Once Upon a Dream (Once Upon Series, The) by Nora Roberts

Once Upon #3

by Nora Roberts

Another great beach book by Nora Roberts

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Fiction, Fantasy, Short Stories, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance

Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Sasha Seliutina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars overall!

Prepare for four mini reviews ahead! All of these short stories hit me with nostalgia as I reminisced being obsessed with this type of romance writing (specifically Nora Roberts) when I was young. I love LOVE -- as cheesy as it can be in writing. It's also incredibly cute how each successive author notes the influence of the others in their short story; it feels very full circle!! I'm always hesitant to recommend these types of old romance books because I know that they are not for everybody. However, it made me very happy and maybe it could do the same for you!! <3

"In Dreams" by Nora Roberts (3 stars):
I love her. She is such an inspiration for female authors, especially within a genre that was consistently shamed for being too feminine and silly. In this short story, a woman falls in love with a cursed stranger who had only ever seen her in his dreams. It was impossibly unrealistic, but it got me giggling while reading, which is the only thing that matters. Lots of traditional swoon moments that would be lowkey creepy in real life... that's the beauty of this sensual love, I guess!
- "She was so lovely, his Kayleen. He wanted to put the bloom back in her cheeks. He wanted to hear her laugh. He wanted her."

"The Sorcerer's Daughter" by Jill Gregory (5 stars):
I ate this one up in one sitting. I loved the magical, fantasy vibes in this story! The main female character is traversing across this forest in order to find a magical artifact to save her father; of course a hot, broody man is on the same mission and decides to help her. The tropes were fun, and I love how the main guy was an asshole but not unbearable. The character developments and backstories were also well-planned out!
- "She wanted him, all of him, this man with his searing kisses and gentle touch, this man who professed to care for no one but who had saved her life and found her shelter and carried her to this bed with such tenderness. She wanted him with a desperate hunger that came straight from her heart, with a sureness that came not from reason or logic but from a magical knowing place inside her soul."

"The Enchantment" by Ruth Ryan Langan (5 stars):
Another cute story that I absolutely adored!! This one was probably my favorite from this collection. Two workaholics forced to take a break by the workings of a haunted house, learning to love each other in the stillness of a peaceful weekend. Obsessed. The emotional connections between the characters were definitely the best, and the vibes were simply immaculate.
- "'If we close our hearts to the possibilities, how can the good find its way in?'"

"The Bridge of Sighs" by Marianne Willman (2 stars):
Whoever decided to combine art and Venice as the story premise must have looked into my window at night. Someone is stalking me, and I'm okay with it. Overall, my least favorite story unfortunately. Not a big fan of second chance, so the romance was a miss for me. Liked the tropes, not the couple! Also the plot kind of lost me with the supernatural stuff.
- "He'd known what it was to be afraid for his own life. He'd never realized, till now, how much more terrible it was to fear for the life of somebody he loved."

[Connie N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#3 in the Once Upon fantasy short-story series

I very much enjoyed most of the books, but the last one was a bit disappointing, as shown below.

In Dreams by Nora Roberts - 4 stars - When practical and ordinary Kayleen goes on vacation in Ireland, she ends up in a car accident. Soon she's caught up in a dream-like situation with a magician who has been imprisoned for 400 years. They spend a magical week together. But when his once-a-century week of freedom is over, he sends her away, only to find that their love can overcome anything. Although it was crazy, I loved watching their relationship grow into something special. Even though it was so quick, they seemed to fit, recognizing each other through prior dreams and memories. Sweet, with some witty banter.

The Sorcerer's Daughter by Jill Gregory - 4 stars - Willow must enter the Perilous Forest to find a necklace that will appease a sorceress who has imprisoned Willow's father. When the father tries to help his daughter by sending her a meaningful dream, he also sends the dream to another man, but it is misdirected to the wrong person. The love they find is sweet and fairy-tale-like, and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow.

The Enchantment by Ruth Ryan Langan - 4 stars - Real estate agent Annie heads to a large estate for the weekend to prepare for a sale. She meets the owner's son there, and they get caught up in a magical weekend where they fall in love and share many pleasant experiences to counteract the haunting sadness that has always permeated the grounds. Warm, beautiful, sweet story with a HEA. Not what I expected.

The Bridge of Sighs by Marianne Willman - 3 stars - Claire is visiting Venice in her role as an art researcher, and she finds that her ex-husband Val is also working on the same project. She also endures many uncomfortable dreams about a young woman who lived in the palace many years earlier and who died in unknown circumstances. Of course, she and Val get together because he wants to rekindle their relationship, and she discovers what really happened years ago. The whole premise was somewhat confusing, and I didn't care for Val barging in and taking over her project. Clearly this is the sort of thing that caused them problems to begin with.

