Evie Ross and her sister Suda Kaye were given a stack of letters each when their mother died of cancer, with one meant to be opened on their birthday. Suda Kaye was a free spirit and Evie stayed home and forged a successful career in finance. She doesn’t have much else in life other than her job, her sister, and her brother-in-law’s family. Discovering more letters her mother kept in a safety deposit box causes her to rethink her outlook.

To Catch a Dream is the second book of the Wish series, following What the Heart Wants, which is Suda Kaye’s story. Even without reading that, I gathered quickly that Suda Kaye wandered the world and eventually returned home to Colorado where she and her childhood love reconciled and married. (That probably spoils the first book. Oops.) Evie and her sister are half Comanche, but I really don’t see the impact of her culture other than nicknames and references to being on the reservation. She takes after her Caucasian father’s coloring, being blonde and blue-eyed. Initially, we don’t see much of the Comanche grandfather that raised her and her sister while her mother traveled around the world. When we do see him, he’s a solid and thoughtful figure, and I enjoyed his character.

Evie’s childhood crush Milo never really showed interest in her, but now he does. I’m really uncomfortable with his approach, cornering Evie and calling her a coward for avoiding him, saying he wants to talk business over dinner, then telling her when she arrives that he wants her in his life and in his bed. Whenever Evie feels reluctant with his demeanor, everyone else seems ready to push them together. That amuses Milo, but it feels like a red flag to me and not romantic. I was so thankful when Suda Kaye called him on it, but then when he outright declared he intended to marry her and have children without discussing this with her once and everyone else seemed to find that okay and didn’t worry about that causing a panic attack, I was livid on Evie’s behalf. Evie didn’t know why she panicked and fainted? I understand completely.

I think I’m supposed to find Milo endearing and hunky, given it’s stated several times, but even his heartfelt past didn’t help. Whatever attraction he and Evie have is supposed to build up to a relationship that seems to run hot and cold. He came to her defense when she was bullied as a child for appearing so white on the reservation, but even his own family finds it difficult to let go of her heritage. Then she calls herself Milo’s prey when she tries to break off whatever is growing between them, which rattled me even more. There is a lot of emotional byplay, both between them, then when Evie speaks to people on the reservation and with her sister. She has a lot of pent-up emotions she never dealt with. For that, I was thankful to see Evie in therapy, processing her feelings about the past and fear of being abandoned. She has a lot of grief to work through, as well as her own fears of herself, the future, and the people around her. That certainly prevents her from reaching for things that she wants. Evie finds Milo endearing and frustrating at once, and she does want the future that he paints for them. From that standpoint, the two will have their happily ever after despite the losses that occur in Evie's small family. I'm not as thrilled with Milo as everyone else is, but the important part is that Evie is happy with her choice. He is there for her when it matters in the second half of the story, which somewhat lessens the creeper vibe I got from him in the first half, but he's still not my favorite.

This book will hook you from the start, this is a standalone but is part of a series, if you read the other book it will add more to it. The emotional side of the story will have you reading non-stop, the characters and situations will have you rooted on your seat. There is a little mystery and a crush who starts paying attention to Evie. There are a lot of twists and turns that will have you guessing. Definitely a book I would recommend.

I really enjoyed this book! It wasn't what I was expecting, but that's definitely my fault. When I picked this up, I was expecting a much larger focus on the letters Evie's mother had left her. Instead, I got a romance that was much steamer than what I expected. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it was a surprise.

My favorite thing about this may have been the focus on Evie's Native American roots. As someone who knows nothing about their culture, I loved getting a glimpse into their life. It was super interesting, and felt like a natural addition to the story.

For some reason, the romance in this never really felt right for me. I enjoyed it, but at the same time, I felt like I shouldnt. It's hard to explain, but Milo felt odd. It may have been his possessiveness, or how he pushed himself onto Evie and immediately asserted himself into her life, but it felt strange. I still really enjoyed it though!

If you're a fan of romances with a bit of steam, this is for you! Despite not having read the first book in this series, I still really enjoyed this, and I'll be watching for the 3rd book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Audrey Carlan for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Evie Ross grew up with her grandfather and his people when her mother abandoned her as a child to live her free-spirited life. Evie has ties to her Native American background and is trying to find her way on her own. When her childhood crush not only announces his intentions of wanting to go into business with her, but his desire to be her husband, Evie is taken off guard to say the least. Can she open her heart to the one man she could never forget?

This novel was written beautifully when portraying the Native American people and their customs, but I found the relationship part of the two main characters lacking. The relationship was shallow and not believable for me. It was a sweet story though and I am glad I did read it. I would like to thank the author Audrey Carlan , Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

There are two stories in To Catch a Dream. One is a story of sisterhood, and that part of the story is also about finding the place that your heart can call home – even if it’s not a place at all. And that part of the story really worked – at least for this reader.

The second part of the story is the romance. It’s a story about finally making the dreams of love and romance you had when you were experiencing your first crush come not just true, but seemingly just about perfect. And I have to say that this part of the story did not work nearly as well, at least not for this reader.

The relationship between Evie, her younger sister Suda Kaye and their mother Catori is a story about roots and wings and baggage. And I include Catori in the present tense because that relationship is still very much a part of both Evie and Suda Kaye’s present even though Catori has been dead for over a decade by the time To Catch a Dream begins.

When Catori died, Evie was 20, Suda Kaye was 18 and their mother had NEVER been their primary caregiver. That role was reserved for Catori’s father Tahsuda, the grandfather that the girls called Toko who was the defining figure in their lives.

Why? Because their father Adam Ross was a career Army officer, someone high up in hush-hush operations, and someone who lived where he served – wherever in the world that might be. Catori knew that going in, but the reality turned out to be more than she could handle as a young mother with postpartum depression and a baby.

Catori was a free spirit, born with wanderlust, and her home was never going to be a fixed place. So she left her daughters on the reservation with her own father and took off. Not that both Catori and Adam didn’t come back to their daughters as often as they could, but it made for a far from conventional upbringing for the girls.

When Catori succumbed to cancer, the girls were just barely old enough to take care of themselves. But she left them each a pile of letters, one to be opened on each of their birthdays, year after year, until the piles ran out. She left them each a piece of her spirit even if she couldn’t be with them.

And as soon as she opened her letter, Suda Kaye began making plans to follow the wanderlust in her own heart, leaving Evie heartbroken all over again, wondering why she was never enough for anyone she loved.

Suda Kaye returned to Colorado in the first book in the The Wish series, What the Heart Wants, which I haven’t read but didn’t feel like I missed anything important for this story by not having read that one.

As this story opens, Suda Kaye has found her heart has led her home, and she has found her happy ever after, but she and Evie still have a ton of baggage to get over, and a metric buttload of resentment, hurt and anger that they are both trying desperately to ignore.

And in the middle of that still seeping emotional wound, Suda Kaye just HAS to manipulate and maneuver her sister into the path of the childhood crush that she never got over. While it may be that folks who have found their own romantic HEAs are particularly bound and determined to make sure that every single person in their orbit finds theirs, the course of true love does not run smooth when there are too many people sticking their oars in the water.

Escape Rating C+: As I said, there were two parts to this story, as is fitting for something that straddles the line between women’s fiction and romance. The women’s fiction part of this story worked really, really well for me. As much as Suda Kaye would drive me crazy, and frequently does her sister Evie, their relationship felt solid and loving and grounded even when they were arguing. All of their stuff felt very real – including Suda Kaye’s well-intentioned but MUCH too frequent interference in her sister’s life.

And I especially loved the relationship that they both had with their grandfather. That was beautifully done.

But, and you knew there was a but coming, I had serious issues with the relationship between Evie and Milo, the relationship that eventually becomes the romance in the story.

I say eventually because in the first half of the book, Milo comes on so strong, and is so overbearingly heavy-handed in all of his dealings with Evie that I had to wonder whether that part of the book was going to turn out to be a cautionary tale about letting a man take over your life rather than a romance.

Although Milo and Evie have known each other since they were 12 and 8 respectively, when Milo saved Evie from a bunch of bullies, they have not had an ongoing friendship. So when the meet again as adults, the way that Milo declares that Evie is “his woman” and overrides her expressed wishes because he knows what’s best for her, it was honestly cringeworthy. He comes across as an obsessed stalker, and their every interaction for the entire first half of the book felt possessive and overbearing – not the start of a romance.

That he also wants to merge their businesses as well as their personal lives made things extra-squicky for a significant part of the story, because he kept ignoring and overriding Evie’s expressed opinions, concerns and needs. Even if he turned out to be right, the way that their romance began did not read like a relationship of equals.

I will say that Milo redeems himself in the second half of the story, but the impression left by the first half lingers uncomfortably.

So skim the first half of the romance, read this one for the sisterhood and the family relationships and the awesome and surprising cliffie at the end that sets up the next story in the series, On the Sweet Side.

I just love this series. Told with heartfelt emotion, Carlan paints a beautiful story as strong as the books Native American roots. Now it’s Evie’s turn to shed the excess baggage and live the life her mother wanted for her.

Carlan’s romances are hot and steamy but I think she thrives at woman’s fiction. Her understanding of life, spirit, and adventure all help capture a story worthy of any TBR list.

I’ve never read any Audrey Carlan’s books before TO CATCH A DREAM, but I know for sure, this won’t be my last one! She hooked me from the very first page and never let me go! Audrey sure knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat while reading and I love when an author does that to me. Evie Ross and her sister Suda Kaye receive a stack of letters once their mother passed away from cancer. Can the story get any stranger than that? Oh yes it can, but you are going to have to read TO CATCH A DREAM to find out. No spoilers here! This is the second book in Audrey Carlan’s Wish series. It is a standalone, but reading the first book would definitely add to the story.

Evie has always been the rock for her family, but now she wants to find her own happiness. She’s afraid to fall in love because she’s afraid that that person will just walk away, just like everyone in her life has done. As Evie finally has her sister home, she is feeling that life is a little more settled. Then her all time crush, Milo suddenly starts paying attention to her and she does not know what to do with it. The twists and turns just keep coming. So much so, that you won’t be able to put TO CATCH A DREAM until the very end. My emotions were all over the place while reading and as soon as I was finished, I immediately checked on Goodreads for more of her books!

Overall, TO CATCH A DREAM is a book I can say nothing but fantastic things about. There is so much heart in Audrey’s writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart, very happy. All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. I look forward to reading Ms. Carlan’s previous books that I haven’t gotten to yet as well as her future ones. There is so much going on in this story, but Audrey does a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. All of the characters will have you feeling sad and then smiling on the same page. Once you finish devouring this story, you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

To Catch a Dream is the second book in Audrey Carlan's Wish series, and I have to say that Evie's story worked better for me than Suda Kaye's. For whatever reason, I connected with Evie better than her sister. These girls grew up together, but they've certainly grown up to be very different people, and maybe that's a part of it, or maybe it's the way things came together in this one. Whatever it was, this book just worked for me. The story isn't really about one thing in particular, so it's not just a romance or just a family story or just about sisters or just about Native American culture or just about belonging even when it isn't obvious. Instead, it's about all of those and then some, and it all comes together for a book that touches your heart in so many ways. It's an emotional story of love and loss, family and community, and living your best life. This is shaping up to be a terrific series in the genre, and I can't wait to see what's next.

To Catch a Dream by A. Carlan, published by Harlequin, is book two in her Wish Series and is best read in order. The previous book is What the Heart Wants, Suda Kaye's story.
Suda Kaye and Evie are sisters, both from native heritage, grew up in a reservate. While Suda Kaye left to fly free, Evie always was the peacekeeper in the family. And she had a crush on Milo Chivaz, a 34 year old businessman, native american. He fell for Evie pretty fast too, but life got in the ay. But now he takes his chance and a beautiful relationship, wrapped in exquisite writing and a touching story develops.
A great read, 4,5 stars

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I would definitely recommend that you read them in order. I loved that we got Evie's story, as Suda Kaye starred in book one and her viewpoints were very different.

As Evie finally has her sister home, she is feeling that life is a little more settled. Then her all-time crush, Milo, suddenly starts paying her attention and really, she does not know what to do with it. It is disconcerting, and as everyone always leaves her, she is not really ready to believe that this could be real, or permanent.

It was great fun to catch up with everyone from the first book, and to see a settled, married, successful-business owning Suda Kaye. That she got to double date with her sister and encourage her to enjoy Milo's attention is a bonus, but it also brings up a lot of Evie's issues with being abandoned. They both need to find each other again, and for Evie, she finds that she needs to return to her grandfather's and regroup. I found it very moving that she has to work through so many issues that she has just ploughed through for years.

Milo was described with great care in What the Heart Wants, so we know the basics – and of Evie's unrequited love for him. This time we get her more sensual descriptions of his silky black hair, his looks, his body, and we also learn about his past, his heart, and his ex-wife. He is a strong character, but not overbearing – which works well with Evie's nature, and gives us a sigh of relief that he is going to be strong for her, but not too strong for her.

The story takes a very interesting turn towards the end, and whilst I guessed it in part, it definitely means that the next book will be very interesting indeed!

This book was crafted with passion and that can be seen on every page. I was, admittedly, a little outside my comfort zone a number of times while reading. I'm not a prude when it comes to my reading (well, maybe a little bit...) I can handle sex scenes, but these just felt a little too much for the genre I thought I was reading, if that makes sense. I did a lot of skimming.

