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Once Upon a Bride
Happily ever after…?
When Gabe Vitali escapes to a fresh start in Crystal Point, Australia, the former physician isn't looking for a storybook ending. For the first time he's living in the moment. His new five-year plan does not include serious relationships. But he doesn't anticipate his unavoidable next-door neighbor…and an undeniable attraction.
Bridal consultant Lauren Jakowski wants marriage. She's just sworn off love and sex! To avoid getting burned again, she's looking for safe and forever-after. But they're not Gabe's to give–for reasons he can't share with anyone, least of all this pretty complication.
Gabe and Lauren don't figure on a fairy tale. But fate has other plans….
When Gabe Vitali escapes to a fresh start in Crystal Point, Australia, the former physician isn't looking for a storybook ending. For the first time he's living in the moment. His new five-year plan does not include serious relationships. But he doesn't anticipate his unavoidable next-door neighbor…and an undeniable attraction.
Bridal consultant Lauren Jakowski wants marriage. She's just sworn off love and sex! To avoid getting burned again, she's looking for safe and forever-after. But they're not Gabe's to give–for reasons he can't share with anyone, least of all this pretty complication.
Gabe and Lauren don't figure on a fairy tale. But fate has other plans….
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Helen Lacey
164 books148 followersAbout Helen
Helen Lacey grew up reading Black Beauty, Anne of Green Gables and Little House on The Prairie. These childhood classics inspired her to write her first book when she was seven years old, a story about a girl and her horse. Although, it wasn’t until the age of eleven when she read her first Mills & Boon, that she knew wanted to write romances. Her parents’ love of travel meant she saw much of the world in those early years and she feels fortunate to have had a diverse and interesting education over several continents.
She continued to write into her teens and twenties with the dream of one day being a published author. A few years and careers later, including motel operator, florist, strapper, dog washer, and retail manager, she got the call from Harlequin Special Edition. She loves writing about tortured heroes, both cowboys and CEO’s, and heroines who finally get the love of the man of their dreams.
From Welsh parents and a large family, she lives on the east coast of Australia in a small seaside town at the southern most point of The Great Barrier Reef, with her wonderfully supportive husband, many horses, two cats and three spoiled dogs.
Helen Lacey grew up reading Black Beauty, Anne of Green Gables and Little House on The Prairie. These childhood classics inspired her to write her first book when she was seven years old, a story about a girl and her horse. Although, it wasn’t until the age of eleven when she read her first Mills & Boon, that she knew wanted to write romances. Her parents’ love of travel meant she saw much of the world in those early years and she feels fortunate to have had a diverse and interesting education over several continents.
She continued to write into her teens and twenties with the dream of one day being a published author. A few years and careers later, including motel operator, florist, strapper, dog washer, and retail manager, she got the call from Harlequin Special Edition. She loves writing about tortured heroes, both cowboys and CEO’s, and heroines who finally get the love of the man of their dreams.
From Welsh parents and a large family, she lives on the east coast of Australia in a small seaside town at the southern most point of The Great Barrier Reef, with her wonderfully supportive husband, many horses, two cats and three spoiled dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 2, 2014
ONCE UPON A BRIDE by author Helen Lacey is a Harlequin Special Edition series release for September 2014.
Gabe Vitali escaped from his troubled past to a small town in Australia but was he ready for commitment?
Lauren Jakowski is ready for marriage. And she shares an attraction for Gabe, but would Gabe be the one to give her happy ever after? After all he is incapable of happy ever afters, isn’t he?
ONCE UPON A BRIDE is a heartwarming tale of two opposites falling for each other. I loved the drama among all the shimmering emotions as well as revisiting Crystal Point. Author Helen Lacey has a way with words which is incomparable.
Recommended for all lovers of romance.
Gabe Vitali escaped from his troubled past to a small town in Australia but was he ready for commitment?
