
One huge one being…Prince Charming is Rock Royalty…meaning, he is
one of the world’s BIGGEST rock stars. When it came to the
soundtrack…I knew it had to rock. And, I have the perfect
soundtrack that makes The Shoe rock.
“Hungry
Eyes” by New Found Glory
- All
right, I’ve loved the song since the 80’s. Who doesn’t
recognize this song and what movie it’s from? But, I couldn’t use
the original because it just didn’t fit Blair and Hunter. He’s
the front man for a huge rock band…it had to be harder than that.
Enter New Found Glory and I have the main theme of The Shoe. This
song screams Blair and Hunter and every time it plays, I imagine
Hunter and his band performing it.
“Listen
to Your Heart (slow)” by DHT OR “Listen to Your Heart” by
Roxette
- This
song, over all, is very powerful with a deep meaning. There’s more
than one occasion in the book, where in true Cinderella fashion,
Blair had to be reminded to listen to her heart. “Listen to you
heart…before…you tell him goodbye.” When you read The Shoe, you
will know the part that this applies to the minute that you read it.
“High
on You” by Survivor
- “Such
complete intoxication…I’M HIGH ON YOU!” I know this is very
80’s but when I hear this…it just screams Hunter and I imagine he
and his band rocking this song hard. Every single word of this song
applies to my gorgeous Prince of Rock, Hunter.
“If
You Leave” by OMD
- I don’t
know why but when I heard this all I could think of was Hunter and
Blair. For some reason there’s an unknown connection with this
song. Read The Shoe…tell me what you think.
“The
Glory of Love” by New Found Glory
- Another
song that I just could not go with the original. For my Prince of
Rock, it had to rock. The song is perfect and enter again New Found
Glory to have a hard version of a love song that fits Hunter and
Blair so well. Just imagine Hunter…one stage…backed by Richie, Ty
and Sean…sweating from the lights.
“Take
Me Home Tonight” by Hinder
- Another
one that I needed the cover. Hinder steps in this time with a version
of take me home tonight that nearly made me drool while thinking
about Hunter performing this. Not only that…the important part is
just how much it applies to Blair and Hunter.
“Don’t
Stop BELIEVING” by Flight 409
- I adore
Journey. I mean, I ADORE Journey and this song…“Don’t Stop
BELIEVING“…how perfect is that for a book in the BELIEVE series?
But, again, it had to be harder…I needed that loud guitar with that
rock star voice. Enter Flight 409 and “Don’t Stop BELIEVING” is
more than perfect for The Shoe.
“Just
The Way You Are” by Pierce the Veil
- When I
hear this song…I imagine Hunter singing this to Blair. The lyrics
are perfect, the sound is what I needed and it’s a perfect fit for
my Cinderella and her rock star Prince Charming.
“I
BELIEVE In a Thing Called Love” by The Darkness
- Notice
how the songs that stick out the most right now not only tell you to
BELIEVE but they rock. “I BELIEVE In A Thing Called Love” is more
than perfect…it’s Cinderella…and if there was one thing that
Cinderella taught me, it was to BELIEVE in love!
“No
Matter What” by Def Leppard
- I
suppose the original could apply but for some reason when this song
popped in my head, I really bounced back and forth. The lyrics apply
to Blair and Hunter…”no matter what you are…” I won’t spoil
it, but read The Shoe and you’ll know exactly why this song is
here. When it came down to it…Def Leppard won.
Book Trailers
“Little Red” (The Believers Series
- Book #1) - Trailer
“The Shoe” (The Believers Series -
Book #2) - Trailer
AUTHOR BIO
Trista Jaszczak (pronounced jazz-ick)
is an Air Force wife and mother of two who is originally from
Hamilton, Ohio but calls Anchorage, Alaska her home. She's published
4 novels so far and written more than 30. She has a deep passion for
writing, music, her guitar, her kids and her four-legged babies.
STALKER
LINKS
Other Works
Little Red
The Believe Series – Book #1
Trista Jaszczak
Genre –
Romance, fairy tale retelling
Publication
Date – June 18, 2013
Publisher –
Front Porch Romance
BOOK
BLURB/SYNOPSIS
Fall
back in love with fairy tales with, Little Red, the first installment
of “The Believe Series” by Trista Jaszczak.
Ride along with Sam Wentworth through the winding back roads of Louisiana, on a desperate escape from her past. Where she falls into the arms of the unlikely and sometimes unwilling hero, Ethan Parker. When circumstances and fate seal the two together, entangling them with his 6 older brothers, feuding families and old bayou magic can Ethan put aside everything he has ever known to keep Sam safe from the dangers their lives and their love poses. Can he keep her safe from himself?
Ride along with Sam Wentworth through the winding back roads of Louisiana, on a desperate escape from her past. Where she falls into the arms of the unlikely and sometimes unwilling hero, Ethan Parker. When circumstances and fate seal the two together, entangling them with his 6 older brothers, feuding families and old bayou magic can Ethan put aside everything he has ever known to keep Sam safe from the dangers their lives and their love poses. Can he keep her safe from himself?
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Thank you so much for being part of the tour Jenny. (My Family's Heart Book Reviews & Tours)
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