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Once Upon a Spell #3

Goldilocks and the Bear

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Lady Victoria hungers for excitement, but how can she find it while cloistered in her cousin's castle? Encouraged to journey north to pursue an adventure of her own, an abandoned lodge seems as fine a place as any to stop for rest.

Ramsay is a shifter without a mate. Overwhelmed by the responsibilities of becoming his clan's new Father Bear--and the females throwing themselves at him--he leaves on holiday to enjoy the peaceful, northern hunting lodge. Finding his bed occupied by a golden-haired beauty wasn't part of the plan, but claiming her may be.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2017

296 people are currently reading
600 people want to read

About the author

Vivienne Savage

90 books344 followers
Sign up at http://www.viviennesavage.com/newsletter to receive an exclusive, free novel.

Vivienne Savage is a resident of a small town in rural Texas. While she isn't writing fantasy or concocting ways for shapeshifters and humans to find their match, she raises two children and works as a nurse in a rural retirement home.

All works by Vivienne range from urban fantasy and sweet adult romance to spicy shifter fiction with an erotic kick. Visit her site to determine which series is best for you!

Official Site: viviennesavage.com
Facebook: facebook.com/savage.books
Twitter: twitter.com/msvsavage
Instagram: instagram.com/msvsavage
Email: vivi@viviennesavage.com

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5 stars
302 (45%)
4 stars
217 (32%)
3 stars
117 (17%)
2 stars
15 (2%)
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7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Profile Image for Jewlsbookblog.
2,209 reviews74 followers
January 12, 2020
Goldilocks wanted an adventure and she sure found it! Between Aladdin and his forty thieves, trolls, hidden cities, jinns, and and a sorceress, there definitely wasn’t a dull moment to be found! Befriending Ramsay was the easy part!
Profile Image for BigComfyChairBookReviews.
182 reviews14 followers
January 6, 2018
Charming and sweet, but my least favorite in the series so far. I was not expecting it to be paired with Aladdin and I am not sure I liked the merging. While I realize Goldilocks has no real plot I would have preferred her to make an original one up rather than use Aladdin in this way. I couldn’t connect with the heroine. I found her to be inconsistent and disingenuous.
description
Ramsay was okay, but I felt lacked depth. This one was a miss for me, but I encourage fans of the series to give it a try, you may like it more than me. It was still well written, and I like the genre and author and am looking forward to the next one. WARNING: there is sex in this book, it is not erotica, but enough to be a steamy & hot adult romance. Blackstream usually sticks to just 1 scene towards the end of each book. Please do not read if you are looking for something PG. Romance-4/5 Steaminess-3/5 Explicitness-3/5
259 reviews
July 11, 2017
Great series. I loved all of them
Profile Image for Ronda  Tutt.
863 reviews54 followers
February 16, 2018
Excellent Story!

Totally amazed how the fairy tale twist and how the characters are completely different than what you think. I fell in love with Goldie and just the whole story. Excellent series so far and I highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers who like a little romance in their fairy tales.
Profile Image for J.M..
Author 2 books11 followers
June 22, 2017
Vivienne Savage kills it again with the third installment of her Once Upon a Spell series!

Lady Victoria is a formerly weak waif whose latest kidnapping enraged her so much that she did something about it. After training with the wolves, she sets out to have an adventure and winds up getting more than she bargained for.

Ramsay is the newly-installed Father Bear and he’s not quite ready for the female attention that title is about to grant him. Intending to take a short vacation before commencing his duties, he finds a waif with golden hair sleeping in his bed.

Ms. Savage brings to life the fairytale we all know and love with some MAJOR twists and turns. Magic abounds when the two encounter sorceresses, trolls, and a horrifying evil that must be overcome.

The third book is as good as the first and, I believe, an excellent standalone book. If you haven’t read the first two, have no fear! Read Goldilocks and the Bear, fall in love, and go back to read the first two. OR if you have a love of re-imagined fairy tales like I do, just go buy all three and read them that same week. They’re just that good.
Profile Image for Racy.
1,711 reviews16 followers
June 28, 2017
This has been a great series so far. We got to meet Victoria in the previous books. She is Anastasia’s cousin. I love how protective Anastasia and Alistair is of Victoria.

