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A Winter Dream

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 1,573 ratings · 366 reviews

The author of the bestselling phenomenon The Christmas Box presents a new holiday novel about family, fate and forgiveness.Joseph Jacobson is the twelfth of thirteen siblings, all of whom are employed by their father’s successful Colorado advertising company. But underneath the success runs a poisonous undercurrent of jealousy; Joseph is his father’s favorite and the focus...more

ebook, 288 pages

Published October 30th 2012 by Simon & Schuster (first published January 1st 2012)

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Nov 23, 2012 Reluctant rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Unpopular Opinion as most people absolutely loved this book. I am not most people. I guess when you add to the fact the the actual story of Joseph which is found in the Bible is my favorite story - while this story is based on that one - it does it no justice. One vital part was removed. And while it may be comfortable, it just seems like a gaping hole to me.
The reason why Joseph was able to forgive his brothers after they treated him so poorly...God.
The reason why Joseph was able to excel at e...more Unpopular Opinion as most people absolutely loved this book. I am not most people. I guess when you add to the fact the the actual story of Joseph which is found in the Bible is my favorite story - while this story is based on that one - it does it no justice. One vital part was removed. And while it may be comfortable, it just seems like a gaping hole to me.
The reason why Joseph was able to forgive his brothers after they treated him so poorly...God.
The reason why Joseph was able to excel at everything he did so easily...God.
The reason behind the brothers' ability to change...God.
This book would have you think they all did it all themselves. I guess that is what most people think these days though. This is one of the only books Ive actually returned. Someone else can read it.
Maybe it can be an inspiration to read the actual story.
It is awesome.

I also had an issue with the - young man's 'wet dream' aspect of this book - the typical attitude - all of the women in the book were model thin, model beautiful and two actual models! Even though he was devasted to have lost his gf - a day later he was into another girl with no issues - oh and we are made to know that other men (despite them being with their wives or gfs) found her terribly desirable. Did we touch on that ridiculously inappropriate "char-baby" nickname? Only someone who has no idea how that could affect someone else - someone who has so much privilege they couldnt imagine not being able to say whatever they want would find that funny. To write that the person who was being called this thought it was a hoot - only someone who has no idea would think that feasible. And if for some reason, youd want to say something like - I know someone who is called this and they love it -
you continue to call that person that. I promise you another person would sock you dead in the face for it.
Don't say I didn't tell you.
I feel like someone told this author, take a Bible story and then turn it inot your fantasy life. Slap a $15 price on it and sell it during the holidays.
TThis book was not for me.(less)

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Dec 16, 2012 Bettie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: abandoned, winter-20122013, e-book

didn't work for me...

NEXT!

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 23, 2012 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Life's greatest lessons are often those we most wished to avoid."

I really enjoyed this book. It is based off of the story of Joseph who was sold by his brothers in Egypt. I found it funny how a lot of the names were the same. I knew where the story was going and when things would change, but it did not take from the story for me. It is a great tale that life does not always go where you plan on, and sometimes we have many surprises and disappointments. But sometimes it is also for the best and...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, holiday-reads

Time after time Richard Paul Evan is a great storyteller. I loved this modernized telling on Jospeh and his Coat of many colors. There are so many great quotes in the book. I loved reading it during this Christmas season. I was drawn to the character and found myself wanting to see where Joseph and April go with their life with raising their children.

1 like · like · see review

Apr 12, 2013 Ali Saeeed rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Winter dreams should definitely be recommended to every high school student because is one of the best books that was ever published. The book has all kind materials and traits that makes a book interesting and read. Once you read this book you will not be able to stop until the end because the story is very well connected. The book has not hard or difficult to read at all because it is clear and at the same time excited. The author of the book, F. Scott Fitzgerald, did an incredible job making...more Winter dreams should definitely be recommended to every high school student because is one of the best books that was ever published. The book has all kind materials and traits that makes a book interesting and read. Once you read this book you will not be able to stop until the end because the story is very well connected. The book has not hard or difficult to read at all because it is clear and at the same time excited. The author of the book, F. Scott Fitzgerald, did an incredible job making the story clear, easy to read, and full of excitement that will keep the reader interested in the story. Even though Winter Dream was one of F. Scott first work , was one of the best books that was ever published.
The Winter Dream is telling the story of a man with ambition who fall in love and the story will develop and show of drama, excitement, and a lot of surprises that will keep the reader in full attention and excited to see what will happen next. One I read the book ,I felt the joy and he satisfaction of reading such a great book ,and so did all my class mates who read the book and fell in love with it. The author was able to show emotion through the characters in the story ,so the reader can almost go through the same emotion the character is going through, which will make the reader live the story and make one the exciting experiment just by reading The Winter Dream.
The book shows the ambition of a man who wanted the love of a women ,but when he got it ,he could not hold on to it which explain the concept that nothing valuable in life will last forever. Which mean that the book is not only joyful to read but it will teach the reader a lesson that might agree or disagree with the concept. The author was able to show different perspectives of love and different perspective of life, which he shows in his main character, Dexter, and the decisions he made.
This book should be recommended to read in all high schools because it is an outstanding book, that stood out from all other books in so many different ways. I would like to recommend to all people, from all ages and races because this book was one of the best books that was ever published.
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Mar 09, 2013 Ricki Treleaven rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A Winter Dream is an allegory for Joseph and his coat of many colors story from the Bible. When I was a little girl in Sunday School, this story frightened me more than any other. I'm an only child, and I thought it was so terrible that brothers would treat another brother so cruelly. It almost made me happy to be a lonely only!

