DREAM A LITTLE DREAM (Chicago Stars Series) by SUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS

‘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.’

Oh wow! *sniff, sniff* My heart…..I just fell deeply in love with this book and can’t recommend this incredibly beautiful story enough! It reminded me exactly why I adore and have missed this author so much! As equally heartbreaking as it was heart-warming, as funny as it was emotional…..arrgghhh reacquainting myself with this authors words was like coming home. SEP’s books just make me….happy!

“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.”

I have no idea how it happened, but when I initially binged on the Chicago Stars Series by Susan Elizabeth Philips over 4 years I ago, I somehow missed reading this amazing book, so of course I had to remedy that and have to admit, a little part of me was excited because I was able to experience this story for the first time and wow! What had I missed? This book was everything I love in a romance story!

“If the way you’ve been treating me is a mark of fondness, maybe you’d better take a fresh look at your interpersonal communication skills.”

It’s easy to read this one as a standalone. It’s been a long time between books in this series and I had no problem reading it this way. We did get to catch up on Cal and Jane from Nobody’s Baby But Mine (Book #4) but that was more a bonus than a necessity however I would highly recommend this entire series if you get the chance, especially if you love sports romances (though this installment isn’t a sports romance), books with children or stories full of warmth, tenderness, emotion, humour, passion together with beautiful mesmerising storytelling. Susan Elizabeth Philips has a gorgeous writing style and it’s one I’ve missed!

‘He wasn’t gentle now. Gentleness had been burned out of him.’

In Dream a Little Dream experience not one but two love stories as there is also an unrequited love between two secondary characters simmering in the background… so you can imagine…..I was in romance book heaven! This had it all:  friends to lovers, second chance romance, intrigue and so many heartbreakingly stunning moments I hardly know where to start!

‘…..how could she hate a man whose greatest fault lay in his ability to love so absolutely?’

We meet single Mum, Rachel Stone when she is returning to Salvation North Carolina as the town pariah. She encounters immense animosity from the town folk due to her ex-husband stealing the towns money and their faith.  There’s a lot of resentment and it’s all aimed at twenty seven year old Rachel who has returned on a mission of sorts to provide a better life for her and her adorable five year old son, Edward. Be prepared to have this little guy not only steal your hearts but pull at every single heartstring! Oh gosh…..Edward (Chip) had me in tears a few times!

Rachel shows such tenacity and resilience and meets her haters head on and how she tries to shield Edward from the hostility made my heart swell! Rachel lands upon Gabe Bonner, the towns favourite son who has lived through an inexplicable loss, a man haunted by his past merely existing and trying to get through one day at a time.  Gabe appears gruff and has retreated into himself, barely keeping it together in his grief and it’s only the fierce love and loyalty of his brothers Cal and Ethan who keep him somewhat grounded.

‘Gabriel Bonner, the man with no feelings, cried in his sleep that night.’

Gabe is fascinated by the smart mouthed, sassy Rachel; he admires the spark and fight she displays in the light of much adversity she has endured. He sees beneath her tough exterior, feeling an attraction to her. Not only is Rachel determined but she’s an amazing mother, there is nothing she wouldn’t sacrifice for her beautiful little man, Edward.

Oh this story was exactly what I needed! The romance of this story drew me in and kept me riveted, but I have to say, the relationship between little Edward and Gabe damn near broke me. It was so touching, so beautiful and yet so bloody sad at times delivering some of the most pivotal and tender and moving moments in this heart warming and engaging story. The exchanges between Gabe and Edward….Oh my heart…..This beautiful little soul who preferred nature over video games, who could reduce me to a melting wreck in seconds.  He had a heart bigger than himself.

“Couldn’t you even pretend to like me? It wouldn’t have to be real.”
“I do like you.”
“No.”Edward shook his head. “But you could pretend. And I could pretend about you, too. If we pretended real good, my mommy would never know.”

This book is an absolute recommend, can’t you just feel how giddy I was reading it and how much I fell in love with it? I’d really recommend every book in this single as I’ve loved every single book so far! Each book centres on different characters and each love story offer something different and wonderful…these are stories guaranteed to satisfy the romantic in us all!