It wasn’t a glass slipper that Michelle Moss left behind at the Masquerade Ball, but a beat up laptop. Her driver remained human, her ride didn’t turn into a pumpkin, and thank goodness she didn’t see any mice waiting for her in her condo. But Michelle did spontaneously kiss her masked Prince Charming and was determined to find him.
Tracking down her missing laptop using a locator app, she fully expected birds to sing, rice to fall from the sky, and the credits to roll when she found her potential true love. Instead, she found the editor, Brooks Keller, who rejected her modern fairytale manuscript. He told her the book was unrealistic, unimaginable, and unpublishable. Oh, and he’s also the ex who dumped her in high school.
Michelle urgently needs the book advance to bail her not-so-wicked but irresponsible stepbrother out of a financial mess. But she doesn’t want to change her fairytale ending. So, Michelle and Brooks make a deal: they will retrace her character’s steps from the book and if Brooks falls head over heels for Michelle then Brooks will publish the book Michelle’s way. If not, then Michelle will make the requested changes.
As Michelle tests out the life she always dreamed of, she discovers the chemistry with Brooks is still there after all these years. She knows Brooks is only playing the part of the hero, but everything feels so real. If she acts on her feelings, though, will he break her heart a second time?
SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan’s books have been translated into German, Spanish, French, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.
A fun second-chance-at-love story with a fairy-tale vibe. Michelle meets her Prince Charming at a fundraising masquerade ball and they share an amazing kiss. The next day Michelle realizes she left her laptop at the ball and is shocked to find it in the office of Prince & Company, the publisher that just rejected her romance manuscript calling it "unrealistic, unimaginable, and unpublishable". Ouch!!
This is when Michelle discovers that hunky Prince Charming from the night before, and the person who hates her manuscript are the same person! That's not all she discovers, which leads to a bet to prove or disprove that the romance she wrote isn't unrealistic--that it could really happen.
I loved all the fairy tale fairy references in this story, and like all good stories Michelle and Brooks hit a few bumps on the road to their happily-ever-after. I'm really enjoying this fun sweet romance series by Susan Hatler. We get to see a few characters from previous books in the series, which is always fun. Although this is a series each book is a standalone so they can be read in any order.
I received a complimentary copy from Hatco Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.
This whole series is absolutely adorable and I loved the fairytale theme in this bookish romance. I also love how each cover accurately reflects the heroine, and of course, this one is no different.
A masquerade ball is the perfect setting for a romantic first meeting between Michelle and her Prince Charming and an expected kiss was the icing on the cake. I gasped out loud when the masks came off later and didn't stop swooning, laughing, and devouring from that point on. Brooks and Michelle are perfectly matched and I loved the book elements swirling throughout their romance, especially with the reenactments.
This princess-like tale isn't without challenges, both in their personal lives and in their relationship, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching them work things out and cheering on their happily-ever-after. From start to finish, Hatler delivers a charmingly delectable distraction that was almost hotter than this summer day (but clean, of course) and I loved every minute of it.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Once Upon a Date by Susan Hatler a sparkling five-star read. This is number six in the Do-over date series, but I haven’t read them all and don’t feel lost as each story focuses on a different couple. This time its Michelle Moss and Brooks Miller that step up to the plate, and what a story they tell. This is filled with passion and drama and upset as well, as Michelle doesn’t have it all sunshine and roses, she has family drama and feels the need to prove herself and her story, but she isn’t the only one who feels the need to prove themselves, but you need to read the story to find out who.
Here is a summary of what the book is about. It wasn’t a glass slipper that Michelle Moss left behind at the Masquerade Ball, but a beat up laptop. Her driver remained human, her ride didn’t turn into a pumpkin, and thank goodness she didn’t see any mice waiting for her in her condo. But Michelle did spontaneously kiss her masked Prince Charming and was determined to find him.
Tracking down her missing laptop using a locator app, she fully expected birds to sing, rice to fall from the sky, and the credits to roll when she found her potential true love. Instead, she found the editor, Brooks Keller, who rejected her modern fairytale manuscript. He told her the book was unrealistic, unimaginable, and unpublishable. Oh, and he’s also the ex who dumped her in high school.
Michelle urgently needs the book advance to bail her not-so-wicked but irresponsible stepbrother out of a financial mess. But she doesn’t want to change her fairytale ending. So, Michelle and Brooks make a deal: they will retrace her character’s steps from the book and if Brooks falls head over heels for Michelle then Brooks will publish the book Michelle’s way. If not, then Michelle will make the requested changes.
As Michelle tests out the life she always dreamed of, she discovers the chemistry with Brooks is still there after all these years. She knows Brooks is only playing the part of the hero, but everything feels so real. If she acts on her feelings, though, will he break her heart a second time?
I just love short sweet clean romance books. The Do -Over -Date series by Susan Hatler makes me happy. This book was written well. I love the characters of this series. It was a cute story. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Funny, quick, modern day version of princess style romance, imho! It was a fun story, for some strange times, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a standalone story however I’ve “met” Michelle in previous books. I finally get to find out her story.
Bottom line: she is truly a lead-with-her-heart kinda gal. It seems that all her choices are made by how she feels about a person. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing; it’s just that it mostly gets her in trouble. She’s an author, has just submitted her romance to a big-time publisher, and it has been rejected. She’s not feeling very…festive at the moment. Her friend drags her to a masked ball, and of COURSE she meets her Prince Charming – masked of course! She has to run from the ball…and of course, loses the Prince.
The next day she tries to track down something she lost at the ball (no spoilers from me), and she runs into an ex-boyfriend. Mayhem of the best kind ensues, of course, and you’ll have to read the story yourself to enjoy the wild ride. I truly loved Michelle, especially when she leads with her heart; I think that makes her very special. Again, it is a quick read romance story but it has all the fairy tale “feels” in today’s world.
A super fun and cute twist on Cinderella. Struggling writer Michelle Moss ends up at a masquerade ball with her friend. Only to hide in the corner with her laptop, with her glass slipper decal on it, to show the editor who denied her manuscript that her book was amazing and it would be published by sending it out to other editors. Take that unimaginative editor! But her plans go a little awry when the other person at the table shows up and has mesmerizing blue eyes and the sparks between them have her dancing in his arms faster than she can blink! Of course send in a few unexpected emergencies and she's dashing off into the night, leaving her Prince Charming with an amazing kiss and her laptop too!
What happens next is darling and, for Michelle, unexpected. Somewhat predictable for the reader though. Getting her laptop back and reconnecting with her high school flame, Michelle finds herself living out the sweet romance in her book. With ups and downs and a stepbrother who keeps putting a wrench in her plans, this laugh out loud and darling modern Cinderella story had me hooked. I devoured it every chance I could. I really loved the chemistry between Michelle and her Prince Charming. There were of course a few moments where I wanted to give him a piece of my mind (Michelle too) but he definitely lived up to the title of Charming. His moments of almost telling Michelle his feelings for her were very swoony!
If you're looking for a charming read I definitely recommend this one. I loved it! I loved the beginning, the uncertainty, the frustrations, the meet cute, the story within a story, the Prince coming in to save the day, the coffee barista (who is an important character in each book in the series), the friends and roommates, the sparks and chemistry, the coming to know one's self, the sweet romance...everything! Darling and worth the time!
Content: Clean. Some sweet and swoony kisses and nothing further!
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
This is the sixth book in the Do-Over Date Series: Second Chance Clean Romances. A great addition to this humorous series that will have laughing so hard at times. A second chance at love for Michelle and Brooks. Imagine when she left her old laptop at the masked ball and finds out that the gorgeous masked man she kissed is no other than her old boyfriend. A cute twist on the Cinderella theme with a modern touch. If you've read any of the other books in the series you'll recognize some of the characters. The book is an entertaining, fun read with delightful characters. No cliffhanger and an HEA. I read a free book via Booksprout and voluntarily chose to write a review.
I really enjoyed this fun story! The heroine, Michelle, has written her first book and submitted it to a publisher. Her book is rejected, and she is trying to decide what to do next. She meets a man that evening and is swept into her own fairy tale. I can't say more than that because there are some surprises. But I will say that I enjoyed the fairy tale theme and the use of Michelle's book in the plot. Michelle and Brooks are good characters, and I may have yelled at them a time or two while they were making decisions. This is a fun, light-hearted, and clean read, and I was smiling as I finished it.
Do over date series... Michelle, a writer, has written a modern day fairytale book. When it’s rejected by a publisher with a few scathing comments she’s taken aback to learn that Brooks, who broke her heart years ago has done it again... I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily
I really enjoyed reading this charming book. It's a feel-good & moving romance. Michelle, dreams of being an author. She devastated after the rejection of her novel. Brooks, is an editor. He received a novel submitted by a new author. He decided against publishing it. She believes in love. He believes fairy tale love is not realistic. Can Michelle & Brooks, come to an agreement about love & see what is truly right in front of their eyes. A MUST READ!!
Thank you NetGalley and Hatco Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. Once Upon a Date is a modern day take on Cinderella. It was a short and sweet read. Even though we all know how the classic fairytale ends, there were enough twists and turns to keep me entertained. This novella left me with a smile on my face and a bit of sunshine added to my day.
With so many romance books being written, it’s rare to find one with a truly unique storyline. But this is one of them. I loved the fairytale theme and that Michelle is a writer and we get to see a bit of the process. A sweet and very enjoyable second chance romance.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Michelle is an author who has just had her book turned down. She finds out the publisher is an old flame and the hijinks ensues to get him to publish the book. It's a quick, clean,fun romantic read. I enjoyed it overall. I volunteered to read this book via Booksprout.
Such a sweet spin on the fairy tale romance! Brooks and Michelle’s dates took all the best romantic scenes and combined them into their own happily ever after. I am looking forward to reading more in this series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'm so glad Michelle got her fairy tale romance. I LOVED the masquerade ball. That was so sweet. This story had a great beginning and ending. They were a perfect fairy tale romance, which I believe can happen in real life. This was a great addition to the series.
'Cinderella' met 'Prince Charming' at a masquerade ball, but she had to leave in a hurry, and left her laptop behind. The next day, using tracking software, she found him and the laptop - only to discover that he's no prince but a 'toad' who not only dumped her unceremoniously years earlier, but only the day before heartlessly rejected her novel as unrealistic! Can she prove to him that the love the novel presents is far from unrealistic, and that the attraction between them is worth taking a chance on?
In typical Hatler style, this is a clean light read with realistic-feeling characters, an enjoyable storyline and some well-placed humour. A fun read that's a bit more than just fluff. Readers of other books in the series will recognise some characters, but like all the rest this is a standalone story.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Another great short story from Susan.
When Michelle tries to get her book based on Cinderella published the editor of the publishing company turns out to be her ex boyfriend. He decides he will only publish it if they act out the book and he falls in love with her. Will he fall in love with her again or will it end in disaster.
This was such a great read. I loved every bit of it. Brooks and Michelle dated ten years ago and he broke her heart. She always dreamed of writing her own book and now is attempting to get it published. However, the publishing company that she went with rejected her script. She finds out later that Brooks was the publisher that once again rejects her. Will Michelle ever get her knight and shining armor or will he break her heart a third time?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book six of the Do-Over Date series and the main characters are Michelle Moss, an aspiring author, and Brooks Keller, her first boyfriend and the boy who broke her heart in high school. They meet again at a masked ball for a homeless charity which she was dragged to by her best friend Krista. She gets asked to dance by a masked stranger and is mesmerised by his eyes and enjoys a sudden kiss, until she is interrupted with a family emergency. Well, not really an emergency, more her irresponsible half- brother who is about to be kicked out of his flat for not paying his rent, but still spending money on stuff left, right and centre. She is always bailing him out and he hasn’t learnt his lesson yet, leaving her stressing out and responsible for him. When she ran off to help him, she left her laptop and bag behind on a table, where she had been hiding out sending her first book off to other publishers, after a shocking rejection email from her preferred publishers. She was told that her romance story was unrealistic, unimaginable and unpublishable! Next day when she tracks the location of her laptop through an app, she ends up bumping into her ex-boyfriend right outside the building for the very publisher she just got a rejection from! Turns out he is the B. Keller who rejected her modern fairy tale romance book and destroyed her confidence. She needs the advance she would get from a publisher to help get her half-brother get out of trouble with his rent, but that chance has been shot down in flames by Brooks! Brooks gives her another chance to talk about her book and makes her a bet, they’ll try dates based on her actual book and if he falls in love with her by the end of it, he will publish her book as it is, but if he doesn’t then she needs to make the changes he suggests. They have already shared a few kisses, so she believes it will be easy! She herself is falling for him again and he seems to like playing the hero in the dates, like in her book. But she hopes that she isn’t going to get her heart broken again. She never got a reason from him the first time round and she certainly doesn’t want history to repeat itself. A second chance at her first love, but the publishing gods have another trick up their sleeves to play on her first and that could throw a spanner in the works. A short story about writer Michelle and her wishes for a fairy tale love just like her book and how realistic that may be. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Susan Hatler never ceases to amaze me on how she can come up with these stories and keep me entertained as an avid reader of her works of art! I have quickly become a fan of Ms. Hatler's and as soon as I see that another book is coming out I click it as quick as I can!
