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Summary: One of the top ten contemporary romances ever.
Review: The combination of Rachel Snopes' hopelessness and the town's reaction to her return create a backdrop that will keep you turning the pages and wishing, hoping and praying for the best to come to her and her son. Gabriel Bonner's loss is so profound that you can't help but cry along with him. The pairing of two people that have such histories and so little to lose makes for an emotionally stirring and hopeful romance. Susan Elizabeth Phillips really knows how to tug at your heart strings at the same time she has you laughing out loud.
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Summary: A terrific tale straight out of today's headlines
Review: Years ago, Rachel Stone's deceased spouse, the Reverend Snopes, a very popular TV evangelist, embezzled several million dollars from the townsfolk of Salvation, North Carolina. When her husband died in a plane crash, the money was never found. Rachel, accompanied by her little boy, decides to return to Salvation in hopes of locating the missing funds. Gabriel Bonner has never recovered from the deaths of his wife and son. To pass time, he is restoring an old dilapidated drive-in theater. When Rachel's car breaks down by the theater, she asks him for help. He tells her to get lost, something she refuses to do. He eventually hires her because he cannot stand idly by watching the two Stones starve to death. It does not take long for the townsfolk to treat Rachel like a plague-filled Delilah because she is blamed for her husband's fall from grace. However, as Gabe and Delilah work together, their acerbic exchanges awaken their inner souls from long term hibernation. Still, before this couple can take any further steps towards a lasting relationship, he must fully accept that the Rachel working alongside of him is nothing like that public image even his brother believes to be true. DREAM A LITTLE DREAM is a fun to read contemporary romance due to the relationship between Rachel and Gabe, and the inciteful comments from five year old Edward. The story line of redemption is well designed by the sensational Susan Elizabeth Phillips and the characters add a genuine feel, especially the child, to the tale. This novel is must reading for fans of regional modern day romances constructed, in part, from today's headlines. Harriet Klausner
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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 )
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Summary: Stirring-loss, survival, passion, & the love of a little boy
Review: Susan Elizabeth Phillips is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. This is her fourth book I have read in the past month and I have given three of those books the highest rating. Her stories are so touching and full of life. In Dream a Little Dream, her leads are very likable with well-rounded and interesting secondary characters. And one of those secondary characters is Rachel's five-year-old son, Edward. At times your heart loves him and breaks for him as he attempts to guard his mom, arrange a marriage for her, and put down roots in Salvation. This is not some cutesy kid - this is a heartrending portrayal of the son of a single mom who doesn't expect any one to like him and requires so little in life for happiness. As the son of a crooked, notorious, deceased televangelist, he has experienced a lot of rejection. There is a lot to be worked out in his life and it is a very dear sideline for this story. His relationship with the hero is realistic - filled with problems and those problems propel the turning point of the book. Rachel has returned to her former home of Salvation, North Carolina - a place where she is despised because she is the widow of the deceased televangelist who put Salvation on the map and then ran away with millions from his ministry. They believe she was involved in the religious scam and spurn her and her son at every turn. Rachel is totally without money, friends, family, or resources. Her car breaks down as she is nearing Salvation at an old drive in movie theatre. There she meets Gabe Bonner who has purchased the old drive in and is restoring it. He has advertised for help and she decides she will fill the job. However, Gabe wants nothing to do with this woman and her young son. He is unkind, insulting, and pushy as he demands that they get off his property. Gabe is a rugged, good-looking man recovering from a tragic loss. Even with his pushy, rude treatment of Rachel and Edward in the beginning of the book, he still appears as an overall attractive and very desirable man. Gabe is unaware that Rachel's broken down car is their home and calls a tow truck to get it and them off his property. But Rachel won't give up so easily. She is probably the most persistent heroine I have read and Gabe eventually gives in and hires her. Gabe and Rachel find themselves drawn to one another although neither wants a relationship. While Rachel would deny to anyone her poverty status, Gabe begins to recognize the many things Rachel and Edward go without and attempts to help them financially. It was rather refreshing when Rachel accepted his help - that seems to be in the "no-no" book of rules for romance heroines. So often the heroine refuses sensible help because she doesn't want to appear "bought". However, Rachel had no such qualms. The characters from Nobody's Baby But Mine return in this book. I have not read this prequel to Dream a Little Dream. I think I would have enjoyed this book even more if I had but it also stands fine as a read alone book. One adult secondary character you will really enjoy is Gabe's younger brother - a pastor in Salvation. I have read few - if any - realistic portrayals of a minister in romance. But this one is really well done and adds greatly to the story line. Cal, Gabe's older brother (and the hero from Nobody's Baby But Mine), is quite the antagonist and behaves rather badly towards Rachel. He's a former good guy who becomes one you "love to hate" at one point in Dream a Little Dream. His comeuppance is served so well and with such subtle humor that it is one you will definitely remember. I highly recommend Dream a Little Dream. It is a moving story in so many aspects. There are no silly misunderstandings between the leads and they both act quite maturely once they become involved. The sensual rating is about a 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Dream a Little Dream is the third of four books in the Chicago Stars series. First in the series is Heaven, Texas followed by Nobody's Baby But Mine, then Dream a Little Dream, with This Heart of Mine as the last.
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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.
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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.
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