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I can not wait to read this book.

The buzz has been excellent -

Best book I have read (recently),

Great story,

etc....

I believe you have outdone yourself again Ms. Kleypas.

Answer to your cinderella story question would be “Pretty Woman” with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. 

Got your book yesterday and am ready to read your first contemporary.  Am also awaiting Cam’s Story as the last of the Wallflowers series. 

Was a bit disappointed in Borders yesterday since they did not have the pocket-sized handout that you spoke about on your website.  They knew nothing about it.  What’s up with that?  I feel like I missed something that I was looking forward to.

Congratulations on your new book.

Lisa! Congratulations:D

and Squawkees, the cover really is as gorgeous as Lisa says. Our local Meijer had it out yesterday and it is just beautiful. My dh even commented on it Run out and buy it now!

Cinderella!

The British cover is fabulous.  I can’t wait to get my grubby paws on a copy.  I rarely buy HC but how can I resist your first one?  I mean really!

Does ‘Never Been Kissed’ count as a Cinderella story?  I loved both ‘Sabrina’ movies.  I always think of Jerry Lewis’ ‘Cinderfella’ I rooted for him every time it came on ‘The 4:30 Movie’.

I can’t think of any books off the top of my head but I would imagine any plain faced, bluestocking, wallflower, always a chaperone never a debutant (which I adore) would qualify as a Cinderella story.

And, yes, I said WALLFLOWER and I’ll go one better and say Evie and Sebastian (yes, Sebastian) were waiting to be uncovered and discovered and loved.

I think I’ll go write my synopsis now....

Word Verification is read55 - honey, crossed that bridge tomes and tomes ago!

Lisa, I can’t wait to read “Sugar Daddy”! I’m sure it’ll do great!

I’m a sucker for a good Cinderella story.  Other than the great but rather obvious Cinderella adaptations like “Ever After” or “Ella Enchanted”, I tend to think of the 80s Rat Pack movies, like “Sixteen Candles” or “Pretty in Pink”.  I also love “She’s All That”...and especially love “Never Been Kissed”. She’s like Cinderella, but awkward.

Lisa,
I bought SD yesterday.  As soon as I get my little ones down for a nap I get to start reading.  I took the last book out of the display at Waldon books.  Thats a good start.

My favorite Cinderella story is “Just Like Heaven” by Judith McNaught.  I have read this book so many times.

Thank you, dears--I hope you enjoy the book!!!

“Happiness"--the SAME THING happened to me at Borders--the girl at the counter had no idea what I was talking about when I asked where the booklets were. So I asked the manager, and she finally found them stashed somewhere in the romance section. I hope you can find them next time--I’m so sorry that some Borders aren’t making the booklets more visible!

And YES, I thought Never Been Kissed was adorable, and of course I loved Ever After . . . what is it about Drew Barrymore??? She’s just lovable and cute no matter what she does.

I LOVE Cinderella stories, but can’t think of anything that hasn’t already been mentioned.

I’m looking forward to this read!  I have a complaint, though, Lisa.  I had to go to a couple of bookstores yesterday for my kids.  Waldens/Borders had SUGAR DADDY prominently displayed.  I had to search for it at Barnes and Noble.  It was on a table with too many other books.  You need to talk to those people!  Although I was finally able to get CANDLE IN THE WINDOW there, so I guess they aren’t all bad.

Congrats Lisa!  I can’t wait to read your first contemporary.  I know I’ll like it.  I haven’t read a book of yours yet that I didn’t love.

My favorite Cinderella stories.  Well, Cinderella by Disney was always my favorite as a kid.  I LOVE Sabrina with Hepburn and Bogart (not too fond of the remake).  I’m also a huge Ever After fan.

The basic premise is one story I can read again and again, in all sorts of different incarnations, and never tire of it.

Lisa - I’m so pleased for you! What a wonderful accomplishment! I’ve got to get out my B&N 15% off coupon and go pick it up!

