Rain
While I typically don’t read novels that involve single parents (it’s just not my thing), Lauren Blakely is one of the handful of my go to authors. Her skill at creating realistic dynamic characters is evident and they draw you into their world. It is impossible to not become invested in their stories just as it is hard not to love them. Her leads have blatant chemistry, with witty and humorous dialogue and more than just heat between the sheet. They just...work so well together. Blakely should be commended on her ability to take cliche, overused tropes and make them entertaining. From the former rockstar dad to him being her son’s tutor to their agreement to just stay friends, separate they all sound like a story that has been written a million times. It’s Blakely’s skill as both a writer and a storyteller that turn these into an engaging story. From her engaging characters to her steamy scene involving a couple clearly mean to be, everything about Blakely’s novel is absolutely lovely.
Sandy S.
4.25 stars-ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME is the first instalment in Lauren Blakely’s contemporary adult THE HEARTBREAKERS erotic, romance series focusing on the Evans brothers. This is single parents, former teen idol and guitarist Campbell Evans aka Mason Hart, and graphic designer MacKenzie Marksons’s story line. Told from dual first person perspectives (Campbell and MacKenzie) ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME follows the building relationship between former teen idol and guitarist Campbell Evans aka Mason Hart, and graphic designer MacKenzie (Markson). MacKenzie is all about playing trivia at The Grouchy Owl until the one night the sexy lead singer of a local band offers up more than a couple of songs for our story line heroine. Enter single father and former teen idol Campbell Evans aka Mason Hart, and the man with whom MacKenzie will fall in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between MacKenzie and Campbell, and the potential fall-out as MacKenzie struggles with Campbell’s position as her son’s infamous music teacher. MacKenzie is a single mother to Kyle Markson, a child music prodigy whose has been offered a prestigious chance with a former star but unbeknownst to MacKenzie, said former star and her son’s new music teacher is the man who is currently starring in both her literal and virtual dreams. Unwilling to risk her son’s chance for the future, MacKenzie sacrifices her friendship and relationship with the man that she loves. Campbell Evans suffered a tragic loss, and in the ensuing years left the band to raise his daughter as a single father, but meeting MacKenzie gives Campbell the hope for a second chance at a happily ever after. The relationship between Campbell and MacKenzie is one of immediate attraction; a palpable sexual attraction between two single parents who have put their personal lives on hold for the foreseeable future. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense. Both Campbell and MacKenzie like to talk dirty in the bedroom. We are introduced to MacKenzie’s son Kyle, his father Jamison, and MacKenzie’s best friend Roxy Sterling; Campbell’s daughter Samantha, and his brothers Miles and Miller Evans aka Hart. ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME is a story of family, friendship, music and love. The premise is sexy and sassy; the romance is seductive and passionate; the characters are flirty, colorful and lively. ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME is a spicy and spirited story that is sure to set the sheets on fire. I will add I am not sure if Markson is MacKenzie’s last name. I looked throughout the story but could only find one reference to Kyle’s last name, and no last name given for the other significant man in MacKenzie’s life, Kyle’s father Jamison. I am not a fan of no last name for the heroine, especially when the leading male is ‘gifted’ not one but two last names. The female lead is entitled to the same recognition, in my humble opinion.
3 people found this review helpful
Book Bruin Kim
Once Upon a Real Good Time was a fun and light rom com! It's low on angst and drama and was a wonderful single parent love story with a touch of forbidden thrown in for good measure. I really loved Mackenzie and Campbell! They had undeniable chemistry and Campbell's dirty mouth was just delicious! The push and pull between them was perfect and created just the right amount of build up. I really appreciated that though they both wanted more from the other, their first priorities were always the happiness of their children. Having them both be single parents was a twist on the trope I haven't seen often and I found it really refreshing that the hero and heroine were both mature and responsible adults with established careers and lives. Mackenzie was such a quirky and fun heroine. Her endless trivia knowledge and cooking skills were awesome and I loved the backstory behind her single parent status. The secondary characters were just as amazing and added some wonderfully to the story, especially Jamison. The epilogue set up the next book perfectly and I can't wait for Miller's friends to lovers romance! If you're looking for an easy and sexy rom com, you don't want to miss this one!