Lauren Jakowski is ready for marriage. And she shares an attraction for Gabe, but would Gabe be the one to give her happy ever after? After all he is incapable of happy ever afters, isn’t he?
ONCE UPON A BRIDE is a heartwarming tale of two opposites falling for each other. I loved the drama among all the shimmering emotions as well as revisiting Crystal Point. Author Helen Lacey has a way with words which is incomparable.
Recommended for all lovers of romance.
Read
July 26, 2014Another winner by Helen Lacey! I enjoyed Lauren and Gabe. The first scene was fun and set the scene for all kinds of twists and turns throughout the story! Hoping to read more about some of the great secondary characters too!
September 2, 2014
Helen Lacey has done it again! The characters from Crystal Point are back and this time we get to read all about how opposites attract! An amazing fall head over heals love story that will leave you with that wonderful "ah love" feeling and begging for more!
September 2, 2014
Once Upon a Bride by Helen Lacey is an enjoyable read. I started reading the book this morning, and I am thankful that I read fast. I finished it tonight. It was too good to put down and thoroughly worth the time to read it.
The story is of Gabe Vitali and Lauren Jakowki. Gabe moves to Crystal Point, Australia to get away from his former life. Lauren is a bridal consultant who lost her first love to Cancer, and married on the rebound only to have that not be a pleasant experience. Fate comes into play when they meet for the first time at a wedding, and then Gabe moves in next door to her without prior knowledge. Lauren isn't willing to have a purely sexual relationship, and Gabe just wants a one night stand. Their past comes in to play on how their relationship will turn out. Friends and family become involved in moving this couple together.
There is quite a bit more I can say about their story but I'd rather have you read it yourself. I don't like to give too much away. Believe me it is worth picking up.
The story is of Gabe Vitali and Lauren Jakowki. Gabe moves to Crystal Point, Australia to get away from his former life. Lauren is a bridal consultant who lost her first love to Cancer, and married on the rebound only to have that not be a pleasant experience. Fate comes into play when they meet for the first time at a wedding, and then Gabe moves in next door to her without prior knowledge. Lauren isn't willing to have a purely sexual relationship, and Gabe just wants a one night stand. Their past comes in to play on how their relationship will turn out. Friends and family become involved in moving this couple together.
There is quite a bit more I can say about their story but I'd rather have you read it yourself. I don't like to give too much away. Believe me it is worth picking up.
August 21, 2014
This is my favorite Crystal Point book so far. The hero Gabe is SO sexy, and Helen Lacey is so good at writing sexual tension. It throbbed between this pair. I just adored Lauren as well, she was so wounded, so strong, so brave! Right up until the end I wasn't sure how they'd find their happily ever after, and when they did, I cried! This book is a keeper. You'll love it.
January 23, 2015
Helen Lacey's Once Upon a Bride is a funny, sweet and beautiful love story that leaves you with a warm feeling in your heart. Her penmanship is flawless (her choice of words brings out the emotions and surroundings involved with her characters with precision) Her characters seem so real as any human being that they jump out from the pages! Absolutely loved Gabe and Lauren! Highly Recommended.
Read
January 12, 2016"Lacey’s excellent narrative eloquently brings the characters and Australian landscape to life. The couple’s fierce desire and powerful angst-filled banter is tangible, and the lovemaking is a delight" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars TOP PICK!).
September 8, 2015
Once Upon a Bride is a beautiful, enriching and moving story set in Crystal Point in which the author, Helen Lacey weaves a brilliant tale.
At her brother’s wedding Lauren reminds her friends she is “celibate, not comatose” while discussing her sex life and their thoughts on the best looking man in town, Gabe Vitali. Lauren is mortified when she discovers Gabe overhears what she thinks of him and to make things worse she then falls into the pool. Things go from bad to worse when they become neighbours and co-dog-sitters. Completely attracted to each other, but for many reasons they resist with both believing that “Mr or Mrs Right is NOT Mr or Mrs Right-Next-Door” (again, thank the author for that brilliant piece of writing).
Once Upon a Bride is a beautifully written, completely absorbing, wonderfully compelling and totally exceptional and sweet story. I thought it was bright and breezy, mixed with emotion all at the right times. Crystal Point is such a lovely setting and aids the story. Gabe and Lauren are two people who want what the other can’t give and their journey to happy ever after is truly moving and it’s quite the perfect story with how everything is weaved together. The story, the characters and the conversation between the two is rewarding and I have read this book more than once.
I’m such a fan of the angsty type books with billionaires and the such because it’s so far removed from my life that I don’t often read stories such as Once Upon a Bride, but I can’t think of how else to describe how much I loved this book except to say it’s almost the complete opposite of what I normally read and I absolutely loved it. I would highly recommend if you want to get lost in a true love story with realistic characters.
Review originally published here: http://rbh-contemporary.blogspot.co.n...
At her brother’s wedding Lauren reminds her friends she is “celibate, not comatose” while discussing her sex life and their thoughts on the best looking man in town, Gabe Vitali. Lauren is mortified when she discovers Gabe overhears what she thinks of him and to make things worse she then falls into the pool. Things go from bad to worse when they become neighbours and co-dog-sitters. Completely attracted to each other, but for many reasons they resist with both believing that “Mr or Mrs Right is NOT Mr or Mrs Right-Next-Door” (again, thank the author for that brilliant piece of writing).
Once Upon a Bride is a beautifully written, completely absorbing, wonderfully compelling and totally exceptional and sweet story. I thought it was bright and breezy, mixed with emotion all at the right times. Crystal Point is such a lovely setting and aids the story. Gabe and Lauren are two people who want what the other can’t give and their journey to happy ever after is truly moving and it’s quite the perfect story with how everything is weaved together. The story, the characters and the conversation between the two is rewarding and I have read this book more than once.
I’m such a fan of the angsty type books with billionaires and the such because it’s so far removed from my life that I don’t often read stories such as Once Upon a Bride, but I can’t think of how else to describe how much I loved this book except to say it’s almost the complete opposite of what I normally read and I absolutely loved it. I would highly recommend if you want to get lost in a true love story with realistic characters.
Review originally published here: http://rbh-contemporary.blogspot.co.n...
September 10, 2014
I loved this story it is heartwarming and a beautiful story of two people who have been through so much Gabe has moved from America to Crystal Point Australia and given up his job as a Doctor he has a lot of guilt to overcome and a five year plan before he will even consider falling in love but that is before he meets Lauren who runs a bridal shop Lauren too has been through a lot and has decided that when she marries it will not involve love or passion she has been there and does not want to go there again this time it will be friendship and compatability that is of course until she meets Gabe. Gabe and Lauren are neighbours and there is such a spark of electricity between them that pulls them together and pulls them apart but Lauren is a very strong person and with the help of family and friends they both finally see that they need each other and that love and passion and trust is what they both want and need. Don't miss this one :)
February 12, 2015
Love is Trust
Once Upon a Bride by Helen Lacey brings to life a struggle of true love. This romance, set in Australia, is jam-packed with secrets that thump with intense emotion. Gabe and Lauren must learn to trust one another with their pasts to be able to see a future together. Lacey keeps the struggle taut until the end. And she doesn’t cheapen the experience with easy answers to searing questions brought up in the text. If you’re looking for a romance pierced with true love, this story’s for you.
Once Upon a Bride by Helen Lacey brings to life a struggle of true love. This romance, set in Australia, is jam-packed with secrets that thump with intense emotion. Gabe and Lauren must learn to trust one another with their pasts to be able to see a future together. Lacey keeps the struggle taut until the end. And she doesn’t cheapen the experience with easy answers to searing questions brought up in the text. If you’re looking for a romance pierced with true love, this story’s for you.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews