What a fun ride! I've only read a handful of Kristen Ashley books (her most recent Rising fantasy series), so I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. It's a mash up/spin off series of her well loved Rock Chick and Dream Man series, and even though I haven't read those I still really enjoyed Mag and Evie's story.

The book had plenty of action and sexy times and though it starts off with some instalust, I liked that the overall romance took a bit longer to come about. The surprising thing for me, was how funny Dream Maker was. Evie's inner monologue and all the colorful characters were hilarious and added a lot to the story. I really liked both Evan and Danny (Mag). They might have started off in a non-conventional way, but the forced proximity/opposites attract romance was wonderful. In true Kristen Ashley fashion, there are kidnappings, OTT alpha men, and strong female friendships and characters, but it was still very entertaining. There was a twist at the end that I wasn't expecting and though I found the story a bit long overall, it set the next books in the series up very well. I'm really excited for Axl and Hattie's story.

Because I wasn't already familiar with the world these characters are from, the Easter eggs and character mentions throughout the book went a bit over my head. I didn't feel too lost though and got some clarification from some fellow book friends and Kristen Ashley lovers. Overall, I still really liked this one, but I think existing Kristen Ashley fans will get the most out of it versus someone just starting her books.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

*giddy wiggle*

Hey! Pssst! You there! You listening to this? Because this cynic just read a KA book and loved it! No but seriously. Guys. I seriously got my KA mojo back with this book and I’m so thrilled because now I’m also seriously hooked on this series!

So here’s the tea. It had the following:

1. A heroine that’s dorky, somewhat a klutz, but beautiful with hair up to THERE and curves in the right places.
2. A hero that can probably hold a conversation using only “yeah”, “babe”, and grunts
3. A heroine that’s down on her luck but has a vagina spun from gold because everyone and I mean EVERYONE falls for her. Even the bad guys.
4. A lot of action
5. Plenty of secondary characters hilarious antics, including a cross over with Rock Chicks and Dream Man.
6. A ‘comando’ hero
7. Hot shmexy loving
8. A new cast of characters in the form of gorgeous but down on their luck women who turn to stripping but the strip club owner is THE BEST
9. Male characters that will never pronounce a hard consonant at the end of their words.
10. Girlfriends that get into crazy situations but stay tight through all of it.

And this girl is giddy with excitement!!! Why? Because this is the vintage KA I love and missed.

Now look, if you’ve read ANY KA book in the past, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It may sound crazy to any who haven’t read her, but for me, this tried and true formula of hers just does it for me. And if the chemistry is there for the MCs, then I’m putty in your hands.

Evie and Danny were so good together. Their chemistry was undeniable. And what I really loved was that the action kept going well beyond the 50% mark of the book. In the last few KA books, I’ve admittedly grown bored by the halfway mark and felt like the rest was filler, but not here. There was a lot of book here, and all of it was GOOD.

It’s not everyday you meet a cast of strippers that you just absolutely fall in love with and are dying to read their stories. And can we just talk about the set up for the second book? Because GAH! But let me not get ahead of myself here and focus on this one.

Evie was fantastic. Of course everyone, their mother, and their uncle Harry loved her. But she’s impossible not to love. Except, unfortunately for some deadbeat members of her family that get her in life threatening danger.

Danny is a guy she gets set up on a date with by her friend and coworker, and they have instant sparks. And of course when he finds out she’s in danger, he immediately moves her in with him and will move heaven and earth to protect her. And this girl gobbled it right up.

Yes, it’s a tried and true formula but with a cast of new faces, and it just worked, you guy. It worked so well. This was like a combination of Rock Chicks and Dream Man and it was delicious! I was immediately hooked and I’m already desperate for more!

I’ve been looking forward to Dream Maker ever since I found out there would be a series around Hawk’s crazy commandos. I haven’t loved some of Ms. Ashley’s newer books, but I’ve liked almost all of them, especially Lottie’s from Quiet Man. And, I knew this would be set in Denver so I’d hoped I’d get lots of cameos with some of my favorite characters. I was not disappointed.

“Maybe you need to get yourself some trouble. Boys’ll swoop in like vulture.” One could say I didn’t have to search for that.

Evie’s life was a mess, mainly because her family was a disaster that she spent way too much time, money and energy sorting out. With both her dad and brother being on the shady side, it was inevitable things would go south someday, but she never expected how south it would go.

It’s good she was on a blind date with a bonafide commando to back her up when she was forced to do something that sounded shady as hell to keep her brother’s fat out of the fire.

But no one could predict the mess she’d landed herself in. It would take all of Hawk’s men along with the Rock Chicks, their Hot Bunch and a few Dream Men to keep this from going so far south it ended up in Antarctica.

I loved getting to know Hawk’s boys, although they weren’t quite as wild and messy as I thought they would be. Mag had a misstep, well, both he and Evie did at the beginning. But then he got back on track and stayed steady until Evie found her way.

I also loved that this ended up being an all hands on deck kind of book. We even got some cameos by some of the Chaos brothers, including Dutch, who I hope to see more of in the future. As it was put in the story, this is the Rock Chicks Next Gen, better known as the Dream Girls. But the Rock Chicks will be along for the ride. And it treated us to copious amounts of Tex and his newest drink, the Textual, to help us get through. I really want someone to make me one.

We’re harmless,” Indy promised. “So are our men.”
“Unless you can expire from bein’ cool as shit, hot as fuck and havin’ too much fun, am I right?” Daisy proclaimed.

But, at times it felt like it was trying too hard to tie the series together. And to tell us how cool and popular the Rock Chicks and Hot Bunch family are. Yes, they are cool as shit, but I already know that. I don’t need to be told it. Repeatedly.

My other little niggle of an issue was that sometimes it felt rushed. Like we were going from plot point to plot point without fleshing things out as much as they could’ve been. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun ride that I enjoyed, but I wish we’d had more time to stop and smell the roses along the way.

Rating: 3.5 The Gang’s All Here Stars

Dream Maker by Kristen Ashley kicks off a new series and its kind of like next gen Rock Chick/Dream Man series. Yes, I found it to be derivative and very similar to her aforementioned series. However, I enjoyed those, and I enjoyed Dream Maker as well. I think fans of KA will love that she kept her signature style.

Evan, or Evie, is a woman with a messed up family. I think a lot of readers can relate to her struggle to help her family simply because they are family. However, they are toxic and in this case, going to get her killed. She has a blind date with Danny, aka Mag, and it does not go like either planned.

There is plenty of danger and drama-Evie is now embroiled in a seriously messed up situation with some seriously bad dudes. But, she is also in the midst of having some life changing epiphanies. You see a lot of growth in Evie as she realizes that her life doesn't have to be what it was. I really enjoyed her as a character.

Danny is your typically KA alpha. He is a "commando" type who works for Hawk (from Mystery Man) and he has his own baggage. If you like the over the top macho man, you will adore Danny. Seriously, KA writes some very masculine men!

While I struggled with Dream Maker early on, somewhere around the 20% mark that changed and I dug in and enjoyed it. Its a long book, but it didn't FEEL long, which I think is a trait of good writing.

Dream Maker by Kristen Ashely was a romance with a bit of suspense. A quirky, smart girl, Evie and the blind date, Mag. She was a bit awkward but so likeable. He was a total alpha through and through. Their chemistry was intense and their journey will keep you captivated. I am excited to see what’s to come in the series.

Happy reading!

As a HUGE fan of both Kristen Ashley’s Rock Chick Series and her Dream Man Series, can I just say, OMG?!?! I will gladly read anything by KA but a spin-off of two of her series?! It really doesn’t get any better than that (or so I thought). After reading and loving Quiet Man, aka Lottie and Mo’s story, I knew that Lottie set her matchmaking sights on Mo’s commando friends and her fellow exotic dancers from Smithie’s. First up is Evie and Mag’s book, Dream Maker, which kicks off a brand new series with a fast-paced, action-packed, unforgettable romance.

Sparks flew the moment Evan “Evie” Gardiner and Daniel “Mag” Magnusson met up for their blind date, but their first meeting doesn’t quite go as planned. A mysterious text and a late-night rendezvous land Evie into some serious trouble courtesy of her deadbeat family members. Said trouble not only draws out Mag’s protective instincts and kicks their budding romance into warp speed, but assembles the combined forces of the Rock Chicks, Smithie’s girls, and a bevy of take-charge, no-nonsense Alpha males. To say there’s never a dull moment in Dream Maker would be an understatement...

With a storyline that's rife with drama, danger, and suspense, Dream Maker is a book that'll keep you on the proverbial edge of your seat and have your pulse racing in anticipation. It's the tight-knit connection between the extensive cast of characters that's the heart of the narrative. Between Mag and Evie's whirlwind romance and Evie's indoctrination into the Rock Chick crew and the newly-appointed Dream Team, I didn't know whether to swoon or dissolve in a puddle of mush (although there was a lot of both happening on my part).

In addition to creating the best Alpha males (seriously, each one is as good as or better than the last), Kristen Ashley writes stories that are intense, emotional, sexy, and entertaining. She has this indefinable ability to evoke a variety of emotions with her words. It's this ability that not only makes me excited for each new release, but has me revisiting her previous books countless times while I wait for a new book. Dream Maker is another must-read romance from Kristen Ashley and I'm looking forward to both the next book in the series and to reading Dream Maker again and again.

*complimentary copy provided by author for an honest review

Such a fantastic read, I love Kristen Ashley's writing!I fall in love with the characters and I couldn't get enough of them!Great chemistry, some really intense moments and sexy!

It was fun, fast paced and flirty!Exactly what I needed! If you’ve read the Rock Chick series you are going to fall in love with this one!

Strong characters , moments that will make you swoon and some twists are the perfect combination for this first book in a new series!

Kristen Ashley is one of my first one-click authors. In my head, the hero in her books are the epitome of alpha - protective, capable and sweet. I started with the Dream Man series and moved on to Rock Chick then Chaos. The Dream Team series is like a love child of all the above. I was out of the moon happy when the announcement came out and I was counting the days to go back to the crew in Denver.

Dream Maker is another dazzling story filled with action, alpha males, witty women and a well deserved HEA. The main plot is similar to most of her story where a girl was in distress, the man moved her in quickly and saved her day after experiencing a combination of kidnapping, car chases, manhandling, and/or gun shooting. However, it never gets old because it is her careful character development, witty dialogues and life changing epiphanies about life and relationships that pull me into the story and make me swoon along the way.

Another favorite thing about the book was all the cameo role from the previous series. I felt like I went home, seeing that all the Rock Chicks were all living happily with the same sass and flare. All the hot bunch, dream men and bikers were still protective and loyal to fight for the right causes.

We were introduce to the dream team, a quartet of girls working at Smithie's. They all had a story and was stripping because life was cruel to them and there were no other options. It looked like that they were all paired up with one of Hawk's commandos, but was resisting the inevitable. I cannot wait to see what KA in store for them.

I absolutely enjoyed this fun, exciting and swoon-worthy romance. If you have enjoyed the Rock Chick series, you'll love this new spin-off. If you are new to KA, this book might be a starting point to get you addicted to her alphas.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

3.5 Stars

Dream Maker is the first in a new series from Kristen Ashley that meshes her Rock Chick and Dream Man series with all new couples and some old friends. Evie is smart as a whip, down on her luck, an exotic dancer with a heart of gold, yet she aspires to something better. She gets set up on a blind date with Danny “Mag” Magnusson and the night turns from slightly embarrassing to criminal in a heartbeat. Being a former soldier and a full-time commando Mag knows a thing or two about how to get Evie out of her mess, but will she let him?
I’ve been a fan of the Rock Chick series since the first was published nearly 12 years ago. Since then I’ve read almost every single book that Kristen Ashley has published with a determination that borders on fanatic. When I was offered the chance to review the latest series I of course jumped, because it had been touted as Rock Chick 2.0 and I love a good girl squad book.

Kristen knows how to write an alpha that is protective, a badass, smart, and determined that is also capable of extreme care and love towards his woman. Mag fits this bill to a “T”, but with a 2020 set of sensibilities. It was interesting to be inside the head of an alpha that on one hand is thinking “mine”, but on the other is acknowledging his woman’s autonomy. Evie, on the other hand, fits the mold of a Kristen Ashley heroine without anything new to draw me in further. She is smart, beautiful, determined, insecure, and taken advantage of by every person in her life except an incredibly small group. She doesn’t believe she’s good enough for Mag, and even goes so far as to make plans to keep him at bay.

As I read, I began to wonder if my love of past books had clouded my love for anything new, because by 40% I was struggling. So much of what was happening to Evie felt like it had been done in other books, and I couldn’t stop drawing comparisons to the old novels and finding the new novel a bit lacking. We’ve seen the forced proximity of the main couple used in almost all of the Rock Chick books. Evie’s useless mother is almost a carbon copy of the mother from Law Man and her distant but affable father is a rehash of Jet’s dad in Rock Chick Rescue. I also struggled with the fact that so many previous characters make appearances. I couldn’t help but wonder how a new reader would feel reading some of the information dumps Kristen had to use in order to explain away who all the cameos were. Even as a fan I had to stop and check the internet to make sure I was remembering which man went with which woman. Lastly it bothered me that there were so many popular culture references. Today a mention of Postmates or Urban Outfitters seems timely and appropriate, but how will this age 20 years down the road? This book felt stuck in 2019-2020 and I don’t know if the references were a good choice to make.
In the end of course I enjoyed this book because it’s a Kristen Ashley, and she scratches an itch for me that so many other authors cannot. The way she writes an alpha should be studied by new contemporary authors to see how a strong and capable man can be written without coming off as a complete jerk. For me, reading Kristen’s books is like ordering coffee at a Starbucks. I may know the coffee is not going to be earth shattering but it will always be consistently good and sometimes that’s exactly what I need. Fans of Kristen will love the inside jokes, the cameos, and the new hot bunch and girl squad. However, new readers may struggle with a book that is so full of fanservice. I do think it’s still a solid story if you enjoy a bit of action and drama with your contemporary love story. Overall, I’m giving this a 3.5 because I know Kristen can do amazing things and this book just wasn’t her best work in my humble opinion. If you’ve never read one of her books, I’d suggest starting with the Dream Man series or the Rock Chick series before you try this latest offering, it may help you appreciate this story as it’s intended.

~ Lindsey

Dream Maker was a fantastically penned romance that had all the ingredients of a fun, old-school Kristen Ashley novel, made even better by the bevy of guest appearances by prior series' characters. The love story was beautifully explored, the characters had depth and history, and every nuance of emotion—from friendship to family to love—was poignantly written to showcase every piece of this story to the best it could've been. This had all the feel-good vibes of a rom-com mixed with the impending danger of a suspense novel, something only Ashley can combine fluently, and I was engrossed from the moment it opened up.

Ashley explored the psychology and history of Evie's character so well that it was impossible not to find a piece of yourself in her and to feel the pain of her struggles. But she was characterized in a way that you never pitied her, and instead saw how incredibly resilient and strong she was to continue fighting for something that never fought for her back. The beauty only brightened when Mag could see what had shaped her and who she was beneath the weight of her life, and wanted to be something to her even despite his own battles. Together they were instinctual, a tension-filled ball of desire and emotion just waiting to consume them both, but written to be a slow reveal that readers could really sink in to and relax in for the breadth of the story. And to see this big group of people immediately see her as worthy of fighting for, my heart exploded with a warmth that I can still feel days after finishing.

Dream Maker was an absolutely brilliant novel that felt like falling back in time to the Rock Chick days, finding myself literally laughing out loud because of the perfectly timed humor while simultaneously being carried away by the swirl of the romance and action. Something this author writes incredibly well is sisterhood, and she does not fail replicating that here—not just with old crews but with a brand new group of girls I cannot wait to see grow with one another. The most difficult thing with a KA series opener is seeing the road map for relationships to come and suffering through the long, long wait to get each of them—and honestly, that's not even a downside because I enjoy the desperation of waiting for each story to reveal itself knowing it'll be so, so worth it.

I'm sure you'll see a lot of reviews mentioning this but when I went into this story it gave me serious Rock Chick vibes and the further I got into the story the more I felt those. If you've read Kristen Ashley, and especially her Rock Chick series, you know that the story is pretty much the same throughout all of them.

The formula, girl is being kidnapped by a bad guy and then saved by the hero and his merry bunch of friends also applies here. So DREAM MAKER is definitely not anything novel or super original as far as the plot is concerned. Kristen Ashley writes formulaic. Do I care? Nope-ty, nope nope. Because it's still highly addictive and a fun ride. Evie is a lovely heroine. Smart, nerdy and (something I could totally relate to) a klutz. I was super entertained by the first meeting between her and commando Danny.
"I was into you the second I laid eyes on you, and I was only more interested in you when you started lecturing me and seriously into you when you smacked your head into the counter.”

They don't have the easiest start - Evie comes from a highly dysfunctional family and never had anyone having her back. She's always the one offering and lending help to her relatives. Their issues however don't stay away from Evie and her brother's illegal funny business leaks into her life. Evie has the spunk, spirit and a cuteness about her that I love about KA's heroines. The way she handles her kidnapper in the showdown had my gasping and giggling at the same time.

Daniel Magnussen is as bossy and alpha as any KA hero but there was something distinctively endearing about him, the way he was into Evie right from the start was just really sweet. He didn't hide it, and being the way he was he always gave it to Evie straight, something I really appreciate. He was super-easy to love.
“You’re a dork, a klutz, a menace with your mouth and unbelievably cute,”

Now - one could argue that this is pretty insta-everything but in this case it really worked for me. I loved how Danny took care of Evie and made her a priority, made her feel that she, for once, can rely on someone and has someone at her side and back. And with his care, Evie gained self-confidence.
"You’re totally the shit, Evie. And I’m learning you’re more of that every day.”

Readers who haven't read Kristen Ashley before may feel a little overwhelmed because, damn, if I didn't know all these characters by heart I would have been totally confused, so I think this book is really for those who have read the Dream Man and Rock Chick series. You will have a chance to check in on a lot of characters from these books. Badass Hawk is Danny's boss so of course he gets a little page time.

If this was one of my first KA books I'd probably give it a 5 star but to be honest, as I said, it's too formulaic. What it is, though, is entertaining and I enjoyed every second I got to spend with these characters. I'm definitely continuing with this new series!

Evan “Evie” Gardiner works hard at life to stay on top of her and her family’s bills. Working two jobs, full-time as a stripper at Smitie’s club, and part-time as a computer programmer, it takes everything she has to make due month to month. However, Evie quickly finds herself swimming in the deep end when family troubles land her in the possession of a bag full of drugs that everyone in Denver’s underbelly wants. When her apartment is tossed, Evie is put in the direct eyesight of Daniel “Mag” Magnusson whose commando attitude puts his protective instincts into overdrive. Mag, quickly intrigued by Evie’s quirky personality, discovers he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Verdict: Although this is the first book in the Dream Team series, readers will appreciate the return of many of the characters featured in Ashley’s Rock Chick and Dream Man series. Also, while this book does touch on some sensitive topics such as drug use, physical/mental abuse, and kidnapping, Ashley is careful to balance wit and humor in equal measure keeping the book from becoming too dark. Overall, Ashley delivers another winner for readers to enjoy on a lazy afternoon.

☆☆☆𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐲☆☆☆

Dream Maker” by Kristen Ashley is a forced proximity romance about an agent falling for a stripper in the midst of dealing with drug dealers, shootouts, and criminal pursuits. A fast paced and witty read that had me smiling from start to finish!


Blurb: Evie has never had it easy. Her family uses her constantly. And while Evie tries to earn her degree, she also strips and fixes computers on the side.

When her brother gets her involved in a drug drop off gone wrong, Evie ends up living with a cop to keep her safe.

Daniel, also known as “Mag,” is a tough guy with a past. He doesn’t realize Evie is exactly what he needs. So while he tries to protect Evie from the bad guys, the two end up growing a relationship neither of them could have predicted.

In all honesty, the third person point of view was a little hard to get past at first and there were way too many characters to keep track of, but that aside...this is a really fun book! The banter is well played out, the scenes are action packed, and I never got bored for a single second. Mag is one of the sweetest book boyfriends and worth every second of the third person point of view. I love a good opposites attract/forced proximity romance and this one is sexy as hell!

This is a classic KA book that brings the heart, the found family, and the action! I adored it and cannot wait to read more in this series.

This is the beginning of a new spin-off series, yes you get a glance at some of your beloved characters of the previous series but this is a whole new pairings series. Evie and Mag's story is full of romance and twists just like KA knows how to keep you reading and wanting more every time. When a nerd turn stripper finds herself in a problem, the overprotective alpha tries to help out. I definitely will be looking forward to reading the following books.

Dream Maker is everything about Kristen Ashley that I love. It's had an amazing Rock Chick feel happening with some Dream Man mixed in and I couldn’t get enough. It was entertaining, sexy, and flirty! I loved the depth, development, and fun dialogue. It was an outstanding story and a fantastic start to a new series.

Evie and Danny were exceptional. Her awkward and quirky mixed with his alpha was perfection. There was great character development and I loved seeing them grow as I got to know them. Evie was wonderful! I felt for her and loved how hard she worked to make her life better. Danny was the best, so sweet, caring, and protective. There were just a lot of really tremendous standout moments between them that I loved and had me cheering. I felt for them and was rooting for them. I could feel the anguish and pain, love, and heat. It was all excellent!

This is the first in a series and I am beyond excited for what's to come. I loved meeting all of Danny and Evie’s friends and I’m thrilled with the pairings. I thought that fantastic groundwork has been laid for future books. I also LOVED seeing some of my favorite characters from other series, I was pretty much smiling my entire way through because of all the different connections. I also really enjoyed new characters that were introduced that brought some really great moments into the story.

I loved the details and descriptions, painting a vibrant picture. For me, it’s those details that make the story fuller and richer, pulling me in and making me a part of the world. When I started this, I had the same feeling I did when I read my very first Rock Chick book, it was thrilling. This story had an awesome, fun vibe that had me smiling and laughing my way through. There's a nice amount of emotion and heat, and of course, there's drama and a nice element of suspense that was exciting, it was just super entertaining.

I thought this was brilliant! I had that I can't read fast enough and I don't want it to end mindset happening. It had me excited the entire time. Dream Maker is officially a new favorite!

The Rock Chick's are some of my most re-read stories and why I still consider this author a favorite of mine even though I've lost interest in some of her newer books over the years. But when I saw this book and read the blurb I couldn't pass it up and I knew I had to read it. And I'm so glad I did because I loved Evie and Danny.

Evie was a great heroine to read about, she was quirky and a little shy but also not afraid to stand up for herself when it mattered the most. I loved that her character evolved so much during the course of this story and that we got to see how being with Danny helped her discover how strong she actually was. She was the perfect match for Danny who was my favorite kind of hero. Strong and silent but with those moments of pure appreciation of Evie's quirks.

There were times that the writing got a little iffy and some of the paragraphs were so hard to read, which is the problem I've had with this authors newer books, but for the most part the story flowed easily and had me enjoying it. Bottom line, I'm so happy that I read this book and gave it a chance. It was like reading old KA and I loved that we got to see some crazy moments with the Rock Chicks bringing the Dream Makers into the fold.

Dream Maker kicks off the brand new Dream Team series from Kristen Ashley, and if the rest are anything like this it's going to be a great series!

This was my first Kristen Ashley book and I'm not going to lie it was a bit difficult for me to get used to her writing style. I'm not a fan of third-person point of view, and that is how all of Mag's chapters were written. But while I struggled with some chapters and getting into her style, all of Evie's chapters had me so addicted I couldn't put it down even if I tried.

I adored these characters! Evie is awkward & klutzy while also strong & sassy. She's a force to be reckoned with, even while being stepped all over by her family. And Mag was just the perfect alpha hero, broody & overprotective even while sweetness is oozing out of him. Their chemistry sizzled, and their banter was off the charts.

There were so many side characters, a lot from earlier Kristen Ashley series, that were a bit overwhelming although I never felt lost. But there was a huge sense of family and protectiveness that I loved, even though I was unable to keep track of who was who.

I definitely enjoyed this book and I'm so happy I stuck with it after my initial hesitation. There's also a great setup throughout for the rest of the series, and I'm definitely excited for the next book!

I don’t think there has been any series by Kristen Ashley that I anticipated more or even longed for more than this one, her newest, Dream Team series. Why? This Rock Chick has been in love with the Rock Chick series and the Dream Man series for so long now that they are all like members of my family. (yes, I do re-reads on these series a lot!) So, not gonna lie or mislead you – I’ve been wanting this series, this combination for a long time and I am over the moon happy, ecstatic with what was delivered in Dream Maker. (I would have been frank if it hadn’t been worth those 5 stars because being real is important to me in reviews… but it certainly hit every single button for a great read for me)

Since I don’t do spoilers most of what you’d need to know to pick up Dream Maker, as a new reader or a dedicated fan of these series, can be found in the Cover Description. What you won’t get from there are the emotional connections you’ll make with Evie and Mag. They are both wounded in some ways, for different reasons. You will despise Evie’s family for their cluelessness, their knowledge of what they’re doing and asking of her, and because she loves them, they’re her family she’ll go to bat for them. For the pain they put her through for their selfishness you will feel for Evie. Mag’s wounds come from a different place but are no less deep and real. Watching them dance around each other, banter, fight, trust, and fall in love was one of the most enjoyable experiences. I liked them both. Yes, Evie can get a bit snappy, and Mag a bit overprotective – but they are relatable, believable and it shows.

There are vile villains to loathe, friendships to form, action-packed moments, old friends to catch up with, that unique only women/only men group friendships that define both the Rock Chick and the Dream Man series, and sexy times to swoon over. Just about everything I love in a Romance with touches of Suspense, Comedy, and pure sexiness. I had a blast with Dream Maker, and will have to wait until December for Dream Chaser – but, it will be worth the wait, I’ve got no doubts on that.

I highly recommend this beginning to the new series. I was approved for an e-ARC from Forever and then went out on release day to purchase my own for my library – if that doesn’t say I totally loved and adored Dream Maker I don’t know what else would.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.* – **I also purchased my own copy**

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between
The Good
Feels like going home: There’s so much of this story that’s like a snazzy new sweater - it’s warm and cozy, feels familiar, fits perfectly, and yet it’s fresh and clean-clean. There are so many moments that longtime readers will love, and new readers will enjoy discovering. When the danger comes into play, Mag’s connection to the OG Hot Bunch and Mystery Men brings lots of old favorites into the mix, without overwhelming the narrative and still allowing the new characters to shine. Ms. Ashley has long impressed me with her ability to build a found family and set up female friendships so well, and she continues to do so here. There’s a balance to the old and the new and that is a skill.

But also meeting new faves: Evie is a sweet and nerdy-hot heroine whose desire to do well by those who haven’t done right by her is heartbreaking at times, but her personal character arc is strong. I love that she learns that family is who loves you and appreciates you, not just those related by blood. She’s empathetic, smart, and caring.

Mag, aka new Commando Bunch, is a great addition to the stable of KA heroes. He is first and foremost, so protectively sweet, so very bossy, yet completely and totally in love with Evie that it was easy to fall for him. If I have a quibble, it’s that his personal arc isn’t as fleshed out and there’s a reference to scenes that happen off-page for him where he works through some of his issues, that I would have loved to read. But I do think that could have changed the overall tenor of this tale in a way that wasn’t essential to the goal of this HEA.

Heat, Heart and Humor, the Holy Romance trinity: Ms. Ashley’s way around a love scene?
Still on point. Now, the Holy Trinity of romance, in conjunction with the Firsts (meet/kiss/love scene) are crucial to a successful romance for me. Ms. Ashley brought the heat, but it’s the banter that conveys that chemistry and that is firing on all cylinders. And finally, the emotional scenes, the ones that really make Evie and Mag’s love shine, all resonated with me.

Twist on an old theme: In this Next Generation of Ms. Ashley’s ‘verse, this romance still managed to remix that classic formula and give me some fresh takes on the Firsts, especially in subtle moments of consent that allow for that bossy alpha vibe to thrive but not completely dominate every aspect of Mag’s personality. I especially enjoyed how the final dark moment came to pass and was resolved in a manner that a) didn’t happen too early on the page; and b) gave some agency to Evie in a way that felt true to character.
The Bad(ish) and Everything in Between
The family from hell: Holy hell is Evie’s family, and I cannot stress this enough, IS THE WORST. It is borderline caricature how completely horrible they are. I understand the need for that antagonistic force in Evie’s life, but damn if it wasn’t hard to read about how horrible they are and occasionally felt beyond manipulative. Her found family more than makes up for it, but be forewarned - her blood family, with two exceptions, are atrocious. But on the flip side, you certainly feel like a better person because you’re (hopefully) not as bad as they are.

Mild lag: Now one of my big concerns in romances that depend on the tension generated by one or both of the MCs being in danger, is the need to maintain that tension through the story.
Ms. Ashley’s newer books have struggled with this, resolving way too early and leaving me wishing for more. but I will say that Dream Maker wobbles a bit towards the 75% mark, but still managed to pull out a little more action late in the game and doesn’t just settle into a supersized epilogue after the halfway point, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Secondary characters get their little moments to intrigue: As the first book in the series, I was impressed at how Ms. Ashley managed to introduce the reader to the new players in this series, set up the possibility of romance for each, and explain why they’re not all falling in love right this second. Now, I’m not sure how those will shake out, and I’m not sure I’m too thrilled with the idea of how some of them will spend their time waiting for their turn for an HEA (just trying to vague this up a tad so as not to be spoilerish), but I am now invested in these future couples and cannot wait to visit again.

The Bottom Line
I had so much fun with Mag and Evie’s romance. Their romance shines in the midst of many, many faves sharing the page and I adored it. While it’s not perfect, this truly sparked joy for me, and I can say with confidence that this is the most KA-feeling KA book in a really long time. It's the best of her quirks and reminded me why I devoured her backlist the way I did, once upon a time. There’s so much that made me smile from beginning to end and I legit cannot wait until the next book comes out. If you’re a fan of Ms. Ashley’s Rock Chick series, I highly encourage you to check this out.


**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**