Once upon a Wish-Mas

By: Laura Barnard

Narrated by: Charlie Emmeline Albers

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Ruby Campbell isn't daunted at the prospect of working as a nanny for the notorious Barclay Rothchester. She’s warned he’s a strict control freak, but she’s sure she can soften him up.

Barclay Rothchester lost his wife three years ago. Of course he’s never going to find someone to replace her role, the one she did so perfectly. He’s sure its not going to be hippy-dippy Ruby with her sass and rebellious ways.

Ruby is determined to give his daughters the Christmas they deserve. Now if only she can tolerate their father long enough to make that happen.

Are they both willing to put their stubborn pride aside, or will they risk losing the one gift that can't be wrapped: each other?

©2019 Laura Barnard (P)2020 Laura Barnard

An Early Holiday Treat

This is the second book I've read/listened to by Laura Barnard and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her sense of humor and the banter she bestows on her characters makes them endearing and likable while giving the reader a laugh.
Poor Ruby, she's a hot mess on a good day, and then you add the brooding father of the children in her charge, Barclay Rothchester, and all bets are off. Rudy adores the two girls, Jessica and Charlotte, who lost their mother and in some ways their father, a man desperately grieving his wife years later. Ruby is determined to put a smile on the girls' faces and her regimented father has a hard time dealing with that. However, there is an underlying sexual tension between the nanny and the master of the house. The slow burn between the couple seems effortless and the natural progression, despite their differences. There are many laugh out loud moments in this book as well as deep emotions. The story is fun, flirty, and sensual and I adored the characters.
Charlie Emmiline Albers is a new to me narrator and I love her range and vocal style. She has a wide variety of voices and each character is distinct and well done. I especially adored the voices of the girls and the less than kind women (read witchy with a b) who see Barclay as an eligible widower snack. Ms Albers conveys every bit of humor and emotion the author put into her story and I will definitely be looking for more books narrated by her. Need a fun, slow burn holiday read/listen grab this story.

Entertaining RomCom

This was my first experience with Laura Barnard's work, and I, on the whole, found it entertaining. I liked the family themes that the story was built on. I liked the characters. I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers trope found in the romantic interactions between Ruby Campbell and Barclay Rochester. I liked that the Christmas season added an almost magical element to the tale. I didn't like the utilization of foul language. I think that if the people were as posh as they were portrayed in the story, foul language, especially in front of the nanny's young charges, would not be tolerated. There was some steam in the story. Charlie Emmeline Albers' narration was quite lovely, and her performance added a great deal of entertainment to the story. I was gifted a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.

Great Read

I truly enjoyed listening to this book, Laura Barnard and Charlie Emmeline Albers did a great job bringing the characters to life. I look forward to more from this author

Get your stockings ready to hang!

Adorable, funny and festive! I was drawn into this book right away! The characters are amazing! The main character is a hoot! I absolutely love how strong willed she is! Nothing better than a strong female lead! The story line was fantastic, I couldn’t stop listening! The narrator was so great at everyone’s voices, I was never confused on who was talking. One of the best audibles I’ve come across!! This book has me ready to put up my Christmas tree, hang our stockings up on the mantle and write Santa a letter! If you love humor and festivities THIS is the book for you!!

Hilarious, Sweet, and the perfect Holiday listen!

Ruby loves being a nanny. She wants to ensure the children she has in her care have someone loving and consistent in their lives. Especially because she herself is an orphan. She lost her father very young and her mother passed when she turned 18. Her experience gives her an empathy to the children she finds in her care.

She finds herself assigned a new family with two young girls and a widower father. These girls have had a ever revolving door of nannies because their father is a stickler for his regimented schedule for the girls. They haven't been able to keep anyone.

Mr. Rothchester is a grump. He reminds me of Captain Von Trapp when Maria first comes to the family. Actually a lot of the tone between Ruby and Mr Rothchester reminds me it. I love that musical so it works for me.

The girl's mother died 3 years ago. Because of his sorrow, Barclay (Mr Rothchester) has distanced himself from everyone, even his girls.

Jessica & Charlotte (Lottie) are two girls in need of something more than the strict schedule their father thinks is what will make their lives better without their mother. But contrary to what he thinks, what improves his daughters lives is the attention and care that they receive from their new nanny, Ruby, who drives him nuts.

Ruby is determined to give these girls their perfect Christmas. And in the process helps thaw Barclay, who never thought he'd ever find someone else after his wife passed.

Hilarious, heartwarming, and the spirit of the holidays.

I haven't listened to anything narrated by Charlie Emmeline Albers. I loved her narration.

I received a review copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Feel good holiday read

If you could take a little bit from each of your favorite books and combine them into one you would get this book.
It was magical, funny, heartwarming, sad and hopeful.
Ruby the main character was amazing! I laughed with her and cried with her as she went through this journey.
If you could take Mary Poppins, give her some sass and attitude you’d have Ruby. Oh how I loved her.
This story was amazing, the perfect way to get into the holiday mood. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorites and this book did not disappoint!
I highly suggest this book to anyone who likes to read!
The narrator did an amazing job!

Charming and Engaging Narration

Enjoyable, warm, engaging and charming narration with a twist of sass. The children's voices were beautifully done. A lovely listen in a chaotic time. Highly recommended.

A must read/listen for the holiday season

This is a Mary Poppins tale all grown up. Ruby takes a job as a nanny for widowed businessman with two adorable daughters. Barclay is a no nonsense man. He has no time for anything foolish. He is too busy throwing himself into his work and ignoring his emotions. Well Ruby changes all that. This was a hilarious book. Ruby was just what Barclay didn't want. She is stubborn and independent and she doesn't take orders she doesn't agree with easily. As the story goes on and she fights for the girl's happiness she starts to thaw his ice cold heart, even if he won't show it. But Barclay is stubborn and once he realizes his truth it might be too late for himself and the girls who have fallen for Ruby. This was such a fun read/listen. This narrator was the perfect voice for the story. I couldn't get enough of it. Ruby and Barclay cracked me up! And talk about swoon worthy. I dare you not to let this story grab your heart. I loved every second of it and wouldn't mind more! A must read romance for the holiday season.

Absolutely perfect!

A brooding widower + a nanny + Christmastime = an amazing holiday listen! I loved every interaction between Ruby & Barclay! They were so full of wonderful tension! I’m so glad I could work and still listen to this audiobook! The narrator did an amazing job bringing Laura’s characters to life!

Once Upon a Wish-Mas

It’s almost Christmas, and Ruby has taken a job as a nanny. She immediately bonds with her two young charges, but their father is another story. Will she even last through the holidays?

Laura Barnard has written a fantastic holiday story. I absolutely adored the cheeky and sassy Ruby. Her inner dialogue actually made me chuckle out loud a few times.

Overall, Charlie Emmeline Albers did a pretty good job with the narration. There were a few small hiccups in the audio, and a couple of times I thought the children’s voices were a bit to whiny. I did love her portrayal of Ruby!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.