Cover Image: Once Upon a Date

Once Upon a Date

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Member Reviews

A nice take on the Cinderella story just a modern take. The main character has missed placed her laptop which has her manuscript and while this is going on she is at a masquerade party looking for it and running into a man who could change her life. A very good story.

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A typical light reading nice book by one of my favorite authors. If you’ve read any Susan Hatler books and enjoyed you will like this book. Enjoy her books because she writes a series and fast reading especially when traveling. Go for it and pick it up.

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It all started with a rejection letter. Michelle is an aspiring author who was just rejected by her choice of publishing company. In order to cheer her up her friend takes her to a charity masquerade gala where she meets ‘Prince Charming’. In true Cinderella fashion she runs off before the end of the night with no hope of ever seeing him again. The next day she meets him again and learns that he is the publishing house’s editor, and her ex. The story continues with the two re-enacting scenes from her book to see if they could actually happen and end in love.

As with other Susan Hatler books the characters are interesting and believable. This was a sweet take on Cinderella merged with second chance romance.

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A modern day take on Cinderella, this story was a quick, fun, easy read.
This story had its own unique twists and turns that made it stand out from the well known fairy-tale.
A lovely, well written story that made me smile throughout.

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This is a well written and very easy to read warm feel good romance. Really enjoyed the interactions between Michelle & Brook. Although it’s a short book, it’s an ideal treat to leave you with a smile as you finish.

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Susan Hatler never ceases to amaze me on how she can come up with these stories and keep me entertained as an avid reader of her works of art! I have quickly become a fan of Ms. Hatler's and as soon as I see that another book is coming out I click it as quick as I can!

Michelle is a young lady that has always dreamed of having her book published by a big name publishing company. When she finally gets her book finished and sends it to her one hopeful publishing company, her heart gets broken quickly. When she reads what the publisher says, she is aggravated, hurt and disappointed all in the same breath.

Michelle tells her best friend about her rejection letter right before they are going to a charity masquerade ball. Her friend is determined that Michelle is going to have a good night and let her hair down for a little bit, after all it is a masquerade ball and no one will be able to tell who is who. What Michelle doesn't tell her friend is that she has snuck her laptop in with her and has all intentions of sending her book out to more publishing companies in hopes of getting accepted by someone else. When the ball begins, Michelle has quickly sent out some emails when she is asked to dance by a good looking man, well as far as she can tell with his mask on.

Michelle immediately knows that there is something there between her and this mystery guy. The sparks immediately begin to ignite between them and Michelle is anxious to see where things will lead that night until she is so rudely interrupted by a phone call from her stepbrother that she has to take. He needs her to come bail him out with his landlord once again. In her hast to get to her stepbrother quickly, Michelle leaves her computer behind. Will she be able to find it now? It has her finished book on it.

Michelle is reminded that she installed the tracking app on her computer so that she could find it in case it was taken or lost. When she tracks it, she finds that it is on the move and just down the street from where she is. Michelle sets out to find her computer and where does she end up? Right outside of the publishing company that sent her the rejection letter. She runs into her ex-boyfriend, Brooks in front of the building too. Why does he have her computer? Is he her prince charming from the masquerade ball? He can't be! And why is he going into the building of the publishing company? Does he work here now?

Michelle is hit with the realization that Brooks is the publisher that sent her the rejection letter, and he is the guy she had the immediate sparks with at the masquerade ball. How could she not have realized? When they settle things out, Brooks makes a deal with Michelle that if she can convince him that her book is not far fetched in her dating scenarios she wrote in her book, he will publish it for her and give her an advance that will help get her stepbrother out of trouble with his landlord. If not, Brooks wins and she goes about her way.

You have to read how this plays out for Michelle and Brooks. Such a great read with all the feels wrapped up in it. I love Susan Hatler's way of writing that engages her readers and keeps they wanting to read more and more of her works.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy.

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A fun second-chance-at-love story with a fairy-tale vibe. Michelle meets her Prince Charming at a fundraising masquerade ball and they share an amazing kiss. The next day Michelle realizes she left her laptop at the ball and is shocked to find it in the office of Prince & Company, the publisher that just rejected her romance manuscript calling it "unrealistic, unimaginable, and unpublishable". Ouch!!

This is when Michelle discovers that hunky Prince Charming from the night before, and the person who hates her manuscript are the same person! That's not all she discovers, which leads to a bet to prove or disprove that the romance she wrote isn't unrealistic--that it could really happen.

I loved all the fairy tale fairy references in this story, and like all good stories Michelle and Brooks hit a few bumps on the road to their happily-ever-after. I'm really enjoying this fun sweet romance series by Susan Hatler. We get to see a few characters from previous books in the series, which is always fun. Although this is a series each book is a standalone so they can be read in any order.

I received a complimentary copy from Hatco Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in my review are my own.

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'Cinderella' met 'Prince Charming' at a masquerade ball, but she had to leave in a hurry, and left her laptop behind. The next day, using tracking software, she found him and the laptop - only to discover that he's no prince but a 'toad' who not only dumped her unceremoniously years earlier, but only the day before heartlessly rejected her novel as unrealistic! Can she prove to him that the love the novel presents is far from unrealistic, and that the attraction between them is worth taking a chance on?

