What do you think?
Rate this book
Sweet River #1
A Dream to Believe In
Sometimes all you need is A Dream to Believe In
Annie Davenport owns the cheerful Bookish Cafe in the charming town of Sweet River Falls. She’s perfectly content with her life.
That is until Nick Chambers returns to town.
Nick takes a leave of absence from his medical practice to accept a temporary university teaching position. He didn’t dream he’d run into Annie again after all these years.
But fate has other plans, as it often does.
Sparks fly between them once again—or maybe they never died. After doing their best to avoid each other and failing miserably, Nick and Annie make a tentative truce and agree to put their past behind them.
Nick helps remodel the loft area above her shop that she’s hoping to have finished before the May Festival and the start of the busy tourist season. But a terrible accident reminds Nick why he left his medical practice and why he needs to move on from Sweet River Falls.
Once again, they want—and need—different things out of life. Dreams and reality collide. But maybe this time the fates will be kinder. Maybe this time they can find A Dream to Believe In.
A Dream to Believe In is book one in the Sweet River series. Meet Annie and her best friend, Nora. Together they experience small-town life at its best and its worst, struggle to keep their businesses afloat, and maybe, just maybe, find love when it’s least expected.
Annie Davenport owns the cheerful Bookish Cafe in the charming town of Sweet River Falls. She’s perfectly content with her life.
That is until Nick Chambers returns to town.
Nick takes a leave of absence from his medical practice to accept a temporary university teaching position. He didn’t dream he’d run into Annie again after all these years.
But fate has other plans, as it often does.
Sparks fly between them once again—or maybe they never died. After doing their best to avoid each other and failing miserably, Nick and Annie make a tentative truce and agree to put their past behind them.
Nick helps remodel the loft area above her shop that she’s hoping to have finished before the May Festival and the start of the busy tourist season. But a terrible accident reminds Nick why he left his medical practice and why he needs to move on from Sweet River Falls.
Once again, they want—and need—different things out of life. Dreams and reality collide. But maybe this time the fates will be kinder. Maybe this time they can find A Dream to Believe In.
A Dream to Believe In is book one in the Sweet River series. Meet Annie and her best friend, Nora. Together they experience small-town life at its best and its worst, struggle to keep their businesses afloat, and maybe, just maybe, find love when it’s least expected.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2019
2322 people are currently reading
712 people want to read
About the author
Kay Correll
64 books341 followersKay Correll is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet, heartwarming stories that are a cross between women’s fiction and contemporary romance. She is known for her charming small towns, quirky townsfolk, and the enduring strong friendships between the women in her books.
Kay splits her time between the Southwest coast of Florida and the Midwest of the U.S. and can often be found out and about with her camera, taking a myriad of photographs, often incorporating them into her book covers. When not lost in her writing or photography, she can be found spending time with her ever-supportive husband, knitting, or playing with her puppies - a cavalier who is too cute for his own good and a naughty but adorable Australian shepherd. Their five boys are all grown now and while she misses the rowdy boy-noise chaos, she is thoroughly enjoying her empty nest years.
Kay splits her time between the Southwest coast of Florida and the Midwest of the U.S. and can often be found out and about with her camera, taking a myriad of photographs, often incorporating them into her book covers. When not lost in her writing or photography, she can be found spending time with her ever-supportive husband, knitting, or playing with her puppies - a cavalier who is too cute for his own good and a naughty but adorable Australian shepherd. Their five boys are all grown now and while she misses the rowdy boy-noise chaos, she is thoroughly enjoying her empty nest years.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 24, 2021
A Sweet Read
Sweet, tender, and romantic. A feel-good read that will appeal to anyone and everyone. It was over much too quickly. Guess I'll have to read the next book in the series!
Sweet, tender, and romantic. A feel-good read that will appeal to anyone and everyone. It was over much too quickly. Guess I'll have to read the next book in the series!
Read
June 29, 2019A sweet story about two people who never quite managed to get together and stay together until fate crosses their paths once again. Is a second time a charm? This story weaves in other characters and you hope they get a happily ever after, too.
July 21, 2019
Very enjoyable, easy read. I loved the story and the characters.
November 5, 2021
A Dream to Believe in: Sweet River Book 1 is by Kay Correll. This is the beginning of a new series and the end of a favorite series. The connection to the new series is very slight, the family simply visits the resort in the new series. I thought it would be a little more than that so I was disappointed. However, the rest of the book was very good.
Nora Powers owned the Sweet River Inn and ran it with her son. Her daughter lived nearby so she saw her grandsons frequently. This year was the year that should put them over the top with their inn. Nora hoped so as there were things she wanted to do to improve the inn with the money she created.
