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Dream Trilogy #1
Daring to Dream
Margo, Kate and Laura were brought up like sisters amidst the peerless grandeur of Templeton House. But it was Margo whose dreams first took her far away . . .
Margo Sullivan had everything a young woman could ask for. But while growing up along the rocky cliffs of Monterey, she couldn't help but dream of bigger things. The daughter of the Templeton's stern Irish housekeeper, Margo had been treated like a member of the family. Deep down, she knew that money could not buy the thing she craved most -- her mother's acceptance.
Maybe things would be different if she could be sweet like Laura -- or had Kate's shrewd head for business. But all Margo knew how to do was be Margo, and that meant doing things her own way -- no matter what the consequences . . .
Margo Sullivan had everything a young woman could ask for. But while growing up along the rocky cliffs of Monterey, she couldn't help but dream of bigger things. The daughter of the Templeton's stern Irish housekeeper, Margo had been treated like a member of the family. Deep down, she knew that money could not buy the thing she craved most -- her mother's acceptance.
Maybe things would be different if she could be sweet like Laura -- or had Kate's shrewd head for business. But all Margo knew how to do was be Margo, and that meant doing things her own way -- no matter what the consequences . . .
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1996
1245 people are currently reading
8169 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,209 books59.6k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 734 reviews
September 30, 2018
I liked “Daring To Dream”, 1996 and nearly all the characters more than any novel receiving two stars. However, I will not overlook the deluge of plot clichés, cookie-cutter scenarios, dialogue, and the creep that Margo; a model who was embezzled to bankruptcy, loves. If romances are like this, I am glad I seldom read them. I was thrice appalled at what Nora Roberts thought was acceptable behaviour, in her late 1990s and early 2000s novels. In this novel too, the man she penned is bossy, expels anger that becomes preposterously cold, is proprietary, and physically aggressive. Even if he does not harm a lady and it is out of playfulness; nobody should hold anyone's wrists and not let them go.
Just because someone eventually agrees to copulate, does not mean she should be cajoled into it. I wish Nora had attempted originality; not choosing “the one to whom you were attracted since childhood ”. It is so much more realistic to realize she wanted and deserved better. In real life we seldom settle for a first potential partner. Too few novelists understand that. I was astounded and impressed with Juliet Blackwell in her witch series; that her protagonist outgrows her series’ initial love interest! Nora created men in three other books I could not possibly respect. They are preferable to this one, Josh!
Josh and Laura are wealthy siblings with loving parents. They adopted their niece, Kate and regard Margo and her Irish immigrant Mother, as family. She is their trusted, live-in house manager. I love best friends supporting each other no matter where they are. However, unique personalities have commonalities! Nora was silly about forcing each to be so different, they were caricatures: logical Kate, loyal Laura, celebrity Margo. I will read the others because I own them.
Just because someone eventually agrees to copulate, does not mean she should be cajoled into it. I wish Nora had attempted originality; not choosing “the one to whom you were attracted since childhood ”. It is so much more realistic to realize she wanted and deserved better. In real life we seldom settle for a first potential partner. Too few novelists understand that. I was astounded and impressed with Juliet Blackwell in her witch series; that her protagonist outgrows her series’ initial love interest! Nora created men in three other books I could not possibly respect. They are preferable to this one, Josh!
Josh and Laura are wealthy siblings with loving parents. They adopted their niece, Kate and regard Margo and her Irish immigrant Mother, as family. She is their trusted, live-in house manager. I love best friends supporting each other no matter where they are. However, unique personalities have commonalities! Nora was silly about forcing each to be so different, they were caricatures: logical Kate, loyal Laura, celebrity Margo. I will read the others because I own them.
September 8, 2017
Margo, the housekeepers daughter, has always been in Josh Templeton's life. And he's always loved her. He has helped her out of a few scrapes, but this last one has almost broken her.
This is a beautiful romance with wonderful characters! Nora has the gift of keeping her main hero and heroine in the foreground while setting up the story for the next book and the one after that. She's amazing!! 😊❤️❤️
This is a beautiful romance with wonderful characters! Nora has the gift of keeping her main hero and heroine in the foreground while setting up the story for the next book and the one after that. She's amazing!! 😊❤️❤️
March 26, 2021
Sometimes I just feel like reading a romance, and who's better at good romances than Nora Roberts? That's why I read Daring to Dream, which allowed me a few hours of enjoyable daydreaming.
Roberts might be a shopkeeper at heart if you consider her romantic heroines. If you like Roberts, you certainly already read many of her successful stories and her leading ladies like Margo: there's Brianna and her B&B Blackthorn Cottage of Born in Ice; Rosalin with her In the Garden nursery of Black Rose; and even the four friends and their wedding planning company Vows of the Bride Quartet. I could probably go on, but those came easily to mind. Yeah, I really enjoyed these heroines and how they overcame adversity and found professional fulfillment and love.
Go on and try them if you haven't read them yet, and enjoy!
Roberts might be a shopkeeper at heart if you consider her romantic heroines. If you like Roberts, you certainly already read many of her successful stories and her leading ladies like Margo: there's Brianna and her B&B Blackthorn Cottage of Born in Ice; Rosalin with her In the Garden nursery of Black Rose; and even the four friends and their wedding planning company Vows of the Bride Quartet. I could probably go on, but those came easily to mind. Yeah, I really enjoyed these heroines and how they overcame adversity and found professional fulfillment and love.
Go on and try them if you haven't read them yet, and enjoy!
February 1, 2015
This is a good story and introduction of the characters for the trilogy. I just didn't like Margo, the main character in the story. She was just too superficial and self absorbed.
I enjoyed the relationship between the friends, which was the high point of the story. It's worth it to read this book just to get to their stories. And maybe Margo won't annoy others as she did me.
I enjoyed the relationship between the friends, which was the high point of the story. It's worth it to read this book just to get to their stories. And maybe Margo won't annoy others as she did me.
December 19, 2014
If you like Nora Roberts's books then you will enjoy this one. It is pretty much her standard fare with three beautiful and talented female friends about to meet the loves of their lives, one at a time of course, in each of the three titles of a trilogy. I quite enjoyed this one but the two lead characters were actually not very nice and probably deserved each other. I do not feel compelled to seek out the next book in the trilogy although I would probably be happy to read it on a beach some day if I happened to come across it. Not the best of her books by far.
January 5, 2020
Everything I love about Nora Roberts romance in a single novel. A beautiful location rendered in vivid, clear-eyed prose, and a feisty and determined heroine rising to meet the challenges of her life with innovation and skill. (Disclaimer. I'm a sucker for most atmospheric page turners set on the West Coast, and the world of this novel, and the other two in the trilogy, centers around a wealthy family of hoteliers who reside in California's Big Sur region, just outside of Monterey.) I'm a Nora Roberts fan, having read a fair amount of her longer (and often darker) suspense novels. But this particular title seemed to feature more conflict between the hero and the heroine than included in the other Nora Roberts novels I've read. I was all in. Loved their fiery, passionate arguments as they figured out their boundaries. Some of my friends wonder how a gay man like me can be so into romance novels featuring straight characters. The answer with Nora Roberts in particular is that while the romance is central, the rest of her stories heavily feature large and loving family structures, and I love the interplay of their personalities and their clever banter. By the time I'm finished reading, I feel like I spent time with a group of people I'd love to have dinner with, to travel with, to spend holidays with. Also, Nora Roberts writes some of the sharpest and wittiest dialogue in romance, if not genre fiction.
April 3, 2025
I did like this book , just wasn’t a favourite . I liked the Heroine but the hero was a little arrogant but I did grow to like him towards the end of the book . It was a good start to this trilogy. I’m actually giving this book 4.5 stars but Goodreads doesn’t let me do .5 so 4 stars is fine but overall 4.5 stars , I will definitely continue the trilogy.
December 31, 2012
i always hate getting stuck with a main character like this! she's all concerned with fame and fortune,has apparently slept with everyone-sometimes just to boost her career-and had an affair with a married man.
what started out like a good book ended quickly.really quickly. the prologue was the only interesting thing in the whole book.and nora never really went anywhere with it.
the characters aren't likeable,which is typical in a nora roberts book.
there's a lot of short. sentences like.this that are.annoying to read- 'Appearances were important in business.Were important to Peter.'
nora spends so much time writing about decorations in the house or views from the window or plants outside and all this fancy stuff and doesn't focus on much else.at times she would go on and on about it and you couldn't ever really get a great mental image of it because half of what she's talking about you've never heard of,and all i wanted was to her to just get on with the story.
i was never sure why laura would automatically smile when she saw her husband or go up and kiss him after she knows he cheated on her.&while we're on that,why did it take her so long to dump him?
i don't like reading about characters like these or the situations they're in at all. sure,its situations real people are in,but it shouldn't be in a romance book. there was nothin romantic about any of that at all.
the main character was impossible to like.not sure why she slept with a man who's divorce hadn't been finalized.she didn't deserve a happy ending at all.she was broke and yet didn't wanna sell her stuff.her really expensive stuff that you'd have to be an idiot to buy in the first place.
&then she would say she wouldn't let anyone give her money or pay for stuff and yet when someone offered the thought of denying didn't even cross her mind.she would always say something and then do the complete opposite.
she's a materialistic self-centered arrogant person with no morals. &everyone kept complimenting her and pumping up her already inflated ego.
all the cussing in here was unnessary. every other sentence was GD this and F that.
the whole relationship between the friends and brothers was weird.like them watching him do it with that girl years ago.&kate kissing margo on the lips. some of the stuff in here was straight perverted. 1st its animals and now its family.i tell ya,nora roberts has some very sick fetishes.
usually its the guy whos been around the block a thousand times and not the girl,so it was weird to have that reversed in here.
&i just love (and i mean hate) when these guys love the girl for years but all throughout this they're getting with other women. i mean is it just impossible for ppl to be dedicated to one person?
&as always in a nora roberts book,the guy would do something outrageous like say she would stay with him and she gets mad but suddenly fogets how to refuse or just leave.&then all of a sudden she'd get over it.
margo was a smokeaholic and an alcoholic,while kate was a Tums popper.characters in noras books are always drinkin wine.
Kate turned into a real a hole when they got older.their friendship was terrible.
&susan better watch her husband,because i swear margo was after him which was gross.but hey that's just how margo rolls.
there were some funny comments in here and the whole locker thing was funny.
everyone who had a hand in the shop were cons if you ask me.talking people into buying things,saying people looked good in stuff even when they didnt. basically,its the kind of shopkeepers you don't wanna run into.
the prices at the stoor were outrageous.you'd have to be insanely rich to buy that stuff. how is the store gunna survive when you run out of stuff?you can't keep buying off people's hand-me-downs.
&who the heck kisses someone out of gratitude and friendship on the lips?! &i know margo was upset when she said she wished she had slept with claudio,but idk if she was serious or not.given her personality, im not entirely sure she wasnt serious.
all nora's girl characters say crap like this-"i select the time, the place, and my playmates" talking about sex.its annoying&i have to wonder who actually talks like that.
margo wanted wanted wanted and kept wanting and everyone always gave her everything. she never dealt with the consequences or felt bad about anything.
margo had basically hit rock bottom,and had gotten a lot of money back because everything works out for margo but she kept forking out money,using her credit card, spending more and more money &then has the gall to make josh buy a house.so basically she learned that even if you screw up ad wind up broke,you can always make your friends pay for everything.
&nora roberts characters always braid their hair.how many grown women do you see doing that? i mean french braid,pigtails,whatever,grown women dont do that alot.
&the whole 'if you walk' talk-meaning josh leaving the relationship-was stupid.
one minute margo was saying she didn't wanna marry or have kids and the next she's saying she wants to start a family with him.i didn't buy it. margo isnt a sincere, faithful, loyal person at all and she doesn't deserve josh at all.
i dont see them having a happily ever after.
also,nora roberts put seraphina in there &then never went anywhere with it.we didn't learn more about the story.&we didn't find out if the gold dabloon was even real or how much it was worth or if there was more gold out there.of course,all that might be in the other 2 books in the series,so i'll let this one slide.
what started out like a good book ended quickly.really quickly. the prologue was the only interesting thing in the whole book.and nora never really went anywhere with it.
the characters aren't likeable,which is typical in a nora roberts book.
there's a lot of short. sentences like.this that are.annoying to read- 'Appearances were important in business.Were important to Peter.'
nora spends so much time writing about decorations in the house or views from the window or plants outside and all this fancy stuff and doesn't focus on much else.at times she would go on and on about it and you couldn't ever really get a great mental image of it because half of what she's talking about you've never heard of,and all i wanted was to her to just get on with the story.
i was never sure why laura would automatically smile when she saw her husband or go up and kiss him after she knows he cheated on her.&while we're on that,why did it take her so long to dump him?
i don't like reading about characters like these or the situations they're in at all. sure,its situations real people are in,but it shouldn't be in a romance book. there was nothin romantic about any of that at all.
the main character was impossible to like.not sure why she slept with a man who's divorce hadn't been finalized.she didn't deserve a happy ending at all.she was broke and yet didn't wanna sell her stuff.her really expensive stuff that you'd have to be an idiot to buy in the first place.
&then she would say she wouldn't let anyone give her money or pay for stuff and yet when someone offered the thought of denying didn't even cross her mind.she would always say something and then do the complete opposite.
she's a materialistic self-centered arrogant person with no morals. &everyone kept complimenting her and pumping up her already inflated ego.
all the cussing in here was unnessary. every other sentence was GD this and F that.
the whole relationship between the friends and brothers was weird.like them watching him do it with that girl years ago.&kate kissing margo on the lips. some of the stuff in here was straight perverted. 1st its animals and now its family.i tell ya,nora roberts has some very sick fetishes.
usually its the guy whos been around the block a thousand times and not the girl,so it was weird to have that reversed in here.
&i just love (and i mean hate) when these guys love the girl for years but all throughout this they're getting with other women. i mean is it just impossible for ppl to be dedicated to one person?
&as always in a nora roberts book,the guy would do something outrageous like say she would stay with him and she gets mad but suddenly fogets how to refuse or just leave.&then all of a sudden she'd get over it.
margo was a smokeaholic and an alcoholic,while kate was a Tums popper.characters in noras books are always drinkin wine.
Kate turned into a real a hole when they got older.their friendship was terrible.
&susan better watch her husband,because i swear margo was after him which was gross.but hey that's just how margo rolls.
there were some funny comments in here and the whole locker thing was funny.
everyone who had a hand in the shop were cons if you ask me.talking people into buying things,saying people looked good in stuff even when they didnt. basically,its the kind of shopkeepers you don't wanna run into.
the prices at the stoor were outrageous.you'd have to be insanely rich to buy that stuff. how is the store gunna survive when you run out of stuff?you can't keep buying off people's hand-me-downs.
&who the heck kisses someone out of gratitude and friendship on the lips?! &i know margo was upset when she said she wished she had slept with claudio,but idk if she was serious or not.given her personality, im not entirely sure she wasnt serious.
all nora's girl characters say crap like this-"i select the time, the place, and my playmates" talking about sex.its annoying&i have to wonder who actually talks like that.
margo wanted wanted wanted and kept wanting and everyone always gave her everything. she never dealt with the consequences or felt bad about anything.
margo had basically hit rock bottom,and had gotten a lot of money back because everything works out for margo but she kept forking out money,using her credit card, spending more and more money &then has the gall to make josh buy a house.so basically she learned that even if you screw up ad wind up broke,you can always make your friends pay for everything.
&nora roberts characters always braid their hair.how many grown women do you see doing that? i mean french braid,pigtails,whatever,grown women dont do that alot.
&the whole 'if you walk' talk-meaning josh leaving the relationship-was stupid.
one minute margo was saying she didn't wanna marry or have kids and the next she's saying she wants to start a family with him.i didn't buy it. margo isnt a sincere, faithful, loyal person at all and she doesn't deserve josh at all.
i dont see them having a happily ever after.
also,nora roberts put seraphina in there &then never went anywhere with it.we didn't learn more about the story.&we didn't find out if the gold dabloon was even real or how much it was worth or if there was more gold out there.of course,all that might be in the other 2 books in the series,so i'll let this one slide.
February 21, 2011
Daring to Dream (#1 in the Dream Trilogy) follows fiesty Margo Sullivan from her modeling days, the inevitable fall from grace, and then straight jump into bed with a man who she's known all her life. This book, and I swear I don't generally say this about Nora Roberts' books, felt contrived and silly from the onset. I found Margo to be a brat and her newfound love, Josh Templeton, a jerk with anger and jealousy issues. Margo, of course the housekeeper's daughter, grew up in the fabulously wealthy Templeton household... think the Hiltons. If you can't imagine caring about Paris' love life, skip Margo's.
Margo's fall from fame to finding her love and newest successful and money-making adventure was too quick and left me not caring all that much about any of them. Giving the author the benefit of the doubt, I did pick up #2 in the trilogy, and I hope it doesn't disappoint. After all, few of her books have.
One of the things I love about Nora Roberts is her books aren't generally predictable. She has written trilogies on vampires (The Circle Trilogy), witches (Three Sisters Island Trilogy) and has a series of thrillers under the alias J.D. Robb, and all the ones I've read have been well written and pulled you in from the beginning.
So don't judge an author by one book, especially one as prolific as Nora.
Margo's fall from fame to finding her love and newest successful and money-making adventure was too quick and left me not caring all that much about any of them. Giving the author the benefit of the doubt, I did pick up #2 in the trilogy, and I hope it doesn't disappoint. After all, few of her books have.
One of the things I love about Nora Roberts is her books aren't generally predictable. She has written trilogies on vampires (The Circle Trilogy), witches (Three Sisters Island Trilogy) and has a series of thrillers under the alias J.D. Robb, and all the ones I've read have been well written and pulled you in from the beginning.
So don't judge an author by one book, especially one as prolific as Nora.
June 27, 2023
Lauren, Kate, and Margo have been friends since childhood and feel bonded not only to their family home but also to the legend of a young woman who threw herself from a cliff. Lauren is the daughter of the Templeton family and a mother of two. Kate is the cousin who came to live with her family and is book-smart especially when it comes to numbers. Margo, daughter of the Templeton's housekeeper dreams of living a big life. Although we get glimpses of their childhood, it is their life as 30-somethings that is the main part of the story.
Daring to Dream is Margo's story. After a ruthless betrayal, Margo returns to the home of her youth to lick her wounds. As her family tries to help Margo rebuild her life and self-confidence, a romance between Margo and Josh Templeton, Lauren's brother blossoms. But is Margo ready for a real relationship or will she flee once again?
After reading so many Nora Roberts stories, I recognize that there is a recipe for an NR book. One book in the trilogy will involve a new visitor, an old flame, or the guy that has always flown under the radar. For Margo, Josh has always had the potential to be the one she loves. I am not complaining because I never tire of it. I liked both Margo and Josh as characters and enjoyed that we get snippets of Lauren and Kate too. However, I give a 3 star overall because I felt the ending was a little rushed to get the characters to come to a resolution.
Goodreads review published 27/06/23
Daring to Dream is Margo's story. After a ruthless betrayal, Margo returns to the home of her youth to lick her wounds. As her family tries to help Margo rebuild her life and self-confidence, a romance between Margo and Josh Templeton, Lauren's brother blossoms. But is Margo ready for a real relationship or will she flee once again?
After reading so many Nora Roberts stories, I recognize that there is a recipe for an NR book. One book in the trilogy will involve a new visitor, an old flame, or the guy that has always flown under the radar. For Margo, Josh has always had the potential to be the one she loves. I am not complaining because I never tire of it. I liked both Margo and Josh as characters and enjoyed that we get snippets of Lauren and Kate too. However, I give a 3 star overall because I felt the ending was a little rushed to get the characters to come to a resolution.
Goodreads review published 27/06/23
October 19, 2023
One of Nora's absolutely perfect contemporary romances and one of my favorites of hers overall.
April 8, 2017
3.5 stars.
Can't believe this trilogy is already 20 years old! This was a re-listen and still surprisingly enjoyable. It's interesting to see that smoking was so cool in those days!
