THE DREAM SERIES
by Isabelle Peterson
The Six Book Series is complete!!
DITCHING THE DREAM
Feeling dead in her marriage, Elizabeth Fairchild ditches the dream of her seemingly perfect life with her husband in search of who she really is.
She went from her parents' house to her husband's home and never really learned to stand on her own two feet. She decides to leave her comfortable life in Napa Valley in search of her inner fire in New York City. She certainly didn't leave her husband to find another man, but she soon finds herself involved with two: Jack Stevens and Kevin Parker.
Jack is older. He has heart-stopping good looks, is wildly successful, and is very much in control of everything around him - especially Elizabeth.
Kevin is younger. He is carefree with a heart of gold and loves Elizabeth's spunk.
While Elizabeth's old life still calls to her, she also finds what she needs in New York. But which dream will she choose?
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Caliente!!
Wow! Where do I start with this book? I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting with this book, but it ended up being so much more!
Like so many others that have posted reviews I also thought it was going to be your typical erotic storyline. This ended up being so much more. It definitely had hot, steamy sex but the storyline was also not the typical young 20-somethings. This was a story about grown-ups and grown-up feelings. The writing was done very well and the author did a great job with descriptions of places and people and you really felt like you were there. The writing from Elizabeth's point-of-view really made it easy to identify with and you really find yourself just as torn on what choices to make as she was.
Without giving anything away, I have to say that I was on the other team than the one she chose. Cannot wait for the next book and to see what happens!
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NOT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS
1979... When eighteen-year old Jack Stevens is spotted in his rural Colorado town by a scout from a New York City modeling agency, his life is flipped upside down. With little more than his looks, he heads to New York with a dream he didn't know he had. Jack has a rough start, but finds his feet and embarks on an exciting life as a male model in the 1980s living in Manhattan.
2013... Thirty-four years later, a confirmed bachelor, and very successful, Jack is satisfied with his life, until he meets a breath of fresh air - Elizabeth Fairchild. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he'd find a love like he does with 'Beth.' It's an instant connection.
Following wild dreams had worked for him in the past... Is this another wild dream he should follow?
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Team Jack!! Where do I even begin?!? I don't want to give anything away so I'm going to keep this relatively short. I loved the first book because I could completely relate to how Elizabeth felt in her marriage. If you haven't read the first book (Ditching the Dream) - stop what you are doing and go read it! Then, definitely get this one and read it! I will admit, I was almost as torn as Elizabeth at the end of the first book but I totally get why she made the choice she made. This book is Jack's story and Isabelle Peterson did an excellent job sharing Jack's history, his side of things with Elizabeth and then picking up from there to finish out his story. I couldn't put this book down because I just HAD to know what happened! I love the way it ended!
Great book!
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CHASING THE DREAM
Phoebe Fairchild didn't have a great first year of college. In fact, it stunk! She realized she'd chosen a major, physics, that didn't suit her. And worse than that, a boyfriend who was a first-class jerk.
When she visited her mother in New York for Spring Break, Phoebe decided that a transfer to a new university, a thousand miles from her current one, and a new major were definitely in order. With a little assistance from her mother's friend, Jack Stevens, Phoebe worked a transfer to NYU and better still, an internship at a major TV network.
Phoebe moved into her mother's old apartment, made a new friend, and figured out the Big Apple. But one of her biggest challenge was to be her internship assignment. Working in Public Relations, she had just gotten comfortable with the daily routine when she's suddenly assigned to be the Personal Assistant to mega star, Chase Smythe. Since she was nine years old, Phoebe had been starry-eyed for the blond haired, blue eyed actor. Her room had been practically wallpapered in Chase Smythe pullouts from the teen magazines.
But Chase Smythe wasn't the charming, sexy actor on TV and in the movies he starred in. He was still as good looking as ever, but seemed that over the years, stardom had jaded him. In real life, Chase was full of himself, lazy and left a path of destruction in his wake that had been well concealed by his former 'handlers.' Now it was Phoebe's job to rein him in.
Nonetheless, there is a spark. Phoebe was warned to not cave into his charms, as fake as they are but there's more than just his charm. There's chemistry. Is it real? Or is it an act? Will Chase let Phoebe in to see the real person, not just the TV personality? Did she even stand a chance with him? Especially as she faced new challenges herself? Or was being with Chase just a dream?
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She's done it again!
I so loved this book! I'll admit after reading the first two books I wanted more Jack - he IS in this one some too. However, I was quite interested in learning more about Beth's daughter Phoebe and Isabelle Peterson delivered!
Phoebe is coming out of a horrible relationship with her ex and looking for a fresh start in "The Big City". She gets an internship and lands an unexpected PR job with the sexy heart throb Chase Smythe. After crushing on this celebrity for years, she quickly realizes he's not much different than her ex. He seems lazy, cocky, playboy he's rumored to be in all the gossip magazines. Determined to get through the next couple of weeks "babysitting" a spoiled movie star, what happens when Chase turns out to not be what he seems? And how will Phoebe deal with an unexpected surprise?
I loved the fact that the first two books were written from the POV of an older, more mature MC. I completely related to how Beth felt and the decisions she made. As much as I loved those books, I loved this one just as much. This one just "cemented" the fact that Isabelle Peterson is an amazing author! I cannot wait to read what happens in the next book!!
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UNEXPECTED DREAMS
Divorce is a big change... But there are bigger ones.
A few months after his divorce and many failed blind dates. Greg Fairchild met Tanner Williams. What started out as a good friendship unexpectedly turned into something that Greg didn't know what to do with... attraction. Why would he be attracted to a man? He had been a ladies man back in the day. He was married for more than 20 years - to a woman... He fathered three children with that woman... He was a Republican!
Was this unexpected development a mid-life crisis? Or had he been living a lie all these years?
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Amazing!
First, let me start by saying that this was my first M/M book to read and I am now wondering why I haven't read more like this before.
I wasn't sure Isabelle Peterson could top the first three books in this series... boy was I wrong! I also didn't think I could ever like or understand Greg and the way he treated Elizabeth during their marriage. Yep... wrong again!
Greg's story is truly amazing! I love the way his story was told. He feels lost and unsure after his divorce from Elizabeth. Friends try to help him move on by setting him up on dates. He just doesn't feel a connection with anyone. That is until he meets Tanner Williams. They hit it off and Greg is thankful to have made a new friend. A slight misunderstanding on Tanner's behalf and Greg's world is turned upside down.
This is beautiful story of self-discovery and Greg learning that he is exactly who is meant to be. Tanner is absolutely swoon-worthy with how he handles everything and I absolutely love how it ended. I can't wait to read more about these two!
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FEELS LIKE A DREAM
Like most men, Kevin Parker had always dated women his age or younger. Then after dating an older woman for a couple of weeks (now just a good friend, Elizabeth-Beth-Fairchild), Kevin developed a new perspective on love and romance. With his newfound insight, Shelby O'Sullivan catches Kevin's eye. Confident. Funny. Beautiful. Getting to know her, he quickly realized that she is the woman of his dreams.
Nine years older than Kevin, a history of less than amazing boyfriends, and a health history she feels is tarnished, Shelby O'Sullivan has avoided falling in love over the past several years. She doesn't want to fall for Kevin's southern charms and sinful good looks, but soon finds herself doing just that.
Is their romance a dream come true or a nightmare in the making?
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I absolutely LOVE this series!
If you've read the first four books in the Dream Series, you will remember meeting Kevin Parker in the first book - Ditching the Dream. This can be read as a standalone, however I highly recommend you read the other books. I'm not saying that because you will be lost reading this one only, but because the others are amazing as well!
Kevin is gorgeous with his dark hair, olive-tone skin, brown eyes, sexy as hell body with a few tattoos. Even though he hasn't known Shelby O'Sullivan long, he knows that she is the girl for him. Shelby is concerned about their age difference and what it may mean to them both and what they want out of life and a relationship.
Kevin finally breaks her down and she agrees to go out with him. From there it is a roller-coaster of a ride. They have their ups and downs and you will just have to read this book to find out more!
Isabelle, you've done it again! I absolutely loved Kevin and Shelby's book. I laughed with them and I cried with them. I couldn't ask more from a book! I can't wait to read what you come up with next!
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DARE TO DREAM
What's next for the Fairchilds?
Elizabeth Fairchild and, her true love, jack Stevens, have organized the Dare to Dream Gala, and her whole family is joining her in New York.
Her three children all seem to have secrets.
Bradley, her oldest, wants to talk to her, but won't say why.
Carter, her middle child, is bringing a girlfriend, but has said very little about her.
Even her youngest, Phoebe, seems to be hiding something.
Secrets and a reunion... Will there be celebrations?
This is the final book of the series and not a standalone:
★Series Reading Order★
1 - Ditching the Dream (Elizabeth's story)
2 - Not in My Wildest Dreams (Jack's story)
3 - Chasing the Dream (Phoebe's story)
4 - Unexpected Dreams (Greg's story)
5 - Feels Like a Dream (Kevin's story)
6 - Dare to Dream (Everyone, plus Beth's sons Bradley & Carter)
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Wonderful end to the series!!
I have followed this author and her books since the first Ditching the Dream was released. As each book was released, I fell in love with the characters. Of course, Elizabeth "Beth" Fairchild will always hold a special place in my heart because I could completely relate to how she felt in the first book.
In Dare to Dream, we get a bit of every person we met in the previous books including Beth and Greg's children Carter and Brad. There were definitely a few jaw-dropping moments in this book. The last part of the book we get a glimpse into their futures and I absolutely loved how each of their stories wrapped up!
I highly recommend not only this book, but all of the previous books in this series! Isabelle Peterson did an amazing job telling these characters' stories and connecting them to real-life issues that many people experience daily. From stay-home moms to young people facing tough situations to people discovering who they truly are and going after what makes them happy!
Definitely one of my favorite series I have ever read!!
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Isabelle Peterson is a Chicago Suburbs girl living in Connecticut enjoying days in New York City. Her Dream Series was never intended to exist. Thanks to a couple authors who dared her to write a book (when she typically wrote screenplays), we got the book Ditching the Dream, which then evolved into the Dream Series. It didn't take more than 8 months to complete the dare from rough draft to published novel, although several times Isabelle had to rescue the draft from the Deleted file.
If it weren't for a dare--we would have never gotten the chance to venture the world of the Dream Series.
When she's not writing, Isabelle loves coffee, cocktails and wine - and not always in that order. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and loves to cook for her family. She's the wife of a wonderful husband, mother of two musical teens and one fur baby, a 9 pound shih tzu.
Twitter - @IzzyKPeterson
Instagram - @IzzyKPeterson
I love Isabelle Peterson's Dream Series! It was so refreshing to read about grown ups and real life issues. When I grow up, I want to be Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteTo rediscover myself, I'd go to India - don't know why, but I was always drawn to it...
ReplyDeleteLove this series, to answer the question, I think I would go to the Seattle area, I have family up there and its so beautiful. I am from the south, so everything would be different. Thanks for the chance and congrats Isabelle on your latest release and making the series complete.
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