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Ghosts and Reincarnation #4
Fairytale Come Alive
In Isabella Austin Evangelista’s life miracles never happen… she knows she’s destined to be the princess who’s stuck in the middle of a fairytale where there will be no happily ever after.
Once upon a time, Prentice Cameron loved Isabella Austin until he discovered she was a spoiled, rich girl who spent her summers toying with his heart.
Life led Prentice to his own fairytale, the love of the full-of-life Fiona Sawyer. That being so, that fairytale was torn away when Fiona died of a brain tumor leaving Prentice with a house to keep clean, piles of laundry to be done, a business to run and two children who were getting tired of takeaway.
But Isabella comes back to Prentice’s tiny fishing town and she sweeps into his children’s lives like a beautiful, well-dressed fairy godmother who bakes exquisite chocolate cakes and gives the perfect manicure to six year old girls. Then Prentice finds out Isabella’s soul destroying secrets, secrets that explain why she left him so many years ago.
Fiona, stuck in her village and forced to haunt her family and watch Prentice and Isabella’s crazy dance, finds the impossible happening. She’s cheering for Bella and Prentice to rekindle their love. Then she finds out why she’s caught in her heartbreaking haunting and discovers she must embrace her magic and keep Bella safe or Bella’s fairytale will never come true.
Once upon a time, Prentice Cameron loved Isabella Austin until he discovered she was a spoiled, rich girl who spent her summers toying with his heart.
Life led Prentice to his own fairytale, the love of the full-of-life Fiona Sawyer. That being so, that fairytale was torn away when Fiona died of a brain tumor leaving Prentice with a house to keep clean, piles of laundry to be done, a business to run and two children who were getting tired of takeaway.
But Isabella comes back to Prentice’s tiny fishing town and she sweeps into his children’s lives like a beautiful, well-dressed fairy godmother who bakes exquisite chocolate cakes and gives the perfect manicure to six year old girls. Then Prentice finds out Isabella’s soul destroying secrets, secrets that explain why she left him so many years ago.
Fiona, stuck in her village and forced to haunt her family and watch Prentice and Isabella’s crazy dance, finds the impossible happening. She’s cheering for Bella and Prentice to rekindle their love. Then she finds out why she’s caught in her heartbreaking haunting and discovers she must embrace her magic and keep Bella safe or Bella’s fairytale will never come true.
565 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2011
432 people are currently reading
3244 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Ashley
138 books39.5k followersKristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 645 reviews
March 25, 2015
5 beautiful 'Scottish Fairytale Come Alive' stars!
Crikey! I can't stop crying! What a beautiful, unusual, hard fought and well deserved happily ever after!
Blurb...
In Isabella Austin Evangelista’s life miracles never happen… she knows she’s destined to be the princess who’s stuck in the middle of a fairytale where there will be no happily ever after.
Once upon a time, Prentice Cameron loved Isabella Austin until he discovered she was a spoiled, rich girl who spent her summers toying with his heart.
Life led Prentice to his own fairytale, the love of the full-of-life Fiona Sawyer. That being so, that fairytale was torn away when Fiona died of a brain tumor leaving Prentice with a house to keep clean, piles of laundry to be done, a business to run and two children who were getting tired of takeaway.
But Isabella comes back to Prentice’s tiny fishing town and she sweeps into his children’s lives like a beautiful, well-dressed fairy godmother who bakes exquisite chocolate cakes and gives the perfect manicure to six year old girls. Then Prentice finds out Isabella’s soul destroying secrets, secrets that explain why she left him so many years ago.
Fiona, stuck in her village and forced to haunt her family and watch Prentice and Isabella’s crazy dance, finds the impossible happening. She’s cheering for Bella and Prentice to rekindle their love. Then she finds out why she’s caught in her heartbreaking haunting and discovers she must embrace her magic and keep Bella safe or Bella’s fairytale will never come true.
My ramble...
I really am too torn-up, emotionally, to write a coherent review, so I'll just leave you with my rambling thoughts -
~I have never cried so hard from tears that are both tragic and beautiful.
~I have never loved a first wife as much as I love the second wife, but Fee ... I am in love with Fiona, and equally as in love with Elle.
~I've never read a story that made me want to believe, desperately, in reincarnation. I want this because Fiona is incredible and I want her to somehow - anyhow - have a life not cut short, a life filled with love and laughter and passion and Every. Single. Good. Thing life has to offer.
~I adore Jason and Sally, so much. So very much. And Prentice, there are no words to describe my love and respect and admiration for this man.
~I'm not sure I'll ever recover from this story. I'm not sure I'll ever want to.
Crikey! I can't stop crying! What a beautiful, unusual, hard fought and well deserved happily ever after!
Blurb...
In Isabella Austin Evangelista’s life miracles never happen… she knows she’s destined to be the princess who’s stuck in the middle of a fairytale where there will be no happily ever after.
Once upon a time, Prentice Cameron loved Isabella Austin until he discovered she was a spoiled, rich girl who spent her summers toying with his heart.
Life led Prentice to his own fairytale, the love of the full-of-life Fiona Sawyer. That being so, that fairytale was torn away when Fiona died of a brain tumor leaving Prentice with a house to keep clean, piles of laundry to be done, a business to run and two children who were getting tired of takeaway.
But Isabella comes back to Prentice’s tiny fishing town and she sweeps into his children’s lives like a beautiful, well-dressed fairy godmother who bakes exquisite chocolate cakes and gives the perfect manicure to six year old girls. Then Prentice finds out Isabella’s soul destroying secrets, secrets that explain why she left him so many years ago.
Fiona, stuck in her village and forced to haunt her family and watch Prentice and Isabella’s crazy dance, finds the impossible happening. She’s cheering for Bella and Prentice to rekindle their love. Then she finds out why she’s caught in her heartbreaking haunting and discovers she must embrace her magic and keep Bella safe or Bella’s fairytale will never come true.
My ramble...
I really am too torn-up, emotionally, to write a coherent review, so I'll just leave you with my rambling thoughts -
~I have never cried so hard from tears that are both tragic and beautiful.
~I have never loved a first wife as much as I love the second wife, but Fee ... I am in love with Fiona, and equally as in love with Elle.
~I've never read a story that made me want to believe, desperately, in reincarnation. I want this because Fiona is incredible and I want her to somehow - anyhow - have a life not cut short, a life filled with love and laughter and passion and Every. Single. Good. Thing life has to offer.
~I adore Jason and Sally, so much. So very much. And Prentice, there are no words to describe my love and respect and admiration for this man.
~I'm not sure I'll ever recover from this story. I'm not sure I'll ever want to.
September 24, 2017
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
4.5 stars
The story: Isabella Austen and Prentice Cameron fell in love over the course of the two summers she spent vacationing in Scotland while on break from uni. The second summer, Prentice asked Elle to marry him. She said yes. They were deliriously happy, young, and prepared to spend the rest of their lives together.
And that's when everything goes to shit.
Twenty years later . . .
Bella is back in Scotland for her best friend's wedding . . . Her best friend who is marrying Prentice's best friend.
EEP is correct.
And through the meddlesome maneuverings of said best friend, Bella winds up staying in Prentice's guest suite for the duration of her visit.
Can you see where this is going?
BUT.
This is no simple tale of unrequited love. FAIRYTALE COME ALIVE is KA in full bloom. It includes (but is not limited to):
1. Mikey: the best sassy gay friend to ever sassy gay friend.
2. Sally and Jason: the adorable(y heartbreaking) children of widowed
3. Prentice: the rugged, intelligent, HAWT Scotsman who could never quite bring himself to hate
4. (B)Elle(a): the horrifically broken, beautiful, kind, trust-funded media darling who is so terribly alone.
And that, my friends, is merely the tip of the iceberg.
I loved this book for a lot of reasons. I've always been a sucker for reunited lovers, and Elle and Prentice are perfectly fashioned for each other, but not in a plastic, jigsaw puzzle kind of way.
With KA, it flowers naturally, their combined perfection the result of years and years of tempering. And lest you forget, tempering is the process by which metal is strengthened by heating, cooling, and banging on it, so it won't snap the first time it's used in combat.
Useful . . . but extremely painful if you're a person rather than a piece of steel.
So they deserve their happy ending, you desperately want them to get their happy ending, their fairytale come alive.
Beyond the fabulous cast of characters and the tug-on-your-heartstrings plot, there's also a healthy dose of KA sparkle: you know when you were a kid (or even an adult) and someone did some awful thing to you (b/c people SUCK), and you sat around, wasting entire afternoons, lovingly crafting scenarios of revenge and vindication?
*arches eyebrow* Don't act like you didn't do it too.
Whether it was as simple as replaying a confrontation so you always had the perfect comeback, or as elaborate as orchestrating your ex's discovery that you've moved on to better (bigger?) things, we've ALL done it.
But KA has turned it into an art form, and she uses it for plot points.
It's bloody fantastic. And when it happens, you cannot help but shriek your vicarious glee that ELLE GOT HER'S BACK! YAASSS!
It's the logical thing to do and you are oh-so-happy to do it.
So yeah. Awesome characters, awesome scenario, awesome comeuppance for nasty little fellows . . . KA is awesome, and FAIRYTALE COME ALIVE is by far my favorite installment of her GHOSTS AND REINCARNATION series. You should read it. Highly recommended.
10/29/15: Please, please, PLEASE be as good as I remember! Buddy (Re)Read with Robin , Joanita and Stephanie
Kristen Ashley is amazing. AH-MAY-ZING. She consistently creates characters who feel so real that in one standalone book, you not only feel like you know them, you feel like you've known and loved these people your whole life.
Your. Whole. Life. You feel real joy over their triumphs. You feel real pain over their losses. They are REAL.
You miss them when you finish the books, so you have to reread them. Over and over again. And she has a lot of books.
FAIRYTALE COME ALIVE may be my favorite of her GHOSTS AND REINCARNATION series. Like February and Alec/Colt from THE 'BURG, Elle and Prentice have been separated by misunderstandings perpetuated by nefarious persons (though fortunately not a serial killer in this case) since they were little more than teenagers.
Twenty-freaking-years.
The only reason they reenter each others lives is b/c mutual friends--also separated for twenty years--are getting married.
It wouldn't be KA if they immediately fell back into each others arms with nary a complication, so . . . complications. And further misunderstandings. And then hope. And then heartbreak (when the truth at long last is revealed). And then finally (finally, FINALLY) happiness when all the obstacles are not just overcome, but ANNIHILATED.
That's another good thing about KA: even though there are regularly very legitimate obstacles, by the time you reach the end, they are not only successfully confronted, they are destroyed with absolutely no possibility of recurrence.
So, you know, they can focus on their happily ever after.
I like that.
I think you will, too.
READ KA.
4.5 stars
The story: Isabella Austen and Prentice Cameron fell in love over the course of the two summers she spent vacationing in Scotland while on break from uni. The second summer, Prentice asked Elle to marry him. She said yes. They were deliriously happy, young, and prepared to spend the rest of their lives together.
And that's when everything goes to shit.
Twenty years later . . .
