Wow.
I stumbled upon this arc and thought sure absolutely let’s give it a go. Assuming maybe a quick listen while working at home. WRONG. I was completely engrossed in this audiobook. Hello, I’m Sarah Ready’s newest fan girl.

What an absolutely incredible whiplash of emotions. I’m going to need everyone read/listen to this book.

You know it’s going to be an immediate new favorite when I catch myself staring into space fully submerged into this story when I know dang well I need to be working!

One of my biggest ick’s is female narrator butchering the male character by attempting their voice. There was no awkwardness or stink faces while I was listening. To say I was engrossed in this story is an understatement.

“I’m perfectly fine being your second choice”. This statement for Max nearly killed me.

Perfect if you like:
Magical Realism
Dual Timeline
Second Chances
*small cheating microtrope*

Sarah has once again written a beautiful and thought provoking love story. I loved the way that she has brought this story to life.
Fated is a story about finding love after heartbreak, and fighting for it with your whole being. It was beautifully done. I can’t get over the way that this book made me feel. The narration of the audiobook was also beautiful. The narrators voice could mesmerize me into feeling like I’m right there in the story.

I thought the book was ok but it just not for me. It was too slow for my liking. I really couldn’t get into the story or the characters. It just didn’t feel like the right book for me.

"There's something there...hovering at the edges of my mind...since I woke up. It's as if I...saw the most beautiful love, but now it's gone...A distant echo of something...I can only feel the pang of a loss so great my heart aches...for something beautiful...I can't remember, but know I loved... it's like a dream."

The stunning transcendent romance Fated, poetically, beautifully written, by gifted versatile author Sarah Ready, left me grabbing the Kleenex and guarding my heart.

The premise appears simple, but like all her romances, the path to true love is a twisty winding road filled with fear, loss, vulnerability, grief, abandonment, sparks, laughter, wonderment, magic, bravery and timeless love.

Fiona seems to have it all with a Swiss chateau, heiress to a prominent generations owned watch company, single mother to a precious daughter, a loving brother and Max; who hopes one day he and Fiona will be more than best friends.

But Fiona knows something is missing, broken in her. She loves Max but isn't in love with him...why? With an heirloom watch clutched to her heart she falls asleep into a dream, a dream that feels real. Her husband Aaron, and two children, on an idyllic island should be a respite but all is not perfect there either. Well one thing is perfect...Aaron.

Voice actress Shakira Shute broke me, not just with Fiona's pain but Aaron's aching vulnerability, his confusion and his unconditional love.

I was wrong at every turn of where this genius writer was taking me. From the beginning to the full circle end I was left in wonder and awe. Part of The Ghosted series, it's very much a standalone and it stands alone Fated to be a romance classic.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.75⭐️

“You feel it. It’s real. “

If I am 💯 honest it took me a while to get into my feels for this one, it was just hard to wrap my head around a pretend relationship at first. But this dream life was beautifully written and it slowly like Fi, it won me over. You just need to let yourself believe in magic.

I was given an ARC copy of this book and my opinions are my own.

This was my first Sarah Ready, but it won't be my last!

This is the 3rd book in a magical realism series, but it can easily be read alone.

If you're hesitant about picking up the audiobook, DON'T! Shakira Shute is DIVINE. I picked up the ebook in the last 15% and I missed her.

This is not your average, trope-filled love story -- I went in totally blind and there were several aspects that made me gasp. I loved the FMC, Fiona, and loved being in her head. It took a long time for her to figure everything out, but in no way was she dumb or blind.

I liked the MMC but wished we saw more of him -- there's a compliment in there somewhere -- instead of just being told about him. The ending wrapped up way too fast for me.

The secondary characters were real and unique and FUN -- I'm definitely going to go back and read Daniels book, the first in the series (though this book seems to take place before his chronologically). I loved how fleshed out the world was, how well-researched the locations and occupations and little details were. It made the book so long but interesting enough that I didn't care.

I'll be waiting anxiously for the next in the series!

(3.5 stars) I loved Switched, the second book in this series, so I was really looking forward to reading Fated. Unfortunately, I liked this one, but didn’t love it. In searching my mind for reasons, a couple came to mind: there was humor in Switched, but not in Fated; the beautiful descriptions of all the locations in the story were just that, beautiful, but after a while, I started skimming them.

Fiona is the CEO of Abry Watches in Geneva, Switzerland. She and her younger brother Daniel, run the company, which has been in their family for generations. She’s been hurt and abandoned by people she loved and has basically locked up her heart in order to not get hurt again.

One day, her flighty mother shows up out of the blue and gifts her a pocket watch that has been in the family for generations and is rumored to have magical powers. If you fall asleep holding it, you will dream about your deepest desires. Fiona tries it and winds up dreaming about a very different life, on a small tropical island, married to a very handsome man and with two children - one a young teen and the other a toddler. Not all is well in this paradise, however. Fiona wakes up back in Geneva but can’t stop thinking about her dream life.

I normally really enjoy magical realism but somehow this one just didn’t grab me. I felt the book went on a bit too long. Perhaps editing down some of those descriptions may have helped move the story along a bit better.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. I wound up doing more of the ebook so that I could skim those descriptions more easily. Also, while the narrator did a fine job, it sounded odd to have a British accent for someone who lived in French-speaking Geneva, Switzerland (even though her young years were in England). Not sure why this bothered me, but it did.

Note: The publisher labeled this as New Adult (along with Romance and Women’s Fiction), but I think that label is an error. The main characters are already in their mid-30s, not in their early 20s or so, which is how I think about the label New Adult.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

though ghosted remains my favorite in the series, fated is a lovely addition, focused on daniel's older sister, fiona, as she learns to let love and hope into her life again after being betrayed before.

3.5 ★

overworked and jaded, fiona is presented with a unique opportunity to chase the dreams she has yet to realize. during waking hours, she is a businesswoman, a single mother, a devoted sister and friend. but while she sleeps, equipped with a family heirloom, she is transported to a tropical aisle where she's married to a handsome, dedicated man and the couple share two children. though initially confused, fiona soon relishes the chance to learn lessons from the experience, to love a man she knows can't keep. fated is a romance unlike any other, including magical realism, time travel, and several potential love interests. however, it wasn't surprising to discover which gentleman earned her love given how incredible he was.

narrated by shakira shute, the audiobook was a great listen. she managed to make each main character unique despite how large the group was. this was a hefty story to bring to life and shakira proved to be a worthy choice.

as we neared the conclusion though, some (crucial) elements of the plot got muddled. there was a lot thrown at the wall with only about half of it adequately explained. the book was also probably a hundred or so pages too long. if some scenes were removed or condensed, it would have improved the overall experience.

thanks to swift & lewis publishing and sarah ready for an eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. while enjoying this read, I switched back and forth between formats.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very sweet romance that reminds us to live our lives and do what makes us happy while we can. I really enjoyed the concept of dreaming of your happy life and having it be real. I really enjoyed how great Fiona and Aaron were together. The happily ever after in this book was so sweet. The books in this series are just so sweet and great, feel good romances with a touch of magic in them.

First off, I liked the design of the cover and the title of the book and thought I’d give it a listen. I have never read this author before and was looking for something new. I started listening and entering the details into goodreads and became cautious as this was third in a series. But, I was hooked and figured I’ll have to listen to the first two and hope nothing is spoiled from reading out of order. And now that I’ve finished, I don’t care if anything is spoiled. This was such a great book. So many feelings that I had to stop what I was doing and fully engage into the book. I usually listen as I clean or other minimal tasks but there were moments I had to just stop, sit and listen. Absolutely loved this book.

Fiona Abry guards her heart. She loves her daughter, her brother and her best friend Max, but she's not open too love after being hurt. She's content working in her family's prestigious Swiss watchmaking business. But when her mother hands her a family heirloom watch that it's supposed to make you dream you truest desires, she throws caution to the wind and decides to give it a try. After all, it's only dreaming. 

But suddenly her nights are spent in another life away from Geneva: she's married to a wonderful man, has two kids and is living in a tiny tropical island in a colorful cottage on the beach.  Soon, the literal man of her dreams is making her feel things she's never had before, but what happens when you fall in love with a life that isn't real?

I'll try to be as vague as possible sharing my thoughts because you definitely want to go in knowing as little as possible. I loved all the previous books (this IS a true standalone. You do see Daniel from book 1 - he's Fi's brother - but the events here are previous to his story) and I was mesmerized and enchanted by this one. 

You see yourself trying to figure out how Fiona can get an HEA in all this and Sarah delivers a very satisfying one. I am also glad that the one she didn't pick will be getting his book soon!

Lyrical, extremely romantic (with very little spice, though) and even a little suspenseful, this is a must-read for fans of magical realism. If you loved the movies Somewhere in Time and The Glass House, you will love this story as much as I did.

Solo narration by Shakira Shutte, who is phenomenal! Her melodious voice brings all the emotion and whimsy of this story to your ears. Highly recommend the audiobook. 

Content notes: a character is shot on page. Mentions of death by drowning, natural disaster with multiple casualties, child abandonment, food insecurity, cheating 

Thank you, Sarah, Swift & Lewis Publishing and NetGalley for the book/audiobook.

love watches, especially Swiss ones, so I was immediately delighted to enter the glamorous world of Fiona and Daniel, two siblings in Geneva who run a watchmaking business. Fiona, a single mother, spends almost of all her time focused on

business. Broken-hearted by a past relationship with a married man, she doesn’t want to get hurt again. But when her hippie mother gives her the first watch that the company made and tells her that it will help her realise her dreams, she literally meets her dream man in her dreams!

It is not easy for her though because she dreams that she is called Becca and married to Aaron on a trophical island with a teenage daughter and that she is having an affair with Robert. Sarah Ready writes beautiful descriptions and manages to make this fantasy seem realistic.

Shakira Shute has a lovely, soothing English accent and reads in a crystal-clear voice, making the story come alive as she helps you pucture Fiona’s world.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was an enchanting journey that masterfully intertwines two parallel lives – one lived by day and another in dreams. This unique narrative captivated me, blending reality and fantasy seamlessly. The protagonist's dual existence kept me eagerly turning pages, curious to see how her two worlds would collide and complement each other. Additionally, the audio narration was spot-on, perfectly capturing the essence of the story and enhancing the overall experience. *Fated* is a must-read for anyone who loves a blend of romance, mystery, and the supernatural.

Book 3 of the Ghosted series, works as a stand alone

This book focuses on Fiona, who is Daniel's (from book 1) sister. She is a single mom and falls in love in her dreams.

I couldn't completely buy into this one. I had issues because Fiona has a daughter and Aaron has two kids. It felt like Fiona was cheating on her family- and with a married man. I will say that I am an extremely logical person, so getting hung up on these facts is not surprising to me. Most people can probably just enjoy the story, but my brain wouldn't go along with it.

I still enjoyed it- especially the ending. I just had a whole bunch of conflicting feelings during the middle.

Shakira Shute narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
Fiona Abry has her family's watch company that she loves, a daughter she adores, a wonderful brother, and an amazing best friend who is always there for her. But when her mother gifts her a magical watch that lets her discover and live out her secret dreams and desires while she sleeps, she starts to wonder if maybe she could still ask for more. Specifically romantic love. In her dreams, she finds herself living a completely different life, one of slow days and sunny beaches and a strange, handsome man and her own small family. And as the nights pass and she falls deeper into her dream, she also finds herself falling in love - with her dream life and the man at the center of it.
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I always like Sarah Ready. You can count on her for a good, easy, mostly closed-door romance. The central characters in this story are all so easy to root for. They are tender, kind, and family oriented. I will say the very beginning of the story gave be Beauty and the Beast or Anastasia vibes opening with a ball that a takes a turn for the dramatic. But it very quickly gets away from that feeling. It was quite jarring going between the worlds, but I know that was the point. There were various parts of this book that put me through the emotional wringer and I might have shed a tear or two, it was a beautiful story and I'm glad I read it! I am not normally a fan of slow burn so the overall pacing of the story is not my preference, but I do think it works for this story's premise. This book is very wordy. We spend the novel inside Fiona's head, and she has a LOT of inner tangents and monologues, so consider yourself warned. But I did enjoy getting more insight to the characters and the world, so I won't complain too much.