Last we had seen of Victoria she had been through a lot. She was a shy girl and trained to be a lady. Some men might look at her as frail and weak. I loved the fact that she want to change. She wanted to change the way people looked at her. She wanted to learn to fight and be able to stand on her own two feet. She never wanted to be a vicim again. She wanted to be one that could defend herself. In this story we get to see this girl turn into a woman. This Lady turn into a warrior. A shy frail woman turn into a brave woman that is willing to look danger and evil in the face. I truly loved Victoria’s character in this story.

I loved that his was the “Goldilocks” Story. This story needs a bear, right? Well the bear is Ramsay. He is the leader of his clan. I guess he never thought he would never find his mate and to come to his little cabin to find his future mate right there had to be surprising. Ramsey needed a woman with spunk. One that could give him a run for his money and keep him on his toes. Victoria was just that plus she had a sense of humor.

I had my doubts when Safiyya was brought into the story. My mind started wondering if she was going to be a good person or an evil person. Sorry I am not going to tell you which or tell you what kind of person she is. I will tell you that Safiyya has a secret but whether it is good or bad you will have to read the book to find out. She will take Ramsey and Victoria on an adventure that is for sure.

There is some pretty evil characters in this story and danger is up ahead. Victoria’s bravery, skill, and smarts will be tested. Before this story end you will admire Victoria even more. She is truly an amazing character and so selfless.

This are a few twist and surprises along the way. Things will get steamy between Ramsay and Victoria. Victoria will also know what real betrayal is really like. You will also see a love worth dying for. Great story and glad I got a chance to read it.
Profile Image for Cat Ciolko-Sutton.
349 reviews
April 12, 2025
Lady Victoria longs for more than embroidered gowns and polite conversation—she craves excitement, danger, and something (or someone) completely unexpected. When she’s encouraged to travel north to carve out an adventure of her own, she stumbles upon an abandoned hunting lodge nestled deep in the woods. It seems like the perfect place to rest. What she doesn’t expect is to find a large, brooding man already laying claim to it—and perhaps, to her.

Ramsay is a bear shifter on the run—not from danger, but from duty. As the newly chosen Father Bear of his clan, he’s suffocating under the weight of leadership and the constant attention from would-be mates. His only desire is peace and quiet in his family’s secluded lodge. That plan goes wildly awry when he returns to find a golden-haired beauty asleep in his bed. His inner bear awakens, and so begins a storm of fate, desire, and destiny neither of them can escape.

This story is a captivating blend of historical romance and paranormal heat, with a fierce heroine, a gruff-but-earnest shifter hero, and an atmospheric, wintry backdrop that feels like a fairytale with claws. The chemistry crackles, the pacing flies, and the emotional payoff is worth every page.

Perfect for fans of fated mates, shifter lore, and strong-willed heroines who meet their match in the most unexpected ways.
Profile Image for Karen J. Mossman.
Author 48 books206 followers
December 15, 2022
This is the third book in the Once Upon a Spell series. I particularly love the writing style, and if words can caress, then this does.

The play on the fairy tale is clever in this adult retelling. Ramsey and Victoria are the main characters and I loved both of them.

Ramsey is big and strong yet kind and gentle. Victoria, with her golden locks, set out for an adventure, and met Ramsey, a shifter, who is known as Father Bear. I really enjoyed the story of these two, and how they interacted with each other.

I loved how the characters from each of the other books also appear in this story. Already being familiar with Victoria, a minor character previously, made me like her all the more. And who wouldn’t fall in love with Ramsey?

What I didn’t like was Aladdin and the forty thieves. In Goldilocks and the Bear, he is a cruel and nasty little man. All his thieves had numbers instead of names, and they caused misery and havoc wherever they went.

There were many facets to the plot that I loved, some scary, some intriguing. It took me on an adventure where I could visualise weird and wonderful things.

