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fallen_for_books30's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome book.Loved he concept..an emotional book for me..great characters and loved the romance between he character.
burchama's review against another edition
5.0
I thought about rating it a little lower, but realized that since I stayed up all night finishing it the book deserved an extra star for that.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Dream a Little Dream
4 Stars
After the loss of his wife and child, Gabe Bonner is only going through the motions of living. That is until Rachel Stone returns to Salvation, North Carolina desperate for a job to support her young son. Despite their rocky start, Rachel and Gabe find themselves inextricably drawn to one another, but can they overcome the traumas of the past to have a future together?
Series note: While books 1-3 can be read as standalones, book #4 is a direct continuation of #3 and as such the two should be read in order.
Rachel is a wonderful heroine. Her strength and resilience in the face of the townsfolk's scorn and shunning are admirable as is her determination to do anything necessary to ensure that her son has everything he needs and deserves.
While Gabe has all the making of an excellent tortured hero, there is one aspect of his character that proves very problematic, i.e., his biased attitude and harsh treatment of little Edward. Yes, it is understandable that the sweet little boy reminds Gabe of his dead son, but there are moments when his thoughts and behavior are simply unforgivable.
Another problematic issue is the overt Christian themes. While I have nothing against inspirational romance, the focus on God and religion is incongruent with the secular contemporary tone of the series thus far.
Despite the abovementioned problems, Dream a Little Dream is a lovely romance with engaging characters who come to life on the page. Make sure to have a box of Kleenex at the ready though because this is one SAD book.
4 Stars
After the loss of his wife and child, Gabe Bonner is only going through the motions of living. That is until Rachel Stone returns to Salvation, North Carolina desperate for a job to support her young son. Despite their rocky start, Rachel and Gabe find themselves inextricably drawn to one another, but can they overcome the traumas of the past to have a future together?
Series note: While books 1-3 can be read as standalones, book #4 is a direct continuation of #3 and as such the two should be read in order.
Rachel is a wonderful heroine. Her strength and resilience in the face of the townsfolk's scorn and shunning are admirable as is her determination to do anything necessary to ensure that her son has everything he needs and deserves.
While Gabe has all the making of an excellent tortured hero, there is one aspect of his character that proves very problematic, i.e., his biased attitude and harsh treatment of little Edward. Yes, it is understandable that the sweet little boy reminds Gabe of his dead son, but there are moments when his thoughts and behavior are simply unforgivable.
Another problematic issue is the overt Christian themes. While I have nothing against inspirational romance, the focus on God and religion is incongruent with the secular contemporary tone of the series thus far.
Despite the abovementioned problems, Dream a Little Dream is a lovely romance with engaging characters who come to life on the page. Make sure to have a box of Kleenex at the ready though because this is one SAD book.
ellie_klemm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
loverofromance's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: πππππ
Heart & Feels:πππππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: πππππ
Page Turner Level:πππππ
Narration:π§π§π§π§π§
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨β¨
First Impressions
Dream a Little Dream is the fourth installment in the "Chicago Stars" series and I absolutely had a blast with this one. My previous read had been such a hardship, so to jump into this one and be immediately entertained was the best feeling ever. I absolutely fell hard for this one and thi narrator really pulled me into the story right way. The first impressions into this story is that we have a small town setting, a character that is the pariah and some fabulous sexual tension due to the build up of our main characters being so opposite in personality from each other. There is also a side romance featuring the third brother Ethan so that was a plus because I was hoping we would see him get a HEA as well.
First Line
The last of Rachel Stone's luck ran out in front of the Pride of Carolina Drive-In.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Gabe Bonner
Widowed Gabe and tortured over the loss of his late wife and son in a car accident. A bit of a lone wolf, enjoys his suffering and doesn't feel he needs anyone but to be left alone.
The Heroine: Rachel Stone
Single mother, treated like a pariah due to the man she was married to. Determined to get a solid life for her son, no matter what it takes.
Summary
Rachel has come back to town with her five year old son. She was once married to a preacher who was a con man who is now dead. But she is to be blamed for his sins, sins that he kept from her most of their marriage. And now her son is a quiet boy who is still recovering from a bout of pneumonia and she has come back to find the hidden fortune her husband left here so she can get a life set up for herself and her son most especially. But they are living in her car and she needs to find a protector until she can locate what she needs. She then runs into Gabe Bonner, who is grumpy and doesn't want her or her son near, but he grudginly allows her to work for him and slowly sparks fly between them and something more builds. But Rachel doesn't plan on staying, but when she and her son find themselves finding a home in this little town, she is having to make a decision on the home they have built here and if her love for Gabe is worth fighting for...
What I Loved
This book....sigh...this one just delivered completely for me and gave me exactly what I needed. I was coming off a disappointed read and this book completely delivered all the way in what I needed. There is something about thi author's writing that is just catnip for me. I am not sure what it is, but I swear this is like romance drug to me that delivers such a high. The banter and chemistry that is mixed in together with the reads that this author writes packs quite a punch. I adored all the characters here. I loved the inner strength that we see from Rachel Stone. She has such courage to come to a place where she is so hated. But she still has some friends and this is where we see what makes a true Christian at heart. Phillips really handled the religious self righteousness just perfectly. I really enjoyed seeing that being implemented. I also couldn't get enough of her charming son. He is a bit quiet, but so devoted to his mother. You can see he has some growing to do and the author really showcases his growth and becoming such a bright child. Then we have our delectable grump of a hero. Now Gabe I had a blast with. He is a bit hard to like at the first of the story, but slowly, you fall in love with his character and how he is fighting for Rachel in the small monumental ways that matter the most. I love how even though he catches her in the worst of situations he believes in her more than anyone ever has. He is such a steady rock. The connection between Gabe and Rachel's son takes work and we see that "work" happen. This isn't a instant connection that we normally see in single parent small town books. We see that both Gabe and Edward have to work to build their relationship into what it needs to be and it takes faith and courage to do so.
Then we have the side romance between Kristy and Ethan and I had a blast with their sweet story. Its unrequited love a bit and so much pining from the heroine and seeing her fight for the love she has for Ethan and for Ethan to realize what has been under his nose all this time, was brilliant!
What I Struggled With
Some of the actions by Gabe in the beginning in how he treats Edward at times, but other than that I had zero issues with this story.
Narration
The narrator on this one is just right for this author. She really brings out the humor and tension just right and really brings out the personalities of characters just right.
Overall View
Dream a Little Dream is a charming, laugh your heart out, classic rom com that delivers heart and feels and has you never wanting to leave it is a priceless gem that I adored in every way!
Favorite Quote(s)
Who needs food? Your smile alone is enough to nourish me for weeks.β
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Character Types: Billionaire, Widow/Widower, Single Parent, Tortured Hero
Themes: Small Town, Kids, Angst
Tropes: Grumpy Sunshine, Opposites Attract, Rags to Riches
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A mix of both
Song This Book Inspires
Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as standlones if needed
Steam/Spice Explanations
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Narrators:
Anna Fields
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: πππππ
Heart & Feels:πππππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: πππππ
Page Turner Level:πππππ
Narration:π§π§π§π§π§
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨β¨
First Impressions
Dream a Little Dream is the fourth installment in the "Chicago Stars" series and I absolutely had a blast with this one. My previous read had been such a hardship, so to jump into this one and be immediately entertained was the best feeling ever. I absolutely fell hard for this one and thi narrator really pulled me into the story right way. The first impressions into this story is that we have a small town setting, a character that is the pariah and some fabulous sexual tension due to the build up of our main characters being so opposite in personality from each other. There is also a side romance featuring the third brother Ethan so that was a plus because I was hoping we would see him get a HEA as well.
First Line
The last of Rachel Stone's luck ran out in front of the Pride of Carolina Drive-In.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Gabe Bonner
Widowed Gabe and tortured over the loss of his late wife and son in a car accident. A bit of a lone wolf, enjoys his suffering and doesn't feel he needs anyone but to be left alone.
The Heroine: Rachel Stone
Single mother, treated like a pariah due to the man she was married to. Determined to get a solid life for her son, no matter what it takes.
Summary
Rachel has come back to town with her five year old son. She was once married to a preacher who was a con man who is now dead. But she is to be blamed for his sins, sins that he kept from her most of their marriage. And now her son is a quiet boy who is still recovering from a bout of pneumonia and she has come back to find the hidden fortune her husband left here so she can get a life set up for herself and her son most especially. But they are living in her car and she needs to find a protector until she can locate what she needs. She then runs into Gabe Bonner, who is grumpy and doesn't want her or her son near, but he grudginly allows her to work for him and slowly sparks fly between them and something more builds. But Rachel doesn't plan on staying, but when she and her son find themselves finding a home in this little town, she is having to make a decision on the home they have built here and if her love for Gabe is worth fighting for...
What I Loved
This book....sigh...this one just delivered completely for me and gave me exactly what I needed. I was coming off a disappointed read and this book completely delivered all the way in what I needed. There is something about thi author's writing that is just catnip for me. I am not sure what it is, but I swear this is like romance drug to me that delivers such a high. The banter and chemistry that is mixed in together with the reads that this author writes packs quite a punch. I adored all the characters here. I loved the inner strength that we see from Rachel Stone. She has such courage to come to a place where she is so hated. But she still has some friends and this is where we see what makes a true Christian at heart. Phillips really handled the religious self righteousness just perfectly. I really enjoyed seeing that being implemented. I also couldn't get enough of her charming son. He is a bit quiet, but so devoted to his mother. You can see he has some growing to do and the author really showcases his growth and becoming such a bright child. Then we have our delectable grump of a hero. Now Gabe I had a blast with. He is a bit hard to like at the first of the story, but slowly, you fall in love with his character and how he is fighting for Rachel in the small monumental ways that matter the most. I love how even though he catches her in the worst of situations he believes in her more than anyone ever has. He is such a steady rock. The connection between Gabe and Rachel's son takes work and we see that "work" happen. This isn't a instant connection that we normally see in single parent small town books. We see that both Gabe and Edward have to work to build their relationship into what it needs to be and it takes faith and courage to do so.