My favorite Cinderella story? Well, I love The Sound of Music. That’s a poor girl marries rich man story. But the Disney movie is probably my favorite!

Congratulations Lisa! I’m excited to read it.

I can’t think of any Cinderella type movies that haven’t already been mentioned, except maybe “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Bookwise I think Kathleen Tessaro’s “Elegance” was a quirky new Cinderella story. Also, Susan Elizabeth Phillips “This Heart of Mine” is a type of Cinderella story. Molly does get a haircut…

I think it is interesting this whole concept of Cinderella. In the original, it’s about money. She is a good beautiful girl and so she wins the prince. Now, Cinderella seems to imply more of an ugly duckling story. My question it seems is: must a Cinderella story be a physical transformation (like cutting your hair, or getting a makeover) in order to be a Cinderella story, or can the transformation happen inside as the character slowly learns to accept herself and be confident in who she is? What really makes a Cinderella story I guess is what I am asking. I am curious to hear what everyone thinks.

And I hope this doesn’t detract too much from Lisa’s blog. 

Oooh ---- I’m so excited to read this one.  BTW - I love the UK cover even better.  Santa - as a kid, my siblings and I just ADORED Cinderfella - it was one of our all-time faves.  A Cinderella movie that still to this day remains my top pick is The Slipper and the Rose with Richard Chamberlain as the Prince.  Loved the music, dancing but that scene when she (Cinderella) enters the ballroom . . . pure delight!!!

Congrats Lisa! I am looking forward to meeting you at Books & co in good ole Dayton OH on your book tour.  I read the exerpt on your site and cant wait to read the whole thing.

For Cinderella, I just finished re-reading Dreaming of You and its the ultimate Cinderella story as both Derek and Sara can be considered Cinderella stories.  Derek for pulling himself up from nothing and Sara for being the kind, loving soul that she is.

The booklets are in ther Romance section!  I checked it out on Monday so I would be all set on Tuesday.

I have my copy but I’m trying to save it for this weekend so I can savor it while I’m on vacation.  I don’t think I’ll make it.

Maybe if I just take a little peek…

I bought it yesterday at B&N, and they had sixty copies at Costco! That is the best cover I ever saw. It glows (and I wish it did have batteries in it, Lisa, because I know what everyone would be using them for!)

Here’s the story about SD. We had the advanced reading copy. I was working. My husband picked it up and read a chapter. Then he read another chapter. Then he was reading as fast as he could. We went on vacation with our daughters. We got into the hotel rooms, the rest of us crashed for a nap, he read until he finished the book. Then my daughter picked it up. She read a chapter. Then she read the next chapter. Then she was reading as fast as she could ...  This is a seriously wonderful book!

Can’t wait to read SD!

Cinderella stories? I love a lot that’ve already been mentioned (movies: Sabrina, Never Been Kissed, Ever After, all the Disney Cinderellas, The Mirror Has Two Faces). There are a lot of books with a similar premise, and like IrishEyes, I never get tired of reading or watching different versions of this story! Montgomery’s The Blue Castle, Levine’s Ella Enchanted, Linda Howard’s Open Season, aah! There are so many great ones!

Has anyone seen Cinderella III: A Twist in Time? I really enjoyed it. It was better than Cinderella II, and I thought it was even good enough that it may have done well if released in theaters rather than going straight to DVD. Of course, I have a huge crush on the cartoon prince—and isn’t that sad? But he’s just such a sweetheart in C3, how could anyone resist?