I recommend this for fantasy romance lovers, and those who love being intrigued by strange new worlds.
183 reviews
May 30, 2018
Shifters are not really my subgenre of choice, but I do love twists on old fairy tales. I "purchased" this book from Amazon for free, and since the reviews were generally very positive, I was compelled to give it a try.
Based solely on the title, I went into this story with the expectation that it would predominantly take place in a remote cabin in the woods. Little did I know that there would be an underground gnomish city, a quest to save an imprisoned djinn, or a band of forty thieves terrorizing the countryside. There was much more adventure than the cover gives away, to its merit.
Unfortunately, I never really clicked with the main characters and being that I started at the third book of the series, I wonder if this may be because I am missing a lot of backstory. An overwhelming number of plot devices were too convenient (especially the scene at the very end), and I wonder how many of the random relics were tossed in for the sake of "world building".
I don't think I will be following up with the rest of the series, but thankfully this was a super short read to get a taste.
Profile Image for Kristi Cramer.
Author 18 books56 followers
June 26, 2017
I'm such a big fan of all work by this author, and Goldilocks and the Bear continues the wonderful spins on classic fairytales.
Over all I really enjoyed it. I liked Victoria coming into her own, and even brushing Ramsay aside when he tried to do the alpha protector thing on her. She doesn't really trust that she has the strength to be the woman she wants to be, but over the course of the story, she comes into her own, and learns her strength was there all along. The strong women are one of the things I dearly love about all Vivienne's stories.

This story had a bit of different feel than the others, because the quest they embarked upon, at the outset anyway, didn't have anything to do with them; they were helping out of the generosity of Victoria's heart. Of course, it turned out to be very personal, but they didn't know it would be when they started out. I liked that. It showed Victoria's truly compassionate nature.
Profile Image for Emily Lindsey.
Author 4 books21 followers
July 11, 2017
Goldilocks is brand new, you can't miss reading this one!
I loved this fantastic twist on the old fairy tale! Goldilocks is my hero. She went from being weak and needing protection to this beautifully depicted character that learns to take care of herself. She has a quest! How cool is that? I loved the way her parents negativity spurred her to become more than even she thought she could be, proving that sometimes you just have to pick your own people. Her attitude is hella awesome! Girl power infused, she does not see danger, she sees opportunity. I absolutely adored Victoria's friendship with her Ramsey and was questioning what kind of sense her journey made, I mean, all the stories tell you to never trust a witch, right? But the journey was just more opportunity for Goldi to shine in all of her badashery! I loved the writing in this book, because as with most books produced by this team, the story is tight, and the characters are well developed. Read it, you'll love it too!
Profile Image for Kristi Cramer.
Author 18 books56 followers
August 7, 2017
I'm such a big fan of all work by this author, and Goldilocks and the Bear continues the wonderful spins on classic fairytales.
Over all I really enjoyed it. I liked Victoria coming into her own, and even brushing Ramsay aside when he tried to do the alpha protector thing on her. She doesn't really trust that she has the strength to be the woman she wants to be, but over the course of the story, she comes into her own, and learns her strength was there all along. The strong women are one of the things I dearly love about all Vivienne's stories.

This story had a bit of different feel than the others, because the quest they embarked upon, at the outset anyway, didn't have anything to do with them; they were helping out of the generosity of Victoria's heart. Of course, it turned out to be very personal, but they didn't know it would be when they started out. I liked that. It showed Victoria's truly compassionate nature.
Profile Image for Erin.
399 reviews
February 27, 2023
I had such high hopes for this story , only to be disappointed by poor writing and a story that made little sense. Not to mention characters that made no sense going together given what we were presented in the opening.

It would have made more sense to have Victoria and Safiya (the sorceress) to have met independently earlier or have Victoria and Ramsey find Safiya while they were on their way to Lorehaven, battling the 40thieves. It would have made more narrative sense and would have eliminated the rough exposition we got.
Also why bother with the Gnome kingdom at all? It diverted the story completely and would have only made sense if they had stumbled upon it while either just on their journey or fleeing more thieves. The hammer and ring seemed little reason to jerk the story in an unnatural direction.