Then we have the side romance between Kristy and Ethan and I had a blast with their sweet story. Its unrequited love a bit and so much pining from the heroine and seeing her fight for the love she has for Ethan and for Ethan to realize what has been under his nose all this time, was brilliant!
What I Struggled With
Some of the actions by Gabe in the beginning in how he treats Edward at times, but other than that I had zero issues with this story.
Narration
The narrator on this one is just right for this author. She really brings out the humor and tension just right and really brings out the personalities of characters just right.
Overall View
Dream a Little Dream is a charming, laugh your heart out, classic rom com that delivers heart and feels and has you never wanting to leave it is a priceless gem that I adored in every way!
Favorite Quote(s)
Who needs food? Your smile alone is enough to nourish me for weeks.β
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Character Types: Billionaire, Widow/Widower, Single Parent, Tortured Hero
Themes: Small Town, Kids, Angst
Tropes: Grumpy Sunshine, Opposites Attract, Rags to Riches
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A mix of both
Song This Book Inspires
Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as standlones if needed
Steam/Spice Explanations
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Narrators:
Anna Fields
dgignac's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. However, be warned that this book has a much more serious tone to it compared to most romance novels. Again I liked having the two different romances in the one book. The children also added a lot to the storyline.
nienkef's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
noura_rizk's review against another edition
3.0
Only for the end. I, contrary to some reviews about this book and the pervious book, I loved the previous book and I didn't like this book very much.
opheliabedilia's review against another edition
2.0
There were things I quite liked about this at the beginning. I liked Rachel's grit in the face of truly terrible circumstances. I liked how, at the beginning, she would do anything she could to protect her child. But Gabe was insufferable from beginning to end. Yes, he was mired in an awful grief. I get that. But he took his grief over his deceased five year old out on a living five year old. And once Rachel got in a relationship with him, she failed to protect her son from that. At that point I lost sympathy for both of them. And the turnabout at the end was too fast, too unbelievable, and came with not nearly enough apologizing. Although frankly there's no amount of apologizing that could get me to forgive a man who .
Also, his brothers were terrible. One was less terrible than the other, but that's not saying much. Supposedly they were all a big happy family and the brothers were just protective, but they expressed that protectiveness by being awful to a woman in horrible circumstances and refusing to look beyond what they thought they knew of her. The one redeeming trait they both had was that they, at least, were kind to the little boy. Apparently one of them has his own book, but I have no desire to read about him, especially given that his book came before this one in the series, meaning he will have already had whatever redemption arc he is ever going to have, and still turned out like this. Not one of these three brothers comes anywhere near deserving the women they end up having. It's annoying.
Spoiler
hit my childAlso, his brothers were terrible. One was less terrible than the other, but that's not saying much. Supposedly they were all a big happy family and the brothers were just protective, but they expressed that protectiveness by being awful to a woman in horrible circumstances and refusing to look beyond what they thought they knew of her. The one redeeming trait they both had was that they, at least, were kind to the little boy. Apparently one of them has his own book, but I have no desire to read about him, especially given that his book came before this one in the series, meaning he will have already had whatever redemption arc he is ever going to have, and still turned out like this. Not one of these three brothers comes anywhere near deserving the women they end up having. It's annoying.
michellesantiago's review against another edition
4.0
I'm glad I read this. I wasn't terribly excited about it because I just read it to get to This Heart of Mine, but it ended up being quite good. I liked all the characters, and I was happy to see Cal and Jane again (even though Cal acted like a total jerk to Rachel, the heroine).
As always, while I connected to the heroine right away (like in other SEP books), it took me a bit to warm up to the hero (like in other SEP books). I understood why Gabe was stand-offish and gruff though (he was still mourning over his wife and son's deaths).
One of the best parts of the novel was Rachel's son Edward. I'm a sucker for cute little kids in books, and Edward was the sweetest.
As always, while I connected to the heroine right away (like in other SEP books), it took me a bit to warm up to the hero (like in other SEP books). I understood why Gabe was stand-offish and gruff though (he was still mourning over his wife and son's deaths).
One of the best parts of the novel was Rachel's son Edward. I'm a sucker for cute little kids in books, and Edward was the sweetest.