Wednesday 4 November 2015

Review- Twice Upon a Time by Hope Irving






Book & Author Details

Twice Upon A Time by Hope Irving
Publication Date: October 31st, 2015
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance



Once upon a time, there was the wandering soul of Morgann, an 8th century Irish calligrapher-monk longing to be reunited with his soul mate. Deirdre was his forbidden love, a witch with whom he wrote a coveted book.

Under her spell, the souls of the star-crossed lovers travel from bodies to bodies until they find each other. Eventually.

That became his quest: unearth her new body and trigger her memory, for she is clueless about whom she once was. Unfortunately their story didn't get a chance to become a fairy tale yet it still turned out as a famous urban legend referred as The Black Angel Book. 

Twice upon a time, not so long ago, there was me, rational and devastated Rose. I needed to get a grip, said my French mum after my year of numbness due to a painful break-up that led me to cut my wrist daily, to feel something, anything.

So she sent me off to the free-spirited village of Provincetown, Massachusetts, to spend the summer with my American relatives. And just like that, I wasn’t myself any longer. Because someone pulled me out of the darkness and bewitched me, somehow.

I couldn’t wait to jump his bones… but why was he holding back?
He couldn’t wait to welcome me into his world… but was I ready to question my convictions and acknowledge that my self-inflicted cuts were now healing in record time?

How could I have imagined he was longing for his own unorthodox fairytale to come true? Frantically.





I would like to thank the author and Kiss Off Blog Tours for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This story took me awhile to get into as Hope told the back story to Deirdre and Morgann.  Then the story jumped forward to Rose and her spending time with her family in Provincetown.  It was actually a while before Rose (Deirdre) and Virgil (Morgann) actually meet and this began to get in my nerves.  I wanted to know more way before the author actually gets to the nitty gritty.

The story really is a roller coaster ride sometimes I was captivated and kept turning the pages and others I was frustrated at a few parts in the story.  It is a unique telling of a story and a great debut from the author.  

What I will say is I would have preferred more showing ie when we are told about Morgann and Deidre I would liked to have read the scenes between them, especially where she cast the spell to save their souls.

I love a fantasy/paranormal romance and this is a great story and very captivating.  I loved all the 80's movie star names and the references to The Breakfast Club and other brat pack films. 

The only thing I was sure of was the hero's name of Virgil, sorry it just didn't work for me.  When I read a story I want to fall in love with the main character but the name for me just didn't work.













“Hi, I called you last week about registration—” I opened the cupboard to get a plate for my cinnamon raisin bagel that was being toasted as I spoke. Without letting me finish my sentence, the sexy voice, still this aching tone—not from a sore throat, then—declared, “Hi yourself.” A cough on the other end of the line. “Oh, I remember you!” He chuckled. “You hung up on me so fast I didn’t get your name.” How could he remember me from a week ago? “So I guess, it’s ‘Hi yourself… again’, right?” He paused for a split second, in a playful tone, added, “I do remember your voice, though. Will you tell me your name this time or are we gonna play hide and seek again? That’s why you’re calling back, right? You realized your mistake?” Flabbergasted, I replied, putting a large amount of cream cheese on my heated bagel. “Exactly… I forgot to give you my name. You’re gifted, you know, recognizing my voice like that. I bet I wasn’t the only one who called to enroll.” A giggle that almost came out as a roar. “You’re right, I got a few phone calls…” He coughed again then said, “But actually recognizing your voice was pretty easy. I like your voice: warm and confident although I can hear a little bit of worry in it. I bet it’s due to both excitement and fright about attending the workshop. Anxious and curious, I would say.” Did he say that to everybody, to be nice? “Your voice is tinged with… I don’t know, sorrow, I would say, and that’s why it sounds different.” O-kay, where did that come from? I sighed at his accurate comment. “Well,” I started, biting on the bagel to buy me some time, “thanks for the comment on my voice. You’re insightful, I must add.” And out of the blue I blurted out, “I love your voice… too… mmm.” Did I say that out loud? Sure I meant it but couldn’t say that to a complete stranger. “I mean… I like your voice, too.” Silly me. Now he was going to think I was hitting on him over the phone. Great! “Thanks, stranger. And by the way, I wasn’t making a comment about your voice I was paying you a compliment,” he stated, correcting my assumption. “So, anyway, what did you say your name was?” “I didn’t give it to you, yet. Sorry, I’m not doing that on purpose, I swear.” Here I was, toying with my hair again, embarrassed. “My name is Rose Perry.” “So I remember you’ve always wanted to learn calligraphy but never had the chance, is that correct?” Calm and in control, with a sensual kind of a rugged voice, from which you could altogether fantasize about a hot guy as its beholder. © 2015 Hope Irving





Hope Irving is the proud mother of a lovely and witty young lady, and the lucky wife of a loving and supportive husband. She's a debut indie author who lived in Paris, France, most of her life and also in the US, where she graduated with a master degree.

She loves Nutella and Camembert cheese (not together), carrot cake and cinnamon Altoids. 

Her favorite fictional characters are Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris) and Sean Bateman (The Rules of Attraction, Bret Easton Ellis). 







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