[Mira15 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quando és encurralado pela magia, quem poderá quebrar o feitiço?

Sendo a segunda vez que leio uma destas antologias, já conhecia o que me esperava: quatro pequenos contos, de (mais ou menos) 90 páginas, com um tema comum a todos. Neste caso, os sonhos e o poder indestrutível do amor, capaz de alterar tudo e todos!
Para desanuviar das leituras fantásticas – mas complexas - do mês passado, este livro pareceu-me a escolha acertada pelas sinopses que me intrigaram e por ser uma verdadeira ponte para um mundo distante do nosso.

1. Em sonhos
Na actualidade, um homem amaldiçoado durante 500 anos, vive encurralado na sua casa e nos sonhos de uma bela mulher. Entre longas temporadas como espectro e apenas uma semana como humano, Flynn passa uma existência solitária, mas quando houve bater à porta, da sua isolada mansão, numa noite de tempestade quem poderá ser?
Com um cenário idílico, demasiado mágico e perfeito para ser verdade, conhecemos os dois protagonistas: Flynn, com uma atitude arrogante e que fala como os nossos antepassados e Kayleen Brennan, uma mulher moderna, forte, independente e decidida. No início, estranhei e até se tornou confuso, por causa dos segredos escondidos, mas no fim tudo acaba por bater certo! Até que gostei da componente romântica da história, dos elementos mágicos e das expressões em gaélico, mas no geral soube-me a pouco. Deu para entreter…

2. A filha do feiticeiro
Tal como nos contos dos bardos, na Idade Média, esta história é constituída por: sacrifícios, valentia e o intemporal trio – sangue, suor e lágrimas!
Num mundo fictício e fantasioso, com dragões voando no céu, unicórnios que valem a pena perseguir e trolls disformes que guardam preciosos tesouros numa fortaleza abandonada, o conto de Willow de Brinhaven e de Sir Blaine de Kendrick vai começar. Ela, uma rapariga inocente mas capaz de se defender, tudo em prol da sua demanda; ele, um jovem guerreiro com “os olhos mais frios, penetrantes e negros que alguma vez vi!”. Ambos, uma missão impossível, no entanto com recompensas maiores que os obstáculos.
Esta foi uma das histórias que mais interesse tinha e, no entanto, quando acabei não achei nada de especial. Senti que faltava algo mais para me agarrar à história. Pessoalmente tinha mais interesse ter como cenário uma cidade real, visto que a autora nem se quer se deu ao trabalho de aprofundar a componente fantástica.

“- Talvez seja melhor ir consigo. Pode perder-se no escuro.
- Não – disse rapidamente antes de poder mudar de ideias. – Quer dizer, é melhor o Bem ficar aqui e tratar do fogo.
Ele quase soltou uma gargalhada. Ela podia falar do fogo a arder na lareira, mas havia outro, a incendiar-lhe as veias. Só olhá-la, estar assim tão próximo dela, o deixava a vibrar com uma sensação de desejo incrível.” P. 191

3. O Feitiço
Anne Louise Tyler é a dona de uma pequena imobiliária em Tranquility, uma cidade no Maine (USA). Ao contrário do que sugere a cidade, Annie vivia num total rebuliço que pouco tempo lhe restava para descansar. De repente, recebe a chamada de uma antiga amiga da sua falecida mãe, para ela tratar da venda da mansão. E assim, avizinha-se um fim-de-semana espantoso, numa bela mansão antiga à beira-mar, apesar do trabalho para se fazer devido ao seu estado decrépito. Na primeira noite, enquanto preparava o jantar um homem aparece-lhe pela porta da cozinha e ela não sabe quem é ele…
Iniciou-se como outros, contudo foi um dos contos mais surpreendente!
Durante a leitura não captei nenhuma ligação com os sonhos, mas à medida que ia avançando e os segredos da família Carrington foram revelados as peças do puzzle juntaram-se numa imagem digna de um conto-de-fadas moderno!
Esta escritora foi a única que contrariou os defeitos dos outros contos: as personagens estereotipadas e previsibilidade abundante. Aqui ganha outro nível, aliás, se não fosse o seu reduzido número de páginas até podia ser feito um livro!

“ - (…) A avó disse que às vezes, mesmo quando os desejos não podem ser concretizados, é porque há algo ainda melhor à espreita. (…) A partir desse dia, passei a acreditar sempre que não é assim tão importante ter o que quero. Posso sempre viver na esperança de que algo melhor está prestes a acontecer.
- Não me diga que é daquelas pessoas que acreditam que de todas as coisas péssimas que acontecem nas nossas vidas, algo bom surgirá.
- Só se deixarmos. Se fecharmos os corações às possibilidades, como é que o bom consegue encontrar forma de entrar?
Viu os olhos dele semicerrarem-se ao reflectir no que dissera.” P. 228

4. A Ponte dos Suspiros
Definitivamente, a história mais trágica desta antologia!
Graças ao seu trabalho como avaliadora de arte, Claire – uma americana de ascendência italiana – volta às suas origens e regressa a casa: à sereníssima Veneza. Durante a viagem, vai aprender que por mais preparados que estejamos, por vezes, a vida prega-nos partidas… Para ela o facto de ter encontrado o ex-marido no seu quarto de hotel foi o choque menos inofensivo que experimentou naquelas duas semanas. O que encontrava por detrás dos seus sonhos era bem mais destruidor…
Desfrutei de cada página e ao contrário dos outros, não foi só mais um. Nesta trama, os caminhos por onde Claire e Val, o seu ex, embarcam são delicados: duas histórias familiares trágicas, onde o ciúme e a vontade de ser amado eram imperiosos e o destino cruel.
Excelentes cenários, enredo prazeroso, segredos intricados e um final extasiante: eis os condimentos para uma óptima leitura para todos!


+ Contos românticos simples que aquecem o coração das leitoras!
+ Leitura bastante fluida, cujos capítulos curtos e finais emocionantes não deixam perder o interesse.
+ Apesar das poucas páginas, sente-se empatia com as personagens
+ Bom sentido de humor em todas as histórias.
-------------------------------------------
- Sinopses enganadoras.
- Parco desenvolvimento nas personagens (especialmente nos dois primeiros contos).
- Protagonistas maioritariamente baseados e conduzidos por caminhos completamente cliché
- Narrativas previsíveis.
- No primeiro conto há itálicos dispensáveis.


Não consegui ler nem desfrutar tanto como queria, por vários factores externos à leitura que me fizeram perder a vontade de ler. Provavelmente, quem for mais rápido consiga lê-lo em apenas um ou dois dias. São contos que valem a pena ler, mas não são muito mais que romances sensuais. O amor, a magia e o duro processo aprendizagem pessoal espelha-se por todas as páginas!
Apreciei mais os dois últimos por terem temas mais adultos e maduros. Todavia todos foram agradáveis e devido ao seu ritmo rápido era extremamente fácil entrar na história!

[Korin: A Crone Running Amok · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In Dreams" by Nora Roberts, "The Sorcerer's Daughter" by Jill Gregory, "The Enchantment" by Ruth Ryan Langan, and"The Bridge of Sighs" by Marianne Willman. Once again for of the best romance writers give us stories of love, this time centered around dreams. Another quick fun read.

[Chi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Dreams 3/5
I... just couldn't believe in their love. H was started out selfish, and acting only in his own self-interest. h started out believable at first, but odd to find that she'd fall instantly in love JUST LIKE THAT. A lot of the descriptions left me a little confused, and sad to say, it just wasn't a favourite.

The Sorcerer's Daughter 5/5
This was my favourite story of them all! Such a lovely, well-written fairy tale of its own. I kinda wished that h could've held her own a little better (I am referring to the scene in the swamp where she was set upon by the bandits), but I understood that Jill Gregory had to show that despite her bravery (and best intentions), she's perhaps not quite as capable as she thought herself to be, and Gregory had to somehow reintroduce the H into the h's path.

The Enchantment 4/5
This was an odd one. I quite liked it, although I couldn't have identified what happened to H and h as a dream... more like an enchantment. :P Still, I rather enjoyed the story and could believe in their attraction. I did find some aspects of how Ruth Ryan Langan tied Win into the story rather odd, but it worked out ok in the end. I guess that I would've liked the H to at least have met Win, but alas. :)

The Bridge of Sighs 3/5
I really wanted to like this one. The whole throwback to the past was fascinating, particularly how it unfolded itself to the h in a dream, but still, something was missing. I couldn't quite put my finger on it - maybe it was something to do with both the characters, particularly the h. She came off as rather immature, and insecure in her love, which made sense in light of some revelations. The H was mostly thinking with a certain part of his anatomy, rather than getting to know the h. I dunno. I guess that I was hoping that there was more to have been fleshed out in this story, but it is admittedly hard to do with limited pages to work with.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story was well written and I enjoyed it.

The second story was a tad lame and so-so.

The third story was fantastic! I loved it.

The last story was ok, the fact that it was a short story and she jumped into having sex with her ex like that was so lame.



Overall this was a so- so kind of book, I don't regret reading it but it won't be one that I'll be keeping on my shevles.

[Helen Robare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't bad for 4 authors writing different fairy tale stories about romance.

All of the stories had their own plots that didn't mimic or share a theme (other than romance) with each other. The story by Nora Roberts had a centuries-old magician who was cursed to spend centuries as something other than a human man. Only for one week out of the century can he be a man. A young woman lost out on the moors who finds her way to his home. The 2nd story by Jill Gregory has a young girl and a black knight who are after the same necklace as a prize but for different reasons. They must travel through a dark and dangerous forest and enter the cave of the troll. But in the end, love overcomes competition. The 3rd story by Ruth Ryan Langdon tells the tale of two people who are working themselves to death. They are given a gift by a ghost to spend a weekend together "outside of time". And the last story by Marianne Willman concerns a woman with abuse issues who dreams of another girl who died in the canals of Venice. There is a lot to this story which makes every page something to savor and think about.

I liked each of the stories and couldn't really find any fault with them. But my Harlequin reading days are long over by several decades so these stories just didn't have the "magic" for me that they would have had if I had read them when I was a teenager or young adult with dreams and many long years ahead of me.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roberts "In Dreams" - Kayleen Brennan goes to Ireland on vacation and ends up in an enchanted forest with an enchanted man - so so.

Jill Gregory's "The Sorcerer's Daughter" - Trying to save her father, Willow of Brinhaven goes into the Perilous Forest to the troll king's castle. Blaine of Kendrick is also after it. The 2 meet along the way, but it doesn't go very well to start.

"The Enchantment" by Ruth Ryan Langan - Annie Tyler is a real estate agent in Maine. On the job, she goes to the White Pines Resort where she meets both sons even though one is dead. A time warp keeps them there until they fall in love.

Marianne Willman's "The Bridge of Sighs" - Claire is an art appraiser sent to Venice for work. She meets her ex-husband and solves an ancient mystery while she's there. Mediocre.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drawn to a castle in the forest during a storm, Kayleen finds herself stuck inside with a beautiful magician. Flynn has been trapped for 500 years, only solid flesh for a one week a year. Finding himself with the woman of his dreams right in front of him leaves Flynn determined to spend the week showing Kayleen the power of magic. But, when the week is up, Flynn knows he has to let her go or they will both be lost to the mist, unless Flynn can change the thing that trapped him in the first place.

[KiraNi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Волшебный и пошлый сборник четырех любовных историй. Первая история от Норы Робертс оказалась перенасыщена волшебством и сексом. Вторая история, Джилла Грегори, милая история о любви и только чу-чуть пошлостей. Третья история связана с о становлением времени. Четвертая же является, частично, детективом.
Я надеюсь что вам понравится эта книга-сборник.

Книге я поставила 4/5.

Удачного чтения!

[Carla Marques · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quatro histórias diferentes num só livro, mas desta vez não me enganaram.
Já sabia que eram de autoras diferentes, pois o primeiro livro que li destes, pensei que era tudo da Nora Roberts.
Opinião completa em: http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.com...

[Ada Geringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a Dream

I just fell in love with all four of these stories. I have always loved your books. And I have almost all of them, and have read all that I have.. Thank you again.. Ada G.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Short stories by 4 authors. Each on included a dream as part of the mystery. All in different settings. One of the reasons I liked it was that the stories were short enough to read in just a few hours. Romance, burning sex but not too graphic, Love, mystery, adventure.

[Rhonda Thomasson]

I love that this was actually 4 stories in one book. When I first started reading it I wasn’t sure I would enjoy the book, because it was “magical”. But, I should have known, Nora Roberts never disappoints.

[Aishwarya Damodar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written fairy tale!

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three really good stories with a supernatural element.

[Janette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did not age well.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

series of short stories. Romances all built on dreams

[Liza Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay read, but not as good as other Nora Robert's stories.

[Clara Smith]

Read "The Sorcerer's Daughter" by Jill Gregory; "The Enchantment" by Ruth Ryan Langan

[Mari]

NR only

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed 2 of the 4, 1 of the 4 we as decent but nothing special, and 1 of the 4 was meh. Again do still think that it's a good solid choice in terms of short romance stories

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of 4 short stories written by 4 different authors. The stories include love, romance, fantasy and dreams. I enjoyed all of the stories.

[David Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay for a fantacy

[Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3++. A bit hit and miss for me, but overall a good read. Some stories worked better for me than others, but all were quite readable.

[Pam]

Four short love stories with connections to magic. Sweet and quick reads.

[Rita Callaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales from Fantasy Writers

Without going into each authors story, just know that each has a special talent for making you spend wonderful time, in a world of their imagination.

[Shirley Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but not my type of storys

[Thenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

[Nancy Klass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story. Kept me interested from beginning to end.