That being said, the foundation and core of the story piqued my attention. The premise of a mother (who I still think was selfish and neglectful) guiding her children into adulthood through letters intrigued me, as did the nuances of family relationships as a whole. The setting was beautifully captured, especially as I read this in the dead of Canadian winter, craving sunlight and warmth like it will never arrive. The romance was fast developing in the present and also, hmmm, broody. I questioned the alpha masculinity of the leading man throughout - was he too much? A bit too bossy and in charge? I don't know.

Alongside the weight of the relationship, there were also elements of sweetness as the author explored first loves and second chances. The ending was just full of surprises, hooking readers for the next title. This one, unfortunately, wasn’t a perfect fit for me (and not every book will be), but I recognize that there is a place for works such as these in the women’s fiction/romance market. It featured strong female characters, was well paced, and packed some strong emotion.

Audrey Carlan did it again. To Catch A Dream was a moving and emotional story of love, of loss and of new beginnings.
Evie and Milo's love story was years in the making and you felt every emotion that they were both going through. Evie's pain and loss. Milo's love and devotion. They were meant to be together. He knew it … she took some convincing. But, what I enjoyed most of all was the history between the two of them. I loved reading the Indian history, the customs and ways on the reservation. I adore Toko. His love for this grandchildren and his respect for those around him are heart-warming.
There was a little bit of everything in this beautiful story. Love, hate, regrets, loss. But, it's life. It's what we all go through every day. I think that's one of the reasons why I enjoy Audrey Carlan. Everything is true to life. She understands and conveys with some of the most beautiful words, the way of the world. The emotions she wrote from both Evie and Suda Kay were unbelievable. You felt their pain, their loss yet, had to smile when Suda Kay showed us the silver lining and brought the humor to the situation.
I cannot wait to read more of the Wish series. The characters and history are interesting. Each story has a meaning behind it that brings hope and happiness to the reader. Audrey Carlan writes stories that resonate within your soul. Here's to hoping that all your wishes come true.

Evie Ross is the older sister by two years and the sister that stayed in Colorado and was deeply affected by both her mother and her sister at different times running away from home to find themselves. Always feeling as though she was the one that was left behind, these feelings have altered her life.

I read and reviewed the first book in this series yesterday and commented on the excessive sex scenes, while this book had less sex scenes for me it had less plot also. I wish that Evie Ross had more of a plot when it came to her professional career, I think that would have made the book feel fuller.

The one promising part of this book came at the end and would cause a bunch of spoilers, but gosh darn if it made me want to read the third book to complete the trilogy and find out the final situation in this family.

I will wait for the next installment and read it, so I can say I have completed the series and see where these sisters end up.

Evie Ross and her sister Suda Faye received a stack of letters once their mother passed away from cancer. For years, Evie watched their mother flit in and out of their lives while filled with the wanderlust spirit. Meanwhile, Evie's father was in the military and she only saw him sporadically. Whenever their mother traveled, Evie and Suda Faye stayed on the reservation with their Comanche grandfather. They were quite close.

When the girls read their letters, Evie 20 and Suda Faye 18, Suda Faye followed their mother's footsteps and traveled for years. However, Evie stayed put. She finished college, obtained a degree and developed a very successful career in finance. The letters the girls got from their mother were to be read each year on their birthdays. These letters proved to be quite a guiding force for Evie.

When Evie is thirty years old, her life is coming along quite nicely. In fact, so is Suda Faye's. In fact, Suda Faye is now married and giddy and wants the exact same for Evie. When Milo Chavis expresses interest in Evie, Suda Faye pushes Evie to accept Milo's attentions. Evie and Milo have a past - he once protected her from bullies. She has been in love with him since she was eight years old. Milo is now in the finance business and he proposes a collaboration of sorts. However, it soon becomes quite apparent that Milo has much more than business on his mind.

In this wonderfully warm story, we see the challenges Evie faced growing up, especially as she was fair and blond, although half Native American. Falling for a sexy Native American man is truly her heart's desire. However, will the baggage she has been carrying for years going to present and insurmountable challenge when it comes to what could be a marvelously happy future?

I loved this book. I loved reading of modern-day Native American culture mixed with today's expectations. I loved the reality of someone who loved a parent dearly, although that parent was not really there for them. I also loved the fact that Evie's mother left the girls letters, letters opened yearly that helped to guide them through life. Lastly, I loved the ending and the additional character that would no doubt have an affect on Evie's life and future.

What a fabulous book! To Catch a Dream is the second book in the Wish series. The first book, What the Heart Wants, was just as wonderful as this one. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. I pretty much can guess who the female protagonist will be in that book.

Many thanks to HQN and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

When I was asked to read this book I was a bit cautious having never heard of the author and having read some reviews online that were less than flattering I was skeptical I would like the book.

I was wrong. Like very wrong on so many levels.

First off this being the second book in a series I thought I would be lost as that is what usually happens. Nope, I was able to follow along with little trouble in fact this book could be read as a stand-alone.

Second, the author pulled me in. From the get-go, I wanted to know about our heroine and her life growing up. As the story progressed I just got even more involved.

Then throw in a handsome leading man and I was hooked. Our leading man was strong, caring, and didn't take any crap from anyone. He even was strong enough to love our leading lady when she wasn't even able to love herself.

I found this story to be very good. It took me on a journey of love, self-discovery, self-healing, and growth. It had romance, mystery, and a huge twist at the end that I did not see coming.

Overall a wonderful and delightful read that left me feeling emotionally drained and oh so happy.

Website: https://audreycarlan.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1335180931/ref=x_gr_w_bb_sin?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sin-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1335180931&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Title: To Catch a Dream
Author: Audrey Carlan
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

When their mother passed away, Evie Ross and her sister were each given a stack of letters, one to be opened every year on their birthday; letters their free-spirited mother hoped would inspire and guide them through adulthood. But although Evie has made a successful career, her desire for the stability and security she never had from her parents has meant she’s never experienced the best life has to offer. But the discovery of more letters hidden in a safe-deposit box points to secrets her mother held close, and possibly a new way for Evie to think about her family, her heart and her dreams.

Honestly, this just didn’t work for me, and it was the characters, not the writing. The writing was solid, the setting vivid—and made me want to visit someplace I’ve never been. But the characters…Evie was wishy washy. First, she’s been in love with this guy for years, then she doesn’t want anything to do with him. Then she falls into his arms. She wants to take it slow, then she just packs up and moves in with him. What? And the love interest. Controlling, completely ignoring anything she says, pressures her to move forward when she wants to take it slow. And, I’m sorry, but the twist at the end? That felt very clunky and convenient, not natural to the story at all.

Audrey Carlan is a bestselling author. To Catch a Dream is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Halrequin/HQN in exchange for an honest review.)

Blog link live 3/3.

I was looking for forward to this second book in the series because I so enjoyed the first one. As with the first story ne, the letters from their mom prompts the actions of the daughters. I still found that whole premise beautifully laid out and written. However, present day through me off a bit and a lot of it did not ring true. It seemed as if it was written separately and then tied together.

I read the first book in this series, What the Heart Wants, and really enjoyed it so I grabbed this one too. While Suda Kaye, the heroine of What the Heart Wants inherited her parents' wanderlust, Evie has always been the steady reliable one who could be counted on, who has built a steady reliable life, and who is (but doesn't realize it) afraid to take risks.

Evie and Suda Kaye were pretty much raised on a Native American reservation by their maternal grandfather. Their father was hardly ever home, and Mom frequently left them with their grandfather while she headed off to experience new things. Unfortunately, she didn't seem to get that her choices hurt her girls. In this book we learn more about the girl's dad, their parents' relationships and a secret they left behind.

The major catalyst for Evie's healing is the boy next door--a man who was raised on the reservation with her, who has always carried a flame for her and who is now ready to make his move. I loved Milo. He knew Evie, he loved her, warts and all, and was willing to wait for her to work through her issues. He was there for her and ready to help her with her pain.

If it is important to you, there are a few rather graphic bedroom scenes. If the book otherwise appeals to you and those types of scenes don't, they are easily skimmed and don't add anything to the plot.

I'd like to thank the publisher for provided a review copy via NetGalley. Grade: B+

Review to be published 3/10/21

Sadly to say that this one was just ok at its best. I didn't care for some of the characters and the story was just kind of ok. Parts of the interaction between characters just didn't feel real and I just really didn't get into it as I was hoping.

I loved What the Heart Wants and I was thrilled to get my hands on the follow-up novel To Catch a Dream! Ever since being introduced to Evie in the first installment, I have been excited to get her whole story and I am happy to say that Audrey Carlan did not disappoint me! The storyline was both heart-tugging and heart-warming with a cast of characters that are so darn endearing! I was entranced from beginning to end and found myself finishing this novel in just one day! To Catch a Dream has everything you want to find in a great romance novel (and then some)! I am already looking forward to the next book in this series.