Review


I enjoyed reading Once Upon a Dream. It was fun, steamy, and supportive.

I love that Summer believes in fairytales. She knows that her prince is out there somewhere. I admire her for going after what she wants. She doesn't let rumors deter her, and just wants to be happy. I think the thing I loved about this book was how supportive the family is. Even though Summer has this crazy idea of a perfect man they help her try to snag him. The bond between the sisters is comforting.

I loved the conversations between Jon and Summer. They were witty, and hilarious at times. Jon also knew what to do to make Summer flustered. She's used to being put together and unnoticeable. We also get to see Jacqueline's story. She's the Countess of Amberlin, and looking for her place in the world. She's wants to be a writer, and looks to an old friend for help. That friend isn't as nice to her as she hoped he would be, though.

I liked that we get two stories and this, and see a truly remarkable family dynamic. ( )

Another great additon to the Summerhill series. This is Summer's story and a great one it is. Determined to meet her Prince Charming, Summer is certain she knows exactly who he is. Sometimes though we find love where we least expect it. If you haven't started this series I recommend you read these books in order. There is a large number of characters and can be a bit confusing if you have read the others. This is a fun story and a recommend it to everyone. ( )

Once Upon a Dream by Kate Perry
Series: Book #5: Summerhill Series
Source: ARC from author
My Rating: 3/5 stars
My Review:

Summer Welles is a well-appointed attorney by day and a dreamer by night. Since she was a child, her mother (Reginald Summerhill’s mistress) told her she would one day find her prince charming and when she did, the first kiss would tell her everything. For her entire life Summer has lived and believed in the fairy tale and she has finally found her prince charming. Too bad she can’t drum up the courage to talk to him.

Ryan Huber is everything Summer wants in a man: he is well dressed, well mannered, intelligent, successful and, dead sexy. He works just down the hall from Summer’s law office and though they have shared an elevator (sorry, lift ) on more than one occasion, they have never spoken a word to one another. Summer’s courage is on the rise though and once she convinces Ryan that he is meant to be hers, the fairy tale will be complete and Summer will finally have her HEA. The plan is in motion and with the help of her Summerhill (half)sisters, Summer will bag her man in one magical moment.

Jon Smith has lived a dangerous life since he was a child and now it is time to get out. Jon’s job has been lucrative, at times exciting, mostly dangerous and, above all else solitary. Jon’s dream of retiring to Thailand is within reach and with just one job left on his schedule, he can be on his island within the month. All he has to do is prove, irrefutably that Ryan Huber is lying, scheming criminal who has been embezzling money from his clients for years. Jon’s mission is clear and simple and once it is done he is free. What Jon doesn’t count on, on any level is Summer Welles. But, in one most unforeseen moment his identity is mistaken, Summer is kissing him and, everything in Jon’s world is turned upside down.

For Summer the moment of mistaken identity is both the best and the worst moment of her entire life. The kiss told her absolutely everything she needs to know about her prince charming. Unfortunately, that kiss told her everything she needs to know about the wrong man and that man is out to destroy her true prince charming. Determined to prove Jon wrong, prove that Ryan is actually not a slimy bastard and, have her HEA, Summer begins to tag along behind Jon in an attempt to “help” him. In yet another unfortunate turn of events, Summer finds herself more and more drawn to Jon and just doesn’t know how she can possibly salvage the situation. What’s more, her sisters keep trying to convince her that maybe, just maybe her prince charming isn’t the guy she thought but someone altogether un-prince-like.

The Bottom Line: Since the beginning, the Summerhill series has been a favorite but Once Upon a Dream just didn’t really do it for me. I certainly don’t mind that Summer has been brought into the fold and when she is being a lawyer, a sister or with Jon, I was OK with her. Unfortunately, there was just too much of Summer’s ridiculous prince charming business. Given Summer’s general personality and insistence on manners and professionalism, I would have liked and expected to see a bit more maturity regarding her dreams and expectations. Her general naïveté and childlike insistence that her fairy tale will come true just doesn’t fit with Summer’s personality – a personality we have had glimpses of in each of the previous four reads. On the flip side of Summer are all the other characters that I once again very much enjoyed. Jon is a delight and it is always nice to see a hardened and cynical character changed by a new and exciting love. The Summerhill girls were also in fine form with Imogen sweeping in is dramatic fashion (oooh! The epilogue!), Titania snapping photographs and being a general smartass, Bea taking care of everything (and refusing to acknowledge Luca), Ros dressing everyone, Viola trying to find herself (baker, bartender. . . ) and, Jacqueline discovering love again after so, so many years without. In all, Jon and the secondary characters really carried this story for me and though I was a bit disappointed in Summer, I was still able to like the read. ( )