Can't believe this trilogy is already 20 years old! This was a re-listen and still surprisingly enjoyable. It's interesting to see that smoking was so cool in those days!
December 2, 2024
Really a 3.5. I enjoyed it. Great leads. Focus on the friendship. Decent turmoil. Good supporting cast. But something was missing.
May 16, 2013
What a fabulous start to yet another of my favorite NR series!!!
Daring to Dream, the 1st of the Dream Trilogy introduces three “sisters”, who, whilst not by blood, have a strong and loving bond, growing up together in the beautiful Templeton House overlooking the Big Sur and we are taken on a journey with Margo Sullivan, the beautiful and passionate daughter of the Templeton’s housekeeper, has always dreamed of fame and glamour and being more than just the “housekeeper’s” daughter.
The story begins with Laura, the sweet and lovely Templeton “princess” getting married, Kate Powell, her sensible and no nonsense cousin is now a qualified CPA, and Margo is leaving to seek her fortune and fame.[image error][image error] [image error]
and the fabulous Margo... [image error][image error]
Ten years later, Margo is now a famous model, living the glamorous life of the rich and famous in Milan. The world she has created for herself comes crashing down in a big way. Her reputation in tatters, her wealth stolen by one of her lovers, she has no other way to turn to but home.
She’s filled with shame, guilt and remorse but with the help of her two close friends and family, especially Josh Templeton, she soon begins picking up the pieces of her life.
Together with Laura and Kate, she opens up a shop, using her personal belongings as the first consignment for stocking the shop.
This is such a wonderful family tale….friendship, love, loyalty and looking after each other when the times are not only good but bad as well.
One may feel that Margo is a bit of a self-centered and selfish person but somehow that didn’t come across to me. She’s a loyal and steadfast person, loving and caring and damn…just good fun!!!!!!!!! I absolutely fell in love with her. I so could understand that Josh had been in love with her for years and being the patient kind of man..never mind beautiful and gorgeous as well….that despite Margo’s bad, very bad behavior towards him at times (which made me want to smack her..); he was determined to show her that the two were meant to be with each other.
I loved her relationship with the Templeton seniors – when Susan Templeton says:
“Do you know what’s always worried me about you, Margo? Your self-esteem.”
“Mum always said I thought too much of myself.”
“No, on that Annie and I have always disagreed, and we disagreed rarely. Your self-worth is too tied up in your looks. You were a beautiful child, dazzlingly beautiful. Life is different for children with dazzlingly looks. More difficult in some ways, because people tend to judge them by their beauty, and then they begin to judge themselves by that same standard.”
“It was my only skill. Kate had the brains, Laura had the heart.”
“It makes me sad that you believe that, and that too many people pointed you in that direction.”
“You’re young enough to take a dozen different directions. And smart enough. You’ve wasted your brains for a while, made foolish mistakes and poorly considered choices.
“But you didn’t jump. You squared your shoulders, and you showed you were willing to face what life had dealt you. That takes more courage, Margo – much more – than leaping into the void.”
Wow, that is some amazing mother-in-law!!!!
And I see a bit of warming up from Margo’s rather cold mother, Ann Sullivan. I do wonder what her story is all about!!!
So sad to see Laura going through with her terrible and cheating husband. Wow, loved the tennis match that Josh played with him…….did I not love the broken nose action!!!!!!!!
And not forgetting….the treasures hunt for Seraphina’s dowry…….read the book for more….
Margo discovering that all along, the love and acceptance she had being searching the world for, was in fact, right there at home!!!! Lovely!!
I loved the settings of Big Sur, Monterey and Milan[image error][image error]the fantastic and witty dialogue and characters that are endearing and so relatable.
And as I wanted, Margo & Josh, together, forever....and now living in their new home.......[image error]
YAY!!!
I can’t wait to start book 2.
Daring to Dream, the 1st of the Dream Trilogy introduces three “sisters”, who, whilst not by blood, have a strong and loving bond, growing up together in the beautiful Templeton House overlooking the Big Sur and we are taken on a journey with Margo Sullivan, the beautiful and passionate daughter of the Templeton’s housekeeper, has always dreamed of fame and glamour and being more than just the “housekeeper’s” daughter.
The story begins with Laura, the sweet and lovely Templeton “princess” getting married, Kate Powell, her sensible and no nonsense cousin is now a qualified CPA, and Margo is leaving to seek her fortune and fame.[image error][image error] [image error]
and the fabulous Margo... [image error][image error]
Ten years later, Margo is now a famous model, living the glamorous life of the rich and famous in Milan. The world she has created for herself comes crashing down in a big way. Her reputation in tatters, her wealth stolen by one of her lovers, she has no other way to turn to but home.
She’s filled with shame, guilt and remorse but with the help of her two close friends and family, especially Josh Templeton, she soon begins picking up the pieces of her life.
Together with Laura and Kate, she opens up a shop, using her personal belongings as the first consignment for stocking the shop.
This is such a wonderful family tale….friendship, love, loyalty and looking after each other when the times are not only good but bad as well.
One may feel that Margo is a bit of a self-centered and selfish person but somehow that didn’t come across to me. She’s a loyal and steadfast person, loving and caring and damn…just good fun!!!!!!!!! I absolutely fell in love with her. I so could understand that Josh had been in love with her for years and being the patient kind of man..never mind beautiful and gorgeous as well….that despite Margo’s bad, very bad behavior towards him at times (which made me want to smack her..); he was determined to show her that the two were meant to be with each other.
I loved her relationship with the Templeton seniors – when Susan Templeton says:
“Do you know what’s always worried me about you, Margo? Your self-esteem.”
“Mum always said I thought too much of myself.”
“No, on that Annie and I have always disagreed, and we disagreed rarely. Your self-worth is too tied up in your looks. You were a beautiful child, dazzlingly beautiful. Life is different for children with dazzlingly looks. More difficult in some ways, because people tend to judge them by their beauty, and then they begin to judge themselves by that same standard.”
“It was my only skill. Kate had the brains, Laura had the heart.”
“It makes me sad that you believe that, and that too many people pointed you in that direction.”
“You’re young enough to take a dozen different directions. And smart enough. You’ve wasted your brains for a while, made foolish mistakes and poorly considered choices.
“But you didn’t jump. You squared your shoulders, and you showed you were willing to face what life had dealt you. That takes more courage, Margo – much more – than leaping into the void.”
Wow, that is some amazing mother-in-law!!!!
And I see a bit of warming up from Margo’s rather cold mother, Ann Sullivan. I do wonder what her story is all about!!!
So sad to see Laura going through with her terrible and cheating husband. Wow, loved the tennis match that Josh played with him…….did I not love the broken nose action!!!!!!!!
And not forgetting….the treasures hunt for Seraphina’s dowry…….read the book for more….
Margo discovering that all along, the love and acceptance she had being searching the world for, was in fact, right there at home!!!! Lovely!!