In typical Hatler style, this is a clean light read with realistic-feeling characters, an enjoyable storyline and some well-placed humour. A fun read that's a bit more than just fluff. Readers of other books in the series will recognise some characters, but like all the rest this is a standalone story.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

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As expected, this is an enjoyable, clean romcom in typical Susan Halter style. Always a fun, enjoyable read.

This novel has a Cinderella vibe - meeting at a masquerade ball, not knowing who the other was. Michelle and Brooks were charming, engaging, adorable and fun from the moment they met.

As usual, there is sweeping romance, a true connection, chemistry, and utterly delightful dialog.

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This is the first book I have read by Susan Hatler. It is well written and the characters are likable. It has a YA vibe to it and is a second chance romance (although they first dated in high school.) The female lead is an unpublished author and the male lead works for a publisher. The book begins with a book rejection from him (although neither knew the other was part of it.). The story builds from there. Solid 4-4.5 stars.

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Once Upon a Date by Susan Hatler a sparkling five-star read. This is number six in the Do-over date series, but I haven’t read them all and don’t feel lost as each story focuses on a different couple. This time its Michelle Moss and Brooks Miller that step up to the plate, and what a story they tell. This is filled with passion and drama and upset as well, as Michelle doesn’t have it all sunshine and roses, she has family drama and feels the need to prove herself and her story, but she isn’t the only one who feels the need to prove themselves, but you need to read the story to find out who.

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Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another great short story from Susan.

When Michelle tries to get her book based on Cinderella published the editor of the publishing company turns out to be her ex boyfriend. He decides he will only publish it if they act out the book and he falls in love with her. Will he fall in love with her again or will it end in disaster.

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Once upon a date
Susan halter
Pub date 30 July 2020
Spoilers allert
I loved this romance allot the science the dates were so lovely I loved the boat scene the bookstore scene and the last scene with the horse it’s beautiful written the romance is alive and magical in this book.
Michelle is a writer her dream is two publish her manuscript in one of her dream publishing when she submitted her. Manuscript it got rejection she fought her world fell apart she put her Heart and souls into the book that night she had two go two a charity ball for the homeless wasn’t even in the mood two go so she wore a nice dress new shoes her friend bought her and and decided two take her laptop with her two submit more manuscript two publishing while she was there she danced but had enough sat at the table with her computer then this man cane up started dancing and she kissed him but she had two go her brother Philip phoned he was in trouble with money and she had two find money two save us rent his money been going on designer shirts ties shoes he loved shopping but because she was the signed leases owner partnership with him she had two find the money she used up her life saving for him met the land load and gave him the money well done if it two him he thanks her and she went back home then realised she left her computer at the charity event she phoned the hotel they’re haven’t Sean it then the next day she went into the coffee shop told her friend about last night and the computer she said why don’t you track the computer on you phone and she did she followed the computer on her phone it was at the publishing firm that rejected her book she walked into the office building and saw brooks her old ex boyfriend from school he was the editor of the firm and said the book was lovely but needed more romance two be realistic even more rejection from him she told him even now you still want two hurt me when we were young and now my book he said he didn’t realise it was her book she went under a different ER by name as a publisher. Anyway she met her friend at the hotel she told them what happened about the book she had two set a science in the book and if he like the science he would publish it. She used her friend apartment and set the scene as if in the book she loaded the apartment with smell sticks the smoke was every wear he climbed up the fire scape two greet her pulled out the fire smell sticks And he kissed her again she had a shower and they had a lovely meal and talked about when they were young they kissed allot. The evening was so lovely they went out for couple of evening including the disaster of the picknic when they got so wet and she fell in the water and spend ages in the bookstore she loved spending time with him and found out that he always loved her he agreed two publish the book and give 10000 advance she fought that helped Phillip out and pay his debt she agreed two sign the next day when she got home she offered a job at another publishing firm with even more money double that that. She didn’t know what two go her heart was with brooks any how she went over two brooks two agree the sign deal told him she been offered with another firm and he told her she should go for the other fin she was shocked and he said we wouldn’t mix pleasure with work even know she really like him. She when with the other publishing firm was going two pay the money two Phillip landlord when Phillip came two sea her and said he got a job starting nine two give he back speaking two his mum and he spoke two his landlord two pay some of the back rent he owed he took all his clothes back that still had labels on them thank his sister for being there for him she cried and hug him she was getting ready two another event happy this time she really hoped brooks would be there Prince Charming when she turned up he wasn’t she was not so cheerful she went outside and there he was on a horse in town holding up the place with police ready two aren’t in his tuxedo suit he jump down kissed her said he loved her and they both when on the horse and he asked her two marry her and she said yes.
This book was amazing it’s a quick read this author new two me but I love her book so far I read goosing two read more of her books. The writing material is easy two understand.

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Thank you NetGalley and Hatco Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. Once Upon a Date is a modern day take on Cinderella. It was a short and sweet read. Even though we all know how the classic fairytale ends, there were enough twists and turns to keep me entertained. This novella left me with a smile on my face and a bit of sunshine added to my day.

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