Bella is back in Scotland for her best friend's wedding . . . Her best friend who is marrying Prentice's best friend.
EEP is correct.
And through the meddlesome maneuverings of said best friend, Bella winds up staying in Prentice's guest suite for the duration of her visit.
Can you see where this is going?
BUT.
This is no simple tale of unrequited love. FAIRYTALE COME ALIVE is KA in full bloom. It includes (but is not limited to):
1. Mikey: the best sassy gay friend to ever sassy gay friend.
2. Sally and Jason: the adorable(y heartbreaking) children of widowed
3. Prentice: the rugged, intelligent, HAWT Scotsman who could never quite bring himself to hate
4. (B)Elle(a): the horrifically broken, beautiful, kind, trust-funded media darling who is so terribly alone.
And that, my friends, is merely the tip of the iceberg.
I loved this book for a lot of reasons. I've always been a sucker for reunited lovers, and Elle and Prentice are perfectly fashioned for each other, but not in a plastic, jigsaw puzzle kind of way.
With KA, it flowers naturally, their combined perfection the result of years and years of tempering. And lest you forget, tempering is the process by which metal is strengthened by heating, cooling, and banging on it, so it won't snap the first time it's used in combat.
Useful . . . but extremely painful if you're a person rather than a piece of steel.
So they deserve their happy ending, you desperately want them to get their happy ending, their fairytale come alive.
Beyond the fabulous cast of characters and the tug-on-your-heartstrings plot, there's also a healthy dose of KA sparkle: you know when you were a kid (or even an adult) and someone did some awful thing to you (b/c people SUCK), and you sat around, wasting entire afternoons, lovingly crafting scenarios of revenge and vindication?
*arches eyebrow* Don't act like you didn't do it too.
Whether it was as simple as replaying a confrontation so you always had the perfect comeback, or as elaborate as orchestrating your ex's discovery that you've moved on to better (bigger?) things, we've ALL done it.
But KA has turned it into an art form, and she uses it for plot points.
It's bloody fantastic. And when it happens, you cannot help but shriek your vicarious glee that ELLE GOT HER'S BACK! YAASSS!
It's the logical thing to do and you are oh-so-happy to do it.
So yeah. Awesome characters, awesome scenario, awesome comeuppance for nasty little fellows . . . KA is awesome, and FAIRYTALE COME ALIVE is by far my favorite installment of her GHOSTS AND REINCARNATION series. You should read it. Highly recommended.
10/29/15: Please, please, PLEASE be as good as I remember! Buddy (Re)Read with Robin , Joanita and Stephanie
Kristen Ashley is amazing. AH-MAY-ZING. She consistently creates characters who feel so real that in one standalone book, you not only feel like you know them, you feel like you've known and loved these people your whole life.
Your. Whole. Life. You feel real joy over their triumphs. You feel real pain over their losses. They are REAL.
You miss them when you finish the books, so you have to reread them. Over and over again. And she has a lot of books.
FAIRYTALE COME ALIVE may be my favorite of her GHOSTS AND REINCARNATION series. Like February and Alec/Colt from THE 'BURG, Elle and Prentice have been separated by misunderstandings perpetuated by nefarious persons (though fortunately not a serial killer in this case) since they were little more than teenagers.
Twenty-freaking-years.
The only reason they reenter each others lives is b/c mutual friends--also separated for twenty years--are getting married.
It wouldn't be KA if they immediately fell back into each others arms with nary a complication, so . . . complications. And further misunderstandings. And then hope. And then heartbreak (when the truth at long last is revealed). And then finally (finally, FINALLY) happiness when all the obstacles are not just overcome, but ANNIHILATED.
That's another good thing about KA: even though there are regularly very legitimate obstacles, by the time you reach the end, they are not only successfully confronted, they are destroyed with absolutely no possibility of recurrence.
So, you know, they can focus on their happily ever after.
I like that.
I think you will, too.
READ KA.
April 7, 2013
5 Big Fat *Sigh* Stars!! I wanted to twirl around and sing when I finished this book, but I knew I would get dizzy, fall over, and with my luck probably break my neck, so I just cried!!
I’m moving to the wilds of Scotland and hoping my fairytale comes alive and I find my happily ever after with a handsome, forty-something, dark haired, brooding Scotsman...Prentice Cameron to be exact! Damn he’s spoken for, but who better to have him than the lovely Isabella Austin. They’ve both endured so much, and they needed to come back to each other and finish the story they started so many years before.
Where does Kristen Ashley come up with these ideas for her books?! And then execute them so well!!! There is so much heartache in this book, but she matches it page for page with overwhelming joy. Her books absorb my entire being, and her words manipulate my emotions and consume me! One minute I’m entirely deflated and the next I’m floating on a cloud!
The story is told from Elle and Prentice's POV’s, but the brilliance in this book is the third POV, Fiona, Prentice's deceased wife. She is a central part of the plot, and brings an element of sadness and humor to the story, and she is the driving force that comes to insure happiness for her husband and children. Ironic in way, but very well done, and throughout the book Fiona feels the love of her family and friends.
Once again I’m amazed at how the children were described, it’s as if Jason and Sally live with KA, and their behavior and emotions are being written as she observes them in the moment. Very few authors write children so well and I’m always in awe how spot on she is. There is a whole host of amazing secondary characters, but I had lots of love in my heart for Mikey, Elle’s ‘second’ best friend… his words! He speaks when Elle can’t or rather won’t, and it’s his roundabout conversation that shows Prentice just how wrong he was about Elle!
Okay…GUILTY!! I read out of order!!! I’m only human and I wanted to read about ghosts! However, I did my research and was also assured by friends that this book could be read as a stand-alone. This is a series that has no story or character connection, just a basic theme of the paranormal that is woven into each book.
This will go at the top of my list as one of my all-time favorite Kristen Ashley books. The epilogue was short, but it was AMAZING!! All I can say is…if only!! Keep tissues on hand my friends, you will need them!
June 22, 2017
The changing faces of Stacey…
This review is going to be all kinds of spoilery and very long because I’m going to be talking about my feelings and what had me hesitating to start this story. Proceed with caution
Bloody Hell!! I have not cried that much in AGES. Of course, most of those times were to and from work on the train. I swear half of the regulars are starting to watch me, to see what faces I’m going to pull next. I have found the best spot on the trip to work is beside the door, facing the door with my back to everyone. Luckily, this door doesn’t open much because the platform is on the other side. Most of the time I can shed my tears privately. With my headphones in I can’t hear my sniffles, and, in my mind, if I can’t hear my sniffles, no one else can either (DENIAL).
I have known about Fairytale Come Alive for years and discussed with fellow Kristen Ashley Addicts, the positive and negatives of stepping into this emotional read. I’m not going to put the blurb here but I will tell you the thing that had me shying away from starting…
THE BELOVED WIFE HAS TO WATCH HER HUSBAND FALL IN LOVE AGAIN!!
Geez…that’s asking a wee bit too much from me. How dare he move on AND fall in love? AND SHE (the deceased wife) HAS TO WATCH!! Who is this hussy coming into her husband’s world? SHE WAS HIS FIRST LOVE? SHE BROKE HIS HEART? SHE’S RICH…AND…BEAUTIFUL? Bloody hell!! You’re asking way too much, I tell you.
So, I bought this book determined that one day I would eventually work up the courage to start. Even my sister has read it and tried to convince me that it wasn’t as bad as I imagined. Stubborn as I am, I still told her I was waiting. Then, Kristen Ashley announced that she was bringing out the Ghost and Reincarnations series on audio. Well, I couldn’t put it off any longer. This was the little shove I needed. I loaded it up, took a deep breath…and saw a Fairytale Come Alive.
Here’s where I get REALLY spoilery, so read with one eye open if you need to.
I’m not a fan of Prentice.
Glad I got that off my chest. Oh yeah, I know he gets better and stops being a douchewaffle, but geez, he broke my heart. His aim was true with every hurtful word he spat at Bella. Look, I know he’s had a rough trot, but come on…he was nasty. It didn’t show him in a good light that he also allowed his little town to snub and be rude to Bella either. The bloody idiot didn’t even try to stop it until after the insults and been flung. DON’T GET ME STARTED…on how he acted 20 years ago either. Did he love her? Then why the bloody hell didn’t he attempt to GET HER BACK? Or at least attempt to talk to her again. NO. He writes her off and decides it’s all her fault. Stubborn, immature a$$.
Well, Prentice isn’t doing a great job as a single parent, unfortunately. They’re living on takeaway food, in a messy house and struggling to move on emotionally. Instead of accepting Bella’s help around the house and in the kitchen, he’d rather suffer and make his kids suffer with him. I just felt that Prentice needed to buck up a bit. It's his job as the dad to see to his kids welfare. Don't push away help from family and friends, or if worse came to worse, hire a house cleaner and cook.
Train face - At this stage of the story, I’m pulling my squinty-eyed *I’m very disappointed in you* face.
I’ll just take a little sec here to say…that I found it very hard to feel excessive amounts of sympathy for Prentice. Now, this may sound a bit harsh, but, I know he’s going to be in love again. There’s this little part of me that knows that with the death of Fiona, it wasn't his last chance at a HEA. Deep down, I knew that his happiness was about to come back because his new HEA was just around the corner. Do you know what I mean?
Now, I have EXTREME sympathy for Isabella Austin Evangelista. Boy, this chick can not get a break. Too many times Isabella/Bella/Elle/Miss Evangelala has been hurt. She lost her mother at an early age, her father is abusive, forced to push away the love of her life, married a cheating bas+ard, and couldn't have children. Why do good people have bad things happen to them?
Train face - Crying, crying and a wee bit more crying *If I blink 20 times a second the air will dry the tears before they run down my face* face.
If Prentice is a douchewaffle, then Isabella’s father is a DOUCHEKING! I’ve read a lot of really awful parents, but this guy takes the cake. The hell he put Isabella and her mother through were disgusting and made my stomach turn. He was abusive, both mentally and physically. Every mention of him devastated me. No child should have to live with a parent like that.
Train face – every time the doucheking is mentioned, I’m sure I’m wearing the *you just kicked a puppy dog* face.
Elle gives an outward appearance of an ice queen. She wears her clothes and makeup as a shield to her true feelings. With her movie star looks, it would be very easy to think she’s got the world at her feet. Money and beauty Do NOT buy you happiness.
Another step to the side to discuss something further…I actually stopped at one stage and thought – Hmmm…the heroine has a mental illness. I haven’t read too many books with a heroine dealing with mental issues -
It could be very easy to say that Elle was a weak woman but her strength is in her need to love and look after people. It was obvious that Isabella hasn’t had a lot of her people in her life that put her needs first. She has close friends she knows she can count on, but she doesn’t want to be a burden or looked on with pity. Elle stays aloof to hide her insecurities. It’s not until the truth comes out (about the abuse she’d suffered) that she finally has more than a few people at her back. With each smile and hello towards her she gets stronger.
Train face – I’m definitely pulling the *I’m so proud of you for stopping being an idiot* face.
