Lola Carmichael's known it since her boyfriend broke up with her the night she expected him to propose. Only with a deadline looming for her next romance novel, she better find inspiration fast.
Enter arrogant sports radio DJ Sam Touchdown Taylor. Who'd have thought a playboy ex-jock would be just what she needs to get her creative juices flowing…and her heart beating again.
When Lola discovers Sam is using her to win back his dream job, she knows she should give up on Happily Ever After, but part of her hopes heroes do exist…and dreams do come true
With over 6 million books sold (and counting), Kathia’s novels have been #1 bestsellers around the world. They’ve received starred reviews from Booklist, have consistently earned Editor’s Picks for Best Romance, and have been featured by O, The Oprah Magazine and Entertainment Weekly.
Kate (aka Kathia) has written over 50 romcom and paranormal books so far, as well as a couple romantasy screenplays and various poems (her ode to the color orange is particularly moving). Full of hope and bonds of found family and friendship, her stories feature sassy, independent women who just want love and earthy men full of heart who are more than able to rise to the occasion.
Like the other Laurel Heights books, Dream of You was just as great a read. Yes, there are quite a few errors, but that wasn't a major problem for me as it doesn't change the story. Just make the corrections in your head and enjoy the book.
Lola and Sam's story was really quite cute. A bit predictable from the start given their instant connection, but really, the same can be said for most stories. The parts with Lola and her mother were very touching to read. Madison is just the cutest kid too. It's great that she wasn't a brat and was very supportive and helpful.
As for Kristin and Rob's side story...I actually enjoyed reading about them very much. If anything, it felt rushed and I kind of wish they had their own book because I kept hoping for a glimpse into Rob's thoughts the entire time. It might have detracted from the irritating and pushy quality of Kristin's character that she comes off as. However, I found her quite charming and honestly, it was great that she knew what she wanted and went after it even if it was a tad aggressive. I'm just happy that her original goal morphed along the way and became more because it would have sucked if that's all she wanted and nothing else happened. But again, if their story had been separate from Sam and Lola's, it might have been more appealing for people to read.
I'm getting a little flustered with Kate's writing because it is like she doesn't go back and read her own writing. The stories in essence are good but a little underdeveloped for my liking. In this installment Kristin and Rob's story doesn't link well with the main characters love story. I enjoyed Sam and Lola's story but I can't get over the fact that the timelines are all wrong! Like in this book Eve is only engaged to Treat when it says specifically in the books before this one they are married! This book is is not Perry's best at all with all the errors and it was very hard for me to keep reading.
Picked this up as a Kindle freebie (don't ask me why you would make book 5 a freebie and not book 1 - but go figure).
I would classify this as a classic rom-com - the sort of thing that Katherine Heigl or Sandra Bullock would star in (one of their good ones).
There were clear references in the book to couples who have starred in previous books, all the couples are loosely connected by living/working in Laurel Heights. However, I didn't feel that I needed to have read the preceding books to enjoy this one.
Lola is a romance writer. Sam is a radio sports presenter. She guests on his show and the sparks fly.
In a side story the barista in the local coffee shop is actually a retired CEO of one of the hottest IT consultancy businesses. She woke up and realised she wanted more from life than 80 hour days alone. She has fallen for a Hedge Fund something or another and wants him to be a sperm donor (and then decides she likes him too) but he feels she is an underachiever and is encouraging her to "find her direction".
It's fun and light-hearted. Well-written and frothy. I'll definitely be looking out for the books.
Sometimes I hate my ocd drive to finish reading what I started. Really. And this book needs two sets of stars because it really involves two very different stories. The auxiliary story - Kristin's - was smart, and funny, and engaging, and I kept wishing to be able to skip forward and read only that part of the book. Because Lola's story was the exact opposite of Kristin's - boring, vapid, and uninspired. And since that is the core story of Dream of You, I give the book the rating this story deserves. Complete snoozefest.
One star is for Madison alone because she is one of the cutest kids ever! Actually she can have all the stars! :) Totally loved both of the stories going on in this book (Sam and Lola's and Kristin and Rob's). It seems like Kate Perry's Laurel Heights series tells the story of at least 2 couples which makes the read easy and interesting. I do miss Freya and Greg. I sure hope they make a bigger appearance in the books to follow...
I have read the first five Laurel Heights books and I have to say this is my favorite so far. Kristen's character made me laugh out loud constantly...she was funny and confident and I loved it. Also having the main man (Sam) have a daughter was a nice change! Madison warmed my heart. All the books in this series are great and I recommend them but defiently this one.
I really loved Sam and Lola's story and Madison was adorable. I didn't like Rob and Kristin's story. Firstly, because I thought that she was way over the top in a little bit of a crazed kind of way, and secondly because not enough time was spent on it so it didn't really feel like it developed. It seemed to me more a place filler in an attempt to give the book more depth/plot/something.
I liked it but I would have hoped not to read so many other character stories. I think that Kristin could have gotten her own story because I liked their witty banter. I've read others in this series and I thought they were okay too but reading each book hasn't made me want to read more of the characters though, which to me is a huge flaw on the authors part.
I really like this book. Probably more than four previous. I liked the first meeting Lola and Sam on the radio. I laughed when she began to question him, although she was an invited star. We also have a second pair, Kristin and Rob. I had a good laugh reading how she caught him into snares. And it's not that simple, the guy is not easy.
The story of Lola and Sam was good but the story of Kristin and Rob was just distracting. There are 2 separate stories going on that are completely unrelated. All of books in this series have 2 love stories happening, but at least in the previous ones the couples interacted and made the book blend.
Quick. Cute. Kinda surface level. A bit disappointing
I skipped the 3rd and 4th, because they sounded eh, and the reviews seemed to confirm that.
Didn't feel like I missed out on anything. I wish this one had been fleshed out more though. It has the characters banter, but then switches to just saying that they banter. Saying things developed, but not showing them developing. Even the climactic "conflict" felt... mountain out of a mole hill/eye brows raised "really?"
I really enjoyed this book and went through it pretty quickly, although it was confusing at times because it is actually two short love stories that are mingled together through alternate chapters. There is nothing to link them except the area in which they are set, and the mutual friends of the two females. This appears to a trend as a previous book that I read in this series turned into the separate love stories of two sisters. Once you work out which couple is which, it makes it easier to read and enjoy.
Somewhat predictable but with enough variety to make it interesting. Especially enjoyed the part Sam’s daughter Madison played in bringing Sam and Lola together. Really sad to read about Lola’s mother with dementia. The other characters added to the overall story, except we could have done without the bitchy bitter ex wife.
Another cute store in this series, Sam and Lola seem to have an instant connection that neither one is ready for but Sam's daughter helps push it along.
Lola is coming up on her due date for a new book but no inspiration after her break up and Sam upset his boss and now has to host a new radio show.
Both stories were very sweet but they were not unrealistic nor predictable. I like that Lola was formed a friendship with Madison that was but between her and Madison.
This was two short stories put together to make one book. I didn’t see a connection between the two except for the cafe. Was still a good romance book and fit well in the series.
Cute rom-com story line--- but the lack of editing leaves OCD people like me feeling a bit nuts. I did enjoy the basic premise and know others would too.
This book is actually two love stories. Occasionally, I found that confusing. Both are great stories and could stand alone but, they intersect at the coffee shop.
Every book in this series so far has followed the same formula and while the books are entertaining, there is really nothing life changing or very memorable about them. Each book centers on one main couple and then a sort of side couple and they each wind up with their own HEA. I have found myself more interested in the side couple than the main at times.
I'm being generous with my 4 star rating because I usually really like Kate Perry books. This one however, was off the mark for me. Instead of dedicating this story to one couple (Lola and Sam), it flipped back and forth between Lola and Kristen. I would have rather just read more details about on couple, then read another book about the other couple. Honestly, they both had a good storyline, but both would have been better if they were expanded and more in depth.
Lola is a romance writer. She meets Sam at a radio station when she goes to promote her book. Lola was recently dumped and a little forlorn. Because of her own trouble with romance, she's skeptical of love. Sam is a player. He refuses to be in love since it's never done him any good...except to bring him a daughter. Sparks fly when they meet. Their banter is humorous, and the heat between the two of them escalates quickly. Somehow, they go from strangers to....fuck buddies? ...to being in love. Like I said, more details would have been lovely. It all happens so quickly and I felt like I just missed out on so much of their story.
Kristen is a former techie. She started her own company, and it grew exponentially to a global success. When she realized her life had gotten away from her, she left. She has more money than she could ever spend, but works as a barista to keep busy. When she sees Rob, she knows he's going to be the man to ask for sperm. Lol Kristen is a hoot. She doesn't have time to be shy and timid. She's 38 and she wants a baby. Rob is a nice guy, but thinking that Kristen is down on her luck, he wants to help her, but won't allow himself to be In a relationship with her until she turns her life around. This couple goes from not knowing each other's names, to kissing in the street, Kristen working on a tech project for him, more kissing, rob pushing her away, the truth about her old job coming out, and then her telling him she wants a baby. He says it's okay. I mean, they haven't gone on a date, just kissed a few times, and all of a sudden he's agreeing to give her a baby and love her forever. Talk about 0 to 60 in less than a second! Would have been nice for some more details, and a little more build up of their characters.
My review doesn't really give the book much credence. It really was good, honestly about 3.5 stars, even with everything that I found lacking, Kate Perry was able to write it in a way that worked out. The book was fine, my review is only a reflection of my wish that the couples be separated into two separate books.
This is probably the best book of the series that I've read (but that isn't exactly huge praise). I enjoyed Lola and Sam's story. There were a few parts that I didn't like. First was the whole, Sam's boss reassigning him until he finds love. One, that is totally unprofessional. Especially given that she is in essence his boss, if they hooked up and it went bad, that is on her as well as him. And as his boss, she should have known better. But instead she punishes him by taking away his radio show (they never do say, who is hosting his popular sports show while they have him hosting romance hour? Because you wouldn't just stop airing one of your highest rated shows). Two, how is she supposed to tell if he is in love or not? And what if he never found someone suited to him? What an arbitrary and ridiculous standard to set for him to reach. The second thing that bothered me was that Lola and Sam's story is pretty cliché. Instant connection, some sex, dating, a precocious daughter, a villainous ex-wife, love!, misunderstanding, fight, makeup, engaged. and finally, the way that they makeup...Dirty Dancing is involved. Don't get me wrong, I love Dirty Dancing, it's very nostalgic because I watched it a lot with my sister and cousin as a child.
With a name like Lola Carmichael , she had two options for a career. One to become a stripper and two to become a Romance writer. She of course chose the second option and has become a bestselling romance author and she has never had a problem writing a book until now. That's because her characters are based on people she knows and the stories are there tales. Currently ,she is supposed to be writing a book about Louise and Kevin , but it's turning out horrible as instead of proposing to her in real life -he broke up with her. Now to get her back into the saddle, her publicist Peter has signed her up for a segment on a relationships and love show. Enter Sam Morgan , he is your ultimate footballer and sportsperson. The type of guy who moves from one girl to another, the kind of guy who has been married, divorced and has a child. Can Lola be the girl to change Sam's heart ? The other story in Dream of You is Kristin who wants nothing but to find her soulmate which she knows is out there somewhere and when she spots Rob in the coffee shop she works at , she knows she has found him. But can she persuade him to look at her other than a barista ? Find out in Book #5 of Dream of You by Kate Perry. This one unlike Looking For You which had a suspense to it, is more of a contemporary romance.
I didn't like Dream Of You as much as the other books in the Laurel Heights series. First of all, the story is kind of recycled from the first in the series. The heroine has lost her mojo and needs it back, because she is on a deadline and if she doesn't meet it there will be some grave consequences.
The details are different though. This time the hero (Sam) has an ulterior motive to get into her bed and he has an adorable eleven-year-old daughter. It was all pretty clear cut. Lola and Sam hook up and at first it's just a fling, but it might turn into something more. Let's just say I didn't feel the excitement. Between Sam and Lola I did, but not on the overall story.
This time the third POV had absolutely nothing to do with the main storyline, which was a disappointment and it really felt unnecessary in this book. Considering the book is only 157 pages long, you don't really need a second story line.
I feel because it was so short and then adding the second storyline is what mainly caused it to not be as good. Also if she adds a hundred pages to all of her books they could be so much better, giving them more depth. Dream Of You is still a fun read, but by now I'm used to better by Kate Perry.
Cute, fluffy little romance. The heroine is a romance writer, currently blocked because her own romance went off the wheels. The hero is an ex-football player, now sports talk radio personality, who screwed up by screwing his boss. (She doesn't own the radio station so he doesn't get fired.) He gets taken off his sports show to host one called Ladies Night, and the first guest is the heroine. Tada!
There's angst but mostly it's brushed over lightly. We know her ex was apparently a jerk, but few to no details are given about the breakup or why. The hero's boss is apparently annoyed but not bitter about the way he acted with her. The black moment is over something that didn't seem that awful to me, maybe because the heroine didn't really seem That devastated about it. Plus we get a second romance shoehorned in on top of the first that doesn't seem to have any real connection -- thematically or otherwise -- to the main plot. The girl in romance 2 works at the coffee shop on the street where the heroine lives. That's it. It's a cute romance, but usually the subplot supports the main plot in some way or other. This one just seems stuck on. Still, it's a cute story overall, an easy and enjoyable read. I liked it.
Oh Lola you and your sassy mouth, "nothing's wrong with you. If I wanted someone to beat up my ex-boyfriend, you're the one I'd call." I mean they're first meet was something epic: "I thought Sam Taylor was a woman," she said. "I'm all male, sweetheart." Sam oh boy he's something else, and sometimes you need your daughter to give ya a push in the right direction, "what the hell was he going to do with six copies of a romance novel? Pass them out to the boys at poker night? "Madison, forget grounding. You've moved up to a life sentence." And nothing turns a man on more than a woman waiting naked for him when he comes to visit, well almost naked, "Sam trailed kiss on her neck as he untied her robe. "Please tell me you've been naked waiting like this for me all day." And a man likes when a woman can render him speechless: Lola took the glass of champagne Sam handed her and thanked him by saying," I'm not wearing underwear." His own glass, which had been on it's way to his mouth, stopped abruptly, and his gaze fell to her strapless dress. "None?" Yeah I love Kate's books.
I've liked this series by Kate Perry enough to continue to read through the series. This one was executed best by far -- I liked both characters.
There's definitely a formula to Perry's books; POVs from the main hero and heroine; and secondary story told from a single point of view. This time I think both of these work, just not together.
This is the story of Lola (Gwen's friend and the resident in the apartment above Outta My Gourd) and Sam (a former football player and now sports DJ). They meet when Sam's ex (who works at the station) assigns him to a talk radio program about women and romance. Lola's a romance writer and appears on the show; sparks immediately fly. But Sam's a player and Lola's been hurt so they've got stuff to work out.
The secondary story involves Kristen, the former CEO of a tech company who now works at Grounds for Thought with Eve, just because she likes people. Her biological clock is ticking and practically explodes when she meets Rob at GfT.
I'm not quite at 4 stars because this story was filled with more typos than I had expected and I'm not entirely sure the title makes sense with this book.