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Dreaming August

(Bitterly Suite #2)

Terri-Lynne DeFino (Goodreads Author)

4.33 · Rating details · 15 ratings · 9 reviews

Welcome to Bitterly Connecticut, hometown of one wistful widow with a very big secret….

She should have been off-limits. After all, Benedetta “Benny” Grady is his best friend’s widow. But in the space of a whirlwind week, Daniel Greene went from strong shoulder to lean on to Benny’s ardent lover. Now Dan is determined to make Benny his bride. He hasn’t waited this long for ...more

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Published April 12th 2016 by Lyrical Shine

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Dec 04, 2016 Debbie Christiana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The core story of Dreaming August by Terri-Lynne DeFino is about Benny who has been widowed for six years and finds herself falling in love with her husband's best friend, Dan. But it's so much more than the romance.

Benny's journey to reconcile her feelings for Dan and her husband, Henny, lead her to unexpected meetings and conversations with people, alive and dead, people she thought she knew, but found out otherwise, i.e., her mother, and even Dan. This book has many 'secondary' characters tha ...more

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Feb 22, 2016 Bev Fasig rated it it was amazing

DREAMING AUGUST took me on my second trip to Terri-Lynne DeFino's Bitterly, Connecticut. I hope to take many more trips to Bitterly via this author's skillfully written stories.

Benedetta Grady (Benny) has been marching in place since the sudden and accidental death of her husband Henderson Parker Fredericks (Henny). Recently, Benny connected with Henny and Benny's best friend, Dan and Benny has a secret that she can't seem to find a way to share with Dan or anyone. Benny's discovery of herself a ...more

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Mar 14, 2016 Terri rated it liked it

Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

2.5 stars

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is April 12, 2016.

This story really wasn't what I expected. Although I approach each story I read with little expectations so that I can enter with an open mind, I still have some idea of what direction the story should take. I was expecting a romance. You know the kind....they love each oth Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

2.5 stars

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is April 12, 2016.

This story really wasn't what I expected. Although I approach each story I read with little expectations so that I can enter with an open mind, I still have some idea of what direction the story should take. I was expecting a romance. You know the kind....they love each other but must pine for each other as they battle their inner demons. While this story has that, it was what I will say a little different from the norm.

I must be careful to not disclose any spoilers but if I were to give a hint...take the synopsis literally. Yes, every word. Ok enough of that.

While this was a sweet love story I have to admit it was a little bit hard to identify.

Take Benny. She lost her husband six years ago and was still grieving to the point of tears daily and visiting his grave daily. While I can't even imagine what it would be like to lose the love of my life, I am pretty sure that while the pain may never subside, the daily tears would eventually. She was forty years old and read as a character much younger, like a teenager. Maybe because she lived at home made it seem worse but by the way she acted it was like someone who has never seen the world outside the comfort of her own home.

Also, her relationship with Dan was just weird to me. The story discusses their time together (very short) in which she becomes pregnant. She know Dan will be happy but is afraid to tell him? weird. His reaction...also odd. Their whole relationship just had a weird vibe to me that I could not completely get on board with.

Then there is the whole piece that I can't discuss regarding Auggie. This was actually the best part of the story in my opinion, although seemed way out in left field when it first began. I could say a lot but that would spoiling the story.

Altogether this story was just ok for me. ...more

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Apr 29, 2016 Janga rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Benedetta “Benny” Grady was widowed six years ago, but she is finding it difficult to let go of the past, still defining herself as the wife of Henderson Parker Fredericks. Her friendship with Dan Greene is an old one, and he was an important part of her support system after Henny’s death. For a brief period recently, he was more than a friend, but Benny’s guilt over being unfaithful to her husband’s memory soon had her retreating from that relationship. Now she’s pregnant, and her guilt magnifi ...more

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Feb 12, 2016 Heather andrews rated it it was amazing

Dan sometimes just needs direction from his woman, “Dan.” Benny placed a finger upon his lips. “How about your brain shuts it the hell up now so you can kiss me?” I liked this book, I really liked Dan.

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Apr 12, 2016 Cathy Geha rated it it was amazing

Benny is stuck in a rut. She promised to love Henny forever and that is what she is doing even though he died six years before. She squashes happy feelings as wrong – almost as if she wishes she were dead, too. She seems to have been marching in place for six years and only going through the motions of living. Dan is a good man and into Benny though she squashes the good feelings he brings out in her because she is stuck in that rut of her own creating. Benny is a bit quirky and spends quite a b ...more

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Apr 20, 2016 Sharon Struth rated it it was amazing

The past mingles with the present, and the meaning of true love will you keep you turning the pages in “Dreaming August.” Ms. DeFino has woven a beautiful tale about a Benny, who isn’t sure when it is acceptable to move on after losing her one true love. As Benny follows her journey, she gets some guidance from a surprise visitor to the cemetery by the name of Augie—or is it her imagination?

But the best part is, this story was not only about love. It’s about family. It’s about the ghosts that ha ...more

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Apr 14, 2016 InD'tale Magazine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-june, genre-contemporary, rating-5-star, rating-crowned-heart, steam-3, rone-2017-winner

Ms. DeFino is a remarkable storyteller. Her writing style is as beautiful as it is original.

Read full review in the 2016 June issue of InD'tale Magazine. ...more

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Mar 19, 2016 Jennifer Schultheis rated it liked it

Shelves: hq

Review at http://wp.me/p2F7IH-cEy ...more

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About Terri-Lynne DeFino

Terri-Lynne DeFino

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Terri-Lynne DeFino was born and raised in New Jersey, but escaped to the wilds of Connecticut back in the nineties when her kids were babies and everyone wore flannel. She still lives in New England with her cats and husband, spending her days exorcising the people and places living inside her head.