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Chicago Stars #4
Dream a Little Dream
A Desperate Young Mother
Rachel Stone's bad luck has taken a turn for the worse. With an empty wallet, a car's that's spilling smoke, and a five-year-old son to support, she's come home to a town that hates her. But this determined young widow with a scandalous past has learned how to be a fighter. And she'll do anything to keep her child safe—even take on...
A Man With No Heart
Gabe Bonner wants to be left alone, especially by the beautiful outcast who's invaded his property. She has a ton of attitude, a talent for trouble, and a child who brings back bad memories. Yet Rachel's feisty spirit might just be heaven-sent to save a tough, stubborn man.
Dare To Dream
Welcome to Salvation, North Carolina—where a man who's forgotten what tenderness means meets a woman with nothing to lose. here two endearing lovers will set off on a funny, touching journey of the heart... to a place where dreams just might come true.
Rachel Stone's bad luck has taken a turn for the worse. With an empty wallet, a car's that's spilling smoke, and a five-year-old son to support, she's come home to a town that hates her. But this determined young widow with a scandalous past has learned how to be a fighter. And she'll do anything to keep her child safe—even take on...
A Man With No Heart
Gabe Bonner wants to be left alone, especially by the beautiful outcast who's invaded his property. She has a ton of attitude, a talent for trouble, and a child who brings back bad memories. Yet Rachel's feisty spirit might just be heaven-sent to save a tough, stubborn man.
Dare To Dream
Welcome to Salvation, North Carolina—where a man who's forgotten what tenderness means meets a woman with nothing to lose. here two endearing lovers will set off on a funny, touching journey of the heart... to a place where dreams just might come true.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1998
595 people are currently reading
10697 people want to read
About the author
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
65books15.6kfollowersSUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,696 reviews
August 3, 2020
5 FAT Stars!
I basically stepped on a landmine here. You see, I’m scared of books where the hero is pining after his ex. But a dead ex AND a dead child? A nightmare.
After reading I just one-clicked this one and dove in. It turns out it’s a good thing I didn’t read the blurb. Had I read it, I wouldn’t have discovered this outstanding book. Not only did the subject matter NOT bother me at all, but it actually blew me away.
I won’t say more about this book except for two things:
1. I loved every word and adored every character: Gabe’s assholeness and crankiness, Rachel’s free spirit, optimism and strength (even her ridiculous oxfords and ugly housedresses), Edward’s innocence and fragileness, Ethan’s ignorance, Kristy’s shyness and lack of confidence, Jane’s genius, Cal’s impulsiveness and Rosie’s cuteness.
2. It took me longer than usual to read this book but not for the reasons you might think. Let’s just say that reading this book can be compared to eating the world’s finest chocolate cake.
Imagine that you are enjoying achocolate cake book so much that you don't want it to ever end. To your horror, you suddenly realize it will soon be over...
What do you do?
You decide toeat read only a piece forty pages or so a day so that you can savor each piece word slowly and possessively and prolong the enjoyment for as long as possible.
If you haven’t tried this author yet, I highly recommend doing it soon. I'm ashamed to admit, but I always thought her books were nothing more than cliché and sappy chick lit stories because of their unappealing covers. The truth is, however, Susan Elizabeth Phillips is an amazing character developer and unique story teller.
QUICK REVIEW:
Enjoyment:: 5/5
Writing style: 5/5
Storyline: 5/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 5/5
Secondary characters: 5/5
Hotness/chemistry: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Angst: 3/5
Darkness level: 3/5
Humor: 4/5
Depth of the book: 5/5
POV: multiple, 3rd person
Triggers:
I basically stepped on a landmine here. You see, I’m scared of books where the hero is pining after his ex. But a dead ex AND a dead child? A nightmare.
After reading I just one-clicked this one and dove in. It turns out it’s a good thing I didn’t read the blurb. Had I read it, I wouldn’t have discovered this outstanding book. Not only did the subject matter NOT bother me at all, but it actually blew me away.
I won’t say more about this book except for two things:
1. I loved every word and adored every character: Gabe’s assholeness and crankiness, Rachel’s free spirit, optimism and strength (even her ridiculous oxfords and ugly housedresses), Edward’s innocence and fragileness, Ethan’s ignorance, Kristy’s shyness and lack of confidence, Jane’s genius, Cal’s impulsiveness and Rosie’s cuteness.
2. It took me longer than usual to read this book but not for the reasons you might think. Let’s just say that reading this book can be compared to eating the world’s finest chocolate cake.
Imagine that you are enjoying a
What do you do?
You decide to
If you haven’t tried this author yet, I highly recommend doing it soon. I'm ashamed to admit, but I always thought her books were nothing more than cliché and sappy chick lit stories because of their unappealing covers. The truth is, however, Susan Elizabeth Phillips is an amazing character developer and unique story teller.
QUICK REVIEW:
Enjoyment:: 5/5
Writing style: 5/5
Storyline: 5/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 5/5
Secondary characters: 5/5
Hotness/chemistry: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Angst: 3/5
Darkness level: 3/5
Humor: 4/5
Depth of the book: 5/5
POV: multiple, 3rd person
Triggers:
May 25, 2019
Five Heartache Mountain Stars.
This is my third time reading this book. I loved it .... again. It is truly heartbreaking. Edward, bless his five year old heart will steal your own heart away. I adored him.
Rachel, what a strong, brave heroine.
Gabe, Gabe, Gabe ...
Although this is part of a series, I really think it can be read as a standalone. It was great to catch up with Cal and Jane again.
This is my third time reading this book. I loved it .... again. It is truly heartbreaking. Edward, bless his five year old heart will steal your own heart away. I adored him.
Rachel, what a strong, brave heroine.
Pain sliced through him. He'd been numb inside, just the way he wanted it but the two of them were cutting him open all over again ...
Gabe, Gabe, Gabe ...
Although this is part of a series, I really think it can be read as a standalone. It was great to catch up with Cal and Jane again.
"Horse isn't the kind of thing a kid forgets about."
Annie's cottage ...
May 24, 2020
There is no surprise here that I loved this audio book! ❤️ And it is safe to say that I loved listening to it just a bit more than sitting and reading it. The narrator Anna Fields did a fabulous job bringing these characters to life.
My original review is below so I won't go on about the story other than to say it was AMAZING. As were the characters; Rachel Stone, Gabe Bonner and the ever so sweet Edward. ❤️
If you loved reading this series do yourself a favor and listen to a few. You will not be disappointed!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I am finding by reading this series back to back I am running out of creative opening lines for my reviews. So I guess I will go back to the basics. Simply put, I loved this book. I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips writing. I love her creativity. With each one of these books she gives you a little ‘something� that makes the story special.
In Dream a Little Dream that ‘something� was the sweetest little 5 year old boy who stole my heart within minutes of starting the book. For me Edward was at the heart of this story. He was the precious son of Rachel Stone’s and the little boy that would help mend Gabriel Bonner’s heart.
There was more sadness in this one than in the others. It surrounded Rachel, Gabe and even Edward. But along with the sadness there was hope. There was a bit of humor. And then there was that thread of need and desire.
Rachel Stone~ was a fighter. I loved the beauty within her. Rachel had chosen a life that at the time she thought would make her happy, a life that would be fulfilling. But soon she was stripped of everything. Her ex-husband was a crook, hated by all and she was left fighting for her future and that of her little boy.
Gabe Bonner~ had lost all that was precious to him. He had such a sad soul and he was living a life that he truly didn’t care much about. It didn’t matter that he had a caring family. He struggled to get past his heartache.
Things were not easy for both Gabe and Rachel. Both of them had their own struggles. It wasn’t always apparent but each of them was giving the other a little bit of hope. My heart broke for both of them.
Rachel was the first to realize that in his own way Gabe, was adding a little happiness to her life. But she also had Edward to think about. He was the most important person in her life. His future would always come first.
And even though something seemed to settle within Gabe he was limited to what he could offer Rachel and Edward. She saw things within him that he wasn’t sure he could change.
There is a saying, “Love is patient, Love is kind…�.Love never fails. Thank goodness for that. And thank goodness for Edward. He was an angel.
This was such a wonderful story. It certainly was one that filled my heart to the brim. And I will steal a line from my sweet friend Karen’s review. “Romance books don’t get any better than this.�
May 30, 2017
I swear, books in this series are getting better and better. Every next one I start I am like, wow! this is the best! And then I go to the next one and want to say the same thing about it. To be fair I have to say all of them are amazing. I can't believe it took me so long to start reading this series.
It's a classic contemporary romance at its best. The story, characters, angst and all the feels... so wonderful. Everything perfect and so well written. I recommend to all of you who love good love story!
It's a classic contemporary romance at its best. The story, characters, angst and all the feels... so wonderful. Everything perfect and so well written. I recommend to all of you who love good love story!
![Profile Image for Carol [ŷ Addict].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1626057011i%2F10717098._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
March 8, 2023
Dream a Little Dream is book four in the Chicago Stars series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I adore this series. Over a long period of time, I have been working my way through it, and have read the books in random order. We met Cal Bonner in the previous book, Nobody’s Baby But Mine. Cal is the oldest of the three Bonner brothers. This book’s main character is his younger brother, Gabe but we also get an additional love story with their other brother, Ethan. Which made this book even more amazing.
Two years previous, Gabe Bonner had suffered indescribable loss when his wife and young son were killed in an auto accident. Gabe lost himself in his grief and left Salvation, North Carolina for some time. But his brothers found him and finally brought him home. Now, Gabe is a shell of the man he used to be, an angry, scowling man who barely exists. He used to be a veterinarian but has now purchased the dilapidated Pride of Carolina Drive-In and is restoring it. Is this a project of his heart? No! More like something to keep him busy.
The last place Rachel Stone ever wanted to return to was Salvation. She’s sure there won’t be a single person in that town that wants her there. But there is something she needs to find here before she can move on and try to make a life for her and her five year old son, Edward. When her car finally died in front of the old drive-in, and she saw the help wanted sign on the ticket booth, she thought maybe her luck was changing. Only the growly owner wanted nothing to do with her and turned her away. But Rachel doesn’t give in easily.
You will never meet a more determined woman than Rachel. And her little boy broke my heart. A boy that has suffered so much in his short years. Rachel will provide for her son no matter what the cost to her. But even with all the awful things life has thrown Rachel and Edward’s way, do you think it made her meek or cowardly? No, No and No! She had trouble containing her snark when it came to Gabe. There were times she wished she could hold back her words but he always seemed to push her buttons.
Gabe just wanted to be alone but it seemed he was stuck with this aggravating woman. She challenged him constantly, kept him on his toes. He had to respect her for that. She somehow seemed to look into his soul and know what he was feeling. He knew she had no one and even though he didn’t want to care, he couldn’t help himself and wanted to help her.
This book! There was also a bit of suspense and danger as someone in the town takes their revenge against Rachel a little too far. She is truly the bravest woman I have ever read about and Gabe, although he frustrated me, also made my heart hurt for him. Together, these two were perfect but it took them awhile to figure that out. I believe this might now be my favorite book of the series. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what happened next.
I believe we are now finished with the Bonner family in the series which makes me sad. The next book in the series is book five, This Heart of Mine. But I told you earlier that I have read this series out of order so I have already read this book so for me, the next book will be book six, Match Me If You Can. No matter what order you read the books in, believe me when I say that you need this series in your life.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
Two years previous, Gabe Bonner had suffered indescribable loss when his wife and young son were killed in an auto accident. Gabe lost himself in his grief and left Salvation, North Carolina for some time. But his brothers found him and finally brought him home. Now, Gabe is a shell of the man he used to be, an angry, scowling man who barely exists. He used to be a veterinarian but has now purchased the dilapidated Pride of Carolina Drive-In and is restoring it. Is this a project of his heart? No! More like something to keep him busy.
The last place Rachel Stone ever wanted to return to was Salvation. She’s sure there won’t be a single person in that town that wants her there. But there is something she needs to find here before she can move on and try to make a life for her and her five year old son, Edward. When her car finally died in front of the old drive-in, and she saw the help wanted sign on the ticket booth, she thought maybe her luck was changing. Only the growly owner wanted nothing to do with her and turned her away. But Rachel doesn’t give in easily.
You will never meet a more determined woman than Rachel. And her little boy broke my heart. A boy that has suffered so much in his short years. Rachel will provide for her son no matter what the cost to her. But even with all the awful things life has thrown Rachel and Edward’s way, do you think it made her meek or cowardly? No, No and No! She had trouble containing her snark when it came to Gabe. There were times she wished she could hold back her words but he always seemed to push her buttons.
Gabe just wanted to be alone but it seemed he was stuck with this aggravating woman. She challenged him constantly, kept him on his toes. He had to respect her for that. She somehow seemed to look into his soul and know what he was feeling. He knew she had no one and even though he didn’t want to care, he couldn’t help himself and wanted to help her.
This book! There was also a bit of suspense and danger as someone in the town takes their revenge against Rachel a little too far. She is truly the bravest woman I have ever read about and Gabe, although he frustrated me, also made my heart hurt for him. Together, these two were perfect but it took them awhile to figure that out. I believe this might now be my favorite book of the series. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what happened next.
I believe we are now finished with the Bonner family in the series which makes me sad. The next book in the series is book five, This Heart of Mine. But I told you earlier that I have read this series out of order so I have already read this book so for me, the next book will be book six, Match Me If You Can. No matter what order you read the books in, believe me when I say that you need this series in your life.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
October 8, 2024
My tear ducts needed a break after reading this. One of SEP's finest works!
March 15, 2018
Written July 9, 2015
4.7 Stars - Wonderful, touching, lovely .... simply great
The last one for me to read in this lovely Chicago Stars series. 11:30 hrs audiobook narrated by the FANTASTIC .
Once again; I'm happydancing
I'm not exaggerating, is still one of the very BEST in this feel good m/f genre.
Dream a Little Dream from the Chicago Stars football 'world' is book #4 published 1998 and my seventh (and last book - not read in order - standalones) in this fantastic series. (See my reviews ~ All sweet romantic in a well-written very amusing feelgood style. Higly recommended as audiobooks as well.)
We are once again back in Salvation, North Carolina, the small mountain town with three goodlooking Bonner brothers. We met the oldest (charmer) in book #3 - Nobody's Baby But Mine (4.7 stars) (my favorite part so far).
In Dream a Little Dream is it time for the middle brother, Gabriel 'Gabe' Bonner. A mourning man who lost his wife and kid in an horrible car accident a couple of years ago. Gabe is back in town and he bought the old drive-in movie and is now trying to make it to it's old shiny glance once again.
Our heroine is Rachel Stone a single mother with a lovely five years old boy, the über cute Edward (who wants to be called Chip...), just 10 single bucks in her pockets, old clothes and a broken miserable car. Life sucks!! ~ Rachel returns to Salvation to find her dead husbands disappeared money-treasure (or is there any?). Her husband was a an older popular preacher (very Bible faithful) who in God's & Jesus' name cheated and tricked a lot of believer of their last money and trust in their savior. Not surprisingly are people in town still angry and many hate, the back then diamond-sprinkled, greedy young preacher wife. Nowadays called "Widow Snopes".
Rachel will do anything to keep her child safe and she need money to give him a better future. Welcome or not, she must stay in Salvation and start her search and she immediately need work. Gabe need a strong hardworking "handyman" and our tough heroine think she is perfect for the job.
...Needy or not, our hero disagrees strongly. A "enemies to lovers" story starts.
****
An emotional roller coaster..
Dream a Little Dream is maybe the most emotional, sad, angsty and touching heart-wrenching of the books in this 'Chicago Stars' series. This story was about two people which suffers from a terrible past. They are both alone and both Rachel and Gabe are so filled with anger about the past and nearly desperate in their way to build big strong walls against themself. ~ Grandly romantic, steaming hot and addictive good narrated. ..Of course.
Add a adorable little scared boy. A small tiny pre-school boy who fears death and is so heartbreaking grateful for everything he gets. He dreams about to sit on a fathers big shoulders, be strong and see his mummy happy. I loved this little sweet Chip and Anna Fields, this terrific 'child voice' narrator, did him even more lovely. ~ My eyes filled with tears at times. Sob!!
Really fun and amusing was also the second characters own love story (as in every SEP book). It was with Gabe's younger brother, Reverend Ethan Bonner and the "good dear old" (boring nice but invisible) Kristy. The girl who always does "everything" for her dear old childhood love who nearly see her. That's before she decides to change her life a bit and does a needed "makeover". Poor Ethan is shocked (..and shockingly aching stone hard). Oh!!
Dream a Little Dream is perfect if you love stories with big funny families and razy protective brothers. Stories with cute bright kids and a story set in a small everybody knows everybody town. And most of all if you prefer romances with gorgeous, sulky, insistent and horny alpha males. Add a strong tough heroine. Not kinky or next to erotic porn, but hot and smexy enough.
You knew it will end with a lovely HEA but you still feel that the journey to those three magic words (and the sound of the church bells) is the best part with reading romances. � If that is the kind of books you usually like then are you going to enjoy this one you too.
~ 5 bumping hearts for 7 great books.
Seven romances, and this was my last one. Sob!
I'm so glad I started this series —thanks to Kathleen (..the California Snowman) who recommended me the first one I read and loved, #2 - Heaven, Texas (5 stars). I havn't read these book-parts in any order and it worked fine for me. Just pick one, they are all good.
I LIKE - and I'll miss this fantastic SEP world
4.7 Stars - Wonderful, touching, lovely .... simply great
The last one for me to read in this lovely Chicago Stars series. 11:30 hrs audiobook narrated by the FANTASTIC .
Once again; I'm happydancing
I'm not exaggerating, is still one of the very BEST in this feel good m/f genre.
Dream a Little Dream from the Chicago Stars football 'world' is book #4 published 1998 and my seventh (and last book - not read in order - standalones) in this fantastic series. (See my reviews ~ All sweet romantic in a well-written very amusing feelgood style. Higly recommended as audiobooks as well.)
We are once again back in Salvation, North Carolina, the small mountain town with three goodlooking Bonner brothers. We met the oldest (charmer) in book #3 - Nobody's Baby But Mine (4.7 stars) (my favorite part so far).
In Dream a Little Dream is it time for the middle brother, Gabriel 'Gabe' Bonner. A mourning man who lost his wife and kid in an horrible car accident a couple of years ago. Gabe is back in town and he bought the old drive-in movie and is now trying to make it to it's old shiny glance once again.
Our heroine is Rachel Stone a single mother with a lovely five years old boy, the über cute Edward (who wants to be called Chip...), just 10 single bucks in her pockets, old clothes and a broken miserable car. Life sucks!! ~ Rachel returns to Salvation to find her dead husbands disappeared money-treasure (or is there any?). Her husband was a an older popular preacher (very Bible faithful) who in God's & Jesus' name cheated and tricked a lot of believer of their last money and trust in their savior. Not surprisingly are people in town still angry and many hate, the back then diamond-sprinkled, greedy young preacher wife. Nowadays called "Widow Snopes".
