Today's guest has visited us once before, so please welcome Kerry Blaisdell back with her book, The Princess Shoppe.
THANKS for coming, Kerry. I just LOVE this cover! Tell us why you wrote The Princess Shoppe...
I love romcoms, and I also love suspense. We were on a family trip to Disneyland one year, and I just started thinking about what goes on behind the scenes, to make the "magic" happen. I write "quirky," so pretty fast, the concept became a dying theme park out in the middle of nowhere, where the rides are all based on the goriest of the Grimm brothers' "fairytales" - even the kiddie ones! Then Allie and Matt hit the page, and I knew it was going to be a really fun story to write!
I love that. We never know when or where inspiration will strike that's for sure! Can you give us a blurb and excerpt?
Sure. Here you go...
Blurb: Once upon a time in La-La-Land: When theme park princesses start vanishing, a free-spirited P.I. goes undercover and finds her prince – a cautious ex-military spy who’d rather be left alone.
Fired from her job, Allie Kincade has a house in escrow, an eviction notice from her landlord, and nothing in the bank. So when she’s offered an insanely large paycheck to dress up as a princess and find three women who’ve gone missing from their jobs as costume characters at GrimmLand, she jumps at the chance. But the park isn’t all it seems: Deep in the SoCal desert, it’s owned by the king of an obscure European country, and the attractions are based on the Grimm brothers’ goriest folktales. Plus, Allie’s new boss clearly wishes she’d never been hired.
As head of GrimmLand security, buttoned-down Matt Wilcox is convinced the princesses – all out-of-work actresses – simply found better gigs and “forgot” to quit. But he owes his life to King Roland, and he can’t retire and pursue his own dreams until the women are found. Then the king’s adult daughter – a real princess – also goes missing, and Matt must work with Allie to uncover the truth. Will their fairy-tale ending be a happy one…or more Grimm?
Excerpt: The shorter man stepped forward.
He had a hawkish nose and aristocratic features. “Ms. Kincade? I am Tarek Cassar. I wish to say that the episode upstairs was most regrettable.”
Allie felt herself flush. “Sorry about that. Again.”
“Do not concern yourself. We understand.”
“You do?”
Bathroom Guy’s expression hadn’t changed. For some reason, she couldn’t get a bead on him. In their grand total of two encounters, he’d been mad, amused, encouraging, and mad again. Yet he also seemed at home in his own skin, like no matter where he found himself, he belonged.
Or maybe he was just too good-looking. Like Bobby, but with more “there” there.
She glanced away. “Mr. Cassar—”
“Please, call me Tarek.”
Bathroom Guy shot Cassar a surprised look, then grimaced and checked his watch. Tarek stared pointedly, and Bathroom Guy said, “Sorry. Hoping to hurry this up.”
You and me both, Allie thought. To Tarek she said, “Is there something I can do for you? I have an appointment.”
He bowed. “I will be brief. I am most sorry for any distress Mr. Peerless caused you, but I believe I may be able to help.”
“What? You help me?”
Bathroom Guy frowned some more, and Allie gave up. Tarek was easier. He beamed now, pleased with himself, or with her, she wasn’t sure which.
“Yes. It is clear that you are in need of employment.”
“I can’t argue with that. But, er, what do you need?”
“A princess. The job is yours, if you will take it.”
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