I loved the settings of Big Sur, Monterey and Milan[image error][image error]the fantastic and witty dialogue and characters that are endearing and so relatable.
And as I wanted, Margo & Josh, together, forever....and now living in their new home.......[image error]
YAY!!!I can’t wait to start book 2.
January 25, 2024
3.5 stars. This book is decent, it has a lot of women’s fiction and character development going on and the romance takes a side step on that, but I really enjoyed it (despite it getting slow and a bit ridiculous in the middle.)
February 19, 2021
Two irritating, arrogant lead characters -- I guess they deserve each other. I kept reading the trilogy because I liked the secondary characters in this one.
November 6, 2014
While it wasn't something special, it was definitely among the better romance novels I've read until now. Which is, you know, worth 4 stars.
August 31, 2018
*SIGH....Gosh I love a good happy ending. This book had me swooning and wanting to be caught up in the story of this woman's life. She is a strong woman, and surrounds herself with some people who help her realize how strong she is. I love that characteristic in a female character.
November 28, 2022
Creo que es la primera vez que le pongo un puntaje tan bajo a un libro de Nora Roberts....
Hay muchos elemento clásicos del estilo de Nora: Margo, Kate y Laura han crecido juntas, inseparable amigas proveniente de distintos ámbitos pero que encuentran el elemento común en su amistad y el escenario que les da esa oportunidad es la casa de los Templeton junto con la leyenda que la zona inspira, algo que en el corazón de tres niñas románticas las une y las marca. Es una trilogía así que hay un libro por cada protagonista; este es el turno de Margo Sulllivan.
Margo es uno de los personajes más detestables que he leído!!! Me pareció caprichosa, inmadura, celosa, atolondrada... podría seguir así todo el día. Al estar rodeada de lujo pero sin ser una Templeton ella se siente "inferior" pero considera que está destinada a la grandeza, por ello cuando cumple 18 años se toma el expreso a "la fama y la fortuna"; lo cual tiene éxito ya que es una mujer hermosa que la cámara adora por lo tanto la carrera de modelaje es natural para ella. Pero nada dura para siempre y menos para alguien tan propenso a tomar decisiones sin pensar. Luego de un romance con un hombre casado, un arresto, perdida de dinero, trabajo e imagen a Margo no le queda más que volver a Templeton a curar sus heridas y tal vez recapacitar un poco.
Joshua Templeton, es el hermano de Laura y siempre ha tenido ojos para Margo; pero ella siempre ha sido muy estúpida mirando afuera y nunca vió lo que tenía cerca. Josh es un abogado con el prestigio de Harvrd y la riqueza de los Templeton, me agradó un poquito más que Margo pero igual es tan obstinado, testarudo y celoso que me daban ganas de golpearlo en varias ocasiones.
Nunca empaticé con Margo, ella nunca supo apreciar lo que tenía, entiendo el deseo de ser alguien por sus medios pero no comparto la forma que eligió. Tampoco comparto que sacrificara lo que realmente era importante: su familia y amigos. Además de la falsa apreciación que ella se tenía, cosa que busca fuera a alguien que la acepte por lo "que vende" cuando siempre tuvo gente que la veía por quien era y la aceptaba; incluso el mismo Josh tenía mejor opinión de ella a pesar de conocer todo lo que había hecho.
En fin; una trilogía que tiene elementos típicos de la narración de Nora con un escenario muy lindo , personajes secundarios que me interesaron más que los primarios de éste libro, una leyenda que inspira las vidas de los protagonistas de la serie que en el momento adecuado les ayuda a tomar la decisión más acertada. Ya he leído el tercer libro, se como la serie termina, pero la verdad que Margo es uno de esos personajes que no tengo problema en olvidar.
June 29, 2018
The Dream Trilogy is about three woman who will have to face turmoils and changes in their lives. Each woman are different and deal differently with challenges, but they can always count on each other to tackled the problems.
Margo Sullivan is the daughter of the Templeton's housekeeper but grew up with them as if she was family. Margo has always had high aspirations. She wanted to travel and see the world and become famous. So that what she did when she left her home at eighteen to become a model. A decade later, Margo come back at Templeton House after wasting her fortune and a scandal.
Harvard graduate and lawyer Josh Templeton is not happy to learn about Margo's misfortunes but he's happy to see her for more than a brief visit. In love with the woman he likes to call Duchess since they were teenager, he never let his feelings showed, considering it preferable to wait for the right time. Josh and Margo were like some kind of frenemy, always bickering but in a friendly way. But Josh has always been a man who gets what he want and this time he'll make it clear that she's want he wants and the once friendly squabble will turn into passionated banters.
This novel is one of the oldest book I own (the pages even began to turn yellow!) and after rereading it for the third time, I still see why the Dream Trilogy is my favorite Nora Robert's series. It's so sad that her latest work doesn't give me the same feelings of contentment but at least I'll always have these ones and it makes me happy :) It's interesting to realize Margo was not a perfect heroine. She's pretty stubborn and also a little selfish at the beginning but her pride is what helped her hold on and find new purpose in life instead of feeling sorry for herself. Seeing a main character growth is one of the thing that makes a story better, after all. And despite her shortcomings, she was a loyal friend and a dreamer who work for what she wants. An other thing I really liked was the not always easy but beautiful relationship between the heroine and her mother. Josh was a nice guy with just a little bit of an edge to make things spicy and the romance between him and Margo had different layers that were so fun to discover.
Margo Sullivan is the daughter of the Templeton's housekeeper but grew up with them as if she was family. Margo has always had high aspirations. She wanted to travel and see the world and become famous. So that what she did when she left her home at eighteen to become a model. A decade later, Margo come back at Templeton House after wasting her fortune and a scandal.
Harvard graduate and lawyer Josh Templeton is not happy to learn about Margo's misfortunes but he's happy to see her for more than a brief visit. In love with the woman he likes to call Duchess since they were teenager, he never let his feelings showed, considering it preferable to wait for the right time. Josh and Margo were like some kind of frenemy, always bickering but in a friendly way. But Josh has always been a man who gets what he want and this time he'll make it clear that she's want he wants and the once friendly squabble will turn into passionated banters.
This novel is one of the oldest book I own (the pages even began to turn yellow!) and after rereading it for the third time, I still see why the Dream Trilogy is my favorite Nora Robert's series. It's so sad that her latest work doesn't give me the same feelings of contentment but at least I'll always have these ones and it makes me happy :) It's interesting to realize Margo was not a perfect heroine. She's pretty stubborn and also a little selfish at the beginning but her pride is what helped her hold on and find new purpose in life instead of feeling sorry for herself. Seeing a main character growth is one of the thing that makes a story better, after all. And despite her shortcomings, she was a loyal friend and a dreamer who work for what she wants. An other thing I really liked was the not always easy but beautiful relationship between the heroine and her mother. Josh was a nice guy with just a little bit of an edge to make things spicy and the romance between him and Margo had different layers that were so fun to discover.
February 19, 2012
1º volume da Trilogia do Sonho.
Outro livro que iniciei sem grandes expectativas e que acabou por me surpreender pela positiva. A Trilogia tem como protagonistas três grandes amigas de infância que foram criadas juntas e que se amam como irmãs, apesar de terem personalidades completamente opostas: Margo, Laura e Kate.
A protagonista deste livro é Margo, uma mulher deslumbrante, antiga modelo, que volta para casa após um escândalo que arruinou a sua carreira. Margo conhece Josh desde que se mudou para a Casa Templeton, quando tinha apenas quatro anos, e sempre o viu como um amigo. Só que Josh quer mais, muito mais, e não se deterá até o conseguir.Mas será que ambos conseguirão superar as suas diferenças e passados,e construir um presente e futuro juntos?
Um livro leve, com muito humor e um romance arrebatador pautado por jogos de sedução e ciúmes. Já vos disse que adoro ciúmes e possessividade num romance?1 Dá um outro toque ao livro... um toque deliciosamente irresistível!
Outro livro que iniciei sem grandes expectativas e que acabou por me surpreender pela positiva. A Trilogia tem como protagonistas três grandes amigas de infância que foram criadas juntas e que se amam como irmãs, apesar de terem personalidades completamente opostas: Margo, Laura e Kate.
A protagonista deste livro é Margo, uma mulher deslumbrante, antiga modelo, que volta para casa após um escândalo que arruinou a sua carreira. Margo conhece Josh desde que se mudou para a Casa Templeton, quando tinha apenas quatro anos, e sempre o viu como um amigo. Só que Josh quer mais, muito mais, e não se deterá até o conseguir.Mas será que ambos conseguirão superar as suas diferenças e passados,e construir um presente e futuro juntos?
Um livro leve, com muito humor e um romance arrebatador pautado por jogos de sedução e ciúmes. Já vos disse que adoro ciúmes e possessividade num romance?1 Dá um outro toque ao livro... um toque deliciosamente irresistível!
August 1, 2024
So unbelievably naff. This took a month to read due to me simply never wanting to pick it up.
Very weird dynamic between the main love interest couple. I felt nothing towards any one character - they all were two dimensional, with their very clear personality traits keeping them in their lane (the smart one, the loving one, the pretty one). I was not rooting for Margo at any point, or her and Josh together.
The one character I felt bad for was Laura in her divorce. It was also slightly amusing when they put Candy in a locker. However this is a trilogy, and I have no intention of reading the other two books.
I read this as Nora Robert’s is my mums favourite author, however after reading this, I am not sure why (though she assures me other books are better). Maybe I will give another book by her a go, at a later date.
Very weird dynamic between the main love interest couple. I felt nothing towards any one character - they all were two dimensional, with their very clear personality traits keeping them in their lane (the smart one, the loving one, the pretty one). I was not rooting for Margo at any point, or her and Josh together.
The one character I felt bad for was Laura in her divorce. It was also slightly amusing when they put Candy in a locker. However this is a trilogy, and I have no intention of reading the other two books.
I read this as Nora Robert’s is my mums favourite author, however after reading this, I am not sure why (though she assures me other books are better). Maybe I will give another book by her a go, at a later date.
February 22, 2021
Re-reading this 10 years later, I remember why I avoid this author's trilogies. This book, like her other trilogies, is too wordy (trying to fill the pages with words), and most of the time, the author is trying to sell her future books, which I found obvious and annoying as hell.
This book should be about Margo, the housekeeper's daughter, but half of the time, the author writes about the other girls who will be in the future books.
Contrary to some of the reviews here, I like this heroine because she's drop-dead gorgeous, knows what she wants, leaves home to go after her dreams. This Cinderella has slept around and she's not a doormat.
I still don't recommend this book because it's annoying to read but I did like this heroine.
This book should be about Margo, the housekeeper's daughter, but half of the time, the author writes about the other girls who will be in the future books.
Contrary to some of the reviews here, I like this heroine because she's drop-dead gorgeous, knows what she wants, leaves home to go after her dreams. This Cinderella has slept around and she's not a doormat.
I still don't recommend this book because it's annoying to read but I did like this heroine.
January 7, 2017
Eh, I guess Nora Roberts is not my thing, though apparently lots of folks disagree with me. Every character is mind-blowingly beautiful, more like caricatures than real people. Also I hated the hero and heroine. Both were pretty shallow and gross and I HATED the way he dominated her to make her realize she loved him. Not how most women would want to be wooed IMHO. Maybe it's just me but I've never felt overwhelming desire for a guy who'd dunk me in a bathtub and hold me down while I fought him off. But now I can say I've tried Nora Roberts.
November 29, 2023
If you are looking for a Nora Roberts book to start with, do not start with this. I recommend starting with the Three Sisters trilogy, the first book is called 'Dance Upon the Air'.
As for this book... I really hated it. Here are the problems:
Physical Abuse
As other reviewers have mentioned, repeatedly throughout the book, Josh restrains Margo either by the wrists, arms or shoulders during arguments, exploiting his physical strength over her so that she can't get away from him. She struggles and fights as they argue, but can't break free. This is not healthy behaviour, BUT I appreciate (apparently) many women find this type of thing sexy. If you're one of those women, maybe you will find the abusive dynamic depicted here an asset rather than a problem.
A word to sum up their dynamic: paternalistic.
Margo is written like a petulant bratty little girl, she's ditzy, "not a deep thinker", basically likes pretty shiny things. Josh is a Harvard graduate who is never wrong, undermines the validity of Margo's feelings, insults her, relentlessly objectifies her (he often has thoughts like "her body was sinful...her body was made for sinning...she was full of sin" - is he a celibate repressed priest or something? Are these actual thoughts a person would have? Personally I find it a bit creepy)
I don't like when the protagonist's every flicker emotion is constantly invalidated, undercut and laughed at, by both the love interest and the author. I don't like a male love interest who is basically infallible, always given the high ground in arguments, constantly gets jealous over nothing and turns nasty and violent. His frosty lecture to Margo before they are even a couple on why she's not allowed to do a Playboy photoshoot was stomach-turning. Margo is a grown woman, but you wouldn't know it from how NR writes her.
Margo's Modelling Career
Nora Roberts seems to see modelling as an immature, immoral and laughable profession. It's one thing to write characters treating Margo with scorn because she was a model and modelling is the profession of "slut" simpletons (slut is a word NR uses a LOT) - but it's something different when the book itself endorses that view. It's only when Margo gets a "real job" as a shop keeper that she can start to have some self-respect and grow out of "selling sex" (bear in mind, Margo was never a prostitute, but NR weirdly paints Margo's modelling career that way).
THE ENDING
The most damning part of this book comes near the end, so warning for spoilers.