Her best friend was Annie Davenport. Annie owned The Bookish Café in town and was in the midst of adding the loft area to her café. She was doing the work herself and it was going slow. She had dated Nick Chambers through college until he decided to go into medicine. That meant he would leave town and leave her. Now Nick had returned. Why was he back now and why was he reaching out for her? To top it off, he wanted to help her with the loft. Was it safe for her to be around him?
Nora Powers owned the Sweet River Inn and ran it with her son. Her daughter lived nearby so she saw her grandsons frequently. This year was the year that should put them over the top with their inn. Nora hoped so as there were things she wanted to do to improve the inn with the money she created.
Her best friend was Annie Davenport. Annie owned The Bookish Café in town and was in the midst of adding the loft area to her café. She was doing the work herself and it was going slow. She had dated Nick Chambers through college until he decided to go into medicine. That meant he would leave town and leave her. Now Nick had returned. Why was he back now and why was he reaching out for her? To top it off, he wanted to help her with the loft. Was it safe for her to be around him?
November 24, 2024
Cute story. Nice easy read.
March 6, 2021
Nice small town series. Hallmark-ish.
July 2, 2020
Another great book by Kay Correll
I enjoyed this book just as I have enjoyed all her other books. This had a surprise, but happy, ending. This is women's reading personified.
I enjoyed this book just as I have enjoyed all her other books. This had a surprise, but happy, ending. This is women's reading personified.
October 6, 2023
This first book in the series tells one story that is completed. Towards the end, it begins another story which becomes a major thread in book 2.
Nick has a backstory that weighs heavily on him and even causes him to freeze a little under certain circumstances. I didn't completely buy his reasoning as to how that related to his major decision late in the story. Strike one.
Nick and Annie have a backstory that never really gets fleshed out. It is implied that it is devastating to Annie so much so that Nora acts like a mama bear toward Nick. All the reader knows is that Nick left to go to medical school in order to "pursue his career". I waited through the entire story to learn more but it never came. Strike two.
I referred to the late development leading to the next book. This was introduced somewhat out of the blue and is used to set up the climax in Nick and Annie's story. I thought it was clumsy. Strike three.
I understand that this is women's lit so it shouldn't be a problem of how Annie's feelings for Nick sometimes virtually incapacitate her. But it did. I lost respect for Annie. Despite her aspirations to be a strong woman, this was a major chink in that armor.
As I alluded to earlier, Nick isn't any better. He seems far too insecure to ever have been a successful doctor in a hard field.
Finally the thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was Dobbs. Of course he is meant to bring out those feelings. But I read this in late 2023 as a judge has just made a summary judgement with all the appearances of being unjustified against the leading contender for President of the opposite party. What happens in this story is clearly favoritism and payback. Will there be any consequences to the perpetrator? In fiction I want to see that because in real life it so rarely happens.
Besides all this, I didn't think that the story was that interesting. 2.5 stars.
Mature themes: not really. There is some kissing but nothing much more serious regarding sex, violence, substance abuse (some light wine drinking) or even language.
Nick has a backstory that weighs heavily on him and even causes him to freeze a little under certain circumstances. I didn't completely buy his reasoning as to how that related to his major decision late in the story. Strike one.
Nick and Annie have a backstory that never really gets fleshed out. It is implied that it is devastating to Annie so much so that Nora acts like a mama bear toward Nick. All the reader knows is that Nick left to go to medical school in order to "pursue his career". I waited through the entire story to learn more but it never came. Strike two.
I referred to the late development leading to the next book. This was introduced somewhat out of the blue and is used to set up the climax in Nick and Annie's story. I thought it was clumsy. Strike three.
I understand that this is women's lit so it shouldn't be a problem of how Annie's feelings for Nick sometimes virtually incapacitate her. But it did. I lost respect for Annie. Despite her aspirations to be a strong woman, this was a major chink in that armor.
As I alluded to earlier, Nick isn't any better. He seems far too insecure to ever have been a successful doctor in a hard field.
Finally the thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was Dobbs. Of course he is meant to bring out those feelings. But I read this in late 2023 as a judge has just made a summary judgement with all the appearances of being unjustified against the leading contender for President of the opposite party. What happens in this story is clearly favoritism and payback. Will there be any consequences to the perpetrator? In fiction I want to see that because in real life it so rarely happens.
Besides all this, I didn't think that the story was that interesting. 2.5 stars.
Mature themes: not really. There is some kissing but nothing much more serious regarding sex, violence, substance abuse (some light wine drinking) or even language.
February 24, 2022
Love Remains
Annie and Nick were close to getting married, when Nick feels he needs to go away from their community and attends medical school in California. Their plans for getting married after he finished regular college had just been canceled by his action. Twenty years later, he returns to his hometown and teaches at a college nearby for a temporary assignment. He sees Annie again and some feelings stir inside him. She greets him in a not very friendly manner. Will seeing her often be a problem or another chance of close friendship while he remains in the area until his hopes of a medical research job that he has applied for in another state materializes for him? Time will tell. This novel has elements of all what happens in a small community— business owners, long established relationships, family dynamics and love. A wonderful read!!