In this retelling of the story, Joseph Jacobson, the twelfth child in a family of thirteen children, is the creative tour de force of his family's Denver-based advertisin...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Lora rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a modern day version of Joseph and the coat of many colors. The beginning of the story was much more polished than the end. Richard Paul Evans is always an enjoyable read. Here's the moral to the fable..."You will encounter obstacles. You will make mistakes. Be gratefulf or both. Your obstacles and mistakes will be your greatest teachers. And the only way to not make mistakes in this life is to do nothing, which is the biggest mistake of all. Your challenges, if you'll let them, will be...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Jeremy James rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: inspirational

I am consistently amazed at each book Mr. Evans releases. He always manages to breathe fresh life into each of his Christmas novels. I find it impossible to stop reading once I've cracked open that first page. This book is no exception.

Being a modern retelling of Joseph and the coat of many colors, A Winters Dream tells the story of a talented and upcoming advertising executive working for the family business his father built. As a step brother of a large family he garners much anger and envy fr...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: feel-good-happy-books, 2013-books

Well, if you know the story of Joseph, or have seen the musical, there aren't many surprises in this book.

However, I don't read Richard Paul Evans for surprises; that's what I have crime novels for. I read Richard Paul Evans for feel-good books that give me warm fuzzies and make me remember why humanity isn't all bad, and on that front, this book delivered.

The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five: I thought the inclusion of April was ... a little unnecessary, honestly. I wouldn't hav...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literature-fiction

Story Description:

Simon & Schuster|October 30, 2012|Hardcover|ISBN: 978-1-2803-6

The author of the bestselling phenomenon ‘The Christmas Box’ presents a new holiday novel about family, fate and forgiveness. Joseph Jacobson is the twelfth of thirteen siblings, all of whom are employed by their father’s successful Colorado advertising company. But underneath the success runs a poisonous undercurrent of jealousy; Joseph is his father’s favourite son and the focus of his brother’s envy and hatred...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 31, 2012 Denise Oyler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I gave this book 4 stars because I love Richard Paul Evans books. They are a quick read that always leaves you fulfilled. Although, this is not my favorite of his,it still has some inspiring quotes. These are the best part of his books. A few of my favorite are:

"Life is the soil, our choices and actions the sun and rain, but our dreams are the seeds." (Pg 3)

"There can be no betrayal without trust. So should we not trust? No, to do so is a betrayal in itself." (Pg 35)

Re: True love- I wasn't so mu...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to say when it comes to inspirational fiction and tales, one of my all-time favourite authors would have to be Richard Paul Evans , his stories though they may be quick reads are utterly amazing and will have you sitting back and thinking as well as leaving the reader captivated as you hurriedly turn through the pages.
A Winter Dream is a modern day rendition of the biblical story "Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat". A hard story to re-capture into modern day but Richard Paul Evans ha...more

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Dec 16, 2012 J rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Quick, easy Christmas-themed read. Readable in a single day.

Modern re-telling of Joseph and the coat of many colors. I was impressed by the inventive and realistic re-telling initially. I love the idea of modernizing Joseph! However, when the “banishment” from Colorado and “breakup” occurred - it felt forced and fake. I just couldn’t believe anyone would accept the “deal” Joseph does. Or that no one would talk about it afterwards.

I was also a little confused by the negativity shown to the Polish...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Jill rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian

This is the story of dreams, of a man named Joseph, favored son of a man named Israel, and a very special coat. Sound familiar? Of course it does … it’s from Genesis chapters 37-50. It is also from Richard Paul Evans’ long-awaited holiday offering, A Winter Dream. As he did with Lost December last year, Evans gives us a modernized story based on a beloved bible story and does it beautifully. In A Winter Dream, the main character is Joseph Jacobson (Jacob being another name for Israel) and he is...more This is the story of dreams, of a man named Joseph, favored son of a man named Israel, and a very special coat. Sound familiar? Of course it does … it’s from Genesis chapters 37-50. It is also from Richard Paul Evans’ long-awaited holiday offering, A Winter Dream. As he did with Lost December last year, Evans gives us a modernized story based on a beloved bible story and does it beautifully. In A Winter Dream, the main character is Joseph Jacobson (Jacob being another name for Israel) and he is one of eleven sons, the most favored. The family owns a successful advertising agency in Colorado headed by its’ patriarch, Joseph’s father Israel. The elder brothers are a jealous and envious lot and are plotting a way to rid themselves of Joseph, particularly as their father has once again shown his favoritism in giving Joseph his beloved Navy flight jacket decorated with many badges of honor from his years in the Vietnam War. Joseph has dreams, prophetic dreams that come true, though he may not fully understand the meaning at first. His brothers do manage to banish Joseph to an advertising agency in Chicago where … well, I really don’t want this review to be a spoiler so I will stop my plot synopsis here.

The story is relatively short, 288 pages, but a fulfilling read nonetheless, as are all the books I have read by RPE. It is an inspiring way to start the holiday season. Richard Paul Evans’ books are popular for three reasons: they are interesting, they are fun, and they remind us what is truly of value in this life without being “preachy”. I zipped through this book in two nights (it would have been one night, had that not been election night) and ended with a smile on my face. The characters are fun to either love or hate, and the twists and turns that constitute Joseph’s life after banishment are a roller coaster ride of joy and angst. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun read to transition into the holiday season. As an added bonus for Kindle users, if you purchase the Kindle edition from Amazon, you will also receive Evans’ classic holiday novel, The Christmas Box. Happy reading and Happy Holidays!
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Nov 03, 2012 A. R. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I usually really like Richard Paul Evans' books. And I was genuinely looking forward to this one. I was anxious to see what he could do with a retelling of the Joseph of Egypt story. I was disappointed.

It was almost as if he were rushing to get the story told. Maybe he had a quick deadline. It read like a fact sheet instead of a story of man who was pushed out of his family. There was no time spent on the grief Joseph Jacobson must have felt as he realized his brothers were banishing him from hi...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Heather Scheer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was written by one of my favorite authors. Every one of his books has been on the New York Times bestseller list. He seems to take the events out of someone's ordinary life and is able to turn it into a meaningful story.
Joseph Jackson, or JJ as his friends and family call him, has 12 siblings. His father is CEO of the family run advertising business in Colorado. JJ is his father's favorite and has a really keen eye and talent for advertising. His brothers are quite jealous; they belie...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 Stars (haven't made a firm decision yet)

A pretty enjoyable read. I kept going back to it, wanting to know what would happen next even though I know the Bible story like the back of my hand. It is pretty accurate to the story and I enjoyed how the author played with the names in keeping them accurate to the Bible story but believable for modern day. They were quite fun acctually, such as Timothy Ishmael, the names of the 12 sons (some the same, some different yet very similar), and Joseph Jac...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Mj rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: richard-paul-evans, fiction

A Winter Dream is Richard Paul Evans’ latest Christmas release – published in 2012. Its setting is near and dear to my heart – inside the advertising industry. I very much enjoyed the creative process references and the ad campaign stories. This story like the ad world is full of creative, interesting and dynamic people and takes place in Colorado, New York and Chicago. It is also a family story as the Colorado advertising agency in the book is a family owned business – the principal male charac...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Excellent story. This is based on the biblical story of Joseph and present day.

A large family AD Agency takes action while the father and mom are away. They chase Joseph {JJ} out of town to Chicago and agree not to prosecute Ben for stealing from the company. Joseph does well in Chicago until the boss's girl friend "comes on" to him and then claims he nearly raped her. Joseph gets sent to New York where he meets 3 people who have been demoted. Good fortune smiles on him and he gets a big job bac...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Diane Bell rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've said before that I'm not a big fan of Richard Paul Evans, and that is still true. This was a modern day story of Joseph and the coat of many colors. Joseph is a younger son in a family of many sons who all work at their father's advertising company. He is the favorite son, and the father does not hide this fact. His brothers resent him for this, and end up arranging for him to take a job in Chicago and have no further contact with his family. Along the way, he meets and falls in love with a...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Terrie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-christmas, adult-realistic-fiction

Modern retelling of Joseph and the coat of many colors. Set in the world of advertising, Joseph and his brothers work with Dad in the family business. When the youngest, Ben, embezzles, the older brothers threaten legal action unless Joseph leaves the company and the family.

I feel like RPE tries too hard in this book to step outside his LDS standards, putting his characters in situations in the "real world",making sure to embellish on every drink they take, for example. Adding polygamy into the...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Regina Spiker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: jealousy, inspirational, family-business, advertising

Richard Paul Evans is known for his inspiring messages set in a compact little format. His new novel parallels the well known bible story of Joseph's coat of many colors. The same Joseph that saves his brothers from certain death.

