Once upon a Wish-Mas

By: Laura Barnard

Narrated by: Charlie Emmeline Albers

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

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!!

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.

A Lovely Story...

There were a few moments when the switch between Ruby and Barcley's voices caught me by surprise, but once I caught on, it became part of the fun! Ruby's bold personality made her stand out, even if she used 'b*tch' more than I thought necessary—she’s fiery, for sure! Some of the characters' choices kept me on edge, adding a bit of excitement to the mix. The narrator brought a lot of energy, though her voice had some unique quirks. While I would’ve loved to feel a stronger build-up in the romance, it was still an enjoyable, lighthearted adventure that kept me smiling.

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!

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.

A book I could definitely see as a Hallmark Film

This is the first book I've read by Laura Barnard and it was really good! It was hard not to like the main characters I'm absolutely smitten with Ruby. She is very funny and she is such a trainwreck, but she is true to herself and has a great self worth. She isn’t about to change who she is for anyone, and I couldn’t get enough of the back and forth with Ruby and Barclay. Barclay is uptight, domineer, and grieving in his own way. He is trying to do what is best for his girls, but he is going about it all the wrong way. I loved the way they interact with each other and how everything turned out.  I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for that warm and very fuzzy read/listen without a second thought. There are times it was hysterically funny but then there are moments when I tear up. I love the happy ever after.

I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are mine.  

Perfect Christmas Enemies to Lovers Book

I truly adored this book! Thank you to Laura Barnard to gifting me with a copy of the Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Audiobook was narrated by Charlie Emmeline Albers and she was fantastic! She added the perfect amount of sass and sincerity to Ruby's character. She also did a good job with swithing tone when she portrayed Barclay and other characters. I am an avid Audiobook listener, so I did speed it up, but the flow was good.

It was a perfect and heartwarming enemies to lovers Christmas story! Ruby Campbell was the fiercest and sassiest Nanny and I loved every bit of her. She had such a big heart and oh, the mouth on her too! I imagine that Laura Barnard had so much fun writing her character. Her own backstory with her parents deaths was well written and weaved in to the story well, too. It made her so much more sincere with the girls. Barclay Rothchester is the grumpy widow that can't manage to keep a Nanny. What ensues is some amazing angsty banter, steamy tension and misunderstandings. Oh, and a smack down with a Busy Body PTA Mommy too, 'cause nobody is going to mess with one of those girls on Ruby's watch!

Seriously, this book was the full package with laughs, sexual tension, and warm hearted moments. If you are looking for Christmas themed books, you should definitely add this one to your list this holiday season!