Now Fiona…what was my biggest worry with Fairytale Come Alive ended up being…not that bad…easier than I thought…pretty good, actually. I think, in some ways, it’s made me change my attitude. For years I told my hubby that he wasn’t allowed to find love again if I died. I know, pretty selfish, but I kind of thought there is no way he could get lucky enough to find another love as good as ours. But, I loved that Fiona got a bit of a say on who he moved on with. I wouldn’t mind that. I could give a magical *nudge* of approval. Don’t get me wrong, it was still pretty hard to see Fiona having to watch him do things differently with Elle. She was obviously a good person though. She put her husband and children's happiness first, and I would like to think, in the same situation, that I could do that too.
Train face – happy tears, sad tears, frustrated tears *I can't decide…all the tears* face.
I ended up loving the audio of Fairytale Come Alive. The narrator does a fantastic job with the different accents and age of the characters. The emotions could be heard and felt and she made it easier to see it all play out.
There were some amazing characters in this story. I loved Prentice’s kids Jason and Sally. Elle’s best friends were lovable and most of Prentice’s town eventually came good in the end. I think my only negative was the added on suspense that happened towards the end. It seemed a little unnecessary.
If you’ve made it to the end of this rambling…CONGRATULATIONS!! I cried A LOT in this one but I definitely smiled, smirked and squirmed too, so it’s all good.
I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -
January 14, 2023
2nd read, Sept. 2021 — 3.75 stars
1st read, Feb. 2021 — 3.75 stars
if i were a ghost, im not sure i would be okay with getting stuck in the in-between world and having to watch my husband and my children fall in love with his new (former???) significant other and their soon to be stepmom in order to get unstuck and delivered up to the heavens. do spirits have feelings??? hmmm.
this is a Sadie/Franka type of book in a sense that the heroine is a misunderstood, mistreated, “people think shes a bitch,” or antagonistic type of heroine. if youve read Rock Chick Regret and/or Midnight Soul, you’d know exactly what i mean. the romance is lovely, but i mostly like it for the kidsss.
they are cuter, louder, and more involved in the story compared to the ones in the first book. i also like it because of Fiona the dead wife. shes seriously funny. her POV had me cackling. i havent found one thats a definite favorite, but dayyuumm im liking this ghost type of paranormal series from KA.
(read as an audiobook)
1st read, Feb. 2021 — 3.75 stars
if i were a ghost, im not sure i would be okay with getting stuck in the in-between world and having to watch my husband and my children fall in love with his new (former???) significant other and their soon to be stepmom in order to get unstuck and delivered up to the heavens. do spirits have feelings??? hmmm.
heres whats going on, the hero and heroine of this book were lovers once, but they got separated because of the heroines controlling father. hero then married and have two children with a mutual friend of theirs. unfortunately, after a decade of peaceful, loving, and content marriage, the wife died of a brain tumor.
the dead wife is currently haunting (or more like hovering around) the house where the hero and their kids live. shes harmless. shes not a mean ghost. anyhow, this book is about the hero and heroine reuniting, giving a second chance to their love, and the dead wife’s spirit acting as godmother and pushing them to be together.
this is a Sadie/Franka type of book in a sense that the heroine is a misunderstood, mistreated, “people think shes a bitch,” or antagonistic type of heroine. if youve read Rock Chick Regret and/or Midnight Soul, you’d know exactly what i mean. the romance is lovely, but i mostly like it for the kidsss.
they are cuter, louder, and more involved in the story compared to the ones in the first book. i also like it because of Fiona the dead wife. shes seriously funny. her POV had me cackling. i havent found one thats a definite favorite, but dayyuumm im liking this ghost type of paranormal series from KA.
(read as an audiobook)
October 8, 2014
I really wanted to love this one as I have liked the other books in the series. And for the most part, especially the beginning, I was liking it, a lot. BUT, there was something about it that just did not work for me.
In Isabella Austin Evangelista’s life miracles never happen… she knows she’s destined to be the princess who’s stuck in the middle of a fairytale where there will be no happily ever after.
Once upon a time, Prentice Cameron loved Isabella Austin until he discovered she was a spoiled, rich girl who spent her summers toying with his heart
Bella/Ella/Isabella annoyed me. I found her quite weak. I know, I know, she has been through some stuff but still, c’mon, stand up for yourself woman and tell your dad to go take a flying fuck.
”I’ve had a good life, you know that,” he whispered. “Even so, you’re the best thing that’s been in it.”
I really felt sorry for Fiona. I think that might have been a major point for me. Why subject her to all that?
Even his dead ghost wife who seriously wanted to think she was a deceitful birch couldn’t hate her
The kids were cute. The cat was cute.
Will hold off on reading the last book in the series. I think because I loved the previous book, my expectations might have been way too high.
The epilogue might have been a bit cheesy but it did bring tears to my eyes and a smile to my face.
November 2, 2015
Fairytale Come Alive is by far my favorite book of the Ghosts and Reincarnation. It reminds me a bit of Golden Trail (another great KA read) but with a slight supernatural twist.
Prentice is strong, delicious, smart, and full of spirit!
Belle is sweet, soft, fragile, feisty, and full of love for everyone she meets.
Isabella and Prentice started their love affair when they were in the young adult years. Prentice lives over in Scotland and Belle is from Chicago. They were head over heels in love with each other. When Prentice proposes, Belle says yes and we think it is going to be the beginning of a beautiful life together.
But wait….Belle’s dad is a bastard. He doesn’t approve of his wealthy socialite daughter marrying a fisherman. Prentice doesn’t know what is happening but he is dumped and Belle flees back to America. The entire town knows what Belle has done and they all think badly of her. Belle is heart broken and desolate.
Prentice moves on with a sweet local girl named Fiona. They have two beautiful children together. Although Fiona isn't Belle, he finds comfort and love there. Then fate deals another blow to Prentice and Fiona dies. He is left with his two children.
Years later, Belle’s returns back to Prentice’s village to attend her best friend’s wedding. All of the old emotions are brought back to the surface. She is terrified to see him again. After so many years have passed, she is still desperately in love with him. At her return, Belle is forced to endure backlash from Prentice and the entire town. Your heart breaks for her because you know what she has had to face and why she had to let Prentice go. Prentice is down right nasty to Belle. She tries to remove herself completely from him.
"I'd prefer to drive myself."- Bella
"Why?" -Prentice
Because being with you is killing me especially since you obviously hate me and I've never fallen out of love with you.
Meanwhile, the spirit of Fiona is still stuck in limbo. She is floating around her family watching as things unfold. She also hates Belle (because she was jealous of the love Prentice had for her).
Upon further observation, Fiona begins to see the turmoil that Belle is going through. Her heart softens to Belle and she decides that Belle is exactly what her family needs to move on. She is able to see Bella behind closed doors and realizes the horrible truth about her leaving Prentice.
Although Prentice does everything he can to shield his children, Prentice’s children fall in love with Belle. (I mean who doesn’t love a beautiful American that cooks, bakes, kisses boo boos and everything else).
"Next time you love a man for twenty years, return to him and he thinks you jilted and made a fool of him and you have to sleep under his roof for a week, slowly falling in love with his two children then you can tell me how bad it is." Belle
Prentice has no idea why Belle left him all of those years ago. He begins to see how much love and care she gives his kids and he begins to see glimmers of his Belle shining through.
When these two rekindle the fire, it is HOT!!!!!! One of the great elements of this book is that Prentice doesn’t know why Belle left, and yet he just decides to forgive her and wants her back. When Pren makes up his mind, THAT IS ALL!
Belle is scared. She runs. (This is her MO after all). Before you judge our damaged heroine, I want to point out that KA has done such a beautiful job getting the reader inside Belle's head! You know exactly why she is running! As soon as Belle tries to settle back in Chicago, Pren’s sweet daughter is an accident. Belle swiftly returns to help Pren out and rejoins the family.
The story continues to blossom. Pren finds out everything that Belle has been through over the years. He is heart broken over what they could have shared together. Belle has a long road of healing. Together these four (with Fiona’s blessing) become a beautiful family.
"Baby, with me, you can be whatever you want to be. But most especially, you can be free."
There is a bit of drama as things begin to work there way out. Overall, Fairy Tale Come Alive is all about love and second chances. I especially admire KA for showing the world that it’s ok to move on after your husband or wife passes. I cannot imagine how I would feel if I was gone and I watched my husband move on. But I know in the end I would side with Fiona. I would want my husband and kids loved! Love can be beautiful no matter what the combination is! GREAT read and definitely my favorite of the series!
*~In honor of Halloween, my treat this year will be to have a reread of this beauty!~ October 30, 2015
*~First read and review posted on September 4, 2014!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
October 4, 2017
5+ Rating
I just finished the story, and it took me a couple of minutes to compose myself (Kristen Ashley and her friggen Epilogue had me in tears and an emotional wreck by the end of the last sentence..yep...THAT GOOD!).
This was by far the BEST story in the "Ghosts & Reincarnation" series.
The hero in the story is in the same league as "Sam", "Max", "Tate", and "Mitch" (other KA hero's)....Oh Yeah..that Good!
The story is about two people so in love and then separated due events (and people interfering) that they had no control over, only to be reconciled 20 years later at both of their best friends wedding.
On Prentice's part there is a lot of bitterness, and mistrust, and for Isabella she knows she hurt Prentice (Isabella's father was abusive, controlling, and manipulative and FORBADE her from ever seeing, or talking to Prentice ever again) and she believed Prentice would have a better life without her because of all the lies her father told her and she believed. Even though she left Prentice, she always loved him, to the point of wearing his engagement ring around her neck for the last 20 years even though she was forced by her father to marry someone else more 'suitable' for her.
Their journey once reconciled is beautiful, and heartbreaking. Isabella is so damaged, and broken that only Prentice's love, understanding, and his persistence can heal her.
This truly was a fairy tale story (even with a fairy god-mother), and can be read as a stand alone.
I highly recommend it!
I just finished the story, and it took me a couple of minutes to compose myself (Kristen Ashley and her friggen Epilogue had me in tears and an emotional wreck by the end of the last sentence..yep...THAT GOOD!).
This was by far the BEST story in the "Ghosts & Reincarnation" series.
The hero in the story is in the same league as "Sam", "Max", "Tate", and "Mitch" (other KA hero's)....Oh Yeah..that Good!
The story is about two people so in love and then separated due events (and people interfering) that they had no control over, only to be reconciled 20 years later at both of their best friends wedding.
On Prentice's part there is a lot of bitterness, and mistrust, and for Isabella she knows she hurt Prentice (Isabella's father was abusive, controlling, and manipulative and FORBADE her from ever seeing, or talking to Prentice ever again) and she believed Prentice would have a better life without her because of all the lies her father told her and she believed. Even though she left Prentice, she always loved him, to the point of wearing his engagement ring around her neck for the last 20 years even though she was forced by her father to marry someone else more 'suitable' for her.
Their journey once reconciled is beautiful, and heartbreaking. Isabella is so damaged, and broken that only Prentice's love, understanding, and his persistence can heal her.
This truly was a fairy tale story (even with a fairy god-mother), and can be read as a stand alone.
I highly recommend it!
October 7, 2023
Ocotber 7, 2023
Another reread. Still love it. Fiona is one of my favorite KA characters.
Another re read May 29, 2018
5 "Come back to me, Elle." ~Prentice Stars!!
Still absolutely love it! Happy reading!
Original Review 2014
This is my favorite book of this series. It's perfect! There was not one thing I didn't like about it. It is so tragic but beautiful for so many reasons other than just the romance story which is great. Bella and Prentice are so good together, but Fiona is one of my all time favorite characters. She made this story special. If you haven't read this, do. Immediately! :) Happy reading!!!
Ps. I just want to add that I had this book for a couple of month before I started it. That is because the blurb didn't sound that interesting to me. I was very wrong! Ignore the blurb and start reading now.
Re-read August 30, 2015
Still love it!! One of my KA favorites.
Another reread. Still love it. Fiona is one of my favorite KA characters.
Another re read May 29, 2018
5 "Come back to me, Elle." ~Prentice Stars!!
Still absolutely love it! Happy reading!
Original Review 2014
This is my favorite book of this series. It's perfect! There was not one thing I didn't like about it. It is so tragic but beautiful for so many reasons other than just the romance story which is great. Bella and Prentice are so good together, but Fiona is one of my all time favorite characters. She made this story special. If you haven't read this, do. Immediately! :) Happy reading!!!
Ps. I just want to add that I had this book for a couple of month before I started it. That is because the blurb didn't sound that interesting to me. I was very wrong! Ignore the blurb and start reading now.
Re-read August 30, 2015
Still love it!! One of my KA favorites.
March 5, 2015
"FAIRYTALE COMES ALIVE"
was defiantly pretty Loooong an sweet :)
That teaches us that it dosnt matter where we are now...in the end...in the very end,our prince will ALWAYS end up finding us..and that well always get a chancing to live our Happily ever after....
Because guess what ?
The only reason i gave this a 4 instead of 5 stars, was because i didnt really enjoy the ending ( i felt KA was trying to make it overall dramatic for our tastes ) and because i just could NOT put up with the name.. 'Prentice'.(i know thats silly :p )
For example if i was a dramatic part , and he's name is read out im like..." oh ! omg dont ! Pres....i mean pren....* frowns with a wrinkled nose and thinks " its PRENTICE gabriella ! shhesh ! get that right aldready "*
"Oh right" *mumers* "Pren...umm..whatever LOL."
but otherwise,i really did love both the chracters and the plot very very much..For some reason this book seriously reminded of a book i once called.."PARADISE"
..becuse of all that requited love and horrible daddy issues going on ..LOL
I loved the relationship Jason,Sally and Ella ...which was both honest,loving,innocent and vulnerable. Omg ! the kids were toooo cute !
RECOMMEND: To all angst and KA readers that enjoy multiple plots and pain of a loved one's passing away.
WARNING : This book doses NOT have an overly ALPHA MALE as in other KA and rock-chick books. ..its more family related ! Just so you know ! :)
But still i defiantly did end up lovin Prentice and isabella both as a couple and an individual characters..from the very beginning to the story's end.
“You’d throw yourself in front of a bus for me.”
She would and he knew it.He knew it and she knew that he felt that knowledge burrow deep and he liked it.
Elle felt tears stinging the backs of her eyes, her body melted into his,her arms tightened around him and she whispered back, “Yes,Pren,though I hope I never get the chance.”
That teaches us that it dosnt matter where we are now...in the end...in the very end,our prince will ALWAYS end up finding us..and that well always get a chancing to live our Happily ever after....
Because guess what ?
The only reason i gave this a 4 instead of 5 stars, was because i didnt really enjoy the ending ( i felt KA was trying to make it overall dramatic for our tastes ) and because i just could NOT put up with the name.. 'Prentice'.(i know thats silly :p )
For example if i was a dramatic part , and he's name is read out im like..." oh ! omg dont ! Pres....i mean pren....* frowns with a wrinkled nose and thinks " its PRENTICE gabriella ! shhesh ! get that right aldready "*
"Oh right" *mumers* "Pren...umm..whatever LOL."
but otherwise,i really did love both the chracters and the plot very very much..For some reason this book seriously reminded of a book i once called.."PARADISE"
..becuse of all that requited love and horrible daddy issues going on ..LOLI loved the relationship Jason,Sally and Ella ...which was both honest,loving,innocent and vulnerable. Omg ! the kids were toooo cute !
RECOMMEND: To all angst and KA readers that enjoy multiple plots and pain of a loved one's passing away.
WARNING : This book doses NOT have an overly ALPHA MALE as in other KA and rock-chick books. ..its more family related ! Just so you know ! :)
But still i defiantly did end up lovin Prentice and isabella both as a couple and an individual characters..from the very beginning to the story's end.
“You’d throw yourself in front of a bus for me.”
She would and he knew it.He knew it and she knew that he felt that knowledge burrow deep and he liked it.
Elle felt tears stinging the backs of her eyes, her body melted into his,her arms tightened around him and she whispered back, “Yes,Pren,though I hope I never get the chance.”
August 10, 2017
Narrator Review: I really enjoy this narrator. She has a soothing voice and I usually have no issues of distinguishing between characters. I will say in this particular book, I wasn't a fan of Sally's voice. She is a little girl that has a big role in this book. The high pitch she used for her was a bit too high for my ears.
Story Review: I'm not a huge fan of this one. I would have loved it if this didn't have such a huge imbalance between the H and h. My biggest draw to a book falls very heavily on the H. 9 times out of 10, he is what makes or breaks a book for me. There were several issues in this story that when added all up, just pissed me off for Elle. It's a me thing, though. I just really hate long separations where the H can move on and be happy and have good life while the h suffers terribly until they meet again and despite her sacrifices, gets treated horribly until the H finds out the truth. Never mind that he never bothered to fight for her, not once, but twice. Plus, I really hate hearing about a dead wife, over and over as if the h hasn't suffered enough.
Story Review: I'm not a huge fan of this one. I would have loved it if this didn't have such a huge imbalance between the H and h. My biggest draw to a book falls very heavily on the H. 9 times out of 10, he is what makes or breaks a book for me. There were several issues in this story that when added all up, just pissed me off for Elle. It's a me thing, though. I just really hate long separations where the H can move on and be happy and have good life while the h suffers terribly until they meet again and despite her sacrifices, gets treated horribly until the H finds out the truth. Never mind that he never bothered to fight for her, not once, but twice. Plus, I really hate hearing about a dead wife, over and over as if the h hasn't suffered enough.
November 3, 2015
Buddy Read KA binge Continues with Joanita and Jessica.
This was my most emotional KA read to date. I really went through the emotional ringer with it I laughed, I cried, I got warm fuzzies that went through my entire body, I cried and did I mention I cried…BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT!!!
Our Story Begins….with young love torn apart.
Prentice thought she’d come back, he was sure of it. Isabella thought he’d come save her from the hell he didn’t know she was living in. But neither of those things happened. Instead Isabella stayed in her hell and let it eat her soul for almost twenty years. Prentice married a nice girl Fiona and had two beautiful children with her until she was stolen away from them too soon and left him widowed and broken. But then Isabella to Scotland comes for her best friend’s wedding and….
That is really all I want to tell you about the set up. Seriously because I really didn’t know much going into this read and it was wonderful to let the story wash over me. The heartache of all the characters and how each one was able to fix a small piece of the other. It was all heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.
Elle is so broken and it was heartbreaking to see how she was a good person but had been kicked so many times that she believed she did Prentice a favor by leaving his life. Prentice had a hard enough time putting his life together after losing his wife let alone figuring out how to help his children. There are so many great scenes where Elle was able to find a way to help the kids and Prentice.
I love the way that a cute little six year old girl called her Mrs. Evangahlala because she couldn’t say Evangalista and how Elle was able to help a confused boy remember his mother without feeling bad about it and giving into the painful side.
I loved watching how Pren and Elle found their way back to each other. Yes some of it was really difficult, painful and hard but it was totally worth the journey and the pay-off was HUGE.
What I didn’t expect were the PoVs from the dead wife Fiona as a ghost as she tries to help Elle find a way into her family to help them be happy. Those were bittersweet as she want the best for her family in order for her to be able to move on but at the same time it is difficult to also give them up to someone else.
But for as much intensity as there was with the heaviness of the situation, there were also plenty of funny moments to offset it.
Overall: This is one of my favorite KA reads. It is less alpha craziness than many of her stories and there are so many great moments that I’d love to share but I’d also like them to be a surprise when you get to them in the story. This is book 4 of the Ghosts and Reincarnation Series BUT….it can totally be read as a standalone if you don’t want to commit to anything else. Love It, Love It, Love It.
This was my most emotional KA read to date. I really went through the emotional ringer with it I laughed, I cried, I got warm fuzzies that went through my entire body, I cried and did I mention I cried…BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT!!!
Our Story Begins….with young love torn apart.
“When you’re away from him and you realize this is madness, you find me, you call me, you write me, I don’t give a fuck what you do.” He leaned into her and took her head in both hands feeling her body go solid when he moved an inch away from her face. His voice dipped low when he continued, “I’ll be pissed off, baby, and I’ll make you work for it. But I love you enough to get over it and take you back. I promise you that.
Prentice thought she’d come back, he was sure of it. Isabella thought he’d come save her from the hell he didn’t know she was living in. But neither of those things happened. Instead Isabella stayed in her hell and let it eat her soul for almost twenty years. Prentice married a nice girl Fiona and had two beautiful children with her until she was stolen away from them too soon and left him widowed and broken. But then Isabella to Scotland comes for her best friend’s wedding and….
That is really all I want to tell you about the set up. Seriously because I really didn’t know much going into this read and it was wonderful to let the story wash over me. The heartache of all the characters and how each one was able to fix a small piece of the other. It was all heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.
Elle is so broken and it was heartbreaking to see how she was a good person but had been kicked so many times that she believed she did Prentice a favor by leaving his life. Prentice had a hard enough time putting his life together after losing his wife let alone figuring out how to help his children. There are so many great scenes where Elle was able to find a way to help the kids and Prentice.
I love the way that a cute little six year old girl called her Mrs. Evangahlala because she couldn’t say Evangalista and how Elle was able to help a confused boy remember his mother without feeling bad about it and giving into the painful side.
“You know, she’s with you every minute. Here,” she tugged his hair gently.
“Here,” she let his hair go and tapped his head with her finger.
“And here,” she put her hand over his heart.
“I learned that a long time ago,” Bella whispered. “My Mom left me but she left a lot with me and all of it I carry safe, every moment, right here,” she pressed her hand on his chest for emphasis and Jason closed his eyes.
I loved watching how Pren and Elle found their way back to each other. Yes some of it was really difficult, painful and hard but it was totally worth the journey and the pay-off was HUGE.
What I didn’t expect were the PoVs from the dead wife Fiona as a ghost as she tries to help Elle find a way into her family to help them be happy. Those were bittersweet as she want the best for her family in order for her to be able to move on but at the same time it is difficult to also give them up to someone else.
