Book Review: Once Upon a Summer by Boyd, Shiloh, Tysinger & Weaver

ONCE UPON A SUMMER
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: May 25, 2021
PAGES: 478

Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales

A New Beginning by Andrea Boyd — Who is she? Acacia Martin raised by an impostor mom serving a prison sentence for her sins, or Jasmine Callahan abducted at birth from a family she’s yet to meet? Luckily, she has Drake to help her untangle the mess that is her life. Will he ensnare her heart in the process?

An Ever After Summer by Toni Shiloh — The employees of In a Bind are terrified of Jean-Luc Thibodeaux, so Bellamy Larson hops on a plane to France to deal with the beastly client. Yet once she arrives, she’s convinced he merely needs a friend. Then her heart begins to want ever after, not just one summer.

Gwen and the Three Dates by Teresa Tysinger — Life isn’t a romantic movie, but Gwen Lochs is determined to find her leading man. When she joins a cheesy dating site, Gwen agrees to just three dates. Can Ben Smith watch his best friend and soulmate find someone else? A romantic comedy about searching for that just-right love.

Unkissable by Jayee Weaver — Reality diva Charlotte Lavigne’s on-camera meltdown reminds former teen-TV prince Jaime Reyes exactly why he left Hollywood ten years ago. A chance encounter leads to a bargain that transforms them both. When it’s time to face her past, will their rediscovered love be strong enough to build a future together?

Other Collections By These Authors

Whether you’re the kind of person who loves spending all summer by the pool & at the beach or the kind of person (like me) who stays indoors as much as humanly possible when the temperatures get above 75, Once Upon a Summer is the perfect choice for you. These four classic fairy tales with a contemporary twist are sweet and fun and oh-so-swoony!

I wasn’t sure how a contemporary version of Rapunzel was going to play out without being too unbelievable, but Andrea Boyd knocked it out of the park with A New Beginning! The reason for Cacie’s never-been-touched-by-scissors hair, why she’s suddenly wanting to cut it, and how that desire & the fear that goes with it are symbols of her larger journey to self-discovery was completely plausible and engaging. Cacie’s quirky & endearing personality go well with Drake’s sweet heart, and I loved watching them fall in love. Drake was the perfect hero for Cacie, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them both.

Toni Shiloh’s An Ever After Summer is ooh-la-la fantastic! You don’t even have to be a Beauty & the Beast fan to appreciate this swoonilicious romance, but you’ll love it even more if you are because of all the little touches the author adds. Jean-Luc…. I could stop right there. Blissful sigh. Keep a fan handy for whenever he’s in the room – he exudes a wounded hero sexiness (am I allowed to use that word?) and the instant sparks between him and Bell are magnifique! Such a sweet story of restoration (in more ways than one) and a delicious romance with plenty of chemistry and fireworks.

I’ve never before felt like I identified with Goldilocks but I sure related to Gwen Lochs in Teresa Tysinger’s Gwen and the Three Dates! Gwen’s more plus size than petite (can i get an amen?!?), fun, warm and a little snarky. Plus, she’s more than slightly obsessed with romcoms. Hello, new bestie! Did I mention that her best friend Ben is in love with her (has been for years)? Ahhh be still my friends-to-more-loving heart! Take Gwen’s love of romcoms, a dose of hilarity, three blind dates, and nudges from those ever-present supporting characters; add in sparks aplenty and a fabulous first kiss, and you’ve got a story that had me grinning from start to finish.

Last but certainly not least is Unkissable, a Frog Prince retelling by Jaycee Weaver. I love how the author pulled in elements from this fairy tale in clever ways while also creating a story that is fresh and unique. Charlotte (Lottie) and Jaime are each other’s ‘one that got away’, and up until now they’ve lived worlds apart, even if only separated by a couple of states. When Lottie’s reality show life implodes around her, she crashes back into Jaime’s life in desperate need of a friend. Her redemptive character growth throughout this story was truly special to watch, and the gospel was presented clearly without being forced. On a more shallow note (lol), get ready for a doozy of a kiss that is definitely going into my next KissingBooks Hall of Fame 🙂

Bottom Line: Once upon a time, there was Once Upon a Summer, a fun and swoony collection of stories by four fabulous authors! Fave fairy tales retold with creativity and affection, with a host of loveable heroes & heroines, will capture your heart and help these timeless & beloved tales come alive in new ways. I loved the romances, the characters, the settings, and the unique style each author brought to the table, and I also appreciated the faith threads in each novella & the organic ways they added layers to the stories. This is a great way to meet a new-to-you author or spend time with some already-faves. And we all read happily ever after!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the authors. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / fabulous collection!

KissingBook Level: 3+ / WILL forget to breathe on occasion

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Also available to read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Each of Andrea Boyd’s series represents a different genre but all fall into the category of romance. All offer an element of her own brand of humor. And all are a tribute to God. Besides writing, she loves spending time with her family, quilting, going to car shows, and driving around in her 1968 Barracuda convertible. Andrea lives with her husband, Tommy, and at least a couple of cats in York County, SC. Visit her at www.andreaboyd11.com.

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist and Risking Love is a 2020 Selah Award finalist. Visit her at www.tonishiloh.com

Teresa Tysinger is a wife, mother, and communications director for a national non-profit. She writes charming Christian romance, inspired by grace. Teresa now resides in Texas, though part of her heart remains in North Carolina. She loves Jesus, coffee, and happy endings. Visit Teresa at www.teresatysinger.com.

Lover of Jesus, family, books, coffee, music, and crafting (in that order), Jaycee Weaver is perpetually pursuing at least one of her passions. She writes contemporary Christian romance with realistic characters in everyday situations where they always find a happy ending. Visit her at www.jayceeweaver.com.

What about you? What makes you want to read Once Upon a Summer by these fantastic authors?