Member Reviews

I absolutely LOVED this book. It's incredibly captivating. I was more and more enthralled the more I read. This was so beautifully written, so magical, and such a great read!

I didn't know how this was gonna end until the last minute, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this as well as listening to the audiobook.

I see myself reading this again, that's how much I loved it.

You really feel the emotions and predicaments of Fiona as if you're in the same situations. Her emotions and her traumas are incredibly relatable. I love how descriptive the writing was, you are able to truly picture the scenes as if you're in them. Such incredible writing!

Beyond grateful to have been given this ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book in both eBook and Audiobook versions to read & listen to for a review. I look forward to reading more by Sarah.

Thank you so much to Net Galley, Sarah Ready, Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Members' Audiobooks.

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I really enjoyed this book! This was such a unique storyline and I felt that it was done so well! The pacing was perfect, and even though Fiona is only seeing Aaron in her dreams, the author made it feel SO real! Overall, I had such a good time with this story.

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Fated, the third in Sarah Ready’s Ghosted series is a quick, frothy rom com (to be fair, not a lot of Com but plenty of Rom) with a touch of magic. I do enjoy Sarah Ready’s brand of romance.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank You NetGalley for the ARC. This book was ok, if you like magical realism you will enjoy it. The current aspect of her life left me a bit confused and I couldn’t follow it thoroughly. I have not read the other books in the series so I’m unsure if that had anything to do with me not fully understanding the current parts.

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Fated by Sarah Ready is a captivating and dreamy love story, only enhanced by the touch of magical realism. It touched on ideas of self-discovery, and how our dreams and reality often war with each other to shape us.

I felt particularly drawn to the idea of a 'real' dreaming work and resonated with Fi's character. It's often a lot easier for us to take big leaps in our dreams and fantasies, but we're often cautious to do so in real life; I loved the idea of our dreaming being as real as our waking lives and if we would be as bold then, if we knew.

The start was a little slow but as the story picked up I was really swept into it.

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after several attempts at trying to read the digital copy of books from this author i requested the audio but it still did not resonate with me. I just do not like the writing style that the author uses. I believe that the books will and mostly likely are well loved but unfortunately i just cannot get through a book by this author.

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I loved Ghost series and I was thrilled to receive ALC for Fated, the third book in the series. Highly recommend reading through audiobook! The narration was spot on and was so emotive, it felt like the main character was right beside me, sharing their joys and sorrows, bringing each moment to life with such sincerity and depth. It completely tugged at my heartstrings that resonated deeply with me. It's one of those stories that grabs hold of your heart and doesn't let go.

The plot was beautifully crafted, with twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish. It delved into themes of love, friendship, and resilience in such a raw and touching way. There were moments that made me laugh out loud and others that brought tears to my eyes.

Overall, this audiobook was a rollercoaster of emotions in the best possible way. It's stayed with me long after I finished listening, and I find myself recommending it to everyone I know who loves a good story that touches the soul. If you're in the mood for something that will make you feel deeply and leave you thinking, give this audiobook a listen, it won't disappoint!

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Author: Sarah Ready
Series: Ghosted # 3
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Shakire Shute
Publisher: Swift and Lewis Publishing LLC ~ Member of the ‘Independent Book Publishers Association’ (IBPA)
Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: July 16, 2024
My Rating: 3.7 rounded up
Pages: 437

Although I am not a big romance fan, I am A Sarah Ready fan and this is my seventh novel.
My favorites were "Josh and Gemma Make a Baby" as well as "Josh and Gemma Second Time Around" which were laugh-at-loud and such fun reads. Also liked " The Space Between|" and " French Holiday" - So YES! I do love Sarah Ready’s stories.
This is Book #3 in the Ghosted series. I read the other two which were okay but since I enjoyed Josh and Gemma so much I was hopeful this series might be as humorous.

In this story we follows Fiona, Daniel’s sister, and Aaron, a mysterious man she encounters in her dreams.
Yes Fiona meets the man of her dreams in her dreams.

Fiona Abry is the CEO of Abry Watch Conpany; a family owned Swiss watch company she and Daniel inherited from their late father. Fiona closed herself off from love after being abandoned by people she trusted the most. When Fiona’s mom gives her a family heirloom that has been missing years ago and tells her that not only did she steal the watch but that it can make dreams come true and show what your heart’s desire. Fiona’s But then she’s given a family heirloom rumored to let you dream your greatest desire.

In her dream, Fiona is on a tiny tropical island. She is with a man named Aaron who turns out to be her husband – they have two children Shawn a toddler and Amy fourteen and live in a cottage on the beach.

This dream life is so different from her busy life - Fiona decides to live her dreams to the fullest.
I have always been fascinated with dreams. This story is different than the other two in this series and I actually liked it the best.

Fiona takes the lead in this story but I sure we will be hearing more from the other regulars in the next story!

Want to thank NetGalley and Swift and Lewis Publishing LLC - Member of the ‘Independent Book Publishers Association’ (IBPA) for granted me this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 16, 2024.

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This was my second book by the author, I read the second in this series first and then this one. I'm pretty sure they can be right out of order because they don't seem to go together? I was really into the story, I am a very vivid dreamer. I got about halfway through or so when the audiobook version just stopped and went back to the main page. This happened with another audiobook I was listening to, but kept going up in chapters and eventually found one that started to play. This one did not. I will definitely be getting the audio for this when it comes out because I want to finish the story. And from what I read so far I would give it a four-star. I'm dying to know what happens, I just wish the audiobooks wouldn't have this glitch.

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I have enjoyed all of this series so far with each having a different type of magicalism in the story. This one is almost like sliding door with Fiona living as a single mom in Geneva and Becca on a small island with her family. The story is told in both state and her relationships in these places. I liked how Fiona gets to know herself better in both places. All the characters were well developed and I enjoyed how the story ended. The only thing I missed was why Becca/Aaron married and stayed together. I sort of wished we got to see a bit of Becca - she seemed like a self centered person and we really don't know anything about her.

Shakira Shute did a great job with the narration and bringing Fiona to life.

Thank you the publisher for a copy of the book.

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I adore magical realism in romance, and having already read Ghosted and Switched, I knew that I could trust Sarah Ready to keep me on tenterhooks with this one too. This follows Fiona, who is sister to Daniel, the MMC from Ghosted, in a timeline that's prior to his story. The book kept me hooked and wondering how everything was going to resolve itself, but there were a few points that stuck out that made it difficult to completely suspend my disbelief.

1. Why does everyone on an island in the Caribbean speak with a British accent? Is this a narrator issue/choice? It took me out.

2. I hardly knew what anyone other than Fiona and her alter-ego, Becca, looked like. We really didn't get enough descriptions.

3. It felt too weird that when Fiona went to the island in her dreams, she was essentially taking over someone else's life and making choices for them. Ultimately Becca wasn't a good person so it's a little easier to take that Fiona is trying to make better decisions, but it still feels like an odd case of taking over someone's autonomy.

At one point Fated made me think of the film Inception--was Fiona slipping so far into her dream world that it was becoming an addiction for her? It was something she didn't seem to want to leave--and yet she had people she loved in her real life, including her daughter. I felt quite conflicted.

One might argue that many romance novels published lately are "all the same" and in that manner, this book absolutely sticks out as unique. I appreciated the love story and the range of emotions Sarah Ready took me through to get me to their happily ever after.

Thank you to Swift and Lewis Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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While this book wasn’t for me I think for people who have read the others in the series they will really enjoy it.

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Sarah Ready did it again. I normally don't like paranormal romances, but this whole series is amazing. I listened to the audiobook, and it is exceptionally well done. I recommend reading the other books first, but this is a complete stand-alone.
This is the story of Fiona. She is a hard-working single mom who is the CEO of a famous luxury watch brand. She has been hurt and is therefore completely closed off from love. She is scared to love but does want it. Her mom gives her a family watch that is supposed to let you dream your heart's desire. What ensues is a beautifully told story of life and love in all forms. I love the side characters, especially Amy. I don't want to spoil anything, but I really cannot recommend this enough. Get it now!

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Third in a wonderfully entertaining series, that I have experienced in audiobook form. This story is a little more subdued, more fairytale than laugh out loud romcom. But no less satisfying, and there is still humour. The story revolves around dreams, and this is a dream to listen to. Stretching the heart strings, hoping for that perfect fairytale ending. But that isn’t certain, as dreams are just that - dreams. Or are they? Thank you to Swift and Lewis Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing for the opportunity to read and review. Scheduled to release mid July, I cannot wait to buy and have in my own library.

3rd in a series, these are all stand alone books, and I had personally never read anything else by the author.

This book will rip your heart out, make you ugly cry and yet you will still want to read it again.

Fiona, a busy woman running her father's watch making legacy has it pretty good. We are introduced to her daughter, a best friend Max, who would like to be more and the perfect brother Daniel, her partner in the watch making business.

Fiona's estranged mother shows up unexpectedly after a frightful accident and bestows her father's first watch upon her. This heirloom is rumored to have magical capabilities, but Fiona and the reader are skeptical. This is a story from her mother after all, a woman named Buttercup.

Then, bam- Fiona wakes up in a new life. She and the reader are totally confused, where is she and who is this man claiming to be her husband?

The rest just must be read, you will fall in love with this dream life, this version of Fiona and even the landscape which she is living in.

Be prepared to suspend disbelief during your time with this book, it's worth it and the payoff is amazing.

My best advice: bring tissues.

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Another 5 star read for June?? THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH

Christmas time has never been the same since Fiona Abrys was shot at an event. Even with the ongoing support from her daughter, her best friend Max, and her family, the PTSD can often be too much for her to handle.

When her mother gives her a pocket watch as a gift that apparently allows you to dream whatever you desire, she’s tossed into a world as a completely different person. Living as a wife with two kids on a beach island who is also having an affair with her husband’s best friend is… a tad mind boggling to say the least. Although the woman whose life she’s living doesn’t want to be with her husband, Fi begins to fall deeply in love with him when she’s in her dreamland.

If you’re the type of person to take someone’s word on a book, PUHLEASE… take my word for it. This book was absolutely amazing and at no flipping point was I like ohhhh yeahhhhh you’re gonna cry like a little baby. Nope. Full blown tears. I LOVEDDDDDDD this book. I have nothing else to say. I loved it.

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I do not know what is was about this book but I absolutely loved it! I felt as though I was in Geneva with Daniel, Max, Fiona and her daughter. The family they built together was so special considering the unfortunate circumstances. Max and Fiona's friendship is so special. Daniel is hands down the best brother. Ready wrote this creative story and the narrator brought it to life in a way that I felt as though I was a part of the novel. Shakira Shute's narration kept me captivated from the first word.

When Fiona sleeps she goes to an Island where she lives a completely different life than her very busy one in Geneva. It is slow paced and she is married to a wonderful man, Aaron. He is accurately a dream man. The book kept me guessing what was really going on and I, along with Fiona, was falling for this dream man. By Chapter 42 I was a blubbering mess having become so attached to all of these characters. I enjoyed this book from the very beginning to the last word spoken. This story will forever hold a special place in my heart!

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“She meets the man of her dreams in her dreams.” What a dynamic summary of this book-borrowed from the author, of course! I listened to this book after not knowing much of the premise and was surprised at how much the story captured me. Fiona, a busy single mother and entrepreneur who isn’t quite happy with her current life, is given a family heirloom, a watch, that allows dreams of what you might be missing in your life. As she dreams, she is transported to another life with a husband and family. The magical realism plays out beautifully and is so immersive, and you just want to find out if Fiona’s dream can become reality. There are many amazing one line quotes, but I fell for this one in particular: “He is the tide that washed over me and opened me to all the good that love can bring.” This is the third book in the series but can be very much a stand-alone. The narrator’s voice was captivating and emotional and added to the experience of this book. A special nod to the spectacular cover design with the colors! The world’s colliding! The characters!

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This book was lovely, heart wrenching, real, and had you rooting for the 2 kind and wonderfull protagonists fated to be together.

We have Fi, a smart single mom based out in zurich, but very deeply hurt so she does not open herself to love. We have Aaron, an island boy, with a wife of 15 years and 2 kids. His marriage is on the rocks and his wife is duplicitous and selfish.

Fi is given a magic watch that enables her to live her dreams. Suddenly she is Becca on this island having a relaxed life, with a wonderful husband, 2 cute kids and a close knit island family. Fi and Aaron start falling in love, but the clock is ticking down and the inevitable heart wrenching break happens. Towards the final part of the book, the pace really picks up and through a series of time shifts and events, Fi finally finds a path to live her dreams.

An emotional tug of war, that was engaging and narrated very well. You could hear the tension, the passion and the love.

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This was my first book by Sarah Ready and I will definitely be reading more!

I was sure what to expect during the first few chapters, but I found Fiona’s storyline to be raw and honest. She is trying to heal, physically and emotionally, and open herself up to trust and love again. I felt that the contrast of the two main settings spoke to the cautious but beautiful love story that grew between Fi and Aaron. I could feel the chemistry between them and I loved how Ready involves the concept of time and the watch to navigate the plot line.

Fiona meets the man of her dreams, in her dreams. This was a beautiful story that really amped up towards the last quarter of the book. Dive into this book, you won’t regret it!

A special thank you to Shakira Shute for bringing the characters to life.

I’m so thankful to #NetGalley, Sarah Ready and Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC. #Fated

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