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A review by loverofromance
Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
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