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 … shenanigans with the sexy single dad. Only that’s easier said than done.
***
I can rock a guitar solo in front of thousands, I can write chart-topping tunes, and I can absolutely stop thinking about my student’s mother naked.
Trouble is, the more I get to know Mackenzie, the more I like all of her — she’s an awesome mom, a great friend, and she gets along perfectly with my teenage daughter.
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.
ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME is a standalone novel about Campbell & Mackenzie in the HEARTBREAKERS series of standalones! The books in this three-book series can be read in any order, but are best enjoyed in the following order: ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME, ONCE UPON A SURE THING, ONCE UPON A WILD FLING!
more
Very good
Once Upon a Real Good Time is the first book in Lauren’s new rom-com series, Heartbreakers. I have read all of Lauren’s words and let me tell you…this woman knows how to make me swoon and get all hot and bothered with her dirty-mouth men. Campbell has definitely made it to the top of my Blakely Men list with his mouth. Damn.
Campbell and Mackenzie share one passion-filled night. They connected on more than one level. They enjoyed being together in between the sheets as well as out of them. They got each other. And that is why, this was not going to be a one-night stand. That was until she walks into her son’s violin lesson and meets his new teacher. She knows for a fact he has mad skills with his hands since they were on her playing her like an instrument just a few nights ago. Fate has stepped in and kicked her ass.
Campbell gets it. Mackenzie wants what’s best for her son which means they have to keep their hands off each other. The hard part is that, that makes him like her even more. He is after-all a single father to a teen daughter that he would do anything for including not dating someone he wants to see again. And again. That doesn’t mean he can’t have dirty thoughts though and sometimes those dirty thoughts are spoken out loud. Oops. Rules. They needs rules.
Rules are made to be twisted, and broken. There is always a loop hole, right?
Omfg! I loved this book!! Campbell just has that perfect blend of filth, sweetness, humor, and heart. I fell for him. Hard and fast. And him as a dad? Swoon. I loved his relationship with Samantha. Mackenzie is kickass. One of my favorite Blakely women! She is strong, funny, sweet, and knows her trivia. And she loves her son so much. Together, Campbell and Mackenzie made me smile, melt, and laugh. And their kids made me wants to listen to music and bake treats.
Overall…it was an epic treat! I love love and when you add in laughs, dirty talk, sweet treats, and trivia, it makes it even better. I am soooo excited about the next book, Once Upon a Sure Thing! Gimme, gimme.
Quotes:
“It’s good to know my songs can transcend thoughts of nudity.”
“It’s proof of your musical talent.”
“Oh my God! You never stop.”
“I know. It’s a sickness. The only thing that makes me stop is when your lips are on my cock.”
“I’m not helpless,” I tell him, but I kind of am right now, considering Ponytail’s disdain for me.
“Let me believe you are. There is something rather sexy about you standing in a music store needing my assistance.”
I bought this book on a 99cents deal and this new-author-to-me totally delivered. Although it’s a rock-star themed book, this stable, intelligent, responsible hero’s rock star days were behind him. Adorable book, but the trivia champ-broadway-musical loving- graphic designer heroine is the farthest thing from a groupie. There’s a lot of (entertaining) sex and banter and great musical references, but if you’re looking for wild parties, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle, this isn’t the book for you. Both MacKenzie and Campbell are dedicated single parents, so their hard-partying days are behind them, and the presence of the kids keeps the sexual activity in check. I really enjoyed it, but it wasn’t the rock-star book I was expecting.
Loved it! What a sweet and sexy romance that melts your heart.
I loved this book I have a range of authors I go to all with different writing styles
What I loved here is the sincerity combined with humour and romance
It was like it was happening in real life because the writing was believable you could relate to the characters and the story line
I did not know if I would like this book but do glad I stayed with it and want to experience more of Lauren s works
Get to know Campbell and jamieson and Mackenzie you won’t be disappointed
Great feel good read
Cute
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Dual POVs
Part of a series: Heartbreakers
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
A sweet, if unsurprising, single-parent love story.
Campbell and Mackenzie have an instant connection, are absolutely perfect together, and the only conflict is that he’s the best music teacher for her son, so she feels she can’t date him without it being an unacceptable risk for her son. His teenage daughter and her son are written as flawless mini-adults who want nothing more than for their parents to be happy, so by the end of the book the conflict that kept them apart seems a little pointless. Except that it does give Campbell and Mackenzie time to focus on the friendship aspect of their relationship for a while, which provides a solid foundation once they give into their intense chemistry. It’s a light-hearted romance with plenty of heat and not a hint of misbehaving from any of the characters. If you’re looking for fluffy, sweet, and cute, this is the book for you.
This is a fun rom-com which tells the story of Campbell and MacKenzie. MacKenzie is a single mom who loves trivia nights at the bar and it is during one of these nights she meets a gorgeous guitarist and has a wonderful one night stand with him. Their chemistry is off the charts and MacKenzie is thrilled when he asks for another date. MacKenzie’s son is a music prodigy and Campbell, the handsome one night stand, becomes his teacher. So not wanting to jeopardize her son’s happiness if something were to go wrong between her and Campbell, MacKenzie decides that they should not date. Someone should tell her libido that though!! Quick read, but well written and the story moves along at a great pace. Thoroughly recommend this book.
Great book!
This was so good! I’m giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars. This review is for an ARC, and reflects my honest opinion.
I absolutely adored this ARC. The characters were fantastic, the story flowed, there were some great sexy times, and lots of sweetness. Seeing the way Campbell and Mackenzie interacted with their kids was adorable. They’re fantastic parents, and I was rooting for them from the very beginning.
Campbell is definitely going on my book boyfriend list, and I think his brothers might be joining him once I read their books. The book was told in dual POV, and I loved seeing both sides to this story. In addition to loving Mackenzie and Campbell, I liked Kyle, Samantha, Jamison, Miller, Ally, and lots of others too. There wasn’t really anyone in this that I didn’t enjoy reading about.
If you had doubts about how much I enjoyed this, I read it in two sittings in the same day (finishing the entire book within 12 hours of starting it). I could have easily read it in one sitting, but I didn’t want it to end that fast. I am super excited for the next book in this trilogy! Thankfully I won’t have to wait very long. I highly recommend you check this one out if you love single parent romances, rock star/musical romances, or just a really cute contemporary with a bit of a fiery side.
I enjoyed this book for feel good entertainment. It was a quick read and well edited, too, which I appreciate.
I loved Collin and Mackenzie! Their kids, them, their families! Just so awesome!! I can’t wait to read his brother’s story!! A charming, sweet, sexy story. No crazy drama. One night stand leads to a happily ever after! He’s funny, talented, sexy, smart, dedicated. She’s independent, sassy, smart, and happy. I loved this story.
I loved this book. I don’t know how Lauren Blakely keeps coming up with great ideas but I hope she can keep them coming. The cast of characters was great and I love it when the children are fantastic characters and totally move the story along. Looking forward to the two other books in this series.
I loved this book! Campbell and MacKenzie are great characters, and I loved the fact that after their initial hot encounter, they were forced to step back and build a wonderful friendship. I also loved all of the secondary characters and I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
As always Lauren Blakely delivers a book with great characters, superb banter and smoking hot sex. Once Upon a Real Good Time is the first of a trilogy but can be read as a standalone but by the time the reader reaches the end they will want to go on to the next brother’s book.
Mackenzie and Campbell are both single parents who always put their kids first, but when Mackenzie sees Campbell playing in a bar one night the chemistry is off the charts. Everything is fine and sexy until her child gets a new violin teacher, Campbell. That certainly throws a wrench in things and what ensues is the battle do what’s best. Great characters and smart banter make this book a lot of fun for the reader. In her typical style, Ms. Blakely pulls the reader in and the story refuses to let go until the very end, and even then you’ll want more. I’m off to grab the next in the series
Nobody does it better!
I fell in love with Mackenzie and Campbell almost instantly. But seriously, what woman doesn’t love that devastating rocker vibe?
Lauren Blakely is a master at telling a story. The angst of should we, shouldn’t we. The delicious banter and witty come backs. The mind blowing romance. It’s all here and ready to be devoured. Go ahead, you know you want to. Enjoy!
Their priorities are their kids but turning away from each other and what could be is not easy. I love that they are mature characters, set in their careers with family values. They enjoy each other (in so many ways) and the banter is fun.
I enjoyed reading this book and I always love these two narrators!!
A delicious romantic story with wonderfully sweet & loveable characters. The storyline is so fun – I read it one sitting!
There is so much YES about Once Upon A Real Good Time: Campbell and his rock god, single dad yumminess. Mackenzie and her geeky, single mom realness. And the KIDS!!!! If Mackenzie and Campbell weren’t so awesome, I’d say that Kyle and Samantha were my favorite characters in the books. I think what draws me to single parent romances (because I am a fan of the subgenre), is the inherent maturity that is injected into the characters and situations. Having a kid is tough – especially when you’re carrying that responsibility solo. Reading about characters going through the struggles of navigating parenthood while being single just does it for me, and Lauren Blakely does it right in this book! I can’t wait to continue with the series and get to know the rest of the band! 4.5 out of 5 wine glasses.
Once Upon A Real Good Time is the first book in the Heartbreakers series and was a fantastic read. Campbell is a former teen idol turned music teacher who happens to also play lead guitarist with a small band in a local pub. He happens to be a single dad, his daughter is amazing. Mackenzie is also a raising a child on her own and her idea of a good time is going to the local pub for a trivia quiz. These two hit if off from the beginning but soon find that they have obstacles in their way.
I highly recommend this book, it was great!