Once Upon a Dream (The Once Upon Series)

The four ladies who brought us Once upon a Castle and Once upon a Star are at it again with this latest anthology, Once upon a Dream. These stories revolve around the magic and dreams that draw our heroes and heroines together. At best, such as in Ruth Ryan Langan's "The Enchantment," the fantasy elements are naturally integrated into what is a fundamentally strong plot, and they help to emphasize the main romantic dilemma. At worst, the magical dreams start to feel a little bit like a Brigadoon plot device, and distract us from the characters. Even so, Once upon a Dream makes a nifty stocking stuffer, or an antidote to a slow weekend. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien