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

Heartwarming read

Once Upon A Wish-mas by Laura Barnard delivers on the cosy, heartwarming feels with all the delicious angst of an enemies-to-lovers story. Ruby is such a breath of fresh air for the Rochester family and you can’t help but fall for this feisty and caring heroine as she shakes things up for the brooding & handsome Barclay and his young girls.

With great pace, witty banter, laugh-out-loud moments, doses of steam and fantastic characters you can easily connect with & get behind, you’ll fly through Once Upon A Wish-mas just as I did and be left feeling satisfied by this uplifting story about family and relationships.

Overall the narrator did a good job however I found some of the voices she put on for peripheral characters and Ruby’s inner monologue a bit too much but I still really enjoyed this single-parent, hate-to-love romantic comedy.

If you’re looking for a book to get you into the festive spirit with romance along the way, I recommend you check out Once Upon A Wish-Mas... though really, I’d happily listen to this feel-good story all year round!

Quick Fun Read

I really enjoyed this book! Ruby is hilarious! I was laughing so much at her antics and inner dialogue. Ruby's interactions with the kids are great. I like the slow burn build up between Ruby and Barclay!

The narrator is ok. I found her voice to be off putting at times but overall was decent.

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.

Loved the story

I really enjoyed reading Once Upon A Wish-Mas. Centered around the most magical time of the year, a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate. There’s something about the holiday season in n my opinion, it’s never too early to read a holiday romance.
There was angst, humour, fabulous characters and a story line that you couldn’t help but be drawn too. Ruby Campbell is a nanny who is feisty, sassy and not at all afraid of her boss Barclay Rothchester. In fact for the sake of his daughters, she will put up with his over the top control issues and his grumpy demeanour, determined to give his daughters the best Christmas she can.

To Barclay no-one will ever be able to replace his wife who died three years ago and even if there was someone, it certainly wouldn’t be Ruby. Having recently returned from London, I could easily picture the places such as Harrods and Somerset House as I read this story.

Can Barclay and Ruby put aside their obvious differences to ensure that the girls have a great Christmas, or will their pride get in the way?

This is a story of overcoming grief, of love, about taking a leap of faith and learning to trust again. A heart warming, feel good story that will leave you with a smile on your face.

I had a hard time connecting to the narrator Charlie Emmeline Albers, but the story was good so I was able to over look it for the most part.

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.

very good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

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

A book full of joy

This book is a must listen to book. I throughly enjoyed listening to it and the narrator was amazing and funny. I cried and laugh throughout the story. Amazing book.

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.

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.

humourous and easy listen romcom ❤️

A Christmas themed rom-com and I absolutely loved it. It's a bit of Mary Poppins with some Christmas fun and romance, the difference being I loved this nanny so much more than that Mary Poppins sequel!

Barclay a widower takes on a new nanny for his two cute girls and gets Ruby. Ruby omg she's a force of nature, she really made me chuckle. I did think she pushed the boundaries quite a bit for a new employee but it was needed at times and so entertaining.

The story is mainly from Ruby's pov, but Barclay gets some smaller chapters so we get his pov and it's obvious quite soon his not as cold as he first shows, just guarded. Did I mention he's a good looking man that keeps himself fit, something Ruby can't help but notice.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration. There were so many moments I wanted to highlight like an ebook!

The narrator defined the characters well and gave them personality and the children's voices came over cute.

A real humorous and easy listen. Trouble is you don't want to pause it when you have to go out! I could totally see this as a rom-com on the big screen.

Definitely a festive favourite

This is a great festive rom-com. I loved every minute of Ruby and Barcley's story, It had some great laugh out load moments whilst also tugging at my heartstrings.

When Ruby finds herself the new nanny to Jessica and Lottie Rothchester she has no idea what she's let herself in for, only its not the children that's her problem its their dashingly handsome but very moody father.
Barcley has become very closed off since the death of his wife a couple of years ago but when he employs Ruby to take care of his girls he has no idea just how joy she will bring into all their lives.

Definitely a festive favourite for me and the narration of Charlie Emmerline Albers only enhanced by enjoyment.

Fun and entertaining

I'm not a big fan of tearjerkers, but this one made me cry in a good way. Overall it was an entertaining, funny, feel good story and I liked the characters. It's a little like Mary Poppins meets the Sound of Music. The relationship developed fast in some ways and slow in others. I'm looking forward to listening to/reading more from this author. I'm actually starting Road Trip tonight.

I listened to the Audible version. Charlie Emmeline Albers' performance was amazing. She voices two distinct children's voices and brings a lot of energy and feeling to the whole story. At times that energy made it difficult to tell what was spoken aloud vs. what was in someone's thoughts, and Barclay's voice wasn't always consistent, but the energy is also a big part of what made the story fun to listen to. I would recommend the audio version.

Christmas with children.

This was a fun Christmas read and probably my favourite of the three I've read in the run-up to Xmas 2020. I think what really made this one a hit for me was the build up of excitement from the two children as Christmas approaches.

Ruby Campbell has taken on the job of nanny for 2 adorable little girls, but their father is another matter. Barclay Rothchester lost his wife some years before and he is still grieving. He is impossible to please and has already scared off several nannies before Ruby appears on the scene. She immediately falls for the girls and fights their corner when Barclay declares there are not going to be any Christmas decorations, nor photos of his deceased wife.

Ruby is a bit of a super-nanny and the girls love her. She even joins the PTA so Jessica can ride on the Christmas float. She is totally sassy, but is rather quick to declare everyone she doesn't like as a B*tch, and this put me off her a bit.
The girls are similar ages to my granddaughters (3 and 6) and I totally related to their emotions and excitement.

I wasn't a great fan of the narrator, who only had 2 voices, twee and super-twee. I actually wished I'd been reading rather than listening. Still, the book was entertaining and helped build some Christmas spirit at the end of a really strange year.

Channel your inner Mary Poppins!

Such a fun story. Loved this - my only slight issue was I found the jumps to Barclay’s narration a bit jarring, as the narrator was so well fitted to the nanny. I think it wouldn’t be an issue in the book as you’d “hear” different voices. But it didn’t spoil the book

Warm Hearted

I wasn't sure what I was getting into judging by the cover but I received this audiobook for an honest review so I pushed play. And am so thankful I did! Absolutely loved the nanny. Especially her interactions with the dad of the kids. The wife has passed and he is very particular. This is a fantastic book, one I will definitely read again! Excellent narrator as well. Really helps bring it to life.

Predictable

Ruby Campbell meets Barclay Rochester a widower with 2 small children one 3yrs the other 8yrs, and no one can replace his wife so he becomes a workaholic but does make the time for his children now and then so along comes Ruby the nanny, she is bold and can be rebellious at times but good at her job. She finds Mr. Rochester without heart of so she thought but his thinking is taking everything that shows his wife out of sight out of mind so who will win as Xmas is drawing close. A sweet story really can be a bit sickly in places but an easy listen, the narrator Charlie Emmeline Albers was good in most parts but can also be grating in others. The story is predictable so no chewing the nails etc. more of a romance.

Great Christmassy listen

I loved listening to the audio version of this book. It the tells the story of a lady called Ruby who is employed as a nanny of two girls. It is a lovely Christmas tale, with relatable characters and is very easy to listen to. The narrator was great. I have listened to a few other stories by this author and they have all been good.

Warm and fuzzy like Christmas

Ok I’m never disappointed with Laura Barnards audiobook and yet again she’s nailed it. Not only do I have Magic 100% Christmas to listen to but now I have my first Christmas audio as well and I loved it. The story of a nanny trying to not loose her job with her intolerable boss (who just happens to be a bit of a hunk) is funny and comforting and everything you want in a romantic Christmas audio and the narration by Charlie was brilliant as well. I love this book and can I put my tree up now??

A magical Christmas romance!

I received an audio copy of this book to listen to in exchange for an honest review from Laura Barnard.

Once upon a wish-mas is a heartwarming novella about lost love and new beginnings.

Ruby is an amazingly likeable character full of joy and who slowly begins to thaw the frozen heart of Barclay!
This book has all the feels of Christmas and has got me into the festive spirit already!

The children in this story are utterly adorable and I loved the narrators voice when reading their script.

This is a truly magical read that brought tears to my eyes and made my heart race with anticipation.