Once Upon a Romance

This is a nice little story, mostly concerned with the Christmas wish of a little girl whose mother had passed away.
Ariel is a huge Disney fan and is desperate to visit Disney world and go on her late mother's favourite ride. Her aunt, Sophie, takes her, but unwillingly as it brings back so many memories of her late sister. Sopihe is definitely anti all things Disney.
However, through the auspices of a certain Professor Disney, things begin to change.
It is a light little tale which is enjoyable.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

A romance featuring Disney World? Yep, definitely want to read it! We meet Sophie, who isn't a Disney fan at all (what is wrong with her???). But her niece Ariel has one wish for Christmas this year: to go to Disney and to go to her mother's favorite ride. Because Natalie (Sophie's sister) died this year.
So Sophie relents and offers to take Ariel to Disney. Ariel's father and grandparents will meet her there. One tiny problem: she has to tell Darren, her fiance, that they have to shorten their ski trip.
While Sophie is in Disney, she meets Ray, a.k.a. Professor Disney. He is a diehard Disney fan and he shows Ariel and Sophie around. It is all magical and heartwarming, right up until Darren arrives. Will Sophie be enchanted by the Disney magic? Or will she go skiing?
Find out for yourself in this wonderful Christmas story. Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

When Sophie decides to take her young niece to her favorite place (Disney World) over Christmas, she is not happy. Growing up with her parents and sister being fanatics over anything Disney, she has learned to despise it instead. Her negative boyfriend doesn't help, and so her attitude is set before she gets there. At the hotel, she meets handsome Professor Disney, who runs a blog showing all the best places and things to do. The three of them spend a wonderful week together, until Christmas eve, when her boyfriend shows up. By this time of course there is attraction developing. Good story, and while fast it still felt complete. Just wish she didn't waste so much time with Darren, her boyfriend, as he never really fit in the story. Highly recommend, and a fun holiday story.

This is one story that’ll sweep you away on a Disney romance ride, keeping you turning page after page letting the story’s magic seep into you. The author’s method of drawing you into the story through her real life depictions of WDW, it’s magical atmosphere and people, created the perfect environment for a memorable story and its characters. Perfect start to a new series.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

When Sophie’s eight-year-old niece, Ariel, asks Santa Claus for a single wish to honor her mom’s memory, Sophie knows she must grant it. Ariel's wish is to ride her mom's favorite ride on Christmas day, at Walt Disney World. It will be the first Christmas without her sister, and reliving childhood memories of her best friend is not how she wants to spend her holiday. Sophie’s only desire is to spend Christmas on the slopes with her reliable and stable beau, Darren, who has reluctantly agreed to postpone their trip until the day after Christmas.

Can a bit of Christmas magic help this ruggedly-attractive stranger win Sophie’s heart when she believes it already belongs to Darren? And will Sophie continue to allow her painful past to haunt her, or will she let it go?

The first book in A Dream Come True series is a heart-warming holiday romance set in "The Most Magical Place On Earth." This is a sweet story that is truly magical and I can't wait for book 2! There really is nothing more magical than Walt Disney World and Christmas, so this is the perfect read for this time of year.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #OnceUponAromance
Pub Date: 13 Nov 2018

3.5 Stars
Once Upon a Romance by Alex Bailey is the First book in the "A Dream Come True' series. This is the story of Sophie O’Connor. Sophie's help to take care of her niece, Ariel after her mother's death. Ariel would like to to do a Christmas at Disney just as her mom would have wanted. Ariel makes a wish that helps with the Christmas Spirit.

An easy enjoyable read. I confess I have never been to Disney but I think that I now need to go. A simple romance just right for a chilly cold night.
Review placed on Amazon.

I am a card-carrying Disney-aholic, and in fact just visited Disney World two months ago. So, Once Upon A Romance was a perfect fit for me If you have visited Walt Disney World, want to visit WDW or spend lots of time at Disneyland… or have simply heard of this magical place – and – you love a really good romance then this is your Magic Kingdom pass.

Sophie’s family loves everything Disney and she has thousands of memories spent with her sister at the theme park over the years. But this is the first Christmas since her sister’s death, and once Sophie discovers that her niece, Ariel, has one wish to ride her mom’s favorite Disney ride to honor her this Christmas… well, what’s an aunt to do but try to make that dream come true, no matter how much it’s going to hurt. Never expecting to meet the perfect man for her (since she has a lackadaisical boyfriend), Sophie discovers so much more than painful memories this Christmas… she finds love, and hope and a peace that she never thought to find again.

I enjoyed Once Upon A Romance very much. It brought not only a touching, emotional romance between Sophie and Ray but so many personal memories of my own from this magical place. I do have to admit, I would have loved to have someone with so much detailed Disney information along on my trips that would take those moments to the next level and beyond. *grin* Oh well. If you’re in the mood for a Christmas Romance filled with all types of magic and enjoy getting in on the first story in a series then you’ll enjoy Once Upon A Romance. I know I did and I’ll be watching for what comes next.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Fell in love with this book in the first chapter. It only continued to get better and better. Definitely a 5 star read

When Sophie’s eight-year-old niece, Ariel, asks Santa Claus for a single wish to honor her mom’s memory, Sophie knows she must grant it. Unfortunately for Sophie, Ariel's wish is to ride her mom's favorite ride on Christmas day, and it’s at the last place on earth Sophie wants to visit—Walt Disney World.When I started reading I couldn't put it down. Alex Bailey is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

Christmas! Disney! Romance! Does it get any better?!?! Cute fun holiday romance that I found very enjoyable.

Once upon a romance is a charming chick-lit with a great Disney twist. Not only is it set in the magical world of Disneyworld (something all Disney fans will most definitely appreciate), but it is also a layered, moving story about family, love and grief. Sophie and her niece Ariel are paying tribute to Natalie’s life (respectively, their sister and mother) being celebrating Christmas in the family’s favourite place, Disneyworld. A common passion that Sophie doesn’t subscribe to.

Sophie is an endearing heroine who will need to overcome her aversion for the family’s love of Disney to make her niece’s wish come true. While offering her niece a magical stay, Sophie will also learn a great deal about herself and what she really wants in terms of romantic relationships.

It is a lovely romantic story best savoured with Disney tunes in the background. A nice guilty pleasure read.

Once Upon a Romance, writen by Alex Bailey is truly an adorable romance, perfect for Christmas time or any time of the year. Sophie's heart does not know how she is going to handle going to Disney World during Christmas, but she puts her heart into making an effort to do the right thing for her adorable niece, Ariel. She meets a man who is a blogger that she is familiar with and somehow the three of them start enjoying Disney together to make all of Ariel's dreams come true.

When Ariel mentions that she wants Ray as her aunt's boyfriend instead of Darren, it seems like that brings the light the bit of chemistry between Ray and Sophie. I definitely recommend reading this novel as it is a charming read with tons of Disney facts and trivia. It is well written and the character development is good. I love the ending!!!

This is the first time I have read this author .I really loved this story set in Disney in Florida. The two main characters Sofie and Prof. Disney end up meeting there. Sophie brought her niece there as it was Ariel's Christmas wish. I think there was some magic that made them meet. Any way they spent a lot of time together and the story goes on. I highly recommend this book especially if you believe in magic.

I wanted so badly to love this book. Unfortunstely, it took me forever to even finish this book I kept putting it down. For me it was just forgettable. It's very well written and the characters, for the most part, are flushed out throughout the book. It just didn't speak to me and that's more my issue than the authors. ;)

Disney and Christmas are two of my favourite things and I knew that I needed to read this book ASAP so thank you NetGalley for providing a free e-copy.

Alex Bailey has captured everything you need from a Christmas romance book based in Walt Disney World. I loved watching Ariel and Sophie’s relationship bloosom and I’m so happy there was a Disney-ever-after.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for light-hearted easy read, especially if you’re a Disney fan!

Just the word, DISNEY, had me picked up this book. I felt the magic, the holiday spirit, the family love and selfless act of Sophie who set her desire to be with her boyfriend aside to grant the wish of her niece, Ariel, to go to Disneyland.

Well, personally, I don't enjoy having someone who blabs or shares information about the Disney experience (insert Ray) while I'm in Disney. I want to FEEL the Disney magic, myself by experiencing it on my own.

A sweet story about an Aunt trying to fulfill her 8 year old niece's only Christmas wish, to go to Disney World in honor of her late Mom.

Sophie's sister, Natalie, died 10 months ago from breast cancer. Since she died, Sophie has been helping out her brother-in-law, Rick, with her 8 year old niece, Ariel. Rick needs to travel to London for three weeks in December and asks if Ariel can stay with Sophie. This will be their first Christmas without Natalie, Sophie asks Ariel what she asked Santa for, the little girl tells her that she just wants to go to Disney World to remember her Mom. Natalie was a Disney fanatic her whole life, Sophie was not. Sophie doesn't know if she's emotionally strong enough for this trip, but she'll do anything for her niece's happiness.

When they arrive at the resort, they meet a nice man who happens to be an easy going, good looking, Disney blogger. They invite him to join them and he adds some magic to their Disney experience, opening up Sophie's eyes for the first time.

A clean romance, a must read holiday story.