The following is the sequence of events that leads to the finale of the book where the characters end up happily married:
-Margo has been tending her shop when an old friend drops by - some guy named Claudio, Italy's most successful film director, apparently.
-Margo and Claudio go upstairs and have wine and chat.
-Josh arrives at the shop with the intention of proposing to Margo. He walks in on Margo giving Claudio a kiss (an Italian / friendship kiss).
-Josh is so jealous and full of rage, he thinks about murdering both Margo and Claudio.
-Noticing Josh, Margo is happy to see him and begins to try to introduce Claudio, saying "This is a friend from Rome..." but the look on Josh's face is so frightening that she stops, and Josh snaps at her and storms out, not allowing her to explain.
-Margo catches up with Josh in their hotel room. She is shaking, her teeth are chattering, and she is "terrified" of Josh's anger. Then this happens (these are all actual quotes from the book):
He put his hands in his pockets to keep them off her throat.
"I'll tell you what I saw. I saw you in the bedroom [...] You had your mouth on another man. [...] I walked in on the first act. You should be able to figure out what that makes you."
She would rather he'd used his fists on her. [...]
Josh: How dare she sound hurt?
Josh: "You've sold sex your whole life. Why should you change?" [...]
Josh: "We know what we think of each other, Margo. You've never had any more respect for me than you do for yourself [...] I told you in the beginning, I don't share. I'd like you out by the end of the week." [...]
She sank to the floor and rocked.
At this point, so near the end of the book, I stopped reading for a while in disgust. When I came back to finish it, it just got worse. When Margo tells her friends what happened, they partially blame her and have sympathy for Josh. Margo herself even says "I can't say I blame him!" As if Margo has a history of cheating on partners (she does not). Her only "crime" is that she has a flighty carefree personality, she's sexy, was a model and had a good career, and slept with men she wanted.
The whole time she is with Josh, she is faithful to him. But it's apparently up to Margo to go grovelling to Josh, so she pleads with him to meet her, she apologises, and he rewards her by proposing. The WAY this was all written, like Margo had done ANYTHING to deserve such treatment from Josh, and like it was Margo's fault and it was up to her to make things right - was so rage inducing, I almost threw the book. NR really seems to believe that this is healthy adult romance, when it's actually abusive and twisted.
As for this book... I really hated it. Here are the problems:
Physical Abuse
As other reviewers have mentioned, repeatedly throughout the book, Josh restrains Margo either by the wrists, arms or shoulders during arguments, exploiting his physical strength over her so that she can't get away from him. She struggles and fights as they argue, but can't break free. This is not healthy behaviour, BUT I appreciate (apparently) many women find this type of thing sexy. If you're one of those women, maybe you will find the abusive dynamic depicted here an asset rather than a problem.
A word to sum up their dynamic: paternalistic.
Margo is written like a petulant bratty little girl, she's ditzy, "not a deep thinker", basically likes pretty shiny things. Josh is a Harvard graduate who is never wrong, undermines the validity of Margo's feelings, insults her, relentlessly objectifies her (he often has thoughts like "her body was sinful...her body was made for sinning...she was full of sin" - is he a celibate repressed priest or something? Are these actual thoughts a person would have? Personally I find it a bit creepy)
I don't like when the protagonist's every flicker emotion is constantly invalidated, undercut and laughed at, by both the love interest and the author. I don't like a male love interest who is basically infallible, always given the high ground in arguments, constantly gets jealous over nothing and turns nasty and violent. His frosty lecture to Margo before they are even a couple on why she's not allowed to do a Playboy photoshoot was stomach-turning. Margo is a grown woman, but you wouldn't know it from how NR writes her.
Margo's Modelling Career
Nora Roberts seems to see modelling as an immature, immoral and laughable profession. It's one thing to write characters treating Margo with scorn because she was a model and modelling is the profession of "slut" simpletons (slut is a word NR uses a LOT) - but it's something different when the book itself endorses that view. It's only when Margo gets a "real job" as a shop keeper that she can start to have some self-respect and grow out of "selling sex" (bear in mind, Margo was never a prostitute, but NR weirdly paints Margo's modelling career that way).
THE ENDING
The most damning part of this book comes near the end, so warning for spoilers.
The following is the sequence of events that leads to the finale of the book where the characters end up happily married:
-Margo has been tending her shop when an old friend drops by - some guy named Claudio, Italy's most successful film director, apparently.
-Margo and Claudio go upstairs and have wine and chat.
-Josh arrives at the shop with the intention of proposing to Margo. He walks in on Margo giving Claudio a kiss (an Italian / friendship kiss).
-Josh is so jealous and full of rage, he thinks about murdering both Margo and Claudio.
-Noticing Josh, Margo is happy to see him and begins to try to introduce Claudio, saying "This is a friend from Rome..." but the look on Josh's face is so frightening that she stops, and Josh snaps at her and storms out, not allowing her to explain.
-Margo catches up with Josh in their hotel room. She is shaking, her teeth are chattering, and she is "terrified" of Josh's anger. Then this happens (these are all actual quotes from the book):
He put his hands in his pockets to keep them off her throat.
"I'll tell you what I saw. I saw you in the bedroom [...] You had your mouth on another man. [...] I walked in on the first act. You should be able to figure out what that makes you."
She would rather he'd used his fists on her. [...]
Josh: How dare she sound hurt?
Josh: "You've sold sex your whole life. Why should you change?" [...]
Josh: "We know what we think of each other, Margo. You've never had any more respect for me than you do for yourself [...] I told you in the beginning, I don't share. I'd like you out by the end of the week." [...]
She sank to the floor and rocked.
At this point, so near the end of the book, I stopped reading for a while in disgust. When I came back to finish it, it just got worse. When Margo tells her friends what happened, they partially blame her and have sympathy for Josh. Margo herself even says "I can't say I blame him!" As if Margo has a history of cheating on partners (she does not). Her only "crime" is that she has a flighty carefree personality, she's sexy, was a model and had a good career, and slept with men she wanted.
The whole time she is with Josh, she is faithful to him. But it's apparently up to Margo to go grovelling to Josh, so she pleads with him to meet her, she apologises, and he rewards her by proposing. The WAY this was all written, like Margo had done ANYTHING to deserve such treatment from Josh, and like it was Margo's fault and it was up to her to make things right - was so rage inducing, I almost threw the book. NR really seems to believe that this is healthy adult romance, when it's actually abusive and twisted.
January 7, 2021
Solides Buch.
Leider war mir die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Margo und Josh nicht nachvollziehbar.
Der Zusammenhalt von Margo, Laura und Kate dagegen hat mir sehr gut gefallen.
Die Übersetzung kam mir manchmal etwas holprig vor 🤔 (Ist aber nicht in die Wertung eingeflossen)
Leider war mir die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Margo und Josh nicht nachvollziehbar.
