I see Rory Walker coming from a mile away, literally, and as soon as I set eyes on her sashaying down the street, I know — I’ve got to have her.And not just her body, although those curves are damned succulent. I’ve got the hots for her bright mind and thoughtful heart too. Then I realize that she’s open to the social justice issues that weight heavily on me and I’m a goner. I’m all hers, if … all hers, if she’ll have me.
But between her restrictive upbringing and the general unease that most folks seem to feel around activists like me, I’m not at all confident she will.
Then again, maybe I can wake her up to the kind of life we could share if we’re able to accept each other as we are . . .
Apollo and Rory’s mostly standalone story in the Once Upon a Happily Ever After series is very loosely inspired by the story of Sleeping Beauty and features:
• sexual awakenings
• over the top instalove at first sight
• a curvy librarian
• an exploration of social justice & activism
• ice cream!
The Once Upon a H.E.A. series is what happens when folktales and contemporary romance meet, fall madly in love, and have lots of little book babies. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and only consensual shenanigans await. Happily ever after guaranteed!
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Interesting and entertaining characters. Good collection of stories full of romance and love. Enchanting stories that will keep you entertained for hours. Good stories based around fairy tales. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book three in the once Upon a Happy Ever After series. Apollo and Rory have much in common and the chemistry is strong but can Apollo get Roey to give him a chance for more then a fellow activist? This is a fast paced, shorter length story but it is packed full of all the goodness a romance reader needs. Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A quick, emotionally deep, and intriguing book three in the Once Upon a Happily Ever After series! It is a fast pace, well written, funny, witty, sweet, and enjoyable page-turner. It touches on real life issues, fighting for what is right and fair, and injustices. The characters you will fall in love with; the chemistry between them is instant and off the charts. Highly recommended!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is my favorite story in this collection. Rory has an awakening of her body, mind, and spirit with the help of Apollo. The story is sweet, loving, steamy, and has just the right amount of insta-lust / love.
Wake is a short story with a sleeping beauty twist. Instead of waking up from sleep Rory wakes from everything she has been taught and the beliefs she has all her life. This is an interesting story and I love the way Apollo fell for her the moment he saw her and that they both wake up together. This is a good addition to the Once Upon a HEA series and I look forward to reading the next one.
Once this Beauty’s eyes are opened they are never closing again
WAKE is the third book in the Once Upon a Happily Ever After series by Poppy Parkes. This is the story of Rory and Apollo and is a twist on Sleeping Beauty. In this story it is not a poisonous apple that Beauty needs to be awoken from by a kiss from her Prince. But it is the heavy hand of religion that put Rory into a deep sleep until Apollo helps open her eyes. Once her eyes are opened there is no shutting them again for our heroine as she begins to come into her own and also realize just what is important as a true Christian.
I thought this was a well written book with a very fascinating story-line, especially in this day and age of “the gospel of prosperity” which so many supposed Christians worship to. For me I had a really loved this story and the use of religion to speak to what is happening in our current society, all over the world.
Self-questioning
The story is good, but the importance of the religious question does not really correspond to me, but a large part of the story is about the questioning between the opposition of the desired behavior of the family pressure because of the religion taught, and the personal choices made by heroin. On the other hand, the section on social inequalities in the United States is more interesting.
Rory has the spirit that opposes between the very Catholic values that her family instilled in her, her desire to help others and her life choices, when she meets Apollo who is a volunteer for an association that defends social rights. The confrontation between her convictions, her religious education, and the real actions carried out by Apollo to enforce better social justice and not justice at two speeds, make that Rory questions her priorities, while approaching Apollo, that it is also against her religious convictions
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
What is sleeping beauty doesn’t need to be awaken from an endless sleep but more from the believes that keep her from reaching her full potential and happiness? That’s what this store is about. It’s about doing what’s right for you. Not everything is black and white and it’s not all or nothing.
I love the themes touched upon here while keeping the sweetness and sexiness you expect from a Poppy Parkes book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It Grabbed My attention and focus so strong I could not put it down. A word of advice when you get your copy. Grab a snack, a comfy seat, kick back and relax. You will not be moving until you finish this bad boy here. Remarkable job. Thanks for sharing.
This was an excellent book. Ms. Poppy did a fantastic job incorporating current events with this book. Rory and Apollo were great together. With Apollo’s life experiences he was able to open Rory’s eyes; not just self and boby awareness but also what really matters in our society. I highly recommend this book for current events as well as a wonderful insta-love romance book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.