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The Color of Dreams

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“Readers of inspirational fiction will enjoy this story of a man, an angel, and the work it takes to build happiness and fulfillment.”—Booklife (Editor’s Pick)

What if the key to saving your dreams—and your family—came in the form of a tiny, mystical angel?

Ben Davidson’s life is unraveling. He loses his job unexpectedly, his family is slipping away, and the dream he once shared with his father is on the verge of collapse. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, a magical encounter with a glowing little angel reveals six powerful spiritual truths. Will it be enough to help Ben turn his life around before it’s too late?

Set in the late 1980s in the Pacific Northwest, The Color of Dreams weaves an enchanting tale of perseverance, love, and the mystical forces that shape our reality. As Ben embarks on a journey of self-discovery, the angel teaches him lessons that challenge his deepest fears and awaken his long-buried faith in himself.

In this life-affirming novel, readers will be drawn into Ben’s journey as he

How dreams are born from a higher sourceWhy thoughts become realityThe power of choosing faith over fearHow to “Imagine better than the best you know”How to trust the “why” of your dreams and let the “how” unfoldAnd most of all, how to help others by letting your inner light shine Will Ben be able to apply these life-changing lessons to rebuild his broken life, rekindle his family’s love, and revive the dream he thought was lost? With heartfelt moments of inspiration and a touch of metaphysical magic, The Color of Dreams is a soul-stirring story that reminds us of the power of believing in ourselves and the beauty of second chances.

Perfect for fans of metaphysical fiction, spiritual transformation, and heartwarming stories of redemption, this novel will leave you inspired to chase your own dreams and embrace the possibilities of life’s unseen magic.

350 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2025

3 people are currently reading
436 people want to read

About the author

Michael Zajaczkowski

5 books15 followers
Writing to inspire and enrich our lives
● M.A. Marriage & Family Therapy
● Author of seven books
● 30+ facilitator of Law of Attraction Techniques

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Kez Marie.
1,280 reviews77 followers
February 8, 2025
The Color of Dreams blends elements of magical realism and self help guidance, into a charming and relatable narrative balancing risk and reward, fears and doubts, and exploring the power of manifestation.
Ben's journey is transformative as he re-evaluates his aspirations, and works to fulfil his business ventures with the help of a magical guardian angel.
It weaves an emotional plot confronting communication breakdowns, grief and separation, and promotes family reconnection, forgiveness, and adapting your consciousness for positive thinking.
This was an inspirational journey of perseverance, faith, and determination fueling self-belief, and making dreams a reality.

✨"Thinking and thoughts by themselves are powerless if those thoughts are not anchored in belief"

✨"This magic is always here. It's in you and all around you, and you will always see it if you remember to look for it"
Profile Image for Nicola Doyle.
504 reviews15 followers
August 8, 2025
Words fail me. This book was stunning. It's actually changed my life. I adored the concept. It was strong and well thought out.

I loved the cover. The lone wing was stunning! The colours were gorgeous. It's visually striking and it would certainly stop me in my tracks!

The book is so beautifully written and flows perfectly. I enjoyed the dates being included as that helped me keep the timeline straight.

I love that this was set in the 1980s. A much more simpler time before the likes of online selling!

The characters were wonderful and they fit into the story so well. I loved Ben. He was such a hard worker and so determined to make his dream. I adored the angel. I certainly could do with her at times!!

I cannot recommend this enough to you all. I connected with it on so many levels and that is rare!
Profile Image for Bookishemx.
93 reviews8 followers
May 18, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4.

This book is a unique blend of magical realism and self-help, offering a thoughtful exploration of manifestation and personal growth. We follow Ben, a struggling craftsman trying to provide for his family while still daring to chase his dreams. With the help of an unexpected guest, he learns to believe in himself and begins to forge his own path.

The story is both deep and emotional, filled with characters that will make you laugh, cry, and occasionally scream in frustration. I found many of the lessons meaningful, offering helpful perspectives on dealing with disappointment and hopelessness. While a few characters felt slightly annoying at times, the evolving relationship between Ben and his father was a standout for me—transforming from strained to something honest and beautiful.

One note of caution: I do think this book should have included a trigger warning for the death of a pet, as that’s something I would have appreciated knowing in advance.
Profile Image for Elsbookshelf.
113 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2025
There were many aspects of this book that I enjoyed, but it took some time to get over the fact that the story revolves around the main characters job. However, I eventually came to appreciate the deeper meaning behind the narrative and thoroughly enjoyed the second half.
I particularly liked the relationship between Ben and Toby. The book did feel a little self-help at times but I think that’s the point, and the chapters were quite long. Despite this, I still found the book intriguing, unique and I would recommend it.
Profile Image for Noman Ahmad.
89 reviews10 followers
June 10, 2025
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 3.5/5
Emotional Impact: 4.25/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Total Points: 3.95 ⭐️s
Comments: A dreamer needs to be the biggest supporter of him/herself if one wants to achieve his/her dreams. But always remember along the way that don’t lose what you have while chasing your dreams.
Profile Image for Book Reviewer.
4,917 reviews452 followers
May 1, 2025
Michael Zajaczkowski’s The Color of Dreams unfolds as a poignant narrative of second chances, self-discovery, and the rekindling of lost ambitions. It follows Ben, a struggling craftsman who finds himself at a crossroads in life, facing challenges in his marriage, career, and sense of purpose. When a chance encounter with a mysterious “angel” reawakens his belief in magic and possibility, Ben embarks on a journey to reclaim his dreams, rebuild his relationships, and confront the obstacles that have kept him tethered to mediocrity. The book is set against the backdrop of the late 1980s in Tacoma, Washington, and offers a mix of domestic drama, emotional depth, and moments of magical realism.

One of the strengths of the book lies in its intimate portrayal of Ben’s struggles. Zajaczkowski writes with a natural, almost conversational tone that makes Ben’s internal conflicts feel raw and relatable. Ben’s frustration, Emily’s cautious pragmatism, and the unspoken emotions beneath their words are so well-rendered that I felt like an invisible participant in their conversations. The author’s ability to navigate complex marital dynamics adds depth to the story, grounding its more whimsical elements.

The book also excels in its descriptions of Ben’s craft and aspirations. His passion for woodworking, creating intricately detailed mailboxes, serves as a powerful metaphor for his desire to build something meaningful in his life. Scenes like Ben’s visit to the farmers’ market, where he secures a booth and imagines the bustling possibilities of showcasing his work, brim with hope and determination. These moments made me root for Ben, even as his self-doubt and external pressures threatened to derail him.

Zajaczkowski’s attention to detail in describing Ben’s workshop, tools, and creative process added an authentic layer that made Ben’s dreams tangible. Ryan’s manipulations and Ben’s indignation are initially compelling but become predictable over time, detracting from the more nuanced aspects of the story. On the other hand, the inclusion of the “angel” character provides a refreshing touch of mysticism, though her role occasionally feels underdeveloped, leaving me wishing for a deeper exploration of her significance in Ben’s transformation.

The Color of Dreams is a heartfelt exploration of resilience and the enduring power of belief in oneself, in others, and in the unseen forces that shape our lives. Zajaczkowski’s writing captures both the beauty and the messiness of pursuing one’s dreams, offering readers an emotional journey filled with relatable struggles and moments of quiet triumph. This book would resonate with anyone who has ever felt stuck or doubted their ability to overcome life’s challenges. It’s an inspiring read for dreamers, creatives, and anyone who appreciates stories about rediscovering hope in the face of adversity.
Profile Image for Veronika Jordan.
Author 2 books50 followers
August 1, 2025
When I started reading The Color of Dreams and the angel was introduced, my first thought was I can't deal with this. I don't believe in angels, or manifesting or any of that stuff. But I was enjoying the story, and though both Ben and Em needed a kick up the bum, I loved the kids and of course Sadie the dog and Oreo the cat.

When Sadie was getting weaker and the angel was relaying to Ben what the dog was thinking (I hope that's not a spoiler), I was crying buckets. When we lost our 17 year old Jack Russell three and a half years ago, she had dementia and was in severe distress. We knew it was time. We sat with her on the grass, the sun was shining, and the vet gave her an injection. You could tell she was at peace. I'd have loved an angel to tell me how she felt.

I'm still not sure whether the angel was real, or allegorical.

I love Ben's relationship with his father and how after years of bitterness towards him for giving up on Ben's dream, they can finally let go and rebuild their relationship. Ben also helps his neighbour's grandson Toby, who is going off the rails because he has no focus, but Ben teaches him all about making the mailboxes and he is totally changed. I was surprised though that he was only 13!

A couple of things mystified me though. Em's family are very wealthy, but apart from doing expensive sounding things with the grandchildren, they don't help out financially at all. Seemed pretty mean to me. If they had helped, maybe Em would have been more supportive of Ben's ambitions. We also stopped hearing about Ben's mum - was she still around? As for Ryan - just don't get me started.

At the end of the book there are some discussion points including one about the six lessons. The third lesson asks us Fear or Faith? I suppose this is the one that will stick with me. Because Ben is driven by fear and Em has no faith in him. It's not a good relationship. It also asks if I could spend one day with the angel, what would I ask her? Well that's a simple one. I want to know what my puppy is thinking!

Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of #TheColorOfDreams readalong.
1,179 reviews27 followers
July 2, 2025
This is a tale of perseverance and never giving up on your dream.
There is some magic involved when Ben inadvertently takes home an angel. I felt like, at some points, this felt a little out there, there was no other magic in the world so this little piece just felt a little out of place to me.
Throughout the tale Ben must learn 6 lessons to turn his life around, and there was definitely some good moral lessons to be taken from this.
There is some tough topics that I think could be upsetting for people that I hadn't been expecting, I can't really say more than that without giving away spoilers but do go into this knowing its not just a light read.
I really liked the relationships between Ben, his dad, and Toby. I would have loved an epilogue to revisit them and see how they were all getting on as things had moved on from the last few chapters.
I did find that some of it felt a little repetitive in the middle, once I was past this though I thought the last 100 or so pages absolutely flew.
This has a beautifully simplistic cover and a hopeful storyline that I am sure many will enjoy.
Profile Image for What-Rian-Read.
95 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2025
This book is very different to anything I have previously read. I felt it was a mix between whimsical magical journey and a self-help guide. It guided you though how the power of dreams and belief in yourself can help you succeed in achieving your goals, learning to fall on the side of faith in yourself ideas rather than fear them.

This book follows Ben, he is struggling to make his dream a reality to the detriment of his family. It explore the power of positive manifestation. I found this to be a really descriptive book from the colours to the intricacies of the mailboxes.

Whilst reading it challenged me to think how I would react in certain situations, and the importance of how my views can have an impact on those I love and care about. Whilst there is “magic” in this book with the Angel guiding Ben, it is just a mechanism to get real life struggles that many of us face into the narrative.

There was joy in watching some of the relationships develop and grow, and absolute sadness (I may have shed a few tears) at the death of a pet which was written beautifully. There were some relationships and characters I just found hard to engage with. Whilst I felt the middle was a bit repetitive the book picks up again towards the end, with more development of the story and progress to a conclusion.

I expect this book will impact on people in different ways, with different aspects being relatable to different people. But if you want to read a heartwarming book around the importance of family, friendship and dreams then this is for you.

It was a 3.5 star read for me rounded up to 4.
Profile Image for Cathy Pike.
144 reviews6 followers
August 3, 2025
My rating is actually 3.5 stars but Goodreads doesn't allow for half stars.

So this book follows Ben, his wife M, there are two children Dylan and Sammy, and their wider family, and is set in the 1980s in the Pacific Northwest. We find Ben in a bit of a pickle, his life seems to be unravelling before his eyes, his family are slipping through his fingers and his dream of starting his own business full-time seems to be out of his control. Until that is he finds a tiny angel who teaches him about six truths that will help him turn things around. This is a story of love, of faith, of spiritualism, of manifestation, it is about learning, growth, trust in oneself, of hopes and dreams, of endings and new beginnings, and the difficult journey to enlightenment.

It is a well written journey that takes us through of how truly believing in something, of having faith in something more than what we can see, can bring us closer to our dreams and goals. So if you enjoy stories of spirituality and faith then this is definitely one for you.
1 review1 follower
August 20, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. The Color of Dreams reads like an entrepreneur’s plight with a little bit of stardust sprinkled in. Ben is a relatable guy who wants to build something real, yet life keeps throwing him jabs. The twist is the angelic visitor, written in a way that never gets too hokey. You can read it as spiritual, universal, or your own conscience finally speaking up.

I experienced the whole gamut of emotions while reading this book. I felt frustrated when Ben tripped over his own choices, dialed in when the “lessons” landed, and genuinely pumped when he scored wins. I actually yelled out loud a couple of times- not kidding. The book also did work on me. It helped me stay calm in tough moments, focus and breathe, and it nudged a better outcome in a real situation that I was facing.

The Color of Dreams is a fast, uplifting page-turner and a great travel companion. If you are building a dream and need a steady push, this one delivers, and keeps you entertained along the way.
Profile Image for Fatguyreading.
860 reviews41 followers
August 7, 2025
The Color of Dreams is a story of hope, of perseverance, and of keeping the faith no matter what.

It's a fine example of inspiration fiction intertwined with magical realism, and tips and guidance on self help.

It's a story of fears and doubts, and a story of how we can use manifestation to our advantage in order to improve our lives.

We follow our main character, Ben, in his deeply personal, spiritual journey, ( not in the religious sense ) and an angel, on his journey towards happiness and fulfilment.

Ben's life took a turn for the worst, after the loss of his job, and his family are drifting away. That is until his encounter with an angel reveals six powerful truths to him. But will these truths be enough to turn his life around? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.

So all in all, a heartwarming, life affirming read with a wonderful cast of characters that are believable and feel real.

I read this in two sittings.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
Profile Image for Bekky Clarke.
129 reviews6 followers
August 21, 2025
This book I can honestly say left a big impact on me. Reading this I went through so many emotions but I’m honestly shocked at how long it’s stayed with me since I finished reading the book itself.

I’ve never been one to manifest much - that has changed and I’ve started trying to implement a few of the differences in thought process that the book highlights into my day to day life. If only I had my own little angel to guide me too!

I felt the struggles Ben faced with him, I cried for him, rooted for him and felt every doubt, every feeling and it just made me so invested in watching him succeed. At times I really struggled with some of the side characters and the constant non belief but I have to say the ending was particularly satisfying for me.

This book is so different to anything I’ve read recently - but it’s taught me that it’s never too late to follow your dreams and to believe in yourself.
Profile Image for Zoe.
47 reviews2 followers
May 11, 2025
I had a pleasure of being an arc reader for this book and being a part of a virtual book tour. So thank you!

I cannot get over how beautiful this book is.
I am a huge believer in manifesting and needing to trust the ‘why’ and let the ‘how’ unfold as we try and let our dreams come into reality.

This fictional story is set in the 1980’s where we follow the main character Ben Davidson trying to create this amazing life for his family and using his goal to try and achieve his wife’s dream.

We see Ben throughout this story chase his dream and constantly reaching obstacles and barriers into achieving his dream as well as seeing Ben lose his job and on the verge of his losing his family.

Ben experiences a magical life changing experience and this allows him to start to change his view on his life and his perception on the world around him.

This story experiences law of attraction, manifestation, self growth, magical realism and self help skills.

The only thing I wish is that it has a trigger warning for pet loss because that really broke my heart 😭!
Profile Image for Amanda Felton.
371 reviews20 followers
May 10, 2025
First I have to say this cover is absolutely amazing!! I love all the colors !! That's what drew me to this book was the colors !!
We follow Ben and well Ben meets and angel and this angel gives him 6 lessons to learn. I mean the concept of this book and the writing style were so good !! I absolutely loved this read. I really was loving Ben's passion and show he created things out of wood. I had a neighbor who made stuff and he was so talented he would walk by my house and just give me stuff. It's a hard thing takes a lot of work.
Such a good book that is full of so much and so many wonderful things to learn. I mean I am someone who suffers from grief and this book had that in it.
Definitely recommend this book!!
I also have to say the relationship between Ben and his dad hands down took it for me. Was so moving and emotional and just so good.
Profile Image for Kate Edmondson.
207 reviews4 followers
May 7, 2025
The Color of Dreams, even though I have had to remember to write Color and not Colour is a pristine inspirational book.
It is fiction but intertwined with advice on how to follow and support your life. Ben follows his liminality journey, to improve his life and his family's lives with the help of a little angel he finds inside a post box.
As well as with Color/Colour the idea of a personalised post box in the UK is something that we wouldn't think about but the story pulled you in and the cutesy use of the mailbox was perfect and I totally understood Emily's feelings with a young family.
My favourite line was “You must always promise to talk to me and never withhold” which is relationship advice for everybody who reads this!
Also the cover is perfectly attuned to the story!
69 reviews
May 17, 2025
💙💛 THE COLOR OF DREAMS 💛💙
By Michael Zajaczkowski

I have adored reading this book. It is an amazing example of using manifestation to make your dreams come true. Learning all about keeping faith no matter what, keep taking action and knowing exactly WHY you are doing it. This story showed us that the power/magic of it is inside of us and sometimes we just need a little help to shine out light from within. I think the author has done a really good job with the descriptive language and making the main character so relatable. I was rooting for Ben and his dream of making custom made mail boxes throughout the book. I felt his sadness when his family distanced and enthusiasm when he was working with his dad and Toby, doing what he loved. I would definitely recommend reading this book.
Profile Image for Kim Wilch.
Author 6 books78 followers
July 15, 2025
Don’t let the mention of an angel fool you—The Color of Dreams isn’t fluffy fantasy. It’s a grounded story about real-life struggles: relationship conflict, job stress, addiction, and chasing your dreams when life keeps presenting roadblocks.

The characters are wonderfully imperfect, and you can tell the author’s background in marriage and family counseling shaped them. With touches of speculative fiction, the story explores how color, faith, and the law of attraction shape our paths—and reminds us to swap fear for trust in the bigger picture.

It’s heartfelt, creative, and full of soul. If you’re looking for a read that lifts you up and gets you thinking, this one’s worth the trip.
Profile Image for D. Thrush.
Author 14 books161 followers
April 22, 2025
I was provided with an ARC, and this is my honest review. Some novels transcend fiction. The Color of Dreams is such a book. Taking place in the late 1980s in the Pacific Northwest, Ben meets a tiny angel who imparts six profound lessons, guiding him to achieve his hopes and dreams. Zajaczkowski’s beautiful and vivid narrative unfolds slowly to let these truths that we innately know resonate. We’re with Ben as he faces obstacles and frustration and learns to have faith in himself. His heartwarming story inspires us all to believe in the magic of dreams. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,415 reviews140 followers
May 7, 2025
The Colour of Dreams by Michael Zajaczkowski.
I loved the cover and blurb of this book. It's so different and unique. The story follows Ben, who meets an angel who gives him six lessons. I loved the writing style and the story. Very beautifully written. I loved Ben's passion for his woodwork. I was rooting for him. This was a beautiful story of communication breakdowns, grief, and separation. This is a new author for me. I read this book in a few days. Definitely recommend.
Profile Image for Deborah Charnes.
Author 1 book11 followers
May 9, 2025
Yes, there’s an angel in “The Color of Dreams,” but it is NOT a book about angels. Rather, it addresses what most of us face. Every day concerns such as challenging relationships, job insecurity, addictions, and what seems like endless hurdles and impasses to follow our dreams.

What I liked most about the speculative fiction new release was all the very real (meaning imperfect) characters. So I wasn’t surprised that the author has a master's degree in marriage and family counseling. 
Profile Image for Lauren Flewett.
497 reviews15 followers
Read
August 12, 2025
I was initially drawn to this book by the stunning cover! I was not sure about the mystical elements that the blurb of the book alludes to but once I got in to the story I didn’t actually mind it.

I loved following Ben on his journey of self-discovery. I’m not sure the angel was necessarily meant to be literal but maybe more of a feeling or Ben’s subconscious.

Having the pets play a part in the book is super cute and I enjoyed this parts a lot.

The ‘moral’ or learning you can take from this novel is that you should follow your dreams as much as possible. Believe in yourself and make the most of everything you have.
Profile Image for Tracey Moore.
137 reviews6 followers
August 9, 2025
The Colour Of Dreams was an enjoyable and a standout read for me. we follow Ben who is struggling with life and just trying to get by, when unexpectedly he finds himself meeting an angel who gives him six lessons to help him believe in himself and to right his path in life.

This was such a beautiful and emotional read, with plenty of lessons to learn along the way.Things like second chances and having self-belief. Coming away from this book after reading it really makes you think and that no matter what your dreams can come a reality if you just believe.

Overall this was a powerful and eye-opening read that I would recommend to others.
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,818 reviews141 followers
September 10, 2025
I was completely obsessed with this front cover image as soon as I saw it and couldn't wait to dive into this Read-Along.

 

What I hadn't realised though, was just how the cover really related to the story.

I never read blurbs beforehand and on e I'd started reading, it became obvious that this book would be verging on the religious side.

Definitely not my cup of tea - or so I thought!

 

Although I'm not religious as such - I don't believe in angels and I don't pray - I don't "do faith" in any religious way at all.

But the more I read, the more I saw this book to be much more than religion.

This felt much more self-serving, more generic, spiritual but in a way that would be relevant to everyone whatever you're beliefs - and this really appealed to me.

 

There was obviously those religious connotations with the angel and the lessons, The Source etc - but with a more open mind, these elements could be realigned into anybody's lives.

 

I warmed to most of the characters, but I really wasn't too keen on Em - or Ryan for that matter.

I really wish that Em could have shown much more support for Ben and his dreams.

I totally understand the worries she had about the risks, but with her family as backup, she really could have given more.

 

Ben was a star and I loved that he was able to rekindle that closeness with his father and the help that he offered to Toby was so heartwarming.

 

I kind of tuned out that the Angel was an actual Angel ...or was she? I'm still not sure ...

But, I read these sections with more of a "science" head and listened to the lessons in the form of therapy or self-help.

 

The lessons definitely got me thinking about how I react to certain similar situations and I know that I need to work more on my "fear or faith" - I'm dreadful for acting on my fears and worries.

 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with some important messages that we can all work on and take forward.
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