Also what was with the deus ex machina ending? I hate convenient endings. Especially when they are underserved.
Profile Image for Anna Marie.
1,389 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2017
I'm loving Savage's twisted-up fairy tales. They take me in directions I never expect to end up. With the bear as a shape-shifter, with Goldi having been trained to fight by wolves (a la 'Red & the Wolf'), with her cousin married to 'the Beast' she'd fallen in love with in his remote castle, shut away because he couldn't get back his human form...

This time, we find ourselves battling Alladin to get back the lamp for the woman who loves the genie inside of it. To do so, they battle thieves with numbers one thru forty on their arms, quest in a Goblin city, and battle trolls.

The best part? Was 'Little Bear'. But nobody explained *WHAT* a 'Little Bear' was, so that rankled me, the whole story. On the other hand, he was perfect - short, stocky, and with a fear of heights that made him oh-so-endearing. I loved him. I rarely fall in love with the heroes, myself.
Profile Image for Raven Tiara.
15 reviews
August 31, 2020
Lady Victoria has changed much since Red and the Wolf. I never thought her weak but she was born in a royal family and always depended on someone else to defend and take care of her. After her kidnapping in the last book, she decided to learn how to take care of herself. I loved the growth of character, while she remains kind, caring and tenacious.
I feel like the love in this tale developed from deep friendship. Papa Bear is so easy to like. He is strong, and warm and doesn't throw the alpha thing around.
Like the other books in the series some other fairy tales entwined in the story. In this book it was Aladdin. While I like almost all the characters introduced from that tale, I have very mixed feelings about Aladdin being the bad guy which is why I gave it 4 stars. ( maybe i'm too picky but that messed with my childhood;)
Profile Image for Rose  Lintz.
31 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2017
Goldilocks gets an upgrade

Loved this take on the classic fairy tale!!

In this book, you get to meet back with Victoria and find out she isn't that timid lady that was once captured by an evil queen. You also get to see what Ramsey the best shifter is up to now since he last appeared fighting for what's right. With a once timid noblewoman and a gruff bear shifter, adventures are around every corner in this book. Not only do you get to see a different take on the Goldilocks tale, you also get a new evil that is a shocker and one not expected!

In this book alone you have trolls, lost cities, a sorceress, shifters, love, heartache and more so stop reading Reviews and get to reading this book!!!
Profile Image for Kelly.
40 reviews25 followers
July 30, 2017
WOW!!!! One of the best books I've ever read. I loved it for a change that the heroes had flaws and were people among us. It was great to witness Victoria's struggle and fight to strengthen and follow her dreams. Believe in love's magic. Also, the underground city was magnificent. I longed to join them in their quest. And the end...! Ooooh Gosh!! Great, great, great!!

Each book of Once upon a Kiss series was unique, mesmerizing und rich in details of beautiful worlds and landscapes and brave heroes who remain human and true to their heart.

Those books are definitely worth reading. The only thing I regret is that I didn't take my time to lavish and enjoy them. But how can you put such a heart thrombing and intriguing book down??? Simply you can't!
Profile Image for Kat W.
615 reviews29 followers
July 8, 2017
It took me a few chapters to get into, but I ended up being pretty charmed by this retelling mashup. I've also never read a Goldilocks and the Three Bears re-telling, so that caught my attention right away.

I liked how Savage put elements of different fairy tales in this one, bringing the worlds together. The twists she makes are a nice touch and I don't mind the romantic bits at all. Lol. It was also nice getting Victoria's story and seeing how she changed from book one to now. For some reason, I also found this story much more charming than Red and the Wolf. Maybe because it had less creepy gore and the adventure was more up my ally. *shrug* Both are good in their own ways.
Profile Image for The Literary Vixen.
611 reviews21 followers
July 23, 2017
I know every time I read a Vivienne Savage book, I’m for an amazing adventure. Goldilocks and the Bear is part of her fairytale series. This book is by far my favorite! This book has adventure, a touch of romance, magic, and action. It also bought out some feels and had me in tears in some parts. The fantasy world Miss Savage has created is filled with wonder and magic. She also added some twists to fairytales we knew as children.

I highly recommend reading this series! If you’re a fan of fantasy and fairytales, this book is for YOU! I give this 5 stars!
Profile Image for Linda.
679 reviews1 follower
June 29, 2017
Loved it!

Another excellent and exciting Fairytale by the amazing Vivienne Savage. Goldilocks and the Bears is the third book in the series! Ramsey and Victorias adventure begins when Ramsey finds her sleeping in his bed. This book is filled with so much danger, mystery and suspense your heart almost pounds out of your chest. Filled with love, betrayal and a whole lot of magic this book has it all. Can't wait for the next book! ❤ ❤ 🌟 🌟
Profile Image for Brittany Davidson.
12 reviews
June 30, 2017
must say, this book has continued to delight me with what I have come to expect of this author's writing. a truly magical experiance, full of adventure, magic, and an unforgettable retain of a beloved childhood story. I must say, it was very refreshing how she brought in Aladdin and the Lamp. am much looking forward to when I can read the next in this series of Rumplestiltskin, who I have always adored, and thought needed to have his own story told.
Profile Image for Tina.
126 reviews3 followers
July 1, 2017
Goldilocks and her Bear find love and adventure together.

You have met our heroine, Victoria, in Ms. Savages second book in her adult fairytale book Red and the Wof. Victoria survived her kidnapping and vows to be able to defend herself. Ms. Savage has once again brought a new twist to our fairytales. She has blended Godilocks and her Bear, Aladdin and magical Jinni. Get ready for an adventure that will keep you enchanted till the end.
Profile Image for Arielle Pettis.
231 reviews
July 12, 2017
Oh my word

WOW! what an amazing book. I had my thoughts that Victoria would end up with a Bear (because of the title), but this story was amazing. I love the ending of this book the most! The twist of the normal story and mixing Aladdin into the story was beyond amazing! And learning about the Ifrits and what they are capable was a great add into the story. I cant wait to read more about their son in Rumpelstiltskin.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
20 reviews
August 4, 2017
She wanted adventure, and boy did she get it.

Lady Victoria thought the journey home alone itself was an adventure, but chance had other ideas. This story is a good balance between passionate romance and adventure. Victoria exerted her independence without being rudely stubborn and listened to more experienced ideas without feeling less. Ramsey was tender, understanding and strong. Saffiya and her story blended well with the main one. A very enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Kayla.
1,694 reviews17 followers
December 30, 2017
This was soooo endearing. I LOVED IT! Obviously Victoria would be lovely, smart, witty and fierce. But let us take a moment to appreciate Ramsay! Well, hello! Vivienne's description of this bear shifter was absolutely enticing. I mean, can I accidentally run into him . . . Please! But I digress. This retelling was excellent. The storyline, the characters, the love the betrayal, the mystery . . . It was perfect!
202 reviews
June 13, 2019
Fairytale romance for adults

Loving the crap out of these retellings or reimaginations! I especially love how they have all tied into each other. This is a world I love to escape to. Victoria’s story is a very heartwarming and funny story. Laughed at the Goldilocks story line with the food and beds and cried over the heart breaking true love at the end. Not sad tears but ever so happy tears. Can’t wait for more!
Profile Image for Birty.
613 reviews5 followers
December 9, 2019
Goldilocks and a Bear

This new version of Goldilocks with a little Aladdin thrown in was a nice twist on the fairy tale. Goldilocks is Lady Victoria, seen as a weakling and shame to her family. The bear is Ramsey, head of the bear shifters. Together they have a great adventure where Victoria realizes she much more of a woman and hero than anyone thought. Enjoyable read with some mystery and adventure.
Profile Image for Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog).
3,092 reviews91 followers
June 25, 2017
A wonderful adventure and retelling of not only Goldilocks but Aladdin as well. I loved the fast paced story and how there were twist and turns at every step. I enjoyed the characters they were entertaining and fun. I felt for them and enjoyed their journey.
I look forward to reading more from this wonderful world of fairy tales.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc from the author.
Profile Image for koy saephanh.
29 reviews
June 26, 2017
A twist on a classic

This book encompasses a few stories. I loved how Victoria is so much stronger and braver than she was before. I love the classic part of her finding a cabin and going through the scenes of porridge, chair, and bed. She found her love that she had always wanted.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews

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