But for as much intensity as there was with the heaviness of the situation, there were also plenty of funny moments to offset it.
“Elle,” he cut in, “are you with Annie?”
Bella’s shoulders went straight and she snapped, “Yes, and would you stop asking if I’m with Annie
when you think we’re misbehaving?”
“Oh crap,” Annie mumbled in the background. Prentice obviously didn’t appreciate her tone of voice and Fiona knew this by his tone of voice when he answered.
“Were you with Annie two weeks ago when the police pulled you over for drag racing?” he countered.
Overall: This is one of my favorite KA reads. It is less alpha craziness than many of her stories and there are so many great moments that I’d love to share but I’d also like them to be a surprise when you get to them in the story. This is book 4 of the Ghosts and Reincarnation Series BUT….it can totally be read as a standalone if you don’t want to commit to anything else. Love It, Love It, Love It.
December 19, 2022
One of my favorite Christmastime reads *****
5+++++ Stars - review to come - need to reel in my thoughts and feelings But this is without a doubt one of the BEST emotional stories I have EVER read.
5+++++ Stars - review to come - need to reel in my thoughts and feelings But this is without a doubt one of the BEST emotional stories I have EVER read.
July 23, 2021
Okay, putting it on my menage shelf!
(Even though it's more metaphysical than physical/sexual.)
I mean, I'm generally a tolerant - a veeerrry tolerant person regarding ow/exes (even cheating) - but this is crap! Striking off a star here.
(Even though it's more metaphysical than physical/sexual.)
I mean, I'm generally a tolerant - a veeerrry tolerant person regarding ow/exes (even cheating) - but this is crap! Striking off a star here.
March 12, 2020
Spoilers ahead , 2.5*
So thoughts
H/h got together in their twenties until her wealthy father finds out and demands she end it
She tearfully gives in and the H is handed his walking papers,
20 years later she returns to town for her friend's wedding and ends up staying in his home
Photographers, a jealous bitch and her crazy husband cause some bumps along the way
*********
I actually liked some parts of this including, surprisingly enough the wife's pov
The H wasn't necessarily a bad guy but he acted weak in some important moments when he never fought for the h and that irritated me
The H actually moved on, fell in love and married his wife. He had 2 children with her before she died
The h on the other hand is publicly beloved because she's a martyr.....her husband cheated on her but she soldered on with grace and so earned the public's respect
The entire aspect of the plot with regards to the h was dumb as hell, the way she let her father treat her was embarrassing. She had absolutely no spine and would run from the situation at any given opportunity. I hate when the mcs refuse to communicate and just run away from a situation and with her age and experience she acted like a foolish,emotional teen and annoyed me endlessly
There's lots of mentions of the dead ex with her even having her own POV and helping the couple get together, an interesting plot but weird as hell
I liked the children, sometimes liked the H, sometimes liked the ex and liked the plot for the most part but in the end I didn't enjoy this one as much as I'd have liked
So thoughts
H/h got together in their twenties until her wealthy father finds out and demands she end it
She tearfully gives in and the H is handed his walking papers,
20 years later she returns to town for her friend's wedding and ends up staying in his home
Photographers, a jealous bitch and her crazy husband cause some bumps along the way
*********
I actually liked some parts of this including, surprisingly enough the wife's pov
The H wasn't necessarily a bad guy but he acted weak in some important moments when he never fought for the h and that irritated me
The H actually moved on, fell in love and married his wife. He had 2 children with her before she died
The h on the other hand is publicly beloved because she's a martyr.....her husband cheated on her but she soldered on with grace and so earned the public's respect
The entire aspect of the plot with regards to the h was dumb as hell, the way she let her father treat her was embarrassing. She had absolutely no spine and would run from the situation at any given opportunity. I hate when the mcs refuse to communicate and just run away from a situation and with her age and experience she acted like a foolish,emotional teen and annoyed me endlessly
There's lots of mentions of the dead ex with her even having her own POV and helping the couple get together, an interesting plot but weird as hell
I liked the children, sometimes liked the H, sometimes liked the ex and liked the plot for the most part but in the end I didn't enjoy this one as much as I'd have liked
November 20, 2023
3.5 stars
I just have to say, It wasn't my favorite of KA's book :( A story about young forbidden love struck by tragedy and twenty years later are brought together to celebrate their best friends happily ever after.
Isabella Austin Evangelisa, was "...weak. a coward... Where she went, tragedy and despair followed." She was remote, removed and cool, she was ruled by her father and did everything she was supposed to do because she didn't believe she could have a happily ever after. After twenty years she comes face-to-face with the love of her life, Pren.
Prentice "Pren"Cameron, a "...handsome, award-winning architect" with a sexy Scottish accent, a widower raising his two kids, Jason and Sally, existing while his deceased wife Fiona "Fee", haunts their home that he built. He doesn't care for Isabella and want's is his Elle back.
Elle Austin is a product of Pren, or so she thinks, since she's 40 and doesn't even know who she is. "She was the living dead when he was not with her. His presence, his touch, his kiss, brought her to life. Like Sleeping Beauty." He had to keep her busy with the kids, laundry and cooking, so that she doesn't retreat in her own head and go back to being Isabella Austin Evangelisa.. (I had so many issues with this method) I had issues with the heroine not being strong enough even when "Prentice's "Elle" had finally awoken and come back to life."
The whole dynamic with the 3 POV's switching between Elle, Prentice and Fiona was kinda cool but at times a bit awkward. I couldn't help but pity Fiona, finding out that although your husband loved you, he was never in love with you. OMG! I don't know how she didn't cause ghostly harm. Thank god she didn't have to witness Pren and Elle getting it on. Also, I'm still unsure how I feel about the "drama" and the epilogue, it was just really hard for me to grasp.
After all that, Pren slayed her dragon's and Elle's dream came true when her Scottish Fairytale Came Alive and they lived happily ever after...
"Bella's fairytale includes a wicked warlock of a father and an evil duke who stole her away and was a cad and a bounder. But she finally escaped him and now she's waiting for her knight and shining armor."
I just have to say, It wasn't my favorite of KA's book :( A story about young forbidden love struck by tragedy and twenty years later are brought together to celebrate their best friends happily ever after.
Isabella Austin Evangelisa, was "...weak. a coward... Where she went, tragedy and despair followed." She was remote, removed and cool, she was ruled by her father and did everything she was supposed to do because she didn't believe she could have a happily ever after. After twenty years she comes face-to-face with the love of her life, Pren.
When "...you love a man for twenty years, return to him and he thinks you jilted him and made a fool of him and have to sleep under his roof for a week, slowly falling in love with his two children"... you know Isabella's gonna be in way over her head.
Prentice "Pren"Cameron, a "...handsome, award-winning architect" with a sexy Scottish accent, a widower raising his two kids, Jason and Sally, existing while his deceased wife Fiona "Fee", haunts their home that he built. He doesn't care for Isabella and want's is his Elle back.
"I told you, baby, when you came back to me, I'd make you work for it but I'd take you back. You may not want to be back but I don't give a fuck. I'm keeping you this time."
Elle Austin is a product of Pren, or so she thinks, since she's 40 and doesn't even know who she is. "She was the living dead when he was not with her. His presence, his touch, his kiss, brought her to life. Like Sleeping Beauty." He had to keep her busy with the kids, laundry and cooking, so that she doesn't retreat in her own head and go back to being Isabella Austin Evangelisa.. (I had so many issues with this method) I had issues with the heroine not being strong enough even when "Prentice's "Elle" had finally awoken and come back to life."
..."baby through that long journey, I've only ever been home twice. Once, twenty years ago and now I'm home again, with you. You. I know exactly who you are. I just have to introduce you to her."
The whole dynamic with the 3 POV's switching between Elle, Prentice and Fiona was kinda cool but at times a bit awkward. I couldn't help but pity Fiona, finding out that although your husband loved you, he was never in love with you. OMG! I don't know how she didn't cause ghostly harm. Thank god she didn't have to witness Pren and Elle getting it on. Also, I'm still unsure how I feel about the "drama" and the epilogue, it was just really hard for me to grasp.
After all that, Pren slayed her dragon's and Elle's dream came true when her Scottish Fairytale Came Alive and they lived happily ever after...
June 3, 2012
4.5 stars
I'll admit that the book blurb for 'Fairytale Come Alive' had me kinda leery. I mean, really - the ghost of a dead wife actively helps to hook up her still alive husband with a former flame? And... this woman is not only a former flame but his true one and only... as in he's never ever stopped loving her? *WINCE* It just sounds like the whole book would be uncomfortably, tragically awkward! Then again, this is a Kristen Ashley book we're talking about - the woman oozes literary talent like nobody's business. So I went ahead and gave this a shot and, honestly.... I really really liked it!!
I enjoyed the whole story of 'Fairytale Come Alive', from the tragic beginning with a depressed, lost, and vulnerable Isabella and a lonely, trying-to-keep-it-all-together Prentice (although I can't say I'm a big fan of his name), to the almost too wonderful kids, Sally and Jason, and the seriously bad-news father who does his best to stop this fairytale in its tracks. It was incredibly touching reading about "Elle" and "Pren's" rediscovery of each other, get past their misconceptions and become a happily ever after family.
But ... what I enjoyed most about this story was FIONA - the ghostastic dead wife! When we were treated to her ghostly perspective she totally stole the whole entire show! Fiona, who starts the book with a righteous case of jealously towards Isabella, is the first to look beneath her flat and standoffish exterior and see the truth about Elle. Fiona is also confident enough in the fact that Prentice did indeed love and cherish her when she was alive (as she did and still does him), but recognizes that Elle and Prentice were meant to be together. It's (of course!) a tough pill to swallow, but she loves her family enough to want them to be happy and she learns to let them go, while nudging Elle and Pren in the right direction. KA does a fantastic job of gifting Fiona with both compassion and strength and, IMO, it was Fiona that made 'Fairytale Come Alive' special.
I'll admit that the book blurb for 'Fairytale Come Alive' had me kinda leery. I mean, really - the ghost of a dead wife actively helps to hook up her still alive husband with a former flame? And... this woman is not only a former flame but his true one and only... as in he's never ever stopped loving her? *WINCE* It just sounds like the whole book would be uncomfortably, tragically awkward! Then again, this is a Kristen Ashley book we're talking about - the woman oozes literary talent like nobody's business. So I went ahead and gave this a shot and, honestly.... I really really liked it!!
I enjoyed the whole story of 'Fairytale Come Alive', from the tragic beginning with a depressed, lost, and vulnerable Isabella and a lonely, trying-to-keep-it-all-together Prentice (although I can't say I'm a big fan of his name), to the almost too wonderful kids, Sally and Jason, and the seriously bad-news father who does his best to stop this fairytale in its tracks. It was incredibly touching reading about "Elle" and "Pren's" rediscovery of each other, get past their misconceptions and become a happily ever after family.
But ... what I enjoyed most about this story was FIONA - the ghostastic dead wife! When we were treated to her ghostly perspective she totally stole the whole entire show! Fiona, who starts the book with a righteous case of jealously towards Isabella, is the first to look beneath her flat and standoffish exterior and see the truth about Elle. Fiona is also confident enough in the fact that Prentice did indeed love and cherish her when she was alive (as she did and still does him), but recognizes that Elle and Prentice were meant to be together. It's (of course!) a tough pill to swallow, but she loves her family enough to want them to be happy and she learns to let them go, while nudging Elle and Pren in the right direction. KA does a fantastic job of gifting Fiona with both compassion and strength and, IMO, it was Fiona that made 'Fairytale Come Alive' special.
November 29, 2023
i really needed my KA fix and God did i get it.
you know it's a damn good book when you go to bed and you convince yourself that you're going to read just a few pages more and suddenly look out the window and see the sun starting to come out. yeah this book was that good. loved it ♡
you know it's a damn good book when you go to bed and you convince yourself that you're going to read just a few pages more and suddenly look out the window and see the sun starting to come out. yeah this book was that good. loved it ♡
November 20, 2014
My least favorite book of the series, although it was technically a good book. I'm just so tired of KA heroes who let their supposed "true love" slip through their fingers and then they go on to marry someone else and usually make babies. While I'm happy that these great children were born and all, it sorta feels like the heroines always seem A-OK with it. I think this one especially bothered me because the after the hero let the heroine slip through his fingers when she really needed him, a few years later he was very much in love with Fiona (who I'll admit was a good person), while the heroine was incapable of loving any man but the hero all those years (and, yeah, maybe that's because she was so emotionally damaged, but she was emotionally damaged when she fell in the love with the hero, too). And then there's the heroine, who actually was weak, despite what other people in the book tried to convince her. I mean, she called off her engagement to the hero when she was 20 because her father told her to and her fear was that, what?, her father would slap her? And while it's great that everyone is so morally perfect (Elle, Prentice, Fiona), it isn't natural that Elle never feels any jealousy towards Fiona and that she's so understanding of the fact that Prentice still loves his dead wife. He's definitely getting his cake and eating it too. I would have been happier if he specified that he loves Fiona still as a friend and for giving him his children, but it didn't seem that way. At least KA gave us his thought that he loves Fiona but he's in love with Elle. I thought the epilogue fit with the rest of the book, more about Fiona and the kids than Elle.
I know I'm being a bitchy reviewer and should probably stay away from all Kristen Ashley books in the future with this particular theme (star-crossed lovers reunite years later after the hero marries and/or makes babies with another woman), but alas, it's impossible for me to stay away from any Kristen Ashley book because while they may sometimes annoy me, at the same time they're freaking good.
I know I'm being a bitchy reviewer and should probably stay away from all Kristen Ashley books in the future with this particular theme (star-crossed lovers reunite years later after the hero marries and/or makes babies with another woman), but alas, it's impossible for me to stay away from any Kristen Ashley book because while they may sometimes annoy me, at the same time they're freaking good.
July 14, 2015
I loved this book so so much. It's a second chance romance with so many feels... exactly the kind of story I love. I wanted to devour it quickly, but at the same time, read it slowly and savor every interaction. If you love emotional powerhouses, particularly second chance romances, you will LOVE this book! Top 5 KA for certain.
July 4, 2015
I love KA books so much but this one is my least favorite. While the story is written great, I just couldn't love the Prentice/Fiona/ Elle story that much. I think Elle deserved better than Prentice, who still loves his dead wife. I know she isn't the strongest character, but she deserved someone who only loves her completely. I didn't like the fact that:
1) She became a replacement to Fiona.
2) She didn't feel betrayed at all when Prentice didn't make an effort to reach out to her after she broke up with him. He just moved on with Fiona after nursing a broken heart and bruised ego for a short while. IMO he was forgiven way too quickly.
3) She stayed in that house after restarting her relationship with Prentice and not move out to a new house. Lets face it, Prentice built that house for Fiona!
4) She didn't feel jealous of Prentice's relationship with Fiona. At all!
I waited throughout the entire book for something special to happen to make me think that Prentice deserved Elle. I was very disappointed. Don't get me wrong, he is a great guy, but really, it felt like Fiona and Prentice were the ones who seemed meant-to-be, not Prentice and Elle. I mean, come one, who says "I love you too" to his dead wife while holding his "supposed" love of his life?
I don't want to sound mean, but it would have been great if Elle met someone else and fell in love while she was in Scotland for the wedding. That is, after realizing she wasn't truly Prentice's true love, because it seems he already had his happily-ever-after with Fiona even if it is for a short while. In my opinion, he was blessed a little too much with the way the book ended. Elle deserved someone who wholeheartedly loved her and only her, and eventually healed her heart. And just maybe, it would have been nice to rub that in Prentice's face a little. I just think what she needed was a closure to that chapter of her life she started with Prentice 20yrs ago, and find someone else who could love with undivided love.
1) She became a replacement to Fiona.
2) She didn't feel betrayed at all when Prentice didn't make an effort to reach out to her after she broke up with him. He just moved on with Fiona after nursing a broken heart and bruised ego for a short while. IMO he was forgiven way too quickly.
3) She stayed in that house after restarting her relationship with Prentice and not move out to a new house. Lets face it, Prentice built that house for Fiona!
4) She didn't feel jealous of Prentice's relationship with Fiona. At all!
I waited throughout the entire book for something special to happen to make me think that Prentice deserved Elle. I was very disappointed. Don't get me wrong, he is a great guy, but really, it felt like Fiona and Prentice were the ones who seemed meant-to-be, not Prentice and Elle. I mean, come one, who says "I love you too" to his dead wife while holding his "supposed" love of his life?
I don't want to sound mean, but it would have been great if Elle met someone else and fell in love while she was in Scotland for the wedding. That is, after realizing she wasn't truly Prentice's true love, because it seems he already had his happily-ever-after with Fiona even if it is for a short while. In my opinion, he was blessed a little too much with the way the book ended. Elle deserved someone who wholeheartedly loved her and only her, and eventually healed her heart. And just maybe, it would have been nice to rub that in Prentice's face a little. I just think what she needed was a closure to that chapter of her life she started with Prentice 20yrs ago, and find someone else who could love with undivided love.
October 29, 2014
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Contemporary Paranormal Romance
Series : - Fourth in the series - can be read as a stand alone. No cross over characters at all from the other books in the series.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Yes
Rating - Original Rating a 3. Upgraded to a 4
★Review★
On first reading, this was my least favourite of this series. After a re read, it is still not my favourite, but, I appreciated it more, and had a bit of a change of heart.
Do not get me wrong, I enjoyed it the first time around, but, for me, the addition of Fiona, was too too much.
All in though, it is a beautiful, heartbreaking story of love re discovered.
I really enjoyed the main characters, and hope at some point in the future KA may be moved to write the story of Annie and Dougal, although it is still told here, I would love to experience it first hand as it happens.
The main issue I had though, is that the loss of Fiona was still so raw for Prentice and his children at the start, for me, I would have liked maybe a touch more time to have passed before Elle came back (although I see perfectly why a lot of time did not pass).
But all in, it was a story that made me feel and in such a big way, it had me worrying, crying, sighing big fat happy sighs. So it gets upgraded to a 4.
I still wish, the epilogue had been done differently. The story ended with Prentice being freshly renewed in his grief for his Fee, and then the epilogue, being years later, was again all about Fiona. I do not think there was any mention of Prentice at all in "present" time within the epilogue. So for me, those are the reasons it is not a five, and remains, probably my least favourite of the series, even if I enjoyed it.
Genre : - Contemporary Paranormal Romance
Series : - Fourth in the series - can be read as a stand alone. No cross over characters at all from the other books in the series.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author? - Yes
Rating - Original Rating a 3. Upgraded to a 4
★Review★
On first reading, this was my least favourite of this series. After a re read, it is still not my favourite, but, I appreciated it more, and had a bit of a change of heart.
Do not get me wrong, I enjoyed it the first time around, but, for me, the addition of Fiona, was too too much.
All in though, it is a beautiful, heartbreaking story of love re discovered.
I really enjoyed the main characters, and hope at some point in the future KA may be moved to write the story of Annie and Dougal, although it is still told here, I would love to experience it first hand as it happens.
The main issue I had though, is that the loss of Fiona was still so raw for Prentice and his children at the start, for me, I would have liked maybe a touch more time to have passed before Elle came back (although I see perfectly why a lot of time did not pass).
But all in, it was a story that made me feel and in such a big way, it had me worrying, crying, sighing big fat happy sighs. So it gets upgraded to a 4.
I still wish, the epilogue had been done differently. The story ended with Prentice being freshly renewed in his grief for his Fee, and then the epilogue, being years later, was again all about Fiona. I do not think there was any mention of Prentice at all in "present" time within the epilogue. So for me, those are the reasons it is not a five, and remains, probably my least favourite of the series, even if I enjoyed it.
March 11, 2018
4.5 stars
Love, love, love this one! A gorgeously emotional second-chance-romance between a hot and broody Scotsman, and a lost and emotionally damaged woman – first loves and the ones who got away, reunited after 20 years apart. With two adorable children and a very cleverly done supernatural element, this story is full of feels, but brings a happy ending to very deserving characters that I couldn’t help but love.
Bella was once a happy, idealistic girl in blissful, all-consuming love. But that love was torn away and now, 20 years later, she is a shadow of the girl she used to be. On the outside, socialite Isabella Austin Evangelista is a woman who has it all – class, wealth, confidence and a life that others only dream of. But the truth is very different. She’s a broken woman who lives a lonely life that is out of her control, and she struggles to get through day to day. And now she’s about to face up to the heartbreak from her past as she travels back to Scotland for her best friend’s wedding, where she will come face to face with the man who broke her heart, but the man who still completely owns it.
Prentice Cameron loved Bella fiercely. When she left Scotland, she left him shattered, but he was able to move on. He married and had two beautiful children, and he was happy. And then his wife, Fiona died, leaving him a broody widower and single father. And now, with his best friend marrying Bella’s best friend, he has to spend time with the woman who destroyed him all those years ago. Prentice has no time for Isabella, thinking her a stuck-up snob who toyed with him all those years ago, but their meddling friends are about to put them together, forcing a confrontation that has been a long time coming.
OMG, the feels! The angst! The heartache! There is SO much pain and misunderstanding between these two, and initially it’s a really hard read as Prentice lays into Bella and she just takes it, thinking she deserves no better. It’s really sad, but it sets up the rest of the story beautifully as these two damaged souls slowly begin to realise what they feel, what they’ve lost, and what they could potentially have again, and though it’s slow to come, the wait is definitely worth it when things finally begin to shift for them.
OMG, KA alphas made the most epic declarations, and when Prentice begins to truly see what is going on with Bella and what she still means to him, he goes all out to get this girl, and it is amazing!
Hot, steamy, and all kinds of swoony, this is a beautiful and naturally developing love story as these two find the way back to each other. The depth of Bella’s pain was really well handled as she tried so hard to deal with her issues, and I loved seeing Prentice draw himself into that and work to bring back the girl that he once loved.
And a big part of that is Prentice’s children Jason and Sally. They are fantastically developed characters, and as always, KA draws them into the story in a way that really grabs at your heartstrings and makes them a pivotal part of everything that goes on between the main characters as Bella is effortlessly pulled in to their family.
And in that same vein, Prentice’s wife, Fiona also had her part to play, and that’s where the ghosty part of the storylines comes in, as her ghostly form ‘haunts’ her family. KA always does a great job when involving deceased spouses in her story. They are respected and remembered well, and I love that she doesn’t undermine what Prentice and Fiona had. But she also makes it clear that what Prentice and Bella had was something very special, and she balanced that really well.
And again with the feels as my heart ached for Fiona. She not only had to watch her husband and children deal with her death, but now she has to watch them move on without her, with the woman that came before her, and help them along the way! It’s heartbreaking! And even though she is a ghost, the strength she shows in accepting and encouraging her family to find love and happiness with a new woman was absolutely incredible. I can’t remember the last time a ghost made me cry, but she did it!
There’s also a wonderful selection of side characters that bring a lot to the story, and I need to give a special shout out to Bella’s friends who are loving, supportive and absolutely hilarious . And it all combines to create a well-rounded story with a lot of depth.
Bella and Prentice have their ups and downs, with unique challenges that they need to face, but every moment of their journey is beautifully and emotionally written, making this a gorgeously heartfelt story that I couldn’t put down. It has angst, heartache and pain, but it’s such a beautiful second-chance-romance that is intense, passionate and sweet with characters that I love, and epic feels.
I loved this book. I was easily swept up in Bella and Prentice’s story and loved the themes of love, loss, family, friendship, moving on, and the wonder of true love. It’s beautiful.
4.5 stars.
Love, love, love this one! A gorgeously emotional second-chance-romance between a hot and broody Scotsman, and a lost and emotionally damaged woman – first loves and the ones who got away, reunited after 20 years apart. With two adorable children and a very cleverly done supernatural element, this story is full of feels, but brings a happy ending to very deserving characters that I couldn’t help but love.
Bella was once a happy, idealistic girl in blissful, all-consuming love. But that love was torn away and now, 20 years later, she is a shadow of the girl she used to be. On the outside, socialite Isabella Austin Evangelista is a woman who has it all – class, wealth, confidence and a life that others only dream of. But the truth is very different. She’s a broken woman who lives a lonely life that is out of her control, and she struggles to get through day to day. And now she’s about to face up to the heartbreak from her past as she travels back to Scotland for her best friend’s wedding, where she will come face to face with the man who broke her heart, but the man who still completely owns it.
Prentice Cameron loved Bella fiercely. When she left Scotland, she left him shattered, but he was able to move on. He married and had two beautiful children, and he was happy. And then his wife, Fiona died, leaving him a broody widower and single father. And now, with his best friend marrying Bella’s best friend, he has to spend time with the woman who destroyed him all those years ago. Prentice has no time for Isabella, thinking her a stuck-up snob who toyed with him all those years ago, but their meddling friends are about to put them together, forcing a confrontation that has been a long time coming.
OMG, the feels! The angst! The heartache! There is SO much pain and misunderstanding between these two, and initially it’s a really hard read as Prentice lays into Bella and she just takes it, thinking she deserves no better. It’s really sad, but it sets up the rest of the story beautifully as these two damaged souls slowly begin to realise what they feel, what they’ve lost, and what they could potentially have again, and though it’s slow to come, the wait is definitely worth it when things finally begin to shift for them.
“I changed my mind,” he cut her off. “I don’t want to talk. I don’t want any explanations. I don’t give a fuck. I just want you.”
OMG, KA alphas made the most epic declarations, and when Prentice begins to truly see what is going on with Bella and what she still means to him, he goes all out to get this girl, and it is amazing!
“I told you, baby, when you came back to me, I’d make you work for it but I’d take you back. You may not want to be back but I don’t give a fuck. I’m keeping you this time.”
Hot, steamy, and all kinds of swoony, this is a beautiful and naturally developing love story as these two find the way back to each other. The depth of Bella’s pain was really well handled as she tried so hard to deal with her issues, and I loved seeing Prentice draw himself into that and work to bring back the girl that he once loved.
“You’re saying....I can be free?”
Prentice closed his eyes slowly but briefly.
Then he put both his hands on her jaw and tipped her face up to his, getting close, his body against hers. “Baby, with me, you can be whatever the fuck you want to be. But most especially, you can be free.”
And a big part of that is Prentice’s children Jason and Sally. They are fantastically developed characters, and as always, KA draws them into the story in a way that really grabs at your heartstrings and makes them a pivotal part of everything that goes on between the main characters as Bella is effortlessly pulled in to their family.
And in that same vein, Prentice’s wife, Fiona also had her part to play, and that’s where the ghosty part of the storylines comes in, as her ghostly form ‘haunts’ her family. KA always does a great job when involving deceased spouses in her story. They are respected and remembered well, and I love that she doesn’t undermine what Prentice and Fiona had. But she also makes it clear that what Prentice and Bella had was something very special, and she balanced that really well.
“I’ve had a good life, you know that,” he whispered. “Even so, you’re the best thing that’s been in it.”
And again with the feels as my heart ached for Fiona. She not only had to watch her husband and children deal with her death, but now she has to watch them move on without her, with the woman that came before her, and help them along the way! It’s heartbreaking! And even though she is a ghost, the strength she shows in accepting and encouraging her family to find love and happiness with a new woman was absolutely incredible. I can’t remember the last time a ghost made me cry, but she did it!
There’s also a wonderful selection of side characters that bring a lot to the story, and I need to give a special shout out to Bella’s friends who are loving, supportive and absolutely hilarious . And it all combines to create a well-rounded story with a lot of depth.
Bella and Prentice have their ups and downs, with unique challenges that they need to face, but every moment of their journey is beautifully and emotionally written, making this a gorgeously heartfelt story that I couldn’t put down. It has angst, heartache and pain, but it’s such a beautiful second-chance-romance that is intense, passionate and sweet with characters that I love, and epic feels.
“I’ll no’ let you go,” he vowed, his voice so rough, it was hoarse … “Never. I’ll never let you go.”
I loved this book. I was easily swept up in Bella and Prentice’s story and loved the themes of love, loss, family, friendship, moving on, and the wonder of true love. It’s beautiful.
4.5 stars.
December 28, 2022
4.5 stars ⭐️
![Profile Image for Michelle [Helen Geek].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1448463806i%2F5557851._CR0%2C13%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
July 3, 2012
4 Stars
I debated between 3.5 and 4 stars, but in the end, 4 stars it is. I really liked this book. I think out of this whole “series”, I liked this “ghost” story the best.
What did I like / not so like about this book?
1) Liked the Great Characters. You always know what type of character to expect from this author and she didn’t disappoint. I loved Isabella [love the name!!] and Prentice. These two were young engaged lovers and Bella’s father separated them. Prentice was a working class bloke and Bella’s father wanted more for his daughter. This was a case of true love, so even though these two moved on with their lives, they never stopped caring for each other. The stars align 20 years later, Bella is divorced and Prentice [Pren] is a widower with two kids. They are participating in the wedding of their mutual friends as Matron of Honor and Best Man. The story goes from this point. We also have Fiona. She is the ghost of the dead wife. She is instrumental in the second coming of this relationship. This component works in this story. Not sure how or why, but it does.
2) I liked Jason and Sally. These are Pren & Fiona’s children. I love the interaction of Bella and Pren with the children. We come to really like the character through these interactions. One of the things I like best about a KA read is when she weaves children into the depths of the story. When she focuses on this, it would really well and it does here.
3) Outside of directly Pren and Bella, I didn’t think there was enough of a surrounding story. This was not a story rich in a surrounding story. There is a backstory and we learn it very early on, but then the remainder is Pren and Bella. The book was very strong in the buildup of the h/H relationship, but lacked a bit in the story area. I’ve come to expect a bit more of the “day in the life” from this author. I’ve thought about why I think this book suffered … I think there was quite a focus on Fiona and getting all the “wee ghostie” elements right that a little was lost in the overall story depth. Another issue I have with some of KA books, she introduces us to quite a few secondary characters, but then nothing. We come to like them and then they are gone. I always miss them. In this book, I really liked Mikey. I would have liked to have followed more of him. And, if this works like others in this “series”, we won’t see him again. A thought: Mikey may be a nice way for KA to get in to a bit of m/m?
4) I thought the ending a bit rushed. I’ve noticed that in some of KA’s earlier books, she has issues with ending a story gracefully. I think she gets so involved with the characters, we live so much of their daily lives, that it just doesn’t end well. One thing she did very well in this one was add a nice … 20 years later epilogue. But, the actual story, ended rather abruptly.
This read really was very typical KA. I enjoyed the book, but had a few issues. I hope you get from my review that I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a solid KA read. Even if you are a bit apprehensive because of the “ghost” element, I would suggest you give it a try, it worked well here and didn’t distract from the story.
A note about calling this a series … I think these books have a theme, but don’t work when you call them a series. None of these books have a shared character so far. In my mind, a series has some character introduced from a book you’ve read previously. These do not. They do have a supernatural element, so far manifested in a ghost form. If you ask, can I read them out of order? No order, just books.
Those of you who are apprehensive .. you know who you are .. give this one a go. I think you’ll like it.
Happy Reading!!
I debated between 3.5 and 4 stars, but in the end, 4 stars it is. I really liked this book. I think out of this whole “series”, I liked this “ghost” story the best.
What did I like / not so like about this book?
1) Liked the Great Characters. You always know what type of character to expect from this author and she didn’t disappoint. I loved Isabella [love the name!!] and Prentice. These two were young engaged lovers and Bella’s father separated them. Prentice was a working class bloke and Bella’s father wanted more for his daughter. This was a case of true love, so even though these two moved on with their lives, they never stopped caring for each other. The stars align 20 years later, Bella is divorced and Prentice [Pren] is a widower with two kids. They are participating in the wedding of their mutual friends as Matron of Honor and Best Man. The story goes from this point. We also have Fiona. She is the ghost of the dead wife. She is instrumental in the second coming of this relationship. This component works in this story. Not sure how or why, but it does.
2) I liked Jason and Sally. These are Pren & Fiona’s children. I love the interaction of Bella and Pren with the children. We come to really like the character through these interactions. One of the things I like best about a KA read is when she weaves children into the depths of the story. When she focuses on this, it would really well and it does here.
3) Outside of directly Pren and Bella, I didn’t think there was enough of a surrounding story. This was not a story rich in a surrounding story. There is a backstory and we learn it very early on, but then the remainder is Pren and Bella. The book was very strong in the buildup of the h/H relationship, but lacked a bit in the story area. I’ve come to expect a bit more of the “day in the life” from this author. I’ve thought about why I think this book suffered … I think there was quite a focus on Fiona and getting all the “wee ghostie” elements right that a little was lost in the overall story depth. Another issue I have with some of KA books, she introduces us to quite a few secondary characters, but then nothing. We come to like them and then they are gone. I always miss them. In this book, I really liked Mikey. I would have liked to have followed more of him. And, if this works like others in this “series”, we won’t see him again. A thought: Mikey may be a nice way for KA to get in to a bit of m/m?
4) I thought the ending a bit rushed. I’ve noticed that in some of KA’s earlier books, she has issues with ending a story gracefully. I think she gets so involved with the characters, we live so much of their daily lives, that it just doesn’t end well. One thing she did very well in this one was add a nice … 20 years later epilogue. But, the actual story, ended rather abruptly.
This read really was very typical KA. I enjoyed the book, but had a few issues. I hope you get from my review that I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a solid KA read. Even if you are a bit apprehensive because of the “ghost” element, I would suggest you give it a try, it worked well here and didn’t distract from the story.
A note about calling this a series … I think these books have a theme, but don’t work when you call them a series. None of these books have a shared character so far. In my mind, a series has some character introduced from a book you’ve read previously. These do not. They do have a supernatural element, so far manifested in a ghost form. If you ask, can I read them out of order? No order, just books.
Those of you who are apprehensive .. you know who you are .. give this one a go. I think you’ll like it.
Happy Reading!!
November 16, 2022
Fairytale Come Alive was such a heartwarming tale that just worked out so well for me. I truly think with each installment, the books just get better on this. I really love the almost "Magical Realism" feel to these stories. Where they are definitely contemporary but have some magical elements that are woven so flawlessly into the story. This is a second chance romance where the major timeline is with more mature characters. This is what KA is so well talented on and she definitely writes this so well into her stories.
The Gist of the story is that our heroine is being abused by her father, and is forced to break off her engagment with the man she loves. They have been seperated for some time, until she comes back over a decade later to attend her best friend's wedding. The hero has married, been widowed and has two small children to take care of. The ghost of his widow is still around the mansion as she attempts to heal those bridges when it becomes apparent, that the heroine has loved the hero for 20 years and aches to be with him but doesn't find she is worthy of it. While our main characters learn to reconnect, we have some shenanigans from these charming children, some solid friendships being portrayed and the ghost of our hero's dead wife doing her best to heal wounds and protect our characters so she can find peace and move on.
I found the story to be such an endearing tale! I absolutely loved seeing the conflict get resolved between the couple by 50% and have other conflicts that they need to work through together. This story just had such a relatable feel to it, and I truly enjoyed the manner in which the story was written. KA is such a solid author and the way that she penned this romance just delivered on all fronts. Now I have to say that most especially the ending was the most magical aspect of this story, so its definitely worth the 650 pages of reading to get to that. I really enjoyed the way that our hero and heroine are with each other, the redemption of the characters and the growth that delivers in every way. You can never go wrong with a classic KA novel in your hand!
The Gist of the story is that our heroine is being abused by her father, and is forced to break off her engagment with the man she loves. They have been seperated for some time, until she comes back over a decade later to attend her best friend's wedding. The hero has married, been widowed and has two small children to take care of. The ghost of his widow is still around the mansion as she attempts to heal those bridges when it becomes apparent, that the heroine has loved the hero for 20 years and aches to be with him but doesn't find she is worthy of it. While our main characters learn to reconnect, we have some shenanigans from these charming children, some solid friendships being portrayed and the ghost of our hero's dead wife doing her best to heal wounds and protect our characters so she can find peace and move on.
I found the story to be such an endearing tale! I absolutely loved seeing the conflict get resolved between the couple by 50% and have other conflicts that they need to work through together. This story just had such a relatable feel to it, and I truly enjoyed the manner in which the story was written. KA is such a solid author and the way that she penned this romance just delivered on all fronts. Now I have to say that most especially the ending was the most magical aspect of this story, so its definitely worth the 650 pages of reading to get to that. I really enjoyed the way that our hero and heroine are with each other, the redemption of the characters and the growth that delivers in every way. You can never go wrong with a classic KA novel in your hand!
August 11, 2016
1 MILLION STARS
First thing I did when I finished this book, I cried so hard at such beautiful characters then I tried really hard to pull myself back to reality.
I failed...
Then I cried my eyes out again then I washed my face to pull myself back to reality.
Then I sat down at my computer to write this review but all I can think is WHY DIDN'T I READ THIS SOONER!!!!!!!!!!!
And yes I know KA is amazing but this went beyond her normal EPIC, AMAZING, SPECTACULAR BOOKS! This was breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL!!!
I mean holy shit i'm going to cry again, right now...
I'm ruined! I am ruined for all other books! I'm ruined for all other characters called Pren, Elle and Fee!
I don't usually like to say "go read this book" because everyone has different tastes but I'm dying to scream to the world READ THIS BOOK!!!
READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT! damn I need bigger writing I need bolder text I need a bigger page to scream READ THIS BOOK!
THIS BOOK WAS FUCKING AMAZING!!! now I need to go and wash my face again.
First thing I did when I finished this book, I cried so hard at such beautiful characters then I tried really hard to pull myself back to reality.
I failed...
Then I cried my eyes out again then I washed my face to pull myself back to reality.
Then I sat down at my computer to write this review but all I can think is WHY DIDN'T I READ THIS SOONER!!!!!!!!!!!
And yes I know KA is amazing but this went beyond her normal EPIC, AMAZING, SPECTACULAR BOOKS! This was breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL!!!
I mean holy shit i'm going to cry again, right now...
I'm ruined! I am ruined for all other books! I'm ruined for all other characters called Pren, Elle and Fee!
I don't usually like to say "go read this book" because everyone has different tastes but I'm dying to scream to the world READ THIS BOOK!!!
READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT, READ IT! damn I need bigger writing I need bolder text I need a bigger page to scream READ THIS BOOK!
THIS BOOK WAS FUCKING AMAZING!!! now I need to go and wash my face again.
December 19, 2023
Reread July 2021 and still one of my favourites. It's all kinds of sad and not at all a traditional love story but I like the drama!
_____________________
Old love reunited. MY FAVOURITE!!!!!
Actually, to clarify, this is old love reunited with a supernatural twist and I loved that twist. I really enjoyed this. It's unusual and it's sweet and it is absolutely gut wrenching. There was a lot of ugly crying took place with this one. A lot.
Delightful holiday reading. This was part of my staycation reads and even though I read it out of order by mistake (I read Lucky Stars before it) I think I saved the best to last.
Isabella, Prentice, Fiona, Sally and Jason will melt and break your heart.
_____________________
Old love reunited. MY FAVOURITE!!!!!
Actually, to clarify, this is old love reunited with a supernatural twist and I loved that twist. I really enjoyed this. It's unusual and it's sweet and it is absolutely gut wrenching. There was a lot of ugly crying took place with this one. A lot.
Delightful holiday reading. This was part of my staycation reads and even though I read it out of order by mistake (I read Lucky Stars before it) I think I saved the best to last.
Isabella, Prentice, Fiona, Sally and Jason will melt and break your heart.
November 17, 2019
Another awesome re-read!!
(re-read in 2019) awesome audio <3
Not sure I can even get enough of this story, even though every time I read it, I end up in tears!!
Pure beauty!
==================
A third re-read of one of the most beautiful stories there is!
Re-read on 6 August 2016..
1000000 stars!!
Achingly beautiful! A tear-jerker that keeps you wanting more!
A masterpiece!
Rock on!
======================
A second re-read of one of the most moving stories (on 31 July 2015)!
10++ stars!!
I'm sooooo in LOVE! Honestly I can't get enough of this series!
One more to go ;)
Rock on!
================================
A re-read done on 26 July 2014..
Well, definitely 6++ stars and much, much more!
My God! I forgot how perfect this book was!
One of the most heart-warming stories that's ever been written!
I don't think you can read this book and finish it with dry eyes. I think I cried buckets! AGAIN!
Magnificent, to say the least!
Rock on!
==========
This was originally read on 11 July 2013...
6++ Brilliant stars!! That was beyond beautiful!! And I can't seem to be able to stem the flow of the tears..
Breathtakingly beautiful and absolutely marvelous!!
Honestly... I didn't expect it to be this... just this!
Another work of art to paint yet another happily-ever-after by the talented Ms. Ashley :)
(re-read in 2019) awesome audio <3
Not sure I can even get enough of this story, even though every time I read it, I end up in tears!!
Pure beauty!
==================
A third re-read of one of the most beautiful stories there is!
Re-read on 6 August 2016..
1000000 stars!!
Achingly beautiful! A tear-jerker that keeps you wanting more!
A masterpiece!
Rock on!
======================
A second re-read of one of the most moving stories (on 31 July 2015)!
10++ stars!!
I'm sooooo in LOVE! Honestly I can't get enough of this series!
One more to go ;)
Rock on!
================================
A re-read done on 26 July 2014..
Well, definitely 6++ stars and much, much more!
My God! I forgot how perfect this book was!
One of the most heart-warming stories that's ever been written!
I don't think you can read this book and finish it with dry eyes. I think I cried buckets! AGAIN!
Magnificent, to say the least!
Rock on!
==========
This was originally read on 11 July 2013...
6++ Brilliant stars!! That was beyond beautiful!! And I can't seem to be able to stem the flow of the tears..
Breathtakingly beautiful and absolutely marvelous!!
Honestly... I didn't expect it to be this... just this!
Another work of art to paint yet another happily-ever-after by the talented Ms. Ashley :)
March 14, 2015
I've been completely engrossed in this one.
Prentice and Isabella were pulled apart once by Isabella' s nut job father. Twenty years later and Prentice is a widower with two children when Isabella returns to stay in his remote Scottish village. He's bitter, she's public enemy number one because of what's seen to be her behaviour twenty years ago.
The narrator switches between Isabella, Prentice and Prentice' s dead wife, a ghostly Fiona. Kind of a weird ideas, but it really worked well most of the time, making for lots of poignant and misty eyed moments, the likes of which KA does so well. I wasn't so sure about the need for the kids to see their dad and his new squeeze in bed or twisting tongues quite so often, I found that a bit icky , but otherwise this had some good angst and a big build up of anticipation before the smut. Prentice is a dirty talker too so not much to dislike there really. There was a suspense sub plot, but the main story in this was around starting again after a bereavement and second chance love. It got a bit silly at the end, but it wasn't unreadable.
I really enjoyed this one. Recommended.
Prentice and Isabella were pulled apart once by Isabella' s nut job father. Twenty years later and Prentice is a widower with two children when Isabella returns to stay in his remote Scottish village. He's bitter, she's public enemy number one because of what's seen to be her behaviour twenty years ago.
The narrator switches between Isabella, Prentice and Prentice' s dead wife, a ghostly Fiona. Kind of a weird ideas, but it really worked well most of the time, making for lots of poignant and misty eyed moments, the likes of which KA does so well. I wasn't so sure about the need for the kids to see their dad and his new squeeze in bed or twisting tongues quite so often, I found that a bit icky , but otherwise this had some good angst and a big build up of anticipation before the smut. Prentice is a dirty talker too so not much to dislike there really. There was a suspense sub plot, but the main story in this was around starting again after a bereavement and second chance love. It got a bit silly at the end, but it wasn't unreadable.
I really enjoyed this one. Recommended.
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