Michelle is a young lady that has always dreamed of having her book published by a big name publishing company. When she finally gets her book finished and sends it to her one hopeful publishing company, her heart gets broken quickly. When she reads what the publisher says, she is aggravated, hurt and disappointed all in the same breath.
Michelle tells her best friend about her rejection letter right before they are going to a charity masquerade ball. Her friend is determined that Michelle is going to have a good night and let her hair down for a little bit, after all it is a masquerade ball and no one will be able to tell who is who. What Michelle doesn't tell her friend is that she has snuck her laptop in with her and has all intentions of sending her book out to more publishing companies in hopes of getting accepted by someone else. When the ball begins, Michelle has quickly sent out some emails when she is asked to dance by a good looking man, well as far as she can tell with his mask on.
Michelle immediately knows that there is something there between her and this mystery guy. The sparks immediately begin to ignite between them and Michelle is anxious to see where things will lead that night until she is so rudely interrupted by a phone call from her stepbrother that she has to take. He needs her to come bail him out with his landlord once again. In her hast to get to her stepbrother quickly, Michelle leaves her computer behind. Will she be able to find it now? It has her finished book on it.
Michelle is reminded that she installed the tracking app on her computer so that she could find it in case it was taken or lost. When she tracks it, she finds that it is on the move and just down the street from where she is. Michelle sets out to find her computer and where does she end up? Right outside of the publishing company that sent her the rejection letter. She runs into her ex-boyfriend, Brooks in front of the building too. Why does he have her computer? Is he her prince charming from the masquerade ball? He can't be! And why is he going into the building of the publishing company? Does he work here now?
Michelle is hit with the realization that Brooks is the publisher that sent her the rejection letter, and he is the guy she had the immediate sparks with at the masquerade ball. How could she not have realized? When they settle things out, Brooks makes a deal with Michelle that if she can convince him that her book is not far fetched in her dating scenarios she wrote in her book, he will publish it for her and give her an advance that will help get her stepbrother out of trouble with his landlord. If not, Brooks wins and she goes about her way.
You have to read how this plays out for Michelle and Brooks. Such a great read with all the feels wrapped up in it. I love Susan Hatler's way of writing that engages her readers and keeps they wanting to read more and more of her works.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy.
I always enjoy picking up a book by Ms. Hatler. Her stories are always filled with fun, flirty, and feel-good romances, and there is no doubt I will be entertained. This is the sixth book of the Do-over Date series and it brings us Cinderella with a modern twist. Michelle goes to a masquerade ball with her friend and, being a struggling author desperately trying to get her manuscript published, takes along her laptop. She meets her Prince Charming and shares an amazing kiss, but then has to rush off, leaving her laptop behind. When she locates her laptop and her Prince Charming and finds out who he is, she doesn't find him quite so charming anymore. Turns out she already knows him and has had her heart broken by him. Plenty of passion and drama will have you turning the pages and glued till the end. Ms. Hatler creates such wonderful characters you can't help but fall in love with and root for. If you are in search of a fun, clean, and charming story, look no further. This book will definitely captivate and charm you and keep you coming back for more!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Michelle Moss hopes to get her first book published. She gets a rejection email from Brooks Keller, who was her ex-boyfriend and first love. They make a deal with each other. They follow the book script and if Brooks falls in love with Michelle again, he publishes her book as is. If Brooks doesn’t fall in love with Michelle again, she makes the changes he suggests before he publishes her book. Michelle and Brooks follow the script, which is a fairy-tale based book. There’s drama in the form of Michelle’s stepbrother, Phillip. I liked Michelle and Brooks. They had a lot in common. You felt like they were made for each other. I found some of Michelle’s book too fanciful, so I could see why Brooks wanted her to change some things. I liked Michelle’s friend and roommate, Missy, but her friend, Krista was a bit annoying. I enjoyed the storyline of Michelle and Brooks learning about each other again. You have to read the book to see if Brooks is going to be Michelle’s Prince Charming or Rumpelstiltskin. I recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Michelle Moss, an author, submits her romance book to a big-time publisher, only to have it rejected as being unrealistic. So after receiving this devastating news, her best friend, Krista, drags her along to a masquerade ball at the Geoffries hotel in downtown Sacramento. There she meets her very own masked Prince Charming! They share a magical kiss. But when she has to dash away suddenly, she leaves her laptop behind. She is able to use the tracker software she installed to trace the laptop to Prince & Company, the very publisher who just rejected her book! Even more of a shock, she collides with her ex-boyfriend, Brooks Keller, her high school crush who had broken her heart right before graduation. He was holding her laptop!
Recognizing those gorgeous blue eyes, Michelle realizes her Prince Charming just turned into a toad -- because he is the one who hates her manuscript, and he is her ex-boyfriend, Brooks! They agree to engage in a bet to test whether her romantic story could really happen or not. Will they find that retracing the steps in the story will lead to true love? Will Michelle get to prove herself to her family? Is there a HEA waiting at the end of her fairy tale?
This is a well-written story that gives an adorable twist to the Cinderella story we are all familiar with. I enjoyed the characters’ interactions and the clever story line that proves to Brooks that a fairy tale love can really happen. Grab your copy and enjoy their story.
Susan Hatler wrote a very cute book. Her blurb was very similar to Cinderella but with a twist. The twist her masked Prince Charming is someone who dumped her in high school, who is an editor who wouldn't publish her book as she wrote it, and who spontaneously kissed her at the Masquerade Ball. Oh boy! These two have chemistry when they are behind masks, but out in the open they can't seem to remember that happily ever after does exist. Will she rewrite her ending in order to get Prince Charming and get her book published, or will she keep the ending and find another Prince Charming? Reading this book was definitely a treat. I loved their fairy tale story and the way it all came together. I will definitely be reading more of Hatler's books in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Michelle finally submits her novel, only to be rejected as "unrealistic, unimaginable and publishable." After leaving her laptop for a family emergency, she tracts it down and finds it with her high school sweetheart who had dumped her before graduation without a word. Brooks is also the publisher who rejected her book. A bet is made that they will act out her book and if Brooks falls in love with her, he'll publish her book with no changes; if he doesn't, he'll publish it with his changes. Brooks has issues that get in the way of their HEA. Will he be able to redeem himself?
I LOVED this book!! I loved the Cinderella spin to it with Michelle leaving her laptop behind at the “ball” where she met a mysterious Prince Charming. I loved the unique story of attempting to recreate in real life the events of a romance novel (like a novel within a novel). Top all of that all with Brooks, her ex boyfriend and now the editor she’s trying to win over. Brooks is both cynical and romantic, which is actually a really winning combination!! The best part is the ending and the super romantic way that Brooks tops off their story. I loved this book and highly recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Michelle and Brooks have known each other since high school days and their relationship had crashed. In present day, he works in publishing and she is a writer of a slightly different version of Cinderella. Their different views of the book force a bet to see if it is believable. The characters are terrific, with great backstories and intense feelings. Her two best friends were so supportive and fun. The storyline, because of the book, has a lot of references to things from fairy tales, which was fun to read. A lot of honest, hard situations are dealt with, like bailing out her brother again. Loved the ending where another fairy tale ending is acted out. Well done.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
That was ridiculously stupid. Book author wants to get her book published. Editor says it’s unrealistic. Friend says you guys should act out her book and if he falls in love with you then he publishes it as-is, if he doesn’t then you make the changes he wants. Sounds cute, but they literally dance to “Beauty and the Beast” music and do an Aladdin date on a magic carpet, and she dresses like Cinderella and he comes in on a white horse. So cheesy, cringy and lame. Also they break up, and before they even get back together he immediately proposes? How about you guys try actually dating first?
He may be her Prince Charming at the ball with his mask on...but what happens when he takes it off
Once Upon a Date is the sixth book in the Do-Over Date series. The story is about Michelle Moss and Brooks Keller. This is a sweet and clean modern day Cinderella retelling only in this story Prince Charming turns out to be a toad that Michelle does not want to kiss. You see she did that back in high school when they were a couple and there was no fairy tale ending then so why would things be different a second time around. The only problem is that she has already shared a magical kiss with her Prince Charming at a masquerade ball, and you guessed it as he turned out to be Brooks. This is another really sweet, fun and well written story. The characters are nicely developed and have a spark, along with some fun back and forth. A good addition to the series.
I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.