Dream a Little Dream

Rating:
Summary: So far my favorite SEP book
Review: I have been reading alot of her books lately and this is one of my favorites. She is becoming on of my favorites writers. This story was very touching. I found myself crying several times. Although a lot of her stories have more humor I really enjoyed this one. I read this story before the Cal and Jane story and I didn't like Cal at all. I really liked Rachel and Gabe both. The secondary story of Ethan and Kristy was good too, although I didnt't like Ethan at first.

Rating:
Summary: A Different Tenor for Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Review: I'd like to take a moment to say: Ms. Phillips THANK YOU for writing romances and stories that do not feature murder to catalyze a plot or to furnish a conflict. I am tired of repetitive romantic suspense. Thanks for not going there.

I wasn't able to get through 'Dream a Little Dream' a few years ago. I thought, "A Drive-In Movie Theater?? What is this??" But I came back to it, because someone told me that Gabe was Cal's older brother.
This isn't a poorly written story-- it's just different from what she usually writes. It's not as comic and the heroine is in dire, very pitiful circumstances. You do feel the Rachel's and Gabe's pain, especially Rachel, who just couldn't catch a break. I couldn't really warm to Edward, because he was so passive in the first half of the book. And I was sorry to see Phillips resort to cheap devices to manipulate her readers' emotions with the transparent "Are we going to die?" comments, etc. But, all in all, a strong effort with a lot of heart. I became very involved in the story after the first hundred pages or so.

Rating:
Summary: A nice touch...and enjoyable.
Review: This is my first Susan E. Phillips novel to read. I'll have to admit, I know talent when I see it. Susan Phillips will be a great author of many more novels. Although I only gave the review three stars, I agonized to give it four stars. Maybe I shoudl have. I loved Rachel's perservance and her wit. I disliked Gabe Bonner from the start because of his reaction to a small child. I enjoyed the story and how SEP tried to pull the plot together. I simply found flaws in her writing that made me wonder how she got from one place to another. For instance, we were talking about her deceased husband making off with millions of dollars and later, it turned out to be diamonds. No where did I see how this happened. I have a problem with the ending, where Rachel visits the child with leukemia. Rachel had lost all faith and had not regained it. And she is supposed to lay her hands on a dying child and make it well. Okay, I have a problem with this, so I thought SEP could have changed her plot a little. Overall, I like this author. I think she has talent and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

Rating:
Summary: An A for the romance, an A for the humor
Review: How is it that I'd never even heard of SEP before? I have a policy of always trying a new book along with my other buys, this way I occasionally stumble onto someone really refreshing and great. Well, it worked this time.

Since others have written about the story line, I just want to say that she has some of the snappiest funniest dialogue in this genre. I kept laughing and laughing about these feisty characters. Like when she tells him she's surprised he's so prickly in the ams, she thought it was only a nighttime thing. He tells her its a pretty much around the clock affair.

There's one scene where a sleeping naked Gabe throws a night prowler against the wall and then realizes its a dazed Rachel. She's still woozy but can't help but notice his assets. He tries to see how fuzzy she is and asks her how many?? She answers one. Then she realizes he's asking about fingers.... oh, fingers!!

Or how they call each other names the first time *immediately* prior to being together: "Spoilsport". "Hussy". You have to love them.

It was interesting to have a different takes on Rachel's actions, plus all the side stories- her boy, the family, the 'treasure', community acceptance/non-acceptance, Gabe's own major issues . Can't wait to read more of her books.

Rating:
Summary: SEP at her best!
Review: Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of the best writers of contemporary romance as is amply proven by "Dream a Little Dream" . This is the story of Rachel Stone, the widow of a TV evangelist whose greed and hypocrisy continue to haunt their former home, Salvation, North Carolina. Rachel and her son Edward are truly destitute, and she returns to Salvation in search of some of her husband's ill-gotten gains. In order to conduct her search, she must outwit the current occupant of her former home, the widower Gabe Bonner. Gabe is still in such deep mourning for his lost wife and son, that he has completely closed down emotionally. Circumstances bring Rachel and Gabe together, and much to their mutual surprise, their initial antipathy and wariness begins to awaken emotional feelings neither anticipated. Their sparing matches are hysterical and Phillips does a wonderful job building the sexual tension between the two.

This is actually a two-for-one romance. In addition to Rachel and Gabe's story, the book includes the romance of Gabe's brother Ethan and his secretary Kristy. Ethan is a reformed sinner who became a pastor, the kind that sharply contrasts with Rachel's flamboyant dead husband. Kristy has been a part of his life forever and clearly always had a crush on Ethan. When Rachel comes to town, she inspires Kristy to make some changes in her life which completely throw Ethan's world into a tailspin,

This novel has a unique plot, wonderfully developed characters, and extremely amusing dialouge. Even if you aren't a fan of contemporary romance, this is such a sweet and funny novel that you are bound to enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: This is the first book I've read by Ms. Phillips, and I was not disappointed and hope to read many others as good as this one was.

Rachel was married to a television evangelist who turned out to not be so good a person and stole millions of dollars of donations that belonged to others. Before he died, he confessed his sins, all the while making it seem that his wife, Rachel, had led him to do the horrible things he did. After he died, Rachel was trying to support her son and herself when she comes into a town filled with many of her late husband's followers. The only person in town who is remotely nice to her at all is Gabe Bonner. He gives Rachel a job and secures a place for her to live.

Gabe is not exactly super nice, but there is something about Rachel, like the way she looks like she hasn't eaten in a month, how he wants her in spite of that, or the fact that she is a fighter in a town of people who hate her that makes him want to help. Gabe has also suffered in his life, when his wife and son died two years before. Will Rachel and Gabe be able to heal and helpe each other despite the past and the efforts of all the people in the town and their families to keep them apart?

I liked each of the main characters and the secondary characters because they all were intrigueing and wonderful. Rachel was a true fighter who was willing to sacrifice anything for her son and was generous to a fault. Gabe was extremely alpha, one of those brooding men, and it just makes the reader ache to heal him, or at least have Rachel heal him. There is also a secondary romance between Gabe's brother pastor Ethan and his secretary Kristy, who has secretly been in love with him for a long time. Dependable Kristy is about to break out of her shell and really show Ethan just what he's been overlooking all those years. Their story is heartwarming and touching as well.

This story had a nice plot, good characters, and a happy ever after ending for everyone and is just the type of romance I want to curl up with and read in one sitting. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good love story. Happy Reading!

Rating:
Summary: Dream a little dream
Review: This is my second SEP and I read the entire thing in a weekend. I am now looking into collecting all of her books keep for myself.

Rating:
Summary: Not a true SEP fan
Review: With a 'million' reviews already written, I just wanted to express my opinion. It is a good book. Great dialog. Rachel is one of my favorite female leads. Definitely a keeper.

Rating:
Summary: A DREAM OF A BOOK
Review: What a pleasant surprise this was! After It Had To Be You and Heaven Texas, I was a little hesitant to jump back into another SEP book. I felt uncomfortable with the "heroes" in those books. Was never sure I even liked them. Low and behold along comes Dream A Little Dream, and I am hooked from the start. A fully developed character in SEP's fiesty heroine who you pull for, feel for, cry for and laugh with (excuse the prepositions). A hero that, while initially unpleasant, you can at least understand why he shut down his emotions. Great, great story. Good secondary characters, too. This book should get at least 5 stars and definitely more than the above mentioned SEP books. Dream A Little Dream is a book to keep and reread. Light the fire in the fireplace, grab a glass of wine, and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book to Read ~ I'm Not Good WIth Titles
Review: I think this is a wonderful book!. This is almost like the conclusion to "Nobody's Baby But Mine", because "Dream A Little Dream" involves the second Bonner brother, Gabe Bonner.

Rachel Stone was the widower of a very evil and greedy man that made Rachel take the blame of his greediness. After her husband died, everyong hated her because they believed that she was the reason, her husband became so corrupt. But Rachel don't care what the others think because she got a son to take care of, Edward who perfers to be called Chip. (Go Figure)

Rachel was stuck in Salvation, North Carolina because her car broke down, right in front of the property that belongs to Gabe Bonner.

Gabe Bonner was a man who was cold and empty of all emotions because of the devastating loss of his wife and son, due to a car accident. Gabe hired Rachel to help with his drive-in and they work together, side by side. When Gabe starts to living as as an almost human being again, the animosity the town causes a few problems for both of them. The problems might force Rachel out of the town but Gabe isn't going to let Rachel and her son go without a fight. And Rachel is no puhover either.

I love this book! Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a genius with words. I can never think to write such outrageous things, if I was to write a book but Philliips pull it off and with a big sucess. "Dream A Little Dream" is like a must read and whoever doesn't is in a great loss. I'm glad I read this book, but it was kinda hard with all the late nights I spent with this book.

= o )