“Ironic, isn't it, what religion does to people?�
“I guess it's more ironic what people do to to people.�
Rachel will do anything to keep her child safe and she need money to give him a better future. Welcome or not, she must stay in Salvation and start her search and she immediately need work. Gabe need a strong hardworking "handyman" and our tough heroine think she is perfect for the job.
‘He wanted to protect her and fuck her and comfort her and destroy her all at once. The chaos of his emotions coiled around his pain, deepening the agony.�
...Needy or not, our hero disagrees strongly. A "enemies to lovers" story starts.
****
An emotional roller coaster..
Dream a Little Dream is maybe the most emotional, sad, angsty and touching heart-wrenching of the books in this 'Chicago Stars' series. This story was about two people which suffers from a terrible past. They are both alone and both Rachel and Gabe are so filled with anger about the past and nearly desperate in their way to build big strong walls against themself. ~ Grandly romantic, steaming hot and addictive good narrated. ..Of course.
“Chip, I know you don't understand this, but I'd take it as a personal favor if you'd stop trying to marry your mother off to my brothers.�
Add a adorable little scared boy. A small tiny pre-school boy who fears death and is so heartbreaking grateful for everything he gets. He dreams about to sit on a fathers big shoulders, be strong and see his mummy happy. I loved this little sweet Chip and Anna Fields, this terrific 'child voice' narrator, did him even more lovely. ~ My eyes filled with tears at times. Sob!!
Really fun and amusing was also the second characters own love story (as in every SEP book). It was with Gabe's younger brother, Reverend Ethan Bonner and the "good dear old" (boring nice but invisible) Kristy. The girl who always does "everything" for her dear old childhood love who nearly see her. That's before she decides to change her life a bit and does a needed "makeover". Poor Ethan is shocked (..and shockingly aching stone hard). Oh!!
Dream a Little Dream is perfect if you love stories with big funny families and razy protective brothers. Stories with cute bright kids and a story set in a small everybody knows everybody town. And most of all if you prefer romances with gorgeous, sulky, insistent and horny alpha males. Add a strong tough heroine. Not kinky or next to erotic porn, but hot and smexy enough.
You knew it will end with a lovely HEA but you still feel that the journey to those three magic words (and the sound of the church bells) is the best part with reading romances. � If that is the kind of books you usually like then are you going to enjoy this one you too.
~ 5 bumping hearts for 7 great books.
Seven romances, and this was my last one. Sob!
I'm so glad I started this series —thanks to Kathleen (..the California Snowman) who recommended me the first one I read and loved, #2 - Heaven, Texas (5 stars). I havn't read these book-parts in any order and it worked fine for me. Just pick one, they are all good.
I LIKE - and I'll miss this fantastic SEP world
March 27, 2015
5 STARS
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You know, I keep trying, but I cannot rate any of Susan Elizabeth Phillips� books less than 5. It just isn’t ever going to happen. And each one I read suddenly becomes my favorite. And this one is no exception. Seriously, these books are FUCKING SENSATIONAL! And that is all I need to say about it.
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Rachel Stone is only twenty-seven and already the destitute widow of a dead crooked television evangelist. She is a public pariah, who has lost everything, her husband, her home, all of her money, her possessions and even her faith in God. All she has left in the world is her sweet but sickly and very sad little five year old boy named Edward.
”Everybody hates us.�
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Everywhere she goes she is shunned and denied work. So finally after living out of her car� it finally gives up the ghost back in none other than her own hometown of Salvation, North Carolina. Where everyone REMEMBERS. And everyone HATES her.
“Ironic, isn't it, what religion does to people?"
"I guess it's more ironic what people do to religion.�
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Then there’s Gabriel Bonner. The long lost brother of Cal Bonner (yes our gorgeous and notorious quarterback for the famous Chicago Stars). Gabe has returned to Salvation after spending a few years in Mexico trying to drink away his grief. He lost his adored wife and son in a horrible car accident a few years back and has yet to recover from their loss.
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”What kind of moron opens a drive-in?�
And he’s given up his practice as the local veterinarian, so he can re-open the long dead drive-in theater. But while pursuing this painful and useless task, he is faced with yet another unpleasant task� turning away the very famous, very hated, and very desperate “Widow Snopes.�
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“Who needs food? Your smile alone is enough to nourish me for weeks.�
And yes� love is found but not easily. Gabe must first find a way to put his past behind him, and then find a way to trust this snarky, skinny, and tenacious young girl. And even then there is a persistent little problem� named Edward.
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He felt an unfamiliar heat in his chest and knew that his malevolence had begun to char the borders of his heart.
This book was sooooooo good� that even my updates had several people picking it back up for a re-read. And I know for a fact, that I will be doing the same thing myself very soon.
Romance books don’t get any better than this. And if they do� I’ll bet SEP is involved somehow. So from here, I’ll give a few quotes and pictures, and then, I’m on to my next favorite in the series!
”You’re not people Bonner, I’m not even sure you’re human.�
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His chest burned. Her compassion made him defenseless. Just seconds earlier he’d been dreading her waspish tongue, but now he would give anything to be hit by one of her wisecracks.
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ܳٳٳ.�
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”Cherry was the love of my boyhood, Rach. You’re the love of my manhood. And I do love you, with all my heart. Please don’t leave me.�
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You know, I keep trying, but I cannot rate any of Susan Elizabeth Phillips� books less than 5. It just isn’t ever going to happen. And each one I read suddenly becomes my favorite. And this one is no exception. Seriously, these books are FUCKING SENSATIONAL! And that is all I need to say about it.
Rachel Stone is only twenty-seven and already the destitute widow of a dead crooked television evangelist. She is a public pariah, who has lost everything, her husband, her home, all of her money, her possessions and even her faith in God. All she has left in the world is her sweet but sickly and very sad little five year old boy named Edward.
”Everybody hates us.�
Everywhere she goes she is shunned and denied work. So finally after living out of her car� it finally gives up the ghost back in none other than her own hometown of Salvation, North Carolina. Where everyone REMEMBERS. And everyone HATES her.
“Ironic, isn't it, what religion does to people?"
"I guess it's more ironic what people do to religion.�
Then there’s Gabriel Bonner. The long lost brother of Cal Bonner (yes our gorgeous and notorious quarterback for the famous Chicago Stars). Gabe has returned to Salvation after spending a few years in Mexico trying to drink away his grief. He lost his adored wife and son in a horrible car accident a few years back and has yet to recover from their loss.
”What kind of moron opens a drive-in?�
And he’s given up his practice as the local veterinarian, so he can re-open the long dead drive-in theater. But while pursuing this painful and useless task, he is faced with yet another unpleasant task� turning away the very famous, very hated, and very desperate “Widow Snopes.�
“Who needs food? Your smile alone is enough to nourish me for weeks.�
And yes� love is found but not easily. Gabe must first find a way to put his past behind him, and then find a way to trust this snarky, skinny, and tenacious young girl. And even then there is a persistent little problem� named Edward.
He felt an unfamiliar heat in his chest and knew that his malevolence had begun to char the borders of his heart.
This book was sooooooo good� that even my updates had several people picking it back up for a re-read. And I know for a fact, that I will be doing the same thing myself very soon.
Romance books don’t get any better than this. And if they do� I’ll bet SEP is involved somehow. So from here, I’ll give a few quotes and pictures, and then, I’m on to my next favorite in the series!
”You’re not people Bonner, I’m not even sure you’re human.�
His chest burned. Her compassion made him defenseless. Just seconds earlier he’d been dreading her waspish tongue, but now he would give anything to be hit by one of her wisecracks.
ܳٳٳ.�
”Cherry was the love of my boyhood, Rach. You’re the love of my manhood. And I do love you, with all my heart. Please don’t leave me.�
June 21, 2019
First of all somebody should kick my ass. :D
This was my 1st SEP book (I know, I'm so late for this party!) and OMG, I loved this story soooo freaking much and I'm planning to devour her books ASAP! :)
This was my 1st SEP book (I know, I'm so late for this party!) and OMG, I loved this story soooo freaking much and I'm planning to devour her books ASAP! :)
February 28, 2021
3.25 stars for sweet little Edward!
May 5, 2019
A fabulous read how I adored little Edward !!
February 28, 2022
3 - 3.5�
🐕 loved rachel
the plot was that she married this asshole bcs she had daddy issues and that husband of hers created a scandal in this town (he’s dead now). so when she came back one day w/ her son, everyone hated her. there, she met asshead gabe, who gave her a job. ok yk what i can never describe plots properly, so just read the damn blurb. rachels great, but what i enjoyed most from this book was
🐕 the couples dynamic
🐕 loved the kid
🐕 secondary romance
kristy & ethan’s story enjoyable, had the potential to be more had we gotten groveling & suffering for the dude
overall good read. books like SEP’s and Linda Howard’s are v atmospheric in a way i really love. i dunno how to explain it but whenever i read their books i always got similar vibes. and this book really made me crave something more like theirs. so imma probably try judith mcnaught later. or maybe call me irresistible according to anne
’He wanted to protect her and fuck her and comfort her and destroy her all at once. The chaos of his emotions coiled around his pain, deepening the agony�
🐕 loved rachel
’She looked so forsaken and bewildered that his heart turned over in his chest. He knew how strong she was, and he told himself she’d recover from this latest setback, but he also wondered how many times one human being could get knocked to her knees and keep climbing back up.�
the plot was that she married this asshole bcs she had daddy issues and that husband of hers created a scandal in this town (he’s dead now). so when she came back one day w/ her son, everyone hated her. there, she met asshead gabe, who gave her a job. ok yk what i can never describe plots properly, so just read the damn blurb. rachels great, but what i enjoyed most from this book was
🐕 the couples dynamic
”Tell me. How does it feel to be the black sheep of your family?�
“What makes you think I’m the black sheep?� He actually sounded annoyed.
“Your parents are leaders of the community, your younger brother is Mr. Perfect, and your older brother’s a multimillionaire jock. You, on the other hand, are a surly, bad-tempered, impoverished misfit who owns a broken-down drive-in and antagonizes small children.�
“Who told you I was impoverished?�
She found it interesting this was the only part of her description of him he seemed inclined to challenge. “This place. Your mode of transportation. Those slave wages you’re paying me. Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t see any signs of big money around here.�
“I pay you slave wages so you’ll quit, Rachel, not because I can’t afford more.�
“O.�
“And I like my pickup.�
“So you’re not poor?�
For a moment she didn’t think he’d answer. Finally, he said, “I’m not poor.�
“Exactly how not-poor are you?�
“Didn’t your grandmother teach you it was rude to ask people questions like that?�
“You’re not people, Bonner. I’m not even sure you’re human.�
“I’ve got better things to do than sit here and let you insult me.� He snatched his empty Dr Pepper can from the sandy soil where he’d propped it and stood up. “Get to work.�
As she watched him stalk away, she considered the possibility that she’d offended him. He definitely looked offended. With a satisfied smile, she returned to her chocolate shake.
”You pay me by the hour.�
“What does that have to do with anything?�
“What happens during the hour—the hours—we’re... flinging?�
He regarded her warily. “This is a trick question, isn’t it?�
“N.�
“I don’t know. Nothing happens.�
“Something happens to my paycheck.�
“This doesn’t have anything to do with your paycheck.�
She was going to have to spell it out. “Do you pay me for the hour we’re flinging or not?�
He was clearly wary, and his answer tentative. “Yes?�
Her stomach sank. She turned away to gaze out the side window and whispered, “You jerk.�
“No! I mean no! Of course I don’t pay you.�
“I’m barely making it as it is. I need every penny I can get! Yesterday afternoon cost me half a week’s groceries.�
There was a long silence. “I’m not going to win this one, am I?�
🐕 loved the kid
”Edward...� Gabe’s tone carried a soft warning note.
“My name’s not Edward.�
“That’s what your mother calls you.�
“She’s allowed,� he said sullenly. “Not you.�
“What am I supposed to call you?�
The child hesitated and then muttered, “Chip.�
“C?�
“Don’t like Edward. Want everybody to call me Chip.�
Gabe considered trying to explain to him that Chip Stone might not be the best choice of names, then abandoned the idea. He’d always been good with children, but not this one. This one was too strange.
🐕 secondary romance
kristy & ethan’s story enjoyable, had the potential to be more had we gotten groveling & suffering for the dude
overall good read. books like SEP’s and Linda Howard’s are v atmospheric in a way i really love. i dunno how to explain it but whenever i read their books i always got similar vibes. and this book really made me crave something more like theirs. so imma probably try judith mcnaught later. or maybe call me irresistible according to anne
October 13, 2023
October 2023: RE-LISTEN - great narration. One of my favourites in the series.
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This is my FOURTH (I think) read of this book. I absolutely adore it. One of my favourites. I love this author. She is so talented.
Edward, as usual, broke my heart. But, it was mended at the end of the book.
P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N.
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This is my FOURTH (I think) read of this book. I absolutely adore it. One of my favourites. I love this author. She is so talented.
Edward, as usual, broke my heart. But, it was mended at the end of the book.
P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N.
July 15, 2020
Re-read
This is probably one of my favorites of SEP as it has all the quirky humor and wry banter without the sometimes questionable practices that occur in some of her books: no-one pretends to be an underage teen in a sex game, or a gigolo, no stolen pregnancies via false birth control or sleep drugs, and no raping of the alpha men by their soon to be heroines.
The heroine and hero have a humorous and tough redemption, but it works for both of them. One thing that really worked is that despite the horror the hero has been though, Rachel doesn't treat his tragedy with kid gloves. She says his wife and child's are and doesn't make allowances. All of which helps his healing.
There's a sweet touch of mystical grace that is nice as well.
First review
I am on a binge of Susan Elizabeth Phillips from quite a long time ago. This is one of her better books from the Chicago Stars series.
Rachel Stone is the despised widow (Tammy Faye Baker-is) of an evangelist that stole and stole and stole then blamed it all on his wife’s materialism. Unfortunately, he is dead now, and the buck stops with her. She’s on her way back to Salvation, NC to find some of the money he left behind. One, she has debts she has to pay, and, two, she has her 5 year old little boy to consider.
Dirt poor, her car dies next to a rundown drive-in theater that the hero is renovating.
Gabe, brother to the H in Nobody’s Baby but Mine, is widower who lost both wife and child and is bullet away from committing suicide.
A good story of redemption for both characters with plenty of snark and banter between the H and h. The secondary characters are well done as well. Smaller side plots include the sad tension between the H and the heroine’s 5 year old son, and the H’s other brother, a preacher that is having a hard time adjusting to his secretary’s new sexy look.
This is probably one of my favorites of SEP as it has all the quirky humor and wry banter without the sometimes questionable practices that occur in some of her books: no-one pretends to be an underage teen in a sex game, or a gigolo, no stolen pregnancies via false birth control or sleep drugs, and no raping of the alpha men by their soon to be heroines.
The heroine and hero have a humorous and tough redemption, but it works for both of them. One thing that really worked is that despite the horror the hero has been though, Rachel doesn't treat his tragedy with kid gloves. She says his wife and child's are and doesn't make allowances. All of which helps his healing.
There's a sweet touch of mystical grace that is nice as well.
First review
I am on a binge of Susan Elizabeth Phillips from quite a long time ago. This is one of her better books from the Chicago Stars series.
Rachel Stone is the despised widow (Tammy Faye Baker-is) of an evangelist that stole and stole and stole then blamed it all on his wife’s materialism. Unfortunately, he is dead now, and the buck stops with her. She’s on her way back to Salvation, NC to find some of the money he left behind. One, she has debts she has to pay, and, two, she has her 5 year old little boy to consider.
Dirt poor, her car dies next to a rundown drive-in theater that the hero is renovating.
Gabe, brother to the H in Nobody’s Baby but Mine, is widower who lost both wife and child and is bullet away from committing suicide.
A good story of redemption for both characters with plenty of snark and banter between the H and h. The secondary characters are well done as well. Smaller side plots include the sad tension between the H and the heroine’s 5 year old son, and the H’s other brother, a preacher that is having a hard time adjusting to his secretary’s new sexy look.
November 8, 2010
I avoided this book for some reason. Possibly because I wasn't in the mood to read about a non athlete hero after falling through SEP's Chicago Stars. I'm glad I did get around to read it since it is one of the most heartwrenching stories I've read. Chip, Rachel's son, is absolutely adorable. Especially his relationship with Cal's daughter, Rosie. Gabe and Rachel's relationship grew slowly and pain was involved considering their pasts, but in a SEP's manner, they do end up together. Ethan and Kristy were an odd pair, but I loved them too. Ethan's mind was highly fascinating, especially since he was supposed to be the pretty boy, Pastor and instead lusts over skanky women. Ethan was an ass throughout most of the book, but he was just protecting his brother. Same with Cal. He was especially cruel, but he had less emotional maturity than either of his brothers.
The best part of this book was that everyone had flaws and bad things happen, but in the end, good things also happen. It reminds me Ain't She Sweet? without the guilty heroine needing a little redemption. Rachel just had to survive a whole lot of hate, all because of a crooked husband. I also like having children and family as part of the story. SEP wins again.
The best part of this book was that everyone had flaws and bad things happen, but in the end, good things also happen. It reminds me Ain't She Sweet? without the guilty heroine needing a little redemption. Rachel just had to survive a whole lot of hate, all because of a crooked husband. I also like having children and family as part of the story. SEP wins again.
December 15, 2022
This book is intense! SEP has a knack for taking these realistic characters, putting them in unrealistic situations, and making them flop around until the situation seems realistic again. And it works! This is such a fabulous book. It just made my heart hurt. For some reason, when kids are involved, I get much more personally invested in the story. When this story ended, I wanted to crawl back inside the pages and live in Heartbreak with the Bonners. And once again, what a great ending line! Made me grin! Favorites shelf.
May 13, 2023
I should’ve dnfed this when he got hard for the fmc while thinking of his dead wife. I've never read a book where the love interest genuinely hates the fmc's child or hits him out of anger. Not to mention that he was in love with the dead wife for 70% of the book and his love confession was basically him offering her money in exchange for sex. I can't believe she fell for him despite how cruel he was to her child for at least 90% of the book. 😵�
June 13, 2013
What a whiplash-inducing experience :) If you'd asked me to rate the first third of this book, I would have gushingly informed you that five stars just didn't feel sufficient to capture how much I loved it. I fell immediately and deeply in love with the writing style. I couldn't get over the beautifully, poignantly REAL depiction of these characters and their struggles. So we've got a down on her luck yet plucky, sassy heroine whose resourcefulness and resilient spirit enables her (and, in this case, her son) to survive. And we've got a very broken hero who's drowning in pain over a tragic loss and has withdrawn from the world prior to meeting our heroine. Sounds like the setup of a mere 12 zillion other romance novels, right?! But what set this apart for me is that the author writes with an almost achingly sharp realism about the pain our heroine Rachel and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Gabe (I'm loath to call him a "hero" for reasons I'll delve into later!) are enduring. We don't just get a few hastily scribbled lines about Rachel's current poverty and hunger: we actually experience it right along with Rachel and her solemn son Edward. It takes a little longer to figure out why Gabe is such an assh---er, struggling so mightily, but once we learn of the tragedy he's suffered we can feel the sense of intolerable loss and hopelessness right along with him. Rest assured, though, that the angst is mercifully mitigated by plenty of wit and glimmers of hope. That first third or so was all so eminently engaging and effective and amusing and beautifully sad---a book that was wholly in my heart rather than just my head.
And then the rest of the book happened.
So I will readily admit that I'm not as enamored with (or tolerant of!) extreme alphas as most, which probably explains why many readers liked Gabe a whole lot more than I did. Scarily angry, icy, snarling jerks just aren't a romantic ideal for me. (And apparently this guy is actually among SEP's LESS awful heroes?! Good lord!) I realize that much of Gabe's jackassery can be attributed to the terrible tragedy he suffered. I get that, and to a large extent I even sympathize with that, but that doesn't mean I enjoyed being in this man's company for 380 pages. There's a dangerously thin line with these very damaged, drowning-in-ManPain-and-taking-it-out-on-the-world alphas between a good man who acts badly and a man who just becomes too awful for me to like and root for on any level. For a while I had complete confidence that SEP would tread that line successfully and manage to redeem Gabe in a wholly convincing way. After all, Gabe does occasionally do generous things despite acting like a jerk, right? And we're told many times that he USED to be a gentle, caring man. And he does care about our heroine---or, well, at least cares enough to make sure she doesn't literally starve to death (he buys her a few burgers from McDonald's...and, wow, even some fries!) and about having sex with her. ("I feel like a horny teenager" is about as close as our "hero" gets to expressing affection for the majority of the book.)
But here's the dealbreaker for me: this guy is persistently and frequently AWFUL to Rachel's sickly and sad five-year-old son. Not just once or twice, but throughout nearly the whole novel. Now, I'm not one of these people who gets excessively gooey over kids, and in fact sometimes I avoid books where kids play a large role because they can be kind of precocious, cutesy and annoying for me to read about. But, wow, Gabe ranged from callous to outright cruel to Edward...who, let me reiterate, is a sad and sickly kid who's been through horrendous ordeals and is just FIVE freaking years old! We're meant to excuse this because of what Gabe has gone through, but get this: when Gabe talks about needing to "toughen up" and make a man out of this poor kid (and apparently that's accomplished by being a callous bastard), we're supposed to think he has a somewhat valid point! I did mention this kid is only FIVE and has endured an enormous amount of pain in his own young life, right?! (Extreme poverty and homelessness, the death of his father, loneliness and isolation and, oh yeah, near fatal pneumonia.)
Rachel, an otherwise great mom, knows that Gabe is horribly unfeeling (at best) and sometimes even outright mean towards her little boy. She hates it and wants to stop sleeping with Gabe and all that, and then...stays with him anyway. And this is for a guy she's known for a very short period of time who's already announced he doesn't love her, can't be in a bona fide relationship and won't get past his own very serious demons, by the way. Whatever. Oh, and Gabe and Edward spend about a page reconciling towards the end and we're supposed to think it's all okay, but honestly, I was somewhat alarmed to think that after treating him so shabbily for nearly the whole novel this dark, "demon-plagued" man would be helping to raise Edward from now on.
And, see, this is where I was uncomfortably reminded of why I usually prefer historicals: there are just certain gender expectations and behaviors that are far more palatable to me when they take place in the 19th century than in the 2000s, and extreme "alpha-ness" in particular is easier for me to tolerate.
Anyway, so Gabe hates poor little Edward, and Edward (quite understandably, in my book) hates Gabe, and pretty much 98% of the town hates Rachel, and both of Gabe's brothers (Ethan and Cal) hate Rachel, and Rachel hates Ethan, and Rachel and Gabe have sex but act like they semi-hate each other for portions of the novel as well...and, honestly, it's just exhausting and unpleasant. By the end, I neither bought that everyone's now living in harmony nor still liked most of these people enough to care.
All that said, I'll probably try another book by this author. Yes, I must be a masochist ;) I really love HOW she writes despite my complaints about some of WHAT she writes, and it's so sadly rare for me to find a contemporary romance writer whose style I love. I did love her wit, her insights, and her ability to elicit such a wide variety of emotions from me (including profound annoyance, but still!) But while I neither want nor expect my heroes to be flawless (far from it!), I am at a stage in my reading where I'd like them to be...well...just a little less egregiously awful ;)
Thanks for reading this insanely long review, and if anyone can suggest a witty, sharp SEP book with a more likable hero, please let me know!
And then the rest of the book happened.
So I will readily admit that I'm not as enamored with (or tolerant of!) extreme alphas as most, which probably explains why many readers liked Gabe a whole lot more than I did. Scarily angry, icy, snarling jerks just aren't a romantic ideal for me. (And apparently this guy is actually among SEP's LESS awful heroes?! Good lord!) I realize that much of Gabe's jackassery can be attributed to the terrible tragedy he suffered. I get that, and to a large extent I even sympathize with that, but that doesn't mean I enjoyed being in this man's company for 380 pages. There's a dangerously thin line with these very damaged, drowning-in-ManPain-and-taking-it-out-on-the-world alphas between a good man who acts badly and a man who just becomes too awful for me to like and root for on any level. For a while I had complete confidence that SEP would tread that line successfully and manage to redeem Gabe in a wholly convincing way. After all, Gabe does occasionally do generous things despite acting like a jerk, right? And we're told many times that he USED to be a gentle, caring man. And he does care about our heroine---or, well, at least cares enough to make sure she doesn't literally starve to death (he buys her a few burgers from McDonald's...and, wow, even some fries!) and about having sex with her. ("I feel like a horny teenager" is about as close as our "hero" gets to expressing affection for the majority of the book.)
But here's the dealbreaker for me: this guy is persistently and frequently AWFUL to Rachel's sickly and sad five-year-old son. Not just once or twice, but throughout nearly the whole novel. Now, I'm not one of these people who gets excessively gooey over kids, and in fact sometimes I avoid books where kids play a large role because they can be kind of precocious, cutesy and annoying for me to read about. But, wow, Gabe ranged from callous to outright cruel to Edward...who, let me reiterate, is a sad and sickly kid who's been through horrendous ordeals and is just FIVE freaking years old! We're meant to excuse this because of what Gabe has gone through, but get this: when Gabe talks about needing to "toughen up" and make a man out of this poor kid (and apparently that's accomplished by being a callous bastard), we're supposed to think he has a somewhat valid point! I did mention this kid is only FIVE and has endured an enormous amount of pain in his own young life, right?! (Extreme poverty and homelessness, the death of his father, loneliness and isolation and, oh yeah, near fatal pneumonia.)
Rachel, an otherwise great mom, knows that Gabe is horribly unfeeling (at best) and sometimes even outright mean towards her little boy. She hates it and wants to stop sleeping with Gabe and all that, and then...stays with him anyway. And this is for a guy she's known for a very short period of time who's already announced he doesn't love her, can't be in a bona fide relationship and won't get past his own very serious demons, by the way. Whatever. Oh, and Gabe and Edward spend about a page reconciling towards the end and we're supposed to think it's all okay, but honestly, I was somewhat alarmed to think that after treating him so shabbily for nearly the whole novel this dark, "demon-plagued" man would be helping to raise Edward from now on.
And, see, this is where I was uncomfortably reminded of why I usually prefer historicals: there are just certain gender expectations and behaviors that are far more palatable to me when they take place in the 19th century than in the 2000s, and extreme "alpha-ness" in particular is easier for me to tolerate.
Anyway, so Gabe hates poor little Edward, and Edward (quite understandably, in my book) hates Gabe, and pretty much 98% of the town hates Rachel, and both of Gabe's brothers (Ethan and Cal) hate Rachel, and Rachel hates Ethan, and Rachel and Gabe have sex but act like they semi-hate each other for portions of the novel as well...and, honestly, it's just exhausting and unpleasant. By the end, I neither bought that everyone's now living in harmony nor still liked most of these people enough to care.
All that said, I'll probably try another book by this author. Yes, I must be a masochist ;) I really love HOW she writes despite my complaints about some of WHAT she writes, and it's so sadly rare for me to find a contemporary romance writer whose style I love. I did love her wit, her insights, and her ability to elicit such a wide variety of emotions from me (including profound annoyance, but still!) But while I neither want nor expect my heroes to be flawless (far from it!), I am at a stage in my reading where I'd like them to be...well...just a little less egregiously awful ;)
Thanks for reading this insanely long review, and if anyone can suggest a witty, sharp SEP book with a more likable hero, please let me know!
July 13, 2012
Downtrodden and desperate, Rachel Stone returns to the town of her youth (whose residents her deceased TV evangelical husband conned and all but bankrupted) to find a lost 5 million dollars to raise her five year old son, Edward.
The secondary plot line is just as ridiculous and insulting. Reverend Ethan Bonner (let’s not even discuss that the man hears the voice of God as three different celebs in his head) is as hypocritical as the lambasted TV evangelical, Dwayne. Attracted to scantily clad and sexually available women, the Rev� Bonner pays little attention to his doting and dowdy secretary, who does all but help him dress, until she changes her style into that of a “really stylish tramp.� Then, of course, she is a “slut�; but, a slut who has his attention.
Dream a Little Dream has heavy Christian tones throughout the book, although this had little no affect on my enjoyment (or lack thereof) of the novel it should be noted that it can be a little too heavy at times and the novel would perhaps appeal more to those readers who do have a Christian background.
I had heard good things of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and cannot help but be, not only disappointed, but shocked and slightly horrified at her tale. Her controlling, misogynistic, hypocritical - but hey at least they’re good looking and great in the sack! - heroes are unsympathetic, unattractive and, quite frankly, repellent. Her female characters are weak in characterisation; more flawed then they are admirable; and in desperate need of a psychiatrist. While the plot-line is fairly standard and predictable, execution leaves much to be desired (Phillips’s epilogue reads like a child’s essay) and, although I know that I probably should, I am unsure whether I wish to read another of her novels.
The secondary plot line is just as ridiculous and insulting. Reverend Ethan Bonner (let’s not even discuss that the man hears the voice of God as three different celebs in his head) is as hypocritical as the lambasted TV evangelical, Dwayne. Attracted to scantily clad and sexually available women, the Rev� Bonner pays little attention to his doting and dowdy secretary, who does all but help him dress, until she changes her style into that of a “really stylish tramp.� Then, of course, she is a “slut�; but, a slut who has his attention.
Dream a Little Dream has heavy Christian tones throughout the book, although this had little no affect on my enjoyment (or lack thereof) of the novel it should be noted that it can be a little too heavy at times and the novel would perhaps appeal more to those readers who do have a Christian background.
I had heard good things of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and cannot help but be, not only disappointed, but shocked and slightly horrified at her tale. Her controlling, misogynistic, hypocritical - but hey at least they’re good looking and great in the sack! - heroes are unsympathetic, unattractive and, quite frankly, repellent. Her female characters are weak in characterisation; more flawed then they are admirable; and in desperate need of a psychiatrist. While the plot-line is fairly standard and predictable, execution leaves much to be desired (Phillips’s epilogue reads like a child’s essay) and, although I know that I probably should, I am unsure whether I wish to read another of her novels.
June 11, 2025
I think everyone in this books needs intensive psychotherapy.
I liked it and then I didn’t and then I liked it and then I didn’t and that continued for the whole book honestly. I enjoyed the ending though so that’s why I’m rounding up. SEP is a great enough writer for me to still be entertained when I’m not necessarily enjoying the book.
2.5/5
I liked it and then I didn’t and then I liked it and then I didn’t and that continued for the whole book honestly. I enjoyed the ending though so that’s why I’m rounding up. SEP is a great enough writer for me to still be entertained when I’m not necessarily enjoying the book.
2.5/5
August 11, 2022
⭐️⭐️ two stars -
This review is going to fall flatly in the camp of “if this was written by anyone else, this would garner one star� 💁♀�
The only reason this surprising and uncharacteristically hot mess from SEP is ending up at two stars is due squarely to Phillips� writing capabilities that were somehow, and against all odds, able to pull this trainwreck somewhat back together at the finish line.
What’s wrong with it? Assuming you haven’t read any of the other one or two star reviews for this one yet, let us count the ways this all goes wrong:
1. I almost called it quits at 5%, which is when you’re still at the sample. Why? The balance of power between our Hero and heroine here was immediately way too much for me to stomach. Right out of the gate it’s so uncomfortable, I had to close it up and just couldn’t get up the chutzpah to open it back up. The only reason I decided to soldier on is 100% due to my prior positive experience with SEP’s stellar writing capabilities, otherwise I would have been ready to call it a day at our h’s utter lack of pride (I don’t think this is a spoiler since it’s at 5% and is a part of the sample: she’s ready to drop her clothes and offer up her body to our H. Would never have expected this in a SEP read, and I was not prepared for that).
2. If you follow my reviews, you would know that I am reading SEP out of publishing order. This book, “Dream A Little Dream� is book number four in her Chicago Stars series and one of its features is that it includes Heroes and heroines from prior novels in this series as secondary characters.
***
Now what I have to say next could be considered a mild spoiler, but others have included this in their reviews, so I don’t think it would spoil your enjoyment of the story, so here it is:
** begin mild spoiler **
There is a Hero who is featured here, Cal, who is the H from book three (which I haven’t read yet) in the Chicago Stars series, “Nobody’s Baby But Mine�, and he appears here as one of the villains of the story. Not one of the main villains, more of an antagonist to our heroine here, but a villain nonetheless. His whole vibe here came off as a powerful, privileged male who couldn’t wait to squash the poor helpless and wholly defenseless “evil� female. All of Cal’s scenes were so distasteful that I am no longer interested in reading his love story with his unfortunate heroine (Jane). Cal was portrayed here as a smug, pompous male who enjoyed flexing his wealth to negatively impact the heroine. Not a good look for him at all. He would be the main villain in a lot of stories, so I have no idea what SEP was thinking to have written in her own former Hero this way. Just a bit misguided, in this reviewer’s opinion.
** end mild spoiler
3. Next, we have the Hero here, Gabe, that is cruel to our h’s child. While this was wholly distasteful, I actually felt that the both of them (the h and H) shared the blame for this one. Our h introduces her paramour to her child, haves him move in with her, sleeps with him with the child home; all while she’s still in the getting to know you phase of their relationship. That’s just idiotic to me. What would she have done if it didn’t work out? Parade the next man to her son? Sorry, I think that’s just poor parenting.
4. Also, given the fact that I’m still fairly new to the SEP bandwagon, I am still processing her style. An issue that bothered me previously in her novels is the fact that she runs two simultaneous stories within the same book (both are parallel romances and both plot arcs include sexy times). While I had issue with this before, it didn’t bother me as much here, I could be getting used to her writing style, but I think it’s because I enjoyed the other H and h here (I actually enjoyed them more that the main H and h here. Their story was a lot sweeter. They should have gotten their own book tbh).
5. Finally, a note about the author’s writing style: as mentioned above, she includes a secondary love story to the main plot. It is my belief that the author’s strength is short story writing, and somewhere in the beginning of her career someone suggested to her to combine stories and blend arcs to achieve longer novels. By doing this it helps bulk up the overall plot and simultaneously also camouflages the lack of character development that appears in small areas. Just my 2¢ and my own opinion of what I have noticed from her writing now that I have a handful of her books under my belt 💁♀�
Overall, I would not recommend this one unless you are absolutely determined to read all of the SEP novels out there. I did not enjoy this, but it was pulled together at the end in an acceptable fashion.
If you’re looking for something to read, and want to try a SEP novel, try “Ain’t She Sweet�. I thoroughly enjoyed that one, and my review for that five star read can be found here 👉 /review/show...
Two uncomfortable situations stars. Do not particularly recommend.
This review is going to fall flatly in the camp of “if this was written by anyone else, this would garner one star� 💁♀�
The only reason this surprising and uncharacteristically hot mess from SEP is ending up at two stars is due squarely to Phillips� writing capabilities that were somehow, and against all odds, able to pull this trainwreck somewhat back together at the finish line.
What’s wrong with it? Assuming you haven’t read any of the other one or two star reviews for this one yet, let us count the ways this all goes wrong:
1. I almost called it quits at 5%, which is when you’re still at the sample. Why? The balance of power between our Hero and heroine here was immediately way too much for me to stomach. Right out of the gate it’s so uncomfortable, I had to close it up and just couldn’t get up the chutzpah to open it back up. The only reason I decided to soldier on is 100% due to my prior positive experience with SEP’s stellar writing capabilities, otherwise I would have been ready to call it a day at our h’s utter lack of pride (I don’t think this is a spoiler since it’s at 5% and is a part of the sample: she’s ready to drop her clothes and offer up her body to our H. Would never have expected this in a SEP read, and I was not prepared for that).
2. If you follow my reviews, you would know that I am reading SEP out of publishing order. This book, “Dream A Little Dream� is book number four in her Chicago Stars series and one of its features is that it includes Heroes and heroines from prior novels in this series as secondary characters.
***
Now what I have to say next could be considered a mild spoiler, but others have included this in their reviews, so I don’t think it would spoil your enjoyment of the story, so here it is:
** begin mild spoiler **
There is a Hero who is featured here, Cal, who is the H from book three (which I haven’t read yet) in the Chicago Stars series, “Nobody’s Baby But Mine�, and he appears here as one of the villains of the story. Not one of the main villains, more of an antagonist to our heroine here, but a villain nonetheless. His whole vibe here came off as a powerful, privileged male who couldn’t wait to squash the poor helpless and wholly defenseless “evil� female. All of Cal’s scenes were so distasteful that I am no longer interested in reading his love story with his unfortunate heroine (Jane). Cal was portrayed here as a smug, pompous male who enjoyed flexing his wealth to negatively impact the heroine. Not a good look for him at all. He would be the main villain in a lot of stories, so I have no idea what SEP was thinking to have written in her own former Hero this way. Just a bit misguided, in this reviewer’s opinion.
** end mild spoiler
3. Next, we have the Hero here, Gabe, that is cruel to our h’s child. While this was wholly distasteful, I actually felt that the both of them (the h and H) shared the blame for this one. Our h introduces her paramour to her child, haves him move in with her, sleeps with him with the child home; all while she’s still in the getting to know you phase of their relationship. That’s just idiotic to me. What would she have done if it didn’t work out? Parade the next man to her son? Sorry, I think that’s just poor parenting.
4. Also, given the fact that I’m still fairly new to the SEP bandwagon, I am still processing her style. An issue that bothered me previously in her novels is the fact that she runs two simultaneous stories within the same book (both are parallel romances and both plot arcs include sexy times). While I had issue with this before, it didn’t bother me as much here, I could be getting used to her writing style, but I think it’s because I enjoyed the other H and h here (I actually enjoyed them more that the main H and h here. Their story was a lot sweeter. They should have gotten their own book tbh).
5. Finally, a note about the author’s writing style: as mentioned above, she includes a secondary love story to the main plot. It is my belief that the author’s strength is short story writing, and somewhere in the beginning of her career someone suggested to her to combine stories and blend arcs to achieve longer novels. By doing this it helps bulk up the overall plot and simultaneously also camouflages the lack of character development that appears in small areas. Just my 2¢ and my own opinion of what I have noticed from her writing now that I have a handful of her books under my belt 💁♀�
Overall, I would not recommend this one unless you are absolutely determined to read all of the SEP novels out there. I did not enjoy this, but it was pulled together at the end in an acceptable fashion.
If you’re looking for something to read, and want to try a SEP novel, try “Ain’t She Sweet�. I thoroughly enjoyed that one, and my review for that five star read can be found here 👉 /review/show...
Two uncomfortable situations stars. Do not particularly recommend.
July 31, 2018
3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: I love stories with kids in them! I also like the occasional grieving widow/widower story as well. So, this was right up my alley! I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it. I guess I never got over Gabe's treatment and issues with Edward. I got that he would struggle with Edward because of his grief, but his actual hatred for him never fared well with me. I also didn't like how that was all resolved. I didn't feel like it was all that believable, and it was as if a switch was flipped and everything was alright! I did, however, love the h! She was one tough cookie! I also appreciated that she was simply a genuinely good person. Edward was also a great character and he broke my heart a few times with his easy acceptance. Overall it was an enjoyable read, but not going on my favorites shelf like I had hoped.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Rachel and Gabe's story. Rachel has been rolling with life's blows and finds herself stranded in front of Gabe's shabby drive-in theater with her young son, Edward. It takes a while, but she works her way to get the grumpy Gabe to hire her to help fix up the place. Gabe soon learns that Rachel is the infamous Widow Snopes of the con-man faith healer that died after stealing money from many people from the town, and nobody is happy about her return. Gabe had been immersing himself in the drive-in to help with his grieving of his wife and son that he lost to a car accident. Rachel and Gabe find healing powers in each other and they fall in love. There are some funny moments, some suspenseful scenes, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing mainly on Rachel and Gabe in 3rd person narrative. There was a side love story going on where it focused in Gabe's brother, Ethan, and Kristy as well.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 3 stars. Gabe. I struggled with him at times, but I still understood that he was a good man underneath all his gruff exterior.
h rating: 5 stars. Rachel. She had some hard times for sure! I admired her strength and how she cared about others regardless of those hard times.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not really. Once they are together they stay together.
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a cute ending with some good closure and what I would call a HEA ending.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
Overall Opinion: I love stories with kids in them! I also like the occasional grieving widow/widower story as well. So, this was right up my alley! I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it. I guess I never got over Gabe's treatment and issues with Edward. I got that he would struggle with Edward because of his grief, but his actual hatred for him never fared well with me. I also didn't like how that was all resolved. I didn't feel like it was all that believable, and it was as if a switch was flipped and everything was alright! I did, however, love the h! She was one tough cookie! I also appreciated that she was simply a genuinely good person. Edward was also a great character and he broke my heart a few times with his easy acceptance. Overall it was an enjoyable read, but not going on my favorites shelf like I had hoped.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Rachel and Gabe's story. Rachel has been rolling with life's blows and finds herself stranded in front of Gabe's shabby drive-in theater with her young son, Edward. It takes a while, but she works her way to get the grumpy Gabe to hire her to help fix up the place. Gabe soon learns that Rachel is the infamous Widow Snopes of the con-man faith healer that died after stealing money from many people from the town, and nobody is happy about her return. Gabe had been immersing himself in the drive-in to help with his grieving of his wife and son that he lost to a car accident. Rachel and Gabe find healing powers in each other and they fall in love. There are some funny moments, some suspenseful scenes, and some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing mainly on Rachel and Gabe in 3rd person narrative. There was a side love story going on where it focused in Gabe's brother, Ethan, and Kristy as well.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 3 stars. Gabe. I struggled with him at times, but I still understood that he was a good man underneath all his gruff exterior.
h rating: 5 stars. Rachel. She had some hard times for sure! I admired her strength and how she cared about others regardless of those hard times.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I teared up a few times, but I never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not really. Once they are together they stay together.
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a cute ending with some good closure and what I would call a HEA ending.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
January 24, 2021
Me gustó de principio a fin
PUNTOOOO.
Reseña pronto.
PUNTOOOO.
Reseña pronto.
November 6, 2019
O poveste care îți sfâșie sufletul și îți aduce lacrimi pe obraz. O poveste de dragoste care te face să zâmbești din tot sufletul.
Rachel și Gabe sunt doi tineri care au fost crunt loviți de destin, care au pierdut totul și care se văd nevoiți să își ia viața de la capăt. Relația celor doi nu debutează sub cele mai bune auspicii, pare a fi lipsită de viitor, și totuși.... soarta le mai acordă o șansă. Această carte este sensibilă, captează atenția cititorului încă de la început.
Rachel și Gabe sunt doi tineri care au fost crunt loviți de destin, care au pierdut totul și care se văd nevoiți să își ia viața de la capăt. Relația celor doi nu debutează sub cele mai bune auspicii, pare a fi lipsită de viitor, și totuși.... soarta le mai acordă o șansă. Această carte este sensibilă, captează atenția cititorului încă de la început.
February 25, 2016
Pero que maravilloso!!!!!!
SEP me matas.
Preciosa y emotiva historia. He pasado unos ratos de risa de esos que la SEP sabe darme.
Me ha encantado!!!!
SEP me matas.
Preciosa y emotiva historia. He pasado unos ratos de risa de esos que la SEP sabe darme.
Me ha encantado!!!!
January 5, 2022
3.75🌟
Okay i saw this book was written in 1998 so i'm not gonna judge the misogyny, double standards and the over religious judgemental ppl that much.🙄
Little Edward was my fav and he was the cutest but i hated how Gabe treated him so much!!
I get the trauma of losing his child was big but he shouldn't have hit him and treated him so horribly, he was a little boy ffs.😡
It just made me hate Gabe till the end and btw his brothers were morons🙄
He kinda redeemed himself in the epilogue but not enough.
Overall i loved the h and her strength how she never gave up and tbh she deserved so much better.😂
and thanks ˡtԲ� for your recommendation i can never resist books with little kids🥺🧡
Okay i saw this book was written in 1998 so i'm not gonna judge the misogyny, double standards and the over religious judgemental ppl that much.🙄
Little Edward was my fav and he was the cutest but i hated how Gabe treated him so much!!
I get the trauma of losing his child was big but he shouldn't have hit him and treated him so horribly, he was a little boy ffs.😡
It just made me hate Gabe till the end and btw his brothers were morons🙄
He kinda redeemed himself in the epilogue but not enough.
Overall i loved the h and her strength how she never gave up and tbh she deserved so much better.😂
and thanks ˡtԲ� for your recommendation i can never resist books with little kids🥺🧡
September 27, 2016
¡MARAVILLOSA! � "" es una de las historias más hermosas y emotivas que he leído de .
Gabriel y Rachel son los personajes principales, y se encuentran en el momento más doloroso y difícil de sus vidas.
Rachel es una mujer con una fortaleza admirable e inquebrantable. Su vida gira por y para su pequeño hijo de 5 años (Edward), lo que hace que, a pesar de todos los problemas que van surgiendo, su actitud frente a ellos sea la de una luchadora. Es imposible no sentir empatía por ella. Llega a Salvation con muy pocas cosas materiales, pero con una gran determinación de mejorar la calidad de vida de su hijo y darle un hogar. Allí conoce a un Gabriel deprimido y resentido con el mundo (porque ha perdido trágicamente a su familia), pero que tiene un gran corazón y sentido del honor. Entre ellos comienza una relación difícil, tensa, porque tratan de preservarse individualmente, pero que va transformándose, con infinita paciencia y dulzura, en ese amor esperanzador, que cicatriza las heridas del corazón.
Un punto importantísimo para destacar en esta historia, es la complejidad de la relación entre Gabriel y Edward (hijo de Rachel). Sin entrar en detalles (para no quitar la magia de descubrirlo) me pareció muy acertada la manera en que SEP encaró esta relación, porque la hizo� real.
Paralelamente a la historia principal, se desarrolla la simpática historia de amor de Ethan Bonney y Kristty, y nos reencontramos con Cal y Jane (protagonistas de Solo mío, el libro anterior de esta serie).
La verdad es que ¡adoré esta historia! Por la profundidad de las relaciones entre los protagonistas, por las emociones que te hace experimentar, y por el mensaje precioso y esperanzador que deja. �
Gabriel y Rachel son los personajes principales, y se encuentran en el momento más doloroso y difícil de sus vidas.
Rachel es una mujer con una fortaleza admirable e inquebrantable. Su vida gira por y para su pequeño hijo de 5 años (Edward), lo que hace que, a pesar de todos los problemas que van surgiendo, su actitud frente a ellos sea la de una luchadora. Es imposible no sentir empatía por ella. Llega a Salvation con muy pocas cosas materiales, pero con una gran determinación de mejorar la calidad de vida de su hijo y darle un hogar. Allí conoce a un Gabriel deprimido y resentido con el mundo (porque ha perdido trágicamente a su familia), pero que tiene un gran corazón y sentido del honor. Entre ellos comienza una relación difícil, tensa, porque tratan de preservarse individualmente, pero que va transformándose, con infinita paciencia y dulzura, en ese amor esperanzador, que cicatriza las heridas del corazón.
Un punto importantísimo para destacar en esta historia, es la complejidad de la relación entre Gabriel y Edward (hijo de Rachel). Sin entrar en detalles (para no quitar la magia de descubrirlo) me pareció muy acertada la manera en que SEP encaró esta relación, porque la hizo� real.
Paralelamente a la historia principal, se desarrolla la simpática historia de amor de Ethan Bonney y Kristty, y nos reencontramos con Cal y Jane (protagonistas de Solo mío, el libro anterior de esta serie).
La verdad es que ¡adoré esta historia! Por la profundidad de las relaciones entre los protagonistas, por las emociones que te hace experimentar, y por el mensaje precioso y esperanzador que deja. �
August 10, 2016
5 STARS
Another 5-star read from Susan Elizabeth Phillips!!
I absolutely LOVE this series...
Best Bits: There is so much to love about this 4th instalment of the Chicago Stars series. For me, the depth and integrity of the characters was the real winner here. My heart bled for Rachel, Gabe and Edward and I lapped up the indulgent sweetness of Ethan and Kristy as well (their story was a lot more predictable... but no less enjoyable.)
It's like an awesome bonus! Two love stories for the price of one!! And I loved both equally: Gabe and Rachel are the two tragic souls, each with heartbreaking pasts, who don't get along AT ALL in the beginning, but also find strength in the raw honesty of their dynamic. And then there's Ethan and Kristy, friends since childhood who learn to find their true potential as adults.
I also really enjoyed the spiritual/religious thread throughout this book, something I haven't come across that often. It would have been so easy for SEP to preach to her readers and ruin the narrative with campy stereotypes. Instead, she took the road less travelled and showed how faith and religion can be abused, misunderstood, manipulated, and embraced by people with both good and bad intentions. I was particularly intrigued by Rachel's journey in this respect, and loved what she represented.
The final reveal about Rachel provided another layer to her relationship with Gabe as well, and provided me with a deeper understanding about the effect she had on him. It all fell into place. It was the last piece of the puzzle... and I didn't see it coming at all.
Phillips writes with a masterful hand.... it's editted beautifully, the story develops unexpectedly, and the imagery of Annie's cabin is just as powerful as it was in book 3.
The Worst Bit The cover!!! This cover is all wrong for this book!!! What the hell are the flowers and sundresses doing on the cover of this book??? The main character spends the whole book wearing men's shoes and tattered hand me down clothes and wild hair... NOTHING LIKE THE COVER. The story is heartbreaking and intense and shrouded in preconceptions and small-mind judgement so why are there pretty flower graphics on the cover??
Recommended for: Lovers of well-written, well-developed characters who overcome adversity and find strength in one another. Lovers of drama mixed with comedy, good dialogue an strong, kick-arse heroines! This is a must-read!
Another 5-star read from Susan Elizabeth Phillips!!
I absolutely LOVE this series...
Best Bits: There is so much to love about this 4th instalment of the Chicago Stars series. For me, the depth and integrity of the characters was the real winner here. My heart bled for Rachel, Gabe and Edward and I lapped up the indulgent sweetness of Ethan and Kristy as well (their story was a lot more predictable... but no less enjoyable.)
It's like an awesome bonus! Two love stories for the price of one!! And I loved both equally: Gabe and Rachel are the two tragic souls, each with heartbreaking pasts, who don't get along AT ALL in the beginning, but also find strength in the raw honesty of their dynamic. And then there's Ethan and Kristy, friends since childhood who learn to find their true potential as adults.
I also really enjoyed the spiritual/religious thread throughout this book, something I haven't come across that often. It would have been so easy for SEP to preach to her readers and ruin the narrative with campy stereotypes. Instead, she took the road less travelled and showed how faith and religion can be abused, misunderstood, manipulated, and embraced by people with both good and bad intentions. I was particularly intrigued by Rachel's journey in this respect, and loved what she represented.
The final reveal about Rachel provided another layer to her relationship with Gabe as well, and provided me with a deeper understanding about the effect she had on him. It all fell into place. It was the last piece of the puzzle... and I didn't see it coming at all.
Phillips writes with a masterful hand.... it's editted beautifully, the story develops unexpectedly, and the imagery of Annie's cabin is just as powerful as it was in book 3.
The Worst Bit The cover!!! This cover is all wrong for this book!!! What the hell are the flowers and sundresses doing on the cover of this book??? The main character spends the whole book wearing men's shoes and tattered hand me down clothes and wild hair... NOTHING LIKE THE COVER. The story is heartbreaking and intense and shrouded in preconceptions and small-mind judgement so why are there pretty flower graphics on the cover??
Recommended for: Lovers of well-written, well-developed characters who overcome adversity and find strength in one another. Lovers of drama mixed with comedy, good dialogue an strong, kick-arse heroines! This is a must-read!
December 7, 2010
5++ stars!
Another terrific installment in this outstanding series. This book was soooo goooood! Loved it. Once again SEP surprised me big time.I still feel bad because I had not read anything from this author before, I adore her style so much now.
Do you know what's so good about this series? It's the way the author makes it seem so real. I'm usually a paranormal-romance reader so I don't care much about contemporary romance. I don't like cheesy or corny stories. So that's what's so good about this series. I cry, laugh and bite my nails hard so many times I stopped counting them. I couldn't put it down. I know many have given 3 stars to the books in this series and I just don't understand it. The romance is so good and real, but more important the plot is always amazing.
In this installment we have a single mother arriving to her home town after suffering many injustices. Of course she is lucky enough to come into Gabe's way. Oh you, lucky lucky girl,lol. I loved Gabe. He was given a family with an amazing and caring wife and a very cute boy just to loose them against a drunk driver. He was a man suffering, almost loosing himself into pain. But with the help of the heroine some time after he finds a way to survive and put his life together. They face many problems and uncomfortable situations, and at the end everything works out just perfectly.
I love this author, I like her style a lot and definitely recommend it, so please if you read this series let me know, I would love to talk about it. It is driving me crazy, in a good way,LOL.
Another terrific installment in this outstanding series. This book was soooo goooood! Loved it. Once again SEP surprised me big time.I still feel bad because I had not read anything from this author before, I adore her style so much now.
Do you know what's so good about this series? It's the way the author makes it seem so real. I'm usually a paranormal-romance reader so I don't care much about contemporary romance. I don't like cheesy or corny stories. So that's what's so good about this series. I cry, laugh and bite my nails hard so many times I stopped counting them. I couldn't put it down. I know many have given 3 stars to the books in this series and I just don't understand it. The romance is so good and real, but more important the plot is always amazing.
In this installment we have a single mother arriving to her home town after suffering many injustices. Of course she is lucky enough to come into Gabe's way. Oh you, lucky lucky girl,lol. I loved Gabe. He was given a family with an amazing and caring wife and a very cute boy just to loose them against a drunk driver. He was a man suffering, almost loosing himself into pain. But with the help of the heroine some time after he finds a way to survive and put his life together. They face many problems and uncomfortable situations, and at the end everything works out just perfectly.
I love this author, I like her style a lot and definitely recommend it, so please if you read this series let me know, I would love to talk about it. It is driving me crazy, in a good way,LOL.
December 11, 2017
4.5 stars
Some romance books are great to read but usually they don’t make much of an emotional impact because they are just so far removed from your own life experiences. So maybe it's just because I also have a 5 year-old son like the heroine, but this book absolutely struck a chord with me (even though I don't have anything else in common with the heroine).
This is a really heartrending story about a single mother named Rachel who is more than down on her luck and is ostracized by the entire community for something she can reasonably be blamed for by others. It's also about Gabe’s struggles with an unimaginable loss in his past and his attempts to bury his pain through distraction and anger. When these two characters meet for the first time it’s hard to imagine making a worse first impression. Seeing their distaste and distrust slowly transform into desire and devotion is riveting. There’s also a surprising side-plot between two secondary characters, Gabe’s brother Ethan and Ethan’s longtime friend Kristy. All of these characters are so painfully real and their struggles are hard to witness at times because they’re so ugly, but it absolutely makes for a captivating story.
In case it interests you or bothers you, I feel the need to note that there are some Christian undertones to the book, though nothing too preachy, however this is definitely not a ‘clean� romance. Oh, and this is part of a series, but it reads as a standalone.
Some romance books are great to read but usually they don’t make much of an emotional impact because they are just so far removed from your own life experiences. So maybe it's just because I also have a 5 year-old son like the heroine, but this book absolutely struck a chord with me (even though I don't have anything else in common with the heroine).
This is a really heartrending story about a single mother named Rachel who is more than down on her luck and is ostracized by the entire community for something she can reasonably be blamed for by others. It's also about Gabe’s struggles with an unimaginable loss in his past and his attempts to bury his pain through distraction and anger. When these two characters meet for the first time it’s hard to imagine making a worse first impression. Seeing their distaste and distrust slowly transform into desire and devotion is riveting. There’s also a surprising side-plot between two secondary characters, Gabe’s brother Ethan and Ethan’s longtime friend Kristy. All of these characters are so painfully real and their struggles are hard to witness at times because they’re so ugly, but it absolutely makes for a captivating story.
In case it interests you or bothers you, I feel the need to note that there are some Christian undertones to the book, though nothing too preachy, however this is definitely not a ‘clean� romance. Oh, and this is part of a series, but it reads as a standalone.
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