I was thrilled to be approved for the ARC for this. The only expectations I have for a KA book is to hold on and enjoy the ride.
However, Dream Spinner didn’t work for me. I woke up the morning after reading it wondering if I liked it or not. But ultimately it's not one I can recommend with the glossing over of abuse. It needs content warnings for parental abuse (verbal and physical), as well as stalking, and mentioned abuse of a cat (prior to the book's events, it's not on page). Also, a character (Ryn) has to reveal something private about their sex life in the course of an investigation and it's really invasive. I am still not clear on why that was necessary. Further spoilers ahead.

The Good:
1. Hattie. She’s a lovely heroine who goes through growth in the book and I enjoyed her character development.
2. Most of the conflict is external - Axl and Hattie get together, they are team them vs. the family drama, team them versus the weirdo leaving Hattie notes. I really enjoyed that there wasn’t third act break up drama or a lot of drama between them.

The Problematic Bad:
Axl. Yikes. So, in no particular order:
1. He knows Hattie’s dad is physically and verbally abusive (i.e. he lost custody of her as a teen for backhanding her in public) but when he meets her dad, he “sees” that said Dad loves her, so he works to keep their relationship going instead of doing what is best for Hattie (he goes in thinking he’s going to give her dad hell and they’ll go no contact so he will stop depending on and abusing Hattie, but then “the love”) Umm.. no.
2. After a scene where Hattie shuts his dad down for calling Axl a pussy and they talk about how derogatory it is, Axl goes to a business meeting, and immediately thinks of the one woman in the room as “resident badass with a pussy.” WTF kind of hero is this? One woman in the room and she’s reduced to her genitalia?
3. He tells Hattie point blank that the woman he was dating recently is still his friend and there’s nothing she can do about it. He talks about what he has in common with the other woman, how he likes her, etc. He’s not hung up on her but it’s weird, especially because Hattie was not reciprocating to his moves as she thought he was still with the other woman. I kept waiting for this character to show up and for there to be drama. Also, he is clearly not cool with her being friends with any man, aka Cisco.

Dream Spinner:

As always, I’m obsessed with Kristen Ashley and her Dream Team Series formula. My favorite is still Dream Maker but Spinner has moved into second place. But, the journey from book one to book three has added a lot. The evolution of the women, their friendships and dynamics, as well as Smithies and Brett, has created something special amid the formulaic romance.

My favorite bit is Hattie and Axl’s unique family drama. Their individual histories and daddy issues are wonderfully explored and complex. KA really gave us exceptional storylines and interactions amid the falling in love. As well as some great push and pull between our leads.

And all the standard players are still here. Favorite characters make their appearances and mysterious evil lurks in the corner. It’s romance and friendship and suspense all rolled together. If you’re a KA fan, then you won’t be disappointed. Overall, it was a great read.

Dream Spinner is #3 in the Dream Team series by Kristen Ashley. This one follows the ultimate shy gal, Hattie Yates, and her dream guy, Axl Pantera. Hattie was physically and emotionally abused by her father, who she continues to care for even though that situation hasn't changed, and Axl is tired of waiting for Hattie to finally come around.

This series is very emotional, and Dream Spinner is no exception. Hattie deals with so much trauma and is very hard on herself, finding it difficult to keep any relationships.

I loved this book. Hattie is sweet, loyal, and so very tough. Axl is a gem of a character, in that he is willing to apologize for being wrong, and wants the best for Hattie, even at the expense of a real relationship with her. RECOMMENDED!

Somewhere between 3.5 stars and 4 stars, I cannot decide.

Sometimes characters were a little too pushy and should accept that people need to do certain things at their own pace. I didn't like how they pushed the female characters to get with the male characters.

I super enjoyed the lead-up to Hattie and Axl's story. I have to say, it was not at all what I was expecting, and ended far too quickly. (I need more!!) What excited me most was visiting all the men KA has made infamous over the years. I won't give spoilers but it's a big surprise with an edge of foreboding. I have an overall feeling of apprehension for what's to come next in the series. Don't mess with my guys KA!

But what really melted my butter was the prelude to Book 4... Someone get me a fan. Good lawd!!

Hattie & Axl's story has Kristen Ashley's trademark plot devices: insecure, damaged heroine, and a strong, stubborn, persistent hero. Cisco adds a fun dimension to the story, as does the group of ladies that never fail to amuse. I was disappointed in what felt like a missed opportunity; nothing really is done with Hattie's previously explained self-harm issues. Her relationship with her dad is definitely dealt with, which added lots of dimension to her character.

All in all a good read as always from this dependable author. 3.5 stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*