I read both the ebook and listened to the audiobook version of this novel, and I have to say that I prefered the audiobook. The narrator did a great job and since we spend so much time in our FMC's head listening to the book as if it was an inner dialogue make it even more fun!

Overall, I enjoyed this story. The romancewas so tender, and I really loved the platonic relationships throughout the book as well!

Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this e-book and audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I almost didn’t read this one.

I mean, I like the first one, but REALLY didn’t care for #2.

Number 3, however, caught my interest.

I liked the contrasting settings, and watching the MFC navigate her ‘Becca’ persona.

I was a little concerned about the author’s ability to achieve an HEA, but it ended well.

The author never really explains HOW in her books, so if you’re looking for the REAL in Magical Realism, look elsewhere.

I enjoyed the open-endedness of the whole thing, though, and how the end of the story was really just the beginning of their relationship.

Thanks to NetGalley, and Swift & Lewis Publishing for this original ARC.

Every time I see a new book is coming out by Sarah Ready I get so excited! I have been listening to her books the last few years and I have loved those books. Ghosted was by far my favorite book in this 3 book series. I don't know if I was in a mood this time but it was really hard for me to get into this book. Usually I'm pulled in right away. I didn't start connecting with this one until probably half way through. Even though I had a hard time with this one, I did enjoy it. The characters are well written. Shakira Shute narrated this story beautifully . I thought her voice was perfect for this story. I did love the concept of this book and the ending did have me smiling with how it all played out. I would recommend this book and all of her other books as well. Just because I had a slow start getting into it does not mean someone else will. So please give this a try.


Thank you NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to this ARC for my honest opinion.

Fated by: Sarah Ready

Stars: 4⭐️’s
Spice: 1 🌶️
Synopsis: Fiona has spent her life staying busy and focusing on everything but love. When she is gifted a family heirloom watch that is rumored to have the power to let you dream your greatest desire. Fiona’s once predictable life is thrown into chaos and big decisions. Fiona has to choose between her life as it is or the life of her dreams. And to be clear—her dreams are pretty great. Think hot tattooed stud with a swimmers body who loves her unconditionally, palm trees, the smell of tanning lotion and all the peace of an island life.

This story is a realistic setting with a bit of magical realism/time travel sprinkled in…that’s makes it extra fun! Oh and a fun little unexpected twist…
Pros: Sweet and unique story, hot tattooed man, enjoyable writing
Cons: somewhat predictable
Recommend: Absolutely yes, this is a fun read!

Thank you NetGalley, for the opportunity to read the title!

This book had it's ups and downs for me. Overall, I enjoyed the premise of the book and found that the I was invested in several parts of the story...especially towards the end. But, at the same time, I found the book to be too long, especially in the beginning. I was starting to question whether I was reading the right story since, for me, it didn't really start until at least chapter 6. I realize that some of that was necessary to set up the healing that comes from this story, but I would have preferred a more condensed version. That being said, Ms. Ready's writing is fabulous - it's like poetry. Her descriptions of characters and situations really painted a clear picture in my mind of what was going on. Of course, I enjoyed the love story very much and her characters were well detailed and likeable. This is the first book I've read by this author and I will definitely read others by her...maybe the first few of this series which, as I sometimes do, I skipped to read this one.

This story is one that I could see being made into a movie!

Fionna's life is busy, and she believes she has everything she needs. Fionna's mother, on the other hand, has decided that Fi (Fionna) needs to learn to dream again.

One day, her mother shows up with a family heirloom that claims it can help her dream again. The only thing Fi needs to do is go to sleep with the watch in her hand. In Fi's dreams, we meet a whole cast of characters that seem to have a life outside her subconscious.

This story is so beautiful in how it portrays heartache, longing, and love in a way we don't often get to see. Not only do we get to see romantic love, but also how platonic and sibling love is just as important as romantic love.

If you are looking for a book containing time travel, love, family, and suspense, this is the book you need to pick up!!!

Quotes I loved;
“The tears of regret hurt more than the tears of sorrow.” 
“Do you want love, or are you afraid of it?”
"I'm worried I am only capapble of loving in my dreams."