Oooh, I love both covers, Lisa!  I’ve already read it as an ARC and I’m STILL rushing out to buy a copy because I want it for my keeper shelf!

lilyfleur,
I definitely think there has to be an internal transformation from someone—if not a transformation of the heroine, then of the hero. If the heroine doesn’t really change except for her appearance, then it’s the prince who has to make the internal transformation. For example, he might recognize that he has missed out on relationships with great people because he judged based on appearance or class (like in Ever After).
I think a Cinderella story in which the characters don’t develop internally is, well, the easy way out, and it doesn’t offer much of a happy ending, really. If it’s all about appearances, what happens when Cinderella gets older? Will the prince trade her in for a newer model?
The reason I appreciate the “newer” versions is that they show Cinderellas with agency. She’s not passively waiting and hoping to be rescued. She’s rescuing herself and sometimes even rescuing the prince.

part 2 to follow…

part 2 --

Of course, in college I remember watching the cartoon and getting a lecture about how the prince needed Cinderella, how she was the most important part of the story (b/c of heirs ‘n’ such), but I never really believed that lecture. I think the professor was trying to tell us that it was still a feminist movie despite the passiveness of the heroine. I think a case can certainly be made that it’s a feminist movie, but not based on that argument. If her value was as a princess and heir-maker, then why is she—that specific girl—important? Wouldn’t anyone else do as well?

OK, this is super long, but I hope there’s some sort of point in all my rambling.

Congrats Lisa!  Just so happens I’ll be going to Border’s tonight, what a strange coincidence, eh?  Love both covers and I agree, the first thing I thought of when I saw the UK cover was Audrey Hepburn in ‘Sabrina’.  Loved that movie, even liked the remake. 

Cinderella stories.  Can’t think of any that haven’t been mentioned.  I’m a huge fan of ‘Ever After’ and of course, the Disney version.  Who can resist singing mice?? 

I’m not sure if it can be a Cinderella movie, but I love ‘While You Were Sleeping’ with Sandra Bullock.  I’m a sucker for those romantic comedies. 

--dorothy

I love Bridget Jones...particularly the first one. 

Also, Jemima J, by Jennifer Green

I love women who overcome societal stigmas and get the man in the end.

Congratulations on Sugar Daddy!!  My copy from Amazon should be on the porch when I get home tonight!  I can’t wait to read it. 

Cinderella stories . .. in the movie category, I love Pretty Woman.  In books . . . there are so many good stories of undowried or non-peered girls marrying peers:  Westin and Lillian, Mayne and Josie, Rafe and Imogen (although I think poor Rafe may have been the Cinderella there).  I just re-read The Viscount Who Loved Me and Anthony and Kate are another Cinderella story too - she’s outshined (outshown?) by her stepsister, undowried, and a daughter of a second son to a baron who marries a wealthy viscount.

I love Pygmalion and My Fair Lady… love it.  And Gigi - when Leslie Caron wears that fabulous white dress and he realizes that she’s all grown up.

aagh Lisa! I knew Sugar Daddy was coming out yesterday and have been waiting for it for so long and reading that excerpt over and over, but I’m in crunch time at the end of my school quarter and had avowed to make myself wait until after finals, or at least until the weekend, to get it. I should have known I wasn’t kidding anybody...at 9:30 pm last night I just couldn’t stand the suspense any longer and literally ran over to Borders and snagged a copy, and then stayed up ALL NIGHT reading it. I’m going to be falling asleep during lecture, but it was so worth it!!!! Great, great story, such an excellent contemporary “bow.” Now I can’t wait till more people have read it so I can gab about all my favorite parts!

As for favorite Cinderella stories, like others here I adore Ever After and can recite it backwards and forwards. The book equivalent might be Julia Quinn’s An Offer from a Gentleman - similar story, but with the Bridgertons.

I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday and they didn’t have it out.  I knew they had to have it so I made them go in the back and dig through boxes until 15 minutes later I had a copy in my hands.

When I left the store, one of the girls was putting them up on the display.  I have to say I am a determined reader when a book comes out that I want.  I did the same thing with SEP’s book.  You gotta crack the whip with some of these bookstores! 

I started reading it last night and will have my nose between the pages again tonight.  Can’t wait to get off work!

Congratulations Lisa, I can’t wait to read this book.  So far everything you have written has been put on my keeper shelf.

Cinderella Stories - I love Never Been Kissed and Ever After.  Drew Barrymore does a great job with this kind of story.

Congrats, Lisa!  I’m looking forward to reading SUGAR DADDY.  The plot sounds like one I’ll really enjoy.

Congrats Lisa! 

Yes, it’s a beautiful cover and stands out against the rest of the books.  Your eyes can’t help but be drawn to it.  It’s going to be my weekend read (so nobody spoil it.)

I think most of the romances we read have some aspect of Cinderella in them.  I keep thinking of Christina’s Governess Series.  Those girls were down on their luck, and just wanted honest work, and end up with their “prince charming’s”. Sigh!

I’m with many here that Disney’s is the ultimate.  My favorite part is when Cinderella reaches into her apron and pulls out the other glass slipper....the look on the step-mother’s face is priceless.  To have that much “shock-factor” is amazing.

Congratulations Lisa K. on your first contemporary!
I ordered the SD audiobook from Brilliance Audio last week and it should be here any day.  I love to knit and read and find that audiobooks allow me to do both at the same time.
I am very pleased that your new book is in audio form and wish the rest of your books were also, especially Worth Any Price, one of my favorite books of all time.
Thank you for all the hours of enjoyment
Melodye J.

Congratulations Lisa! I’ll keep an eye out for it down here in NZ, but it might be a while - I’m STILL waiting for PFP

Hmmm, Cinderella stories. My mind has gone completely blank, but I’ll add in my vote for Ever After.

orannia

I have to agree with you Wirdald, but then what makes the Disney story of Cinderella so compeling? I mean, her character doesn’t change, only hear appearance. The Prince is attracted to her immediately because of this and later, after they talk, by her personality. Then he finds her and marries her irregardless of the fact that she is a pauper (and we don’t know if he would have discriminated against her because he never met her as a pauper before).  So in essence it was only a physical transformation. And yet, I wanted to be Cinderella when I was little and have some Prince come sweep me off my feet (still do!) and make me a Princess.

Oh well. I’m probably thinking about it too deeply. I guess that is why Ever After was so much more satisfying. It is a more “grown-up” version with dialogue, development of character and complexities, much like romance novels.

Congratulations Lisa!!  The cover is amazing! You’re right, it does seem to glow!  I went out and bought my copy yesterday at the local Borders and they had it on display right as you walk in the door!!  I am about a 1/3 of the way through it and it’s been amazing so far.  The story seems to reach out of the pages and touch your heart.  I cannot wait to finish the rest!!  Me and my copy will be at your book signing tomorrow in San Antonio!!

As for a favorite “Cinderella Story”.  I like the happy Cinderella type ending of Nanny McPhee.....The Sound Of Music is a favorite of mine as well...!!

I’ll be looking for you, dear!

Now that everyone is listing books, it all comes back to me.  Now I know another reason TOTD is one of my all time favorites. It’s Cinderfella sans evil step siblings, of course.

And, ely, Gigi...of course!

Santa
Hoping she makes it to NJ later this month!

Oh, Lisa!  “Sugar Daddy,” well, I just loved it and everyone in it!  So hoping the story will continue for some others in it…

Cinderella stories?  Used to be that the learned and enlightened among us thought reading em was akin to teaching our daughters their only lot in life is prettying up to catch a rich guy who’ll take care of their needy selves the rest of their lives.  As if that’s a bad thing.

Kidding!  I’m really pleased that now Feminists and romance scholars are giving us support in our liking the Cinderella/HEA, because now we can do a little happy “told you so” dance for anyone who thinks Prince Charming is just for little girls.

I love hopping into any “Cinderella’s” place in a novel—like Liberty Jones’—because it feels so good when it all comes together at the end.  I feel like it’s happening to me every time.

Lisa, I can’t wait to read SD. Ellen Micheletti, my favorite AAR reviewer, gave it a lovely review this week and persuaded me to bite the bullet and buy HC.

I think Cinderella is the most widely popular of fairy tales; researchers have identified well over a thousand versions. In addition to those already mentioned, some of my favorites are Teresa’s Charming the Prince (my favorite TM novel), Anne Gracie’s Tallie’s Knight, and Edith Layton’s The Cad. Strangely, I can’t think of as many contemporary titles. The only one I can recall is Nora Roberts’s The Winning Hand, which is part Cinderella, part Wizard of Oz.

Lisa, would love to read SD!!! It’s been long since I read your last book

But I have not found a digital edition, and here in Venezuela it will be a long time before they sell the book (if ever).  Do you know if St. Martin will sell a digital edition?

BTW, I saw here they are selling Suddenly You in spanish (Irresistible).  I thought about buying it, but am afraid to see the translation (how would you say footman, petticoats, all the types of carriages and horses!).  Do they consult with you when translating your books?

dear lisa
how can i get the british version of your book love the cover must have it

love
sarah

Pretty Woman was the first thing that came to mind for me too.

I loved your cover and am looking forward to reading it.

Sarah…

Try....

amazon.com.uk

The shipping will be very high, but they should have the book.

Message from Laura T who has booked an over night flight to the UK:

Wait… that’s the pain killers talking-the ones I’m on from getting out my wisdom teeth . haha.

If only I would totally be there buying this book right now for everyone. I can’t wait!!!

I also LOVE the Audrey Hepburn Sabrina and have watched it a few times… I have also seen the Riki Lake verision that was surprisingly awesome.

Lisa.. this is just so fabulous on so many levels. All of the SR authors have me cheering on every release date… Sugar Daddy is going to be so so so good. Cinderella stories are so much fun! I can’t wait to be entertained to the max.

I think that most love stories, both in literature and real life, qualify as Cinderella stories.  Even in today’s cynical world, isn’t that perfect or nearly perfect mate we find our own prince? 

I know that it sounds trite, but I think that it was the man not the castle that was the catch. 

I can’t wait to read Sugar Daddy!!  Lisa, I love it when people branch out into unfamiliar territory.  I think that you’ll have a wonderful contemporary voice. 

WOOO WHOOO!!!

Lisa, I can’t wait to read Sugar Daddy!  I’m sure I’ll love it.
As for Cinderella stories, I’m with Elyssany, Gigi is one of my all-time favourite movies!!
I saw it on TV when I was 11 years old and fell in love with Louis Jourdan.  He was such a hottie!
I also loved Pretty Woman and Sabrina.
Desiree

I love Everafter also. Angelica Huston made such a great wicked step mother. I am ashamed but I like The Cinderella Story too. I know it cheesy teen movie but I liked it.
As for books, An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn, The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie, River Lady by Jude Deveraux are good Cinderella type storylines. The best though is Charming the Prince by Teresa. The funniest most romantic Cinderella adaptation, and the best artwork. The art is even listed on amazon’s top 100 best book art list.

Melodye J, Suddenly You is on audio by Recorded Books. You can rent or buy it by going to recordedbooks.com or your local library might have it. I own a copy, it is great.

Ohh Baby, I’m devouring my copy of Sugar Daddy right now. I got my copy at a bargain at Borders: it’s markdown at 30% off, minus the $2.00 coupon and I also had a 10% personal shopping day.  Yahoo!!!

Elsie,
Wow, I am impressed.  Way to shop!

Lisa, my son’s birthday is on March 21st (when you’ll be here in Atl).  I’m bringing the whole family to your signing, after we go out for a birthday dinner.

Save me two copies: one for me, one for Santa!!!!!!!

I CAN’T WAIT to see you!

Just got home a little while ago from Lisa’s booksigning at Hastings in Amarillo.  What a nice, gracious lady she is!  I have to admit, I was a bit star struck; I felt a little like Ralphie Parker as he finally meets Santa Claus at Higbee’s Department store, once I was face to face, I felt like my words left me! But Lisa was fabulous, and put me at ease quickly. 

I am looking forward to reading your books, Lisa!  And now I have a special interest in Sugar Daddy, with the hair dresser angle and all!

P.S.--just a funny thing aside from the topic--my code word to enter this message is “position 36.” HEHE.  What in the world could that one be?