I just couldn't get into this. I gave it a few chapters and really wasn't connecting to the characters at all, and the story just didn't suck me in, so unfortunately I didn't finish it.

Just wasn't for me.

DNF. This book was not for me. The writing style was not appealing to me and could not hold my attention long enough to get through the story.

Dreams Beyond the Shore tells about two teenagers who has to take a different path than their peers, it's the story that leads to inspiring youth who chooses to go for their dreams and stand against their parents and the path they want their child to take. What's more, this plot takes it more complex - told by two main character's perspectives, Chelsea Marchand and Kyron, two teenagers of complete lifestyle opposites. But you have heard - opposites attracts? Chelsea belongs to Politicians high society class family and Kyron - not even near that...but what does unites them? Being too much influenced by their fathers criminal life activities overshadowing themselves...

This is a story set in rather small island, giving readers a new setting, because how many stories have you read that are set in Caribbean? They both sparkle a fast romance and flirting but as much as everything else is going around them, it also comes between them. It was interesting read, but I didn't connect with both characters. The writer has interestingly written a plot to build up, for both of teenagers finding more about those who they love, they both go through a lot and they learn...

Honestly, I didn't finish this book. I tried, I really did, but the language was so unfamiliar and I just couldn't slough through it.

While I enjoyed this book, I feel the synopsis is a bit misleading. I expected more suspense and behind the scenes in the political world and while there was plenty of talk about the fact that Chelsea's father was running for Prime Minister, there was very little sinister or plot twisting about it.

Dreams Beyond the Shore is a short novel about two teens in Trinidad, one who's father is running for Prime Minister and the other with an absentee father. Both dad's may dabble on the wrong side of the law, but really this story is about being a teenager on this island and gaining independence. Written by a Trinidad native, I liked the glimpse into life there that she gave.

In Dreams Beyond the Shore we find seventeen year old Chelsea at a crossroads in her life, left to decide whether to be the dutiful daughter her politician father expects her to be or to follow her own dreams to be a writer.

At its heart this is a coming-of-age love story. Told from two perspectives, Chelsea's and Kyron's-her eighteen year old boyfriend, the story is real and the central characters' voices ring true to the electric experience of new teenage love. Kyron steals the show with his good looks, confidence, intelligence, and integrity all mixed in with a slight bad-boy vibe.

Dreams Beyond the Shore is set on the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and while the setting is important, it remains in the background leaving at the forefront the classic tale of two teens struggling to define life on their own terms. Teen readers will definitely connect to their stories.

While the central story line is well written and developed, readers may find themselves wanting to know more about the underlying stories of Mr. Marchand's connection to the criminal world and the implications of his rise to being Prime Minister, both for the country and for Chelsea and Kyron.

There is an interesting cast of secondary characters who do have some depth but are unsatisfying in that their appearances are fleeting.
During her narrative, Chelsea hints repeatedly at her father being duplicitous and corrupt but we don't see hard evidence of this. Near the end there is a strong suggestion that Mr. Marchand has been involved in horrible crimes however it is hard to believe that these are the sort of activities of which Chelsea was aware.

This is an enjoyable book. I became invested in the lives of the main characters and was left wanting at the end as I needed to know more about the characters' fates.

This debut novel enthralled me with its strong character development and Trinidadian references, which are such a rare find given how rarely experiences other than white ever get published!