Review Tour: Once Upon A Real Good Time: Lauren Blakely
Are you ready to have a real good time?
What do you get when you mix a smoking hot one-night stand, a swoonworthy former rock star, and a quirky single mom ready to paint the town red? Add in a morning after that surprises them both, and you get a laugh-out-loud and insanely sexy new romantic comedy from #1 NYT bestseller Lauren Blakely that you’re guaranteed to love!
✔ Campbell, a charming, clever, inked single dad and former rock star you'll swoon for!
✔ Mackenzie, the kind of quirky, smart, loyal heroine you want to be besties with!
✔ A forbidden romance between two funny, caring single parents!
A little bit forbidden, a whole lot of dirty, and filled with everything in between, ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME is a full-length standalone romance that’s full of heat, heart, humor and sexy times sure to keep you up all night.
Once Upon A Real Good Time
Lauren Blakely
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Release date September 10, 2018
That smoking hot one-night stand with a former rock star?
Turns out he's my son's new music teacher. Oops.
But I didn't know that the night I met Campbell. All I knew was he played my body the same way he played a guitar — like he owned it.
My libido is still high-fiving me after being self-served for too many years, and we’re both ready for another night or two of fun, especially since we don’t just have chemistry in bed — we connect over everything.
That is, until I learn he’s the man who’ll be coming to my house twice a week to teach my son — the best music lessons money can buy.
Time to turn down the volume on our shenanigans. 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.
After all, I’m a single parent too, and I know what it’s like to put your kid first. That’s what I do every damn day.
Trouble is, now that I’ve had Mackenzie, it’s hard — and I do mean hard — to stop wanting her. Harder too when I get to know her, and learn she’s an awesome mom, a great friend, and, oh yeah, she happens to get along perfectly with my daughter.
All we have to do is set some rules. No dating, no nookie when the kids are around, and no one gets hurt.
It’s all working out beautifully. Until we start breaking the rules, one by one.
Making music with her in the bedroom is easy. But will we be more than just a real good time when the music stops?
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. 
This is a story about a man trying to live in the present and leave his past behind, and a woman who judges herself based on past mistakes.
Mackenzie is a single mom, graphics designer, and trivia buff. She focuses her life on her work and taking care of her teen son, Kyle. She is a bit awkward, but is clever and attractive.
Campbell is a guitar player at the bar she goes to with her friend. He is handsome, charismatic, and yummy eye candy for the out-of-practice Mackenzie. He is just trying to enjoy his music with a new band, and does not advertise his popularity he had when he was younger. He lives for music, teaching, and his daughter. And he has learned to jump on opportunities in case he does not get a second chance.
One thing leads to another, and they share one real good time that was sexy, dirty, and delightful. Good enough that they were thinking about making the one night stand might lead to another date.
But sometimes complications arise and things don't exactly work out the way they planned. But sometimes there are also ways to get around obstacles. From one night stand to friends. They really do try to be good and do what they think is right...but damn that sizzling chemistry...and interesting conversations...and lust, like, and maybe even feelings. Resistance is futile.
This shows how some surprises can be good and unexpected moments can turn things around for the better even if you don't realize it at the time. And that there might always be reasons not to pursue things, but sometimes the risk is worth the reward.
I loved these two. They are mature, they talk and connect on more than a physical level, and they put their kids' needs first. Their interactions are more like "life dates" and happenstance, but all increased their bond. Campbell is sexy, magnetic, charming, and swoonworthy. Mackenzie is sassy, loving, and truly thrived with Campbell's attention. They are so good together, but feel like circumstances are out of their control. I also loved the relationships they had with their kids and how they really focused on them and their needs.
This is an engaging, fun, steamy, and heartwarming story told in dual points of view. It felt real and current. It was not exactly what I expected when I heard about this book, and I was pleasantly surprised. The side characters added more depth and humor. I am looking forward to more in this series with his brothers, Miller and Miles. I love the premise of former teen idols all grown up and finding love.
Mackenzie is a single mom who has been putting her son first since she learned she was pregnant. Her son is the focus of her attention, even as she has built her own graphic design business from the ground up. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for herself, or for dating. Her one indulgence for herself is her weekly trivia night with her best friend. Campbell hadn’t planned on meeting anyone as his band played the first night of a recurring gig, but he sure didn’t mind after the amazing night they had together. It was more than just a one night stand in his mind, until they realized Campbell was scheduled to be Mackenzie’s son’s new guitar teacher. But Campbell understood putting her son first, after all, he was a single dad too.
I loved watching these two circle around each other and the attraction that continued to sizzle between them even as they tried to just be friends. Neither was used to splitting their attention so there were bound to be bumps along the way. But despite their best efforts, the attraction was definitely more than platonic between them.
Their children added some fun elements to the story as well. I liked watching as relationships formed between Kyle and Campbell, and Samantha and Mackenzie. Each of the kids has their own personality, but they are also the focus of much of their parent’s attention. Teenagers can be a challenge to read as side characters because they have a tendency to come across as either too young or too old. These two were written perfectly for their contribution to the overall plot.
This is the first of a new series from Lauren, and I enjoyed getting to know the side characters as well. Campbell’s brothers should make for interesting series continuations, especially with the tease of a situation brewing between Miller and his best friend.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Campbell
She nibbles on the corner of her lips. “My friend Roxy thinks I should—”
“—let yourself have a good time for one more night?”
“How did you know?”
“She seemed like a good wingwoman.” I reach for a strand of her hair, running my finger across the soft locks, cataloging her reaction. “Want to know what I’m thinking?”
She nods.
I flash her a wicked grin. “I’m wondering if you want to be kissed by someone who’s been wanting to kiss you all night long.”
A flash of hesitation crosses her face, then she raises her eyes as if she’s thinking.
“I do,” she whispers, and the few seconds of reticence make her answer even sweeter.
I thread a hand through her hair. I’m going to take my time working up to a kiss, to make sure she wants it desperately. “I’ve been thinking about running my hands through this hair.”
“You have nice fingers…”
“Were you watching my hands when I was on stage?”
Her voice is soft and feathery, a quiet little confession. “Yes. I like the way you play.”
“What did you like about it?” I curl my hand tighter around her head. I swear, heat is radiating off her body, and it’s so damn enticing. “Did it make you think of anything?”
She nibbles on the corner of her lips. “Made me thing about how you might play…me.”
A groan works its way up my chest. She is an alluring mix of daring lioness and clumsy puppy. I yank her flush to me, bringing her mouth mere inches away from mine. “I’d like to play your body like a guitar. I’d like to make you sing, make you cry out in pleasure.” I run both hands through her soft hair, tugging her head back.
She gasps, and that’s my cue to lick a path up her neck, where I nibble on her jaw till she’s squirming against me. “Did you think about how I might kiss you when you watched me play?”
A sexy little sigh seems to escape her lips, followed by a yes.
“I noticed you the other week. At your booth, doing your quiz. Couldn’t stop looking at you. You were so sexy and adorable, and now you’re so damn close to me all I want is to turn you on.”
Lauren Blakely:
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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 September she'll release ONCE UPON A REAL GOOD TIME, a fun & sexy rock star romance. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter
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