Once Upon a Summertime by Melody Carlson with #Review

ONCE UPON A SUMMERTIME

BY MELODY CARLSON

She's looking for her big break. She never imagined it would depend on a blast from her past.

Managing the Value Lodge in her hometown was not what Anna Gordon had in mind when she set out in the hospitality industry. But it's a safe choice for a young woman starting out her career.

Then, out of the blue, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to reinvent herself and reinvigorate her career by moving to New York City. She applies for a management position at a stylish new hotel, The Rothsberg. But the city is full of surprises--not the least of which is discovering that Sean O'Neil, a once-upon-a-time crush, has applied for the very same position.

This sweetly romantic tale of dreams come true takes you through the storied streets of New York City--and into the depths of the human heart.

MY THOUGHTS-Melody Carlson is an author I normally don't read much of. I prefer either historical or mystery but this one looked to good to pass up. And I am glad I requested it! This was a heartwarming romantic story that I enjoyed as a break from my preferred genre.

Anna is a small town girl who had dreams of being management in some fancy posh hotel. But instead she stayed with her grandmother to help out and is now managing this rinky dink motel. When a friend comes back to town and gives her the push she so needed, Anna spreads her wings and takes off to New York City in hopes of being hired at a boutique hotel. What she doesn't expect is the appearance of her childhood crush, Sean. And while things don't go as planned in her job search, she is hired as the head of housekeeping while Sean is hired for the management position, she feels unexpected freedom of doing what she has always dreamed of.

I totally fell in love with Sean and his too big to be true demeanor. Of course, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Irishmen and though he doesn't have the brogue, I loved him. The only worry I had with this book was that everything in her dreams came true. I am always fearful when a story plays out with everything turning right, the road is nice and easy, etc. It isn't that way in real life after all. Anna really has no hardships and she gets her job, her new life in the big city and a romance to boot. But if I look at it as being fiction, keeping things in perspective, it helps a lot. The characters in this one really drew me and even the secondary people were fun to read about. And seeing New York City through the eyes of the character is fun. I have been there and seen many of the same buildings and tourist attractions that Anna does in the book. Lots of fun to read and a great summer novel!



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**