Talented, young Jacob Jacobson has 11 brothers and one sister - all who work for a very successful Denver marketing firm run by their father, Israel or Izzy to his friends. Jealous of their father's attention to Jacob, his brothers plot the day when Jacob can be ruined...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just love to read Richard Paul Evan's books that he puts out at Christmas time. The idea of this book is taken from the story in Genesis from the Bible about Joseph, the son of Israel. In this modern version the brothers of Joseph Jacobson are very jelous of him because of his great talent in the advertising industry and the favoritism his father shows towards him. The brothers blackmail him, forcing him to leave his home and his family. And of course his talents made him successful at his new...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Jinky rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013

(2.5)
Richard Paul Evans is one of my favorite authors and I turn to his books for a good feel read. This book had a lot of potential given it aligned with the biblical story of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers. But this Joseph, Joseph Jacobson, was disappointingly passive. He was quick to accept the extortion from his brothers without a fight or question or depth of feeling. Yes, he did it so that his younger brother, Ben, would not face potential jail time but going along with i...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed A Winter Dream and read it rather quickly. It is a modern version of the story of Joseph in the Old Testament, where readers learn the lesson that success often times only arrives through our struggles.

I recommend A Winter Dream, but while I was reading I kept comparing it to the bible story and that worked against the book. Joseph in the bible did (or did not do things) because of his faith in God. Joseph in A Winter Dream was a “good person” who learned that good things can develop t...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Sheri rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: holiday, owned

Review of audiobook from Audible. This was mildly entertaining, enough to keep me listening to the end, though I mostly had it on for background sound while I went about my Christmas chores. For the most part, it was holiday glurge. The protagonist was far too passive for my liking and certainly did not deserve his happy ending or all the love and riches heaped upon him by the peripheral characters. I don't think I'm giving spoilers here as it's obvious from the first chapter that this is the li...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I gave it four stars simply because it was so completely predictable.
However, setting my brain part aside and inserting my heart, I would have given it 10 stars or maybe even a hundred. I loved this story so much I am very hopeful it will be made into a movie and if they do it the way I read it in my heart, it would be one of my most favorite movies of all time. I love the very real experience of Joseph in the Bible. This story is patterned from that - which is what gave it the predictability. B...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Radhika added it · review of another edition

It is a story of forgiveness and love. Joe the protaganist is pushed out of family business by jealous siblings, his eleven brothers and sisters by four marriages of his father. Jo is talented and that makes a successful in another advertising firm

Reading this book makes us think that sometimes events happen for a reason. Jo actually thanks his brothers whose action forces him into a situation where he needs to prove himself and find his niche in the world. Jo is able to find true love and unde...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Lynn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: A modernized Joseph and His Coat of Many Colors. Joseph is is father's favorite son which is causing problems among his twelve siblings. When an opportunity to push him out of the family business arises, the brothers take advantage of it and banish Joseph to Chicago. While this book isn't bad, it isn't wonderful either. Frankly, I found the whole premise hard to swallow. If Joseph was his father's beloved son, why, then, wouldn't the father track him down when he mysteriously...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christmas

This not really a Christmas book but it does have a few events that take place around Christmas so it could fit.

Richard Paul Evans, as always creates a very believable situation with amazing characters. In this case Joseph Jacobson is the main character, a man with 11 brothers and one sister. They all work at the family ad agency, though not happily in some cases. The jealous older brothers manage to make Joseph go away. He leaves reluctantly but in leaving he finds who he really is and he finds...more

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About Richard Paul Evans

When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author. His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. He has since written ele...more

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Books by Richard Paul Evans

The Christmas Box (The Christmas Box Trilogy #1)

The Prisoner of Cell 25 (Michael Vey, #1)

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Quotes from A Winter Dream

“My Dear Son,
I am so very proud of you. Now, as you embark on a new journey, I'd like to share this one piece of advice. Always, always remember that - adversity is not a detour. It is part of the path.

You will encounter obstacles. You will make mistakes. Be grateful for both. Your obstacles and mistakes will be your greatest teachers. And the only way to not make mistakes in this life is to do nothing, which is the biggest mistake of all.

Your challenges, if you let them, will become your greatest allies. Mountains can crush or raise you, depending on which side of the mountain you choose to stand on. All history bears out that the great, those who have changed the world, have all suffered great challenges. And, more times than not it's precisely those challenges that, in God's time, lead to triumph.

Abhor victimhood. Denounce entitlement. Neither are gifts, rather cages to damn the soul. Everyone who has walked this earth is a victim of injustice. Everyone.

Most of all, do not be too quick to denounce your sufferings. The difficult road you are called to walk may, in fact be your only path to success.” — 9 people liked it

“Life is the soil, our choices and actions the sun and rain, but our dreams are the seeds.” — 2 people liked it

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