Der Zusammenhalt von Margo, Laura und Kate dagegen hat mir sehr gut gefallen.
Die Übersetzung kam mir manchmal etwas holprig vor 🤔 (Ist aber nicht in die Wertung eingeflossen)
March 22, 2022
A bit dated with references to models, t.v. personalities, and others, but otherwise a good read.
February 1, 2011
ok so the book it self was 3 stars in my opinion as far as romance, but i gave it 4 because i liked the way NR created this characters and made them work out in romantic story.
Let me warn you,that is not the typical heroine that is looking for love..Margo`s priorities are to make something of herself. She is portrayed a bit as shallow,careless,but very loyal person.
What captivated my attention of this book was the premise. Margo achieves her "dreams" above and beyond.. only to find herself back home to square one where she started. The honesty from her friends and Joshua (the hero), the way she faces her upcoming downfall is revealing and also very realistic from my point of view. NR describes what insecurities and fear of abandonment can do to our emotional ties and how much it hampers the ability to trust and compromise . through it all Margo is bold,flawed, and has no problem accepting it. her relentless spirit of daring to dream and go beyond her station was so enjoyable.
the secondary characters as well as Joshua were very pleasant to read. the strong bond of friendship was also quite enjoyable.
I do however, have to comment on the fact that the plot of the book was quite unrealistic... But the underlined theme of the book was worth the read!
i will recommend it to those readers who often wonder if HEA does exist.. if emotionally dysfunctional ppl do really make it in real life. I for once felt Margo and Joshua`s dilemma,because its something we have to face every day.. beating the odds.. and staying on the greener side of the pastures having faith that HEA can work out!
i definitely want to know what happens with Laura and Kate!!
Let me warn you,that is not the typical heroine that is looking for love..Margo`s priorities are to make something of herself. She is portrayed a bit as shallow,careless,but very loyal person.
What captivated my attention of this book was the premise. Margo achieves her "dreams" above and beyond.. only to find herself back home to square one where she started. The honesty from her friends and Joshua (the hero), the way she faces her upcoming downfall is revealing and also very realistic from my point of view. NR describes what insecurities and fear of abandonment can do to our emotional ties and how much it hampers the ability to trust and compromise . through it all Margo is bold,flawed, and has no problem accepting it. her relentless spirit of daring to dream and go beyond her station was so enjoyable.
the secondary characters as well as Joshua were very pleasant to read. the strong bond of friendship was also quite enjoyable.
I do however, have to comment on the fact that the plot of the book was quite unrealistic... But the underlined theme of the book was worth the read!
i will recommend it to those readers who often wonder if HEA does exist.. if emotionally dysfunctional ppl do really make it in real life. I for once felt Margo and Joshua`s dilemma,because its something we have to face every day.. beating the odds.. and staying on the greener side of the pastures having faith that HEA can work out!
i definitely want to know what happens with Laura and Kate!!
December 14, 2009
Model, Margo Sullivan, is trying to patch her life back together after her career is shattered by a dirty scandal. She heads back home to heal her wounds and to help out an old friend going through an emotionally trying time and falls in love with the friend's brother, an old childhood crush, Josh now a rich playboy and sometimes attorney.
This was the first book by Nora Roberts that I could easily put down. Her beautiful knack for description was there as was her easily readable style but I didn't like the two leads. Margo, the gorgeous model heroine, was whiny and spoiled and used her looks to get whatever she wanted out of life. She did grow up a little bit towards the end and realized that the world didn't revolve around her but I still didn't like her much. The hero was just plain spoiled and wasn't present for a huge part of the book so I never grew to care for him. I found Daring To Dream to be more effective as a story about a woman's struggle to rebuild her life after devastation, and her attempts to reestablish caring and loving relationships with her childhood friends.
Although I didn't click with either main character in this story, and wasn't excited by the romance, Nora Roberts kept me entertained with the strong interaction between the friends. Their love, devotion and banter came through as very believable and I am looking forward to the two sequels about Margo's friends' Laura and Kate. They appear to be sensible and compassionate (and less self-centered) women.
This was the first book by Nora Roberts that I could easily put down. Her beautiful knack for description was there as was her easily readable style but I didn't like the two leads. Margo, the gorgeous model heroine, was whiny and spoiled and used her looks to get whatever she wanted out of life. She did grow up a little bit towards the end and realized that the world didn't revolve around her but I still didn't like her much. The hero was just plain spoiled and wasn't present for a huge part of the book so I never grew to care for him. I found Daring To Dream to be more effective as a story about a woman's struggle to rebuild her life after devastation, and her attempts to reestablish caring and loving relationships with her childhood friends.
Although I didn't click with either main character in this story, and wasn't excited by the romance, Nora Roberts kept me entertained with the strong interaction between the friends. Their love, devotion and banter came through as very believable and I am looking forward to the two sequels about Margo's friends' Laura and Kate. They appear to be sensible and compassionate (and less self-centered) women.
May 30, 2013
Another satisfying read from Nora Roberts. I'm a little disappointed in myself that it took me this long to read the Dream series but better late than never.
The series revolves around 3 lifelong friends - Laura Templeton, daughter of a hotel magnate, her cousin Kate Powell, orphaned young and brought to live with the Templetons and Margo Sullivan, daughter of the Templeton's head housekeeper.
It's a great story that tells the tale of a woman's journey to realizing what is truly important is family and not material things. Margo has to start from scratch after making judgement errors and as she returns home, she has to turn to her family and accept that she has more than she realized.
Along the way, she butts head with Josh Templeton, Laura's brother and the man who has loved her from afar. As he helps her make a way to her new life, she undergoes a transformation and understands that she is more than just a pretty face.
I loved the way Nora Roberts allows the growth of her characters making Margo both selfish and yet human from the start. Even when Margo is at her worst battling her mother, we can feel the love between the characters and the heartwrenching feelings as they both battle to overcome barriers to express their love for another.
Very much enjoyed this book and can't wait to read Kate's story next.
The series revolves around 3 lifelong friends - Laura Templeton, daughter of a hotel magnate, her cousin Kate Powell, orphaned young and brought to live with the Templetons and Margo Sullivan, daughter of the Templeton's head housekeeper.
It's a great story that tells the tale of a woman's journey to realizing what is truly important is family and not material things. Margo has to start from scratch after making judgement errors and as she returns home, she has to turn to her family and accept that she has more than she realized.
Along the way, she butts head with Josh Templeton, Laura's brother and the man who has loved her from afar. As he helps her make a way to her new life, she undergoes a transformation and understands that she is more than just a pretty face.
I loved the way Nora Roberts allows the growth of her characters making Margo both selfish and yet human from the start. Even when Margo is at her worst battling her mother, we can feel the love between the characters and the heartwrenching feelings as they both battle to overcome barriers to express their love for another.
Very much enjoyed this book and can't wait to read Kate's story next.
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