Annie and Nick were close to getting married, when Nick feels he needs to go away from their community and attends medical school in California. Their plans for getting married after he finished regular college had just been canceled by his action. Twenty years later, he returns to his hometown and teaches at a college nearby for a temporary assignment. He sees Annie again and some feelings stir inside him. She greets him in a not very friendly manner. Will seeing her often be a problem or another chance of close friendship while he remains in the area until his hopes of a medical research job that he has applied for in another state materializes for him? Time will tell. This novel has elements of all what happens in a small community— business owners, long established relationships, family dynamics and love. A wonderful read!!
January 18, 2021
“A Dream to Believe In”(Sweet River Book 1)
Just when I think I’ve already read all the best books,another one comes along!And what a book it was!Set in a small town,this book has characters you relate to right away.You really feel you now them and take things that happen to them personally.A woman scorned,her best friend,and the man who twisted her heart years ago is back,but for how long? You’ll laugh,you’ll cry,you’ll agree this is the very best book ever!But don’t take my word for it,try it yourself!
Just when I think I’ve already read all the best books,another one comes along!And what a book it was!Set in a small town,this book has characters you relate to right away.You really feel you now them and take things that happen to them personally.A woman scorned,her best friend,and the man who twisted her heart years ago is back,but for how long? You’ll laugh,you’ll cry,you’ll agree this is the very best book ever!But don’t take my word for it,try it yourself!
January 31, 2021
Quick read, I read this in a few hours.
Enjoyable cozy stories make me want to gather up all my possessions and run off to find these small towns they all take place in, and settle into one. Author did a good job describing the quaint Colorado town and its beauty.
Also I get that Annie was heartbroken but never dated anyone else in 20+ years? And neither did Nick?
Anyway, I liked the characters, I rooted for them and I look forward to reading the next chapter of the continuing story of Sweet River Falls.
Enjoyable cozy stories make me want to gather up all my possessions and run off to find these small towns they all take place in, and settle into one. Author did a good job describing the quaint Colorado town and its beauty.
Also I get that Annie was heartbroken but never dated anyone else in 20+ years? And neither did Nick?
Anyway, I liked the characters, I rooted for them and I look forward to reading the next chapter of the continuing story of Sweet River Falls.
January 30, 2021
This was a very well written book! I loved the characters, scenes, conversations! 2 people, Annie & Nick, return to a place where they both had lived. When they see each other for the first time, strong memories come back to both of them. Other people question if they will have a relationship with each other or stay far away from each other. Other characters are in the story also, which makes the storyline easy to read!
April 12, 2019
Small Town Destiny
Correll's characters are definitely believable and endearing. They have weaknesses and strengths like all humans do. I personally respect those writers who have the ability to make a compelling story without sensational
sex, leaving that to the reader's imagination.
Correll's characters are definitely believable and endearing. They have weaknesses and strengths like all humans do. I personally respect those writers who have the ability to make a compelling story without sensational
sex, leaving that to the reader's imagination.
April 25, 2019
Good story
I really enjoyed the story. Only four stars because some of the actions of the characters were described in too much detail that didn't really affect anything in the end. It took me almost a week to read it and usually, when I start a book like this I finish it the same day or the next one.
I really enjoyed the story. Only four stars because some of the actions of the characters were described in too much detail that didn't really affect anything in the end. It took me almost a week to read it and usually, when I start a book like this I finish it the same day or the next one.
July 6, 2019
Enjoyed this storyline
I was invested in the characters by the end of this book. Small towns definitely have 'townies' that add spice to the town, and this book included that aspect of small town living. Love that persists over decades despite separation is irresistible. Relatively easy and a quick to read.
I was invested in the characters by the end of this book. Small towns definitely have 'townies' that add spice to the town, and this book included that aspect of small town living. Love that persists over decades despite separation is irresistible. Relatively easy and a quick to read.
June 19, 2020
I needed this story. Just finished an intense thriller and opted for this story. I am so glad I did. I truly enjoyed the characters and the plot of this book. I'm not going to do a synopsis, I never do. If you want a nice easy happy read with good friends and family, this is the book for you. It made me sigh and smile. Looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
January 10, 2021
Annie has managed to open a business in her hometown even after experiencing lost. Will she be able to pick up the pieces when her old flame returns? This was a quick read in an enjoyable small town setting. The plot left me with some unanswered questions and I just didn't really connect to the characters the way I do with other books.
January 21, 2021
First let me say this is not the first book,by this author I've read but I do live this one very much. I like how they worked together, mended friendship first and found new ways. I am NOT related to this author despite the last name, and have never met them. I know some review places used to kick out perfectly good reviews because they perceived a bias, this is not the case in this review.
January 30, 2021
Just finished reading A Dream to Believe In. Wow! I don't know how Kay continues to do it, but this was a great start to another series. I loved the friendship between Nina and Annie. I sure hope Beth shows up some men in town. Can't wait to start A Memory to Cherish. Thank you Kay for another great book and start to a great series.
February 15, 2021
This was a sweet, easy read. A feel good story. I thought it was a family saga but turned out to be a love story. It was actually what I needed and was ideal for curling up on the sofa and staying warm.
Twenty years ago boy meets girl. Boy leaves girl. Fast forward to today and.....boy meets girl. Boy leaves girl....again. No, hang on...... boy is back..... AGAIN!!!!
Twenty years ago boy meets girl. Boy leaves girl. Fast forward to today and.....boy meets girl. Boy leaves girl....again. No, hang on...... boy is back..... AGAIN!!!!
June 27, 2021
3.5 stars
This book is a nice small town romance. I liked the characters and it made a change to read about an older couple. I did find the book a little slow, not much really happens, and Nick's issues are not really resolved or fully addressed , which I think is a shame.
Overall a good read, but I don't think I will be reading the rest of the series.
This book is a nice small town romance. I liked the characters and it made a change to read about an older couple. I did find the book a little slow, not much really happens, and Nick's issues are not really resolved or fully addressed , which I think is a shame.
Overall a good read, but I don't think I will be reading the rest of the series.
May 23, 2022
A Dream to Believe in by Kay Correll was a very enjoyable book, set in a small town with fun-loving characters and a Bookish Cafe which was right up my alley. There is a second chance romance involved for the heroine of the book, Annie. Made me dream of living in a town like Sweet River Falls and having my very own coffee & book cafe. Happy Reading!
September 7, 2025
My nana gave me this book and said she loved the series. Sweet River Falls is a very cute little hallmark town! I love that Annie owns the Bookish Cafe and this book gives off small town Gilmore girl vibes with the town council and upcoming May festival. I’m happy Annie and Nick got their second chance and HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2019
Second Chance
This book was interesting to read and a wonderful ending. When one reads about a love story that was meant to be but due to different ends it's so great when one gets a second chance for happiness even if one has to work on it. Great story.
This book was interesting to read and a wonderful ending. When one reads about a love story that was meant to be but due to different ends it's so great when one gets a second chance for happiness even if one has to work on it. Great story.
August 29, 2019
Loved
Annie and Nick teenage romance. He leaves to follow his dreams and she won't leave her hometown! Many years later he takes a break from work after something tragic happens and they have a second chance at love !
Annie and Nick teenage romance. He leaves to follow his dreams and she won't leave her hometown! Many years later he takes a break from work after something tragic happens and they have a second chance at love !
May 14, 2020
This is the story of Annie and Nick inSweet River. It is a wonderful romance that has ups and downs in it until they find that true love is what is important. I enjoyed it so much. Was glad to see some old friends from Lighthouse Point on Belle Island in it.
November 22, 2020
Great read
I found this wonderful author. I all ready read one series and couldn't wait to finish the books. Theist I storytelling siblings you into the characters and you can't wait to see where she takes you on their journey. Highly recommend all her books.
I found this wonderful author. I all ready read one series and couldn't wait to finish the books. Theist I storytelling siblings you into the characters and you can't wait to see where she takes you on their journey. Highly recommend all her books.
January 7, 2021
Re-run heartache
This story is why I read romance! Nothing can make you so high one minute then plummet you to the depths of Hades all within a few paragraphs!! But romance promises you a happy ending, okay maybe not always but enough that I can always trust my heart to it.
This story is why I read romance! Nothing can make you so high one minute then plummet you to the depths of Hades all within a few paragraphs!! But romance promises you a happy ending, okay maybe not always but enough that I can always trust my heart to it.
January 12, 2021
Nice. Predictable. Simple
Nice. Predictable. Simple. Short. Sweet. Plenty of adjectives but little meat to this story. I was glad to finish. Fine for a free ebook but don’t waste your money.
Nice. Predictable. Simple. Short. Sweet. Plenty of adjectives but little meat to this story. I was glad to finish. Fine for a free ebook but don’t waste your money.
January 18, 2021
Enjoyable
This was a quick, clean read. Will the third chance work for Annie and Nick? He’s left town, and her, twice now. New beginnings, close friendships, a little drama, and a HEA. Some unanswered questions.
This was a quick, clean read. Will the third chance work for Annie and Nick? He’s left town, and her, twice now. New beginnings, close friendships, a little drama, and a HEA. Some unanswered questions.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews