Once Upon A Real Good Time

Lauren Blakely

Sep 2018 · Lauren Blakely Books

About this ebook

That smoking hot one-night stand with a former rock star? Turns out he’s my son’s new music teacher.

The night I met Campbell all I knew was he played my body the same way he strummed a guitar — like he owned it. Now I’ve learned he’s the man coming to my house twice a week to teach my kid — the best music lessons money can buy.

Time to turn down the volume on the late-night shenanigans with the sexy single dad.

All we have to do is set some rules and no one gets hurt. It’s all working out beautifully.

Until we start breaking the rules, one by one. 

Ratings and reviews

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.

4.5/5 Once Upon a Real Good Time certainly lives up to its fairytale inspired title. Full of swoon but also with the important message that when life throws you a curveball it can lead to wonderful if unexpected things. Campbell and MacKenzie are both single parents whose whole world revolves around their children. Although as their children are growing into young adults they now have the freedom to indulge in their own pursuits. For MacKenzie, this involves trivia nights at the local watering hole, while former teen pop/rock-sensation Campbell, is able to satisfy his musical passion by playing at a local bar. The bar in question just happens to be the same one both MacKenzie and Campbell frequent. Sparks fly from their first glance 🔥 When the opportunity to scratch that itch occurs, neither Campbell nor MacKenzie hesitate. What they don't expect is the ease at which they click together and not just physically.  Although they are perfectly matched neither of the wonderful duo were expecting more than one-night but are unable to deny their desire to explore their potential. Unfortunately, they are thrown adrift when Campbell is hired as the new music teacher for MacKenzie's son. Rather than risk any awkwardness and potential fallout if things didn't work between them they both agree not to date for the sake of their children. However, the more time they spend together the harder it is to deny the connection they have and the deeper feelings that are developing. I loved everything about both MacKenzie and Campbell, their positivity in making the most of their respective situations and the fantastic relationship they have with their children. their parenting style was amazing and the uniqueness of their family situations complimented their overall appeal.  Their respective children are also pretty amazing, a musical prodigy for a son for MacKenzie, and a Vlogging cooking sensation of a daughter for Campbell, Both children are also surprisingly intuitive for teen and want happiness for their parents 😍 We are introduced to the other members of Campbells siblings who made up the former teen-band The Heartbreakers within Once Upon a Real Good Time, although there are snippets of their backstories I am really excited to get to know each of them better and witness them falling hard. Hopefully, this will include watching the progression of MacKenzie and Campbell's relationship 💝💞

Wow !!!! What a great start to a new series and if Once Upon a Real Good Time is anything to go by Lauren Blakely will have yet another hit series on her hands. Campbell Evans was a teen idol in a boy band but that all changed when he became a single dad and his priorities had to change so now he plays in the local pub teaches music to kids and watches his very talented teenager daughter bake and make cookery videos. Mackenzie is also a single parent her teenage son is a very talented violinist who needs a music teacher to push him in the right direction and when her ex introduces her to their sons new teacher she suddenly realises this is the man she meet in her local pub who was only meant to be for one night ......both Campbell and Mackenzie agree the line they crossed once can not be crossed again their children need to come before any needs of their own but what happens when the feelings become so strong what happens when teenagers get into the match making business well you get another brilliant read with all the Lauren Blakely touches we have come to expect, chemistry, banter, loveable characters and a new man to add to the Blakely stables of swoon worthy men. A brilliant fun read that I couldn’t put down and I’m so excited for the rest of this series which I understand isn’t to far away.

About the author

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 100 times, and she's sold more than 2.5 million books. In December she'll release UNZIPPED, an fun & sexy  romance. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter