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Be-Wished #1
Once Upon a Fling
Three friends.
Three margarita-fueled wishes.
One Wish Fairy to grant them all.
Mariah didn’t believe in fairies until one appeared in her chocolate shop flashing United Wish Federation credentials. With a wave of a wand, Mariah suddenly has a second chance with the man she can’t seem to forget.
But Happily-Ever-Afters are never guaranteed. It will be up to Mariah to go all in and make that wish last a lifetime… or lose him forever.
This book was previously published in 2007 by Ellora's Cave under the title All In.
Three margarita-fueled wishes.
One Wish Fairy to grant them all.
Mariah didn’t believe in fairies until one appeared in her chocolate shop flashing United Wish Federation credentials. With a wave of a wand, Mariah suddenly has a second chance with the man she can’t seem to forget.
But Happily-Ever-Afters are never guaranteed. It will be up to Mariah to go all in and make that wish last a lifetime… or lose him forever.
This book was previously published in 2007 by Ellora's Cave under the title All In.
114 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2007
58 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 18, 2011
A Little Sweet, A Lot Spicy, All Fun
Chocolatier Mariah Hughes barely remembers the night of drunken revelry that led to her and her two best friends making wishes as they tied on wish bracelets during their vacation cruise a year ago, let alone what she'd wished for. Fortunately for her, the United Wish Federation keeps exceptional video records, and when her UWF agent shows up to grant her wish, a disbelieving Mariah is given proof even she can't deny.
That still doesn't mean she remembers her wish.
It's only with her friend's help that her memory is jogged. And when it is, it's hard to believe she'd ever wish for anything else. Six years ago she'd had a magical night with a young guy named I.C. Tucker. It was the best night of her life and Tucker had fueled her hottest fantasies ever since. She would love another chance with the now famous professional poker player.
When her newest client turns out to be the soon-to-be-married bride of Tucker's best friend, and Mariah comes face to face with Tucker again after six long years, Mariah realizes two things. One, the man still draws her on every level, and two...her wish has been granted. And Mariah has no intention of letting the opportunity go to waste.
Problem is, their connection is so intense and her emotions so quickly involved, that having their entire relationship based on nothing but some silly wish - something with a definitive expiration date - no longer appeals. Mariah wants a happily ever after with the man of her dreams...and hottest fantasies. To get that, though, she'll have to do the one thing that may push Tucker away from her forever.
~*~
So this is what you get when you take a little magic and a little chocolate, add a dash of humor and a bunch of hot sex, and stir with a surprising depth of emotional connection. Wow! All In is an erotic PNR novella that thoroughly satisfies.
Lately the most consistent issue I've had with the romances I've been reading is that too many are plenty heavy on the lust but not so big on the deeper interpersonal relationships and downright light on love, with entire relationships based solely on the horizontal...or vertical....or upside down, for the kinksters out there...mambo. And I'm not talking about the erotic romances, either. So to actually read an erotic romance that manages to blend the hot sex with a solid romance between two likable characters quite obviously made for each other was a special treat that I won't soon forget.
There's plenty of hot sex, sure, but I adored how Willoughby had a plausible backstory for her characters that laid the groundwork for the romance that developed, so it didn't feel unrealistically fast when the relationship start getting emotionally significant for the characters. Mariah and Tucker were wonderfully into each other for more than just physical pleasure, and that romance is as sweet as the chocolate delicacies Mariah sells. It's a great balance.
The paranormal elements were fun. Davina was a hoot and she stole every scene she was in. I didn't buy how quickly Mariah wrapped her mind around the whole wish granting thing, though, even with the proof she got (which was awesome in its own right), and I found Tucker's reactions later in the book to be even more of a stretch. Those were minor grievances, however, when compared to the strength of the rest of the story and my appreciation for an erotic romance that gave as much attention to the "romance" as it did the "erotic." I liked this one a lot.
Disclosure: A copy of this novella was provided to me by the author for an honest review. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Chocolatier Mariah Hughes barely remembers the night of drunken revelry that led to her and her two best friends making wishes as they tied on wish bracelets during their vacation cruise a year ago, let alone what she'd wished for. Fortunately for her, the United Wish Federation keeps exceptional video records, and when her UWF agent shows up to grant her wish, a disbelieving Mariah is given proof even she can't deny.
That still doesn't mean she remembers her wish.
It's only with her friend's help that her memory is jogged. And when it is, it's hard to believe she'd ever wish for anything else. Six years ago she'd had a magical night with a young guy named I.C. Tucker. It was the best night of her life and Tucker had fueled her hottest fantasies ever since. She would love another chance with the now famous professional poker player.
When her newest client turns out to be the soon-to-be-married bride of Tucker's best friend, and Mariah comes face to face with Tucker again after six long years, Mariah realizes two things. One, the man still draws her on every level, and two...her wish has been granted. And Mariah has no intention of letting the opportunity go to waste.
Problem is, their connection is so intense and her emotions so quickly involved, that having their entire relationship based on nothing but some silly wish - something with a definitive expiration date - no longer appeals. Mariah wants a happily ever after with the man of her dreams...and hottest fantasies. To get that, though, she'll have to do the one thing that may push Tucker away from her forever.
~*~
So this is what you get when you take a little magic and a little chocolate, add a dash of humor and a bunch of hot sex, and stir with a surprising depth of emotional connection. Wow! All In is an erotic PNR novella that thoroughly satisfies.
Lately the most consistent issue I've had with the romances I've been reading is that too many are plenty heavy on the lust but not so big on the deeper interpersonal relationships and downright light on love, with entire relationships based solely on the horizontal...or vertical....or upside down, for the kinksters out there...mambo. And I'm not talking about the erotic romances, either. So to actually read an erotic romance that manages to blend the hot sex with a solid romance between two likable characters quite obviously made for each other was a special treat that I won't soon forget.
There's plenty of hot sex, sure, but I adored how Willoughby had a plausible backstory for her characters that laid the groundwork for the romance that developed, so it didn't feel unrealistically fast when the relationship start getting emotionally significant for the characters. Mariah and Tucker were wonderfully into each other for more than just physical pleasure, and that romance is as sweet as the chocolate delicacies Mariah sells. It's a great balance.
The paranormal elements were fun. Davina was a hoot and she stole every scene she was in. I didn't buy how quickly Mariah wrapped her mind around the whole wish granting thing, though, even with the proof she got (which was awesome in its own right), and I found Tucker's reactions later in the book to be even more of a stretch. Those were minor grievances, however, when compared to the strength of the rest of the story and my appreciation for an erotic romance that gave as much attention to the "romance" as it did the "erotic." I liked this one a lot.
Disclosure: A copy of this novella was provided to me by the author for an honest review. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
May 26, 2015
Cute read with smoking hot passion.
This book was a free book and a quick read. It was about a couple who both played cards he went professional she did not. After their one night stand she watched his success online and television. So when they magically meet again is it happily ever after?
This book was a free book and a quick read. It was about a couple who both played cards he went professional she did not. After their one night stand she watched his success online and television. So when they magically meet again is it happily ever after?
July 19, 2015
Totally enjoyable!!!!
Absolutely 5 stars!!!
It has been a a while since I read a short story that I totally enjoyed. This story was cute fun funny passionate and oh many good things.
I am running off now to get the rest of the series.
Absolutely 5 stars!!!
It has been a a while since I read a short story that I totally enjoyed. This story was cute fun funny passionate and oh many good things.
I am running off now to get the rest of the series.
March 12, 2009
4.5 stars
March 13, 2012
A fun and steamy read! I really enjoyed this book and will be reading the rest of this series.
March 25, 2012
Very steamy. Very hot. Very sweet romance of getting a second chance at love via a fairy who grants wishes that she made on aa bracelet.
April 18, 2012
Definitely ALL IN ... With steaming passion and broken hearts healing and melting as one ... What more can a girl ask for?
August 14, 2012
A Great book. Excellent! !!
May 22, 2015
Light fluffy novella read. Fairies granting wishes, second chance love, chocolates and poker..... and all leads to an HEA.
April 23, 2018
Short and sweet. Things happens really fast in this book, and you do get the background story but I feel like I would have liked to read about the trip where the bracelets were bought and the wishes that were made for the future.
July 3, 2018
First read this years ago and have just reread it. It apparently has a new title and cover.
A very enjoyable read and I cannot wait to read the rest of the books that will follow.
A very enjoyable read and I cannot wait to read the rest of the books that will follow.
April 16, 2020
This was really cute! I wasn’t actually in the mood for an erotica so I skimmed a bit of the sex scenes but it didn’t matter because the story itself is just too cute and the sex simply made it hot!
March 3, 2013
Mariah is not one to believe in fairy tales coming true, but little does she realize one might be in the cards for her. Just a year before while vacationing in Mexico she put on a wish bracelet (along with a couple of her friends) and wished for the one thing she'd wanted for years. Though Mariah writes off the whole thing as fantasy, she knows she must wear the bracelet until it comes off on its own. She forgets about the whole thing until it does fall off and she meets a wish fairy who swears Mariah will get what she wanted. It takes a little convincing, but she begins to believe when the man she wished for suddenly comes back into her life. The only problem is she is limited to forty-eight hours before the wish expires and there are some catches the fairy initially fails to mention that could ruin everything. Now that Mariah is finding love, she has to get her happily ever after and will do whatever it takes to make all her dreams come true.
I admit I didn't expect much from this short novel. It sounded like something I probably wouldn't even be able to finish. Yet once I started reading, the story really grabbed my attention. Mariah is a strong and independent woman, but she isn't afraid to dream and take chances. She has a sweet and soft side that helps you relate to her. When Tucker shows up, you root for her to find the love she wants with him. I will warn he isn't quite as easy to relate to in the beginning. This could be due to the fact I am not much of a poker fan and this guy made a living as a professional poker player. Definitely not my kind of dream guy. Yet I hung in there for Mariah's sake and eventually found myself really liking Tucker as more of his background came out. Despite it being a short novel, you get enough details to help you understand the two main characters and feel like you know them fairly well by the end. Even some of the side characters were great and helped flesh the story out.
There are a couple other things that could be considered both strengths and weaknesses for the novel. One, there are a lot of sex scenes and they begin early on in the story. I had hoped to get a little more warmed up to the characters first and that threw me off a bit. On the other hand, you learn a lot by what they are thinking and saying during those scenes. Tucker and Mariah met many years before so there is a lot of reminiscing even as they jump back in the sack together. Also, the author does an excellent job of writing sizzling scenes that most any romance reader could appreciate. I wish the story had been longer and more drawn out (there was a lot of room for growth) but I also understand writers like to tell the story as they see it. You don't have to deal with all the misunderstandings that are often used as ploys to prevent the H/h from finding their Happily Ever After (HEA) more quickly. It was refreshing to see the two characters forthright and upfront about their feelings without all the holding back you often see.
There were a couple of instances where the dialog seemed a bit weird to me, but most of the time I had no problem with it. The ending was the best part. It tied everything up and even provided for some comedy (I won't say how, you'll just have to read it). All in all, this was a novel I don't regret trying and believe it is one most romance readers will enjoy. It looks like this is the first in a series so I plan to check out the ones that follow "All In". I have faith they will be at least as good as this one.
I admit I didn't expect much from this short novel. It sounded like something I probably wouldn't even be able to finish. Yet once I started reading, the story really grabbed my attention. Mariah is a strong and independent woman, but she isn't afraid to dream and take chances. She has a sweet and soft side that helps you relate to her. When Tucker shows up, you root for her to find the love she wants with him. I will warn he isn't quite as easy to relate to in the beginning. This could be due to the fact I am not much of a poker fan and this guy made a living as a professional poker player. Definitely not my kind of dream guy. Yet I hung in there for Mariah's sake and eventually found myself really liking Tucker as more of his background came out. Despite it being a short novel, you get enough details to help you understand the two main characters and feel like you know them fairly well by the end. Even some of the side characters were great and helped flesh the story out.
There are a couple other things that could be considered both strengths and weaknesses for the novel. One, there are a lot of sex scenes and they begin early on in the story. I had hoped to get a little more warmed up to the characters first and that threw me off a bit. On the other hand, you learn a lot by what they are thinking and saying during those scenes. Tucker and Mariah met many years before so there is a lot of reminiscing even as they jump back in the sack together. Also, the author does an excellent job of writing sizzling scenes that most any romance reader could appreciate. I wish the story had been longer and more drawn out (there was a lot of room for growth) but I also understand writers like to tell the story as they see it. You don't have to deal with all the misunderstandings that are often used as ploys to prevent the H/h from finding their Happily Ever After (HEA) more quickly. It was refreshing to see the two characters forthright and upfront about their feelings without all the holding back you often see.
There were a couple of instances where the dialog seemed a bit weird to me, but most of the time I had no problem with it. The ending was the best part. It tied everything up and even provided for some comedy (I won't say how, you'll just have to read it). All in all, this was a novel I don't regret trying and believe it is one most romance readers will enjoy. It looks like this is the first in a series so I plan to check out the ones that follow "All In". I have faith they will be at least as good as this one.
August 11, 2016
Who says you can only wish upon a star?
When Mariah is given a second chance to meet with her unforgettable fling she can't help but hope for a different outcome than the first time around.
Such a great story, but yet it was ruined by the amount of grammatical errors and misspelled words! If this book was run through an editor I'm sure it would've been better.
But I do think I will go and read the second book, because I just can't wait to see what the friends all wished for.
When Mariah is given a second chance to meet with her unforgettable fling she can't help but hope for a different outcome than the first time around.
Such a great story, but yet it was ruined by the amount of grammatical errors and misspelled words! If this book was run through an editor I'm sure it would've been better.
But I do think I will go and read the second book, because I just can't wait to see what the friends all wished for.
September 16, 2015
Fun story.
This is a fun story to read. I have now read it twice, as I forgot to write a review last time. I remembered the story within 2 chapters and decided to enjoy it again. Wishing bracelets, and a desire to relive a very memorable night is the basis here. This one will stay in my keep list.
This is a fun story to read. I have now read it twice, as I forgot to write a review last time. I remembered the story within 2 chapters and decided to enjoy it again. Wishing bracelets, and a desire to relive a very memorable night is the basis here. This one will stay in my keep list.
April 2, 2012
A simple romance that's short and sweet enough to finish in an hour or two. Not particularly interesting in anything but the chocolate confections mentioned right at the beginning, and even that isn't too good.
July 3, 2013
This books once again falls into that category of "I just couldn't finish it". While it wasn't badly written per se, the erotica just didn't, well, feel erotic. Yeah, some of the scenes were kind of steamy but it wasn't "Woah!" for me. It just....didn't do it for me.
June 6, 2016
The story was ok. It was so short the author wasn't able to get in deep into the characters.
I may read the next one if it is also free or part of Kindle Unlimited I will probably read the next in the series.
I may read the next one if it is also free or part of Kindle Unlimited I will probably read the next in the series.
July 4, 2016
I had been looking for a good fairy tale book awhile back and I received this one. It was steamy and quite enjoyable. I liked it but I probably will not read the next one it was a cute story but I did not love it.
February 4, 2017
We all have that one wish
It was a fun, romantic and sexy read. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I liked the wish requirements and definitely loved 007 (you have to read to understand this) lol
It was a fun, romantic and sexy read. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I liked the wish requirements and definitely loved 007 (you have to read to understand this) lol
June 14, 2012
Short, light romance story. Short on character development, long on sex. Good for a fast read.
May 26, 2012
If you want to read another sappy dumb romance with TONS of erotic sex in it, then this book is for you. No intelligence required.
July 5, 2012
Too pat, but sweet with good sex scenes all packed into a short story. Enough for me to want to check out the next book.
September 25, 2012
Ok I guess. I'm not a fan!
June 10, 2015
Loved it!
Great read, hopeful, sexy, and romantic. I didn't want the book to end. Can't wait to read the next book.
Great read, hopeful, sexy, and romantic. I didn't want the book to end. Can't wait to read the next book.
March 31, 2016
Excellent
This book has a lot of charisma in it. I really did enjoy reading this book and I know you will enjoy reading it as well
This book has a lot of charisma in it. I really did enjoy reading this book and I know you will enjoy reading it as well
July 1, 2016
Once Upon A Fling
I really enjoyed reading Once Upon A Fling. It is not a paranormal romance which is what I've been into lately, but it was a fun read anyway.
I really enjoyed reading Once Upon A Fling. It is not a paranormal romance which is what I've been into lately, but it was a fun read anyway.
Read
July 27, 2016Hooked
Great read, spicy , sexy... Enjoyable characters... I am interested in finishing the series... It was funny... Recommended for anyone looking for hot read
Great read, spicy , sexy... Enjoyable characters... I am interested in finishing the series... It was funny... Recommended for anyone looking for hot read
August 17, 2016
A cute, short read. There was quite a few formatting errors though.
September 12, 2016
So so read, not a series I'd continue with though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews