The star of this book is the small town life and all of its inhabitants. The two leading ladies are fine, Savanna in particular is charming and you’d want to be friends if you met her. Kyle is less sketched out and could have done with some scenes of her own at the hospital with colleagues to give her a bit more substance and warmth. Not as sassy as this author’s usual stories, but it is still a nice read. You’re definitely rooting for them as a couple and I liked the plot twist.

I always enjoy Melissa Brayden’s books and this one was no exception. It had many of her normal traits to enjoy, snappy banter, good friendships, interesting secondary characters and adorable protagonists. The storyline was quite different too. However, I just can’t quite put my finger on why this didn’t resonate with me more. Perhaps because we only had Savanna’s point of view throughout the whole book and thus Kyle never really developed in my eyes.

This was a storyline that had a lot of things going on and I feel like that perhaps it interferes with the pace of the story. It just didn’t sit right for me as a whole. I still enjoyed it but I think less would have been more believable and less rushed at the end. Three and a half stars.

I love a good small town story and this is also second chance?! Sign me up!

Savanna and Kyle have a little fling during this weekend away but life is busy and messy so they agree to meet up one year later to give it a go. Alas Savanna is stood up and after having said goodbye to so many people in life already is more than a little heartbroken about this.

Cue Kyle walsing into Savanna's small town and woos all the residents which goes not unnoticed by Savanna.

I really liked both MC's and the story about how they met and fell out and then with the death of Savanna's aunt and other family issues but there's a but. The way this book is written is too clean, too neat. I felt the author's magic with words but it took me out of the story because people don't talk like that. It bothered me through the entire book which is a bit of a bummer. If not for that, this would have been a 5 star book!

An ARC was given to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

I love Melissa Brayden. Dare I say...If there are no Melissa Brayden fans, I'm dead.

However, this book didn't do it for me.

Savanna is a small town truther, living in Dreamers Bay, along with fan faves (probably) Elizabeth and Devyn from 'Beautiful Dreamer.' In her pockets, she carries 1. enough sunshine to go around and, 2. abandonment issues - the duality of woman, am I right?

The book is told from her point of view, and I can't quite pin point whether therein lies it's fatal flaw, but: by the end of the book, Kyle Remington - Savanna's love interest - was as much a stranger to me as when we first met her. (though one might certainly argue that the first person POV can't be the one to bear the brunt of the blame, when Brayden has expertly employed the very same device in BANGERS 'Waiting in the Wings,' 'Exclusive,' and 'Strawberry Summer.')

I couldn't connect with Kyle as most of emphasis on character was placed on Savanna and her journey in discovering the truth about who she is and whom she comes from - a side plot (i think thats what it was?) that felt incredibly random and a bit of a pill to me. Kyle, at times, felt more of a secondary character than even Elizabeth or Jonathan. I felt I knew nothing of substance about her, besides the fact that she too was battling some trauma from a medical operation gone very wrong - the singular plot line padding her character.

The pace, too, felt entirely clunky, going from the full speed of insta love, to the idle heartbreak and disappointment, to the slow sputter and stop of the second chance romance we were promised...but didn't quite deliver.

All in all, this was an underwhelming read (which is a painful sentence to even write, given how indebted i am to Brayden for books like 'Kiss the Girl' - which frankly, nothing in this entire world may ever top).

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️ I really enjoyed this book! i haven’t heard of this author before but was drawn in by the blurb of the book. Savanna’s in her home town of Dreamer’s Bay to clear her Aunt Lindy’s house after her passing. She is a grocery store manager and both her parents have passed now leaving her orphaned. Whilst leaving the hotel she is staying in, she gets caught in the lift and is rescued by none other than Kyle. They spend the evening together and quickly realise they enjoy each others company. With Kyle in med school, she doesn’t have time for relationships so they come up with a plan to meet again on the suspension bridge a year from their first meeting.
This year rolls around and Kyle is nowhere to be seen. Savanna is left feeling empty and betrayed so tries going on a date with MJ. She likes her company but she just isn’t Kyle so she lets her down gently and MJ tells her to keep her in mind if things with. Kyle don’t work out. Savanna turns her Aunt Lindy’s house into an airbnb and goes to clean for the first guest only to find it’s Kyle staying there. Kyle confesses she was going through a lot and couldn’t face meeting her at that time. Their chemistry soon returns and they begin a benefits situation. Savanna continues to go through her Aunt’s stuff in the attic and soon realises her biological father isn’t the one she grew up with. She finds out that she thinks it is a local. They strike up conversation and begin a relationship. Kyle takes a job at the a&e.
Later that week, Savanna is waiting for Kyle to show up to an event and she doesn’t show. She goes to the a&e to see where she is and realises there’s a massive problem. There was a car crash and her new family is hurt. Luckily they make a recovery but Kyle says she will be back home after that night and never shoes. Savanna is left in the dark again. She soon realises Kyle went back to her home town as she has PTSD from her old job where she treated a patient who lost their life and she felt guilty for it. Then the dna test results come back and show that the guy she has started bonding with isn’t her father. Her grocery store is then taken over by a new chain but it is the best thing to happen as she dislikes her boss due to his attitude and not cAring for his staff. Later in the book she gets a letter from lawyers saying her ex boss has died and she is the sole beneficiary to his money and estates. She is confused and they tell her he left it all to his daughter. This is why her mom kept her from knowing who her bio dad was until this point. Lindy was meant to tell her when she was 18 but knowing the man knew it wasn’t a good idea. Savanna wants to put the money to good and now her and Kyle admit their love for each other and give it a go. loved the plot twist in this book! definitely wasn’t expecting such a cool subplot and it really added to the book. will definitely want to read more from this author in the future!

This book was fine. I was disappointed, but I also went in with high expectations because Melissa Brayden has delivered some incredible novels in the past (also some that were less so, I guess they are hit-or-miss). This was a perfectly enjoyable read that I don’t want to be too critical of, but there are also so many other novels out there that are better. The writing was good, the content was… fine? I will say this was more of a case of “nothing particularly was amazing” as opposed to “there were things that were wrong”. This book followed a lot of conventional tropes and plot beats, which is often fine, but this time it felt a bit like just going through the paces.

My Rating: “C+”
Converted Rating: 3-Stars

Highlights:
-Clever writing and great banter. If I have one compliment, it’s the banter between the protagonists.
-Side plots….. this novel was filled with them. It made it feel layered and like a very full world as opposed to just a single plotline existing in a vacuum.
-GREAT use of a small town setting. Sometimes novels say they are set in a small town but honestly it could be anywhere; this one uses the setting and the vibes very well.

Issues:
-I felt like there was zero tension (sexual or otherwise) between the protagonists. They insta-love/lusted at the start, then they bounced around for the rest of the novel, but I never felt that angst or yearning. The bar might have been too high in my mind when I started this, because this same author has absolutely shown that they know how to do a romance and it was what I was expecting.
-It was just kind of underwhelming. Things happened, book ended. There was plot and character development but it never really grabbed my attention in the way I had hoped.
-The blurb made this seem like a second-chance and/or enemies-to-lovers novel. The word betrayal was used. This is all technically true, but the protagonists issues were too small and the resolution was too easy. This is Melissa Brayden! Where was that energy from You Had Me At Merlot or Strawberry Summer?? This book was just……eh.
-There was a lot of relatively pointless drama. It felt like padding the page count at times.
-Some character motivations (a certain side character in particular) did not make any sense and we never got an explanation.
-Wandering plotline. The side plots were good in a sense, but after a while the novel felt like it got somewhat lost. What is the main premise of this novel? The relationship/romance certainly doesn’t get the majority of the page count.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.

This is a very cute and cozy romance! I loved the big Romantic gesture of planning a date for a year ahead and then it failing completely. Idk if Remington did enough to win me back tho, but if I suspend that, it was very enjoyable. Can’t wait to add it to the list!

Dream a Little Dream is a second chance romance set in Dreamer’s Bay. It's a single POV, and a nice light, cute and quick read.

I did enjoy the story overall but there were parts I struggled with a bit to keep my attention. I’ve been a Brayden fan for a long time, and maybe that’s part of my issue. There’s a lot of comparison to stories of hers I have absolutely loved, devoured and re-read, and this wasn’t quite there for me. I think it was the chemistry between Savanna and Kyle. I was with them at the start, but didn’t feel the connection as strong in the second half. Maybe that’s just me?

The side stories were nice though, I enjoyed discovering more about Savanna and her friends, that part of the single POV worked really well.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Melissa Brayden is the first LGBT author I read. Strawberry Summer was one of my first sapphic books and is still an all time favorite. Brayden has done it again. I was honored and excited to receive this arc, also a little scared it wouldn’t live up to my expectations. It did. You’ll read this book with a smile on your face and be happy you did. Savanna has become one of my favorite Brayden characters and I’m already ready for a re-read. If this second chance, small town premise interests you, I definitely recommend Dream a Little Dream!

Melissa Brayden is my go-to author when I'm looking for a cute, not too angsty, love story. The small town, the likeable cast of characters, witty banter, and sizzling romance combine to make this book an enjoyable read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Author Melissa Brayden is a go to for me. She offers up exquisite romances of every trope imaginable. Her latest was another exemplary work of delicious cozy love. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc. | BSB genre and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Cute and hopeful feels

Savanna’s year off is quickly disrupted when Kyle, the woman who broke her heart a year after their first date by not turning up on the bridge as agreed, turns up in the small town where she is building a life. Having been through the heartbreak of her aunt dying, Savanna also discovers her dad isn’t her biological father.

While this started out with Savanna’s world falling apart and the devastation of Kyle breaking her heart, it really was a story filled with warmth and hope. Savanna was on a journey, and just didn’t know it. Her sulky attitude at Kyle turning up and winning over almost everyone she knew in Dreamer’s Bay added a touch of humour. I have to admit, I liked Kyle. She was kind, caring, and when she realised she was in Savanna’s time, which I don’t think was coincidence, she genuinely wanted to explain why she hadn’t turned up and make it up to Savanna.

It was easy to empathise with Savanna though. I understood completely why she had her guard up. One person can only take so much disappointment before it starts to take its toll. Savanna had hope for building her life up and moving on that was instantly broken into pieces by Kyle just being there and that broke my heart for her. I admired Kyle for trying so hard to get Savanna to give her a chance, and when she did, cute moments erupted, even when Savanna was keeping her guard partly up. In the end, I was just glad they were getting along and naturally finding their way and letting things be.

All great romances come with drama and Melissa delivered it so well in this one. I really enjoyed the story, and the unexpected twists it took throughout! Very exciting, cute romance.

Savanna Potter is a perky can do person that is beloved in her small hometown. But she has suffered a lot of losses including her parents and the aunt who took her in and raised her. On a weekend in Charleston she has a chance meeting and hook-up with the right person but at the wrong time. They agree to meet up again in a year but Dr. Kyle Remington doesn’t show up. A few months later Kyle arrives in Dreamer’s Bay. She is embracing small town living and wanting Savanna as well.

Brayden is delightful, as usual, with her witty banter. This is a fairly light and breezy LesFic romance. There are some side plots. But the easy romance between Savanna and Kyle is the focus. I think the only extra thing I wanted was to know more about Kyle. Everything is from Savanna’s POV and you see Kyle mostly in Savanna’s world. It was almost as if her character was irrelevant to the plot other than for her work crisis. Why did she change careers? Does she have a family that she stays in touch with? But with that said this is the kind of book I pull easily from my shelf to read again on a day when I want a quick pick me up.

I absolutely loved this book—it’s one of the best romance novels I’ve read in a long time, especially in terms of its captivating beginning. Melissa Brayden never disappoints, delivering witty, well-crafted characters and just the right amount of drama to keep you thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

This was a really cute and wholesome read. I’m a sucker for second chance stories with reunions and this one served that. Their first meeting was so adorable and god the minute they made the pact I was screaming with excitement.

The characters’ chemistry was really good, so sizzling. Even the banter, their flirting was my favourite. I really enjoyed the small town setting and the cute friend group.

However, the part I didn’t feel connected to was Savanna’s family plot. I feel like it could’ve been a lot more emotional but I didn’t feel emotionally invested in it. Aside from that, the couple’s conflict in the last half of the book kind of put me off because it did not feel necessary and felt counterproductive. I believe that opportunity could’ve been used to show kyle’s growth but instead it showed her falling back into an unhealthy pattern, which sort of put me off.

Otherwise, the couple was really adorable and it made for a quick sweet read!

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the storyline. What was getting old us the cutesy names for businesses. It wasn't just one or two, it was all of them.
Regardless,an enjoyable read & I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dream a Little Dream by Melissa Brayden is a poignant and heartfelt second chance romance that perfectly balances emotional depth with Brayden’s signature charm. Set in the cozy coastal town of Dreamer’s Bay, the story follows Savanna Potter as she navigates grief, betrayal, and a life-altering family revelation—all while trying to resist the undeniable pull of Kyle Remington, the woman who once broke her heart. Brayden captures the messy, beautiful complexity of rekindled love with sharp dialogue, magnetic chemistry, and just the right dose of humor. This is a story about forgiveness, resilience, and the kind of love that’s worth taking a risk on—even when your heart is still bruised.

Savannah and Kyle were the definition of I will wait forever for you. Cause I fear that’s what both of them did.
Melissa did such a good job of when it came to the mental health side of it all, as well as chronic illness/pain.
I found the concept of Savannah trying to find out her bio dad, and how she was coping with it all very well done.
And I swear Jonathon was such a funny character. I loved all the reps in this book. And can’t wait to read more by Melissa Braydon

While I don't read contemporary romance in general, I really enjoyed another title by this author so I snatched this one up when I got the chance! This was such a cozy sweet story. Very few romance stories start with a First Act Breakup. Though the mechanics of it keep it from being what I would consider a second-chance romance, the familiarity tension dynamic felt similar. Our first lead is Savannah who manages a small town grocery story with her whole heart. She's gone through some recent loss and is looking to make some changes in her life. Our other lead is Dr Kyle (it's her middle name, just roll with it) who is not quite done with her residency, but has a pair of blue eyes Savannah cannot ignore. Especially, when these blue eyes landed on her when she was trapped in a hotel door. Talk about a meet cute! The two agree to meet again on a scenic park bridge in one years time. Of course things don't go according to plan when Kyle doesn't show up.

What I enjoyed about the handling of this plot is that things were not dragged our for the sake of drama. There was drama to be sure, but it didn't feel contrived and was true to the characters. Things were revealed in a comfortable time frame and we didn't speed through the healing process. While Kyle was trying to prove her intentions, she was never pushy and her patience was such an endearing trait.

Speaking of endearing, I enjoyed the small town setting a lot. While it's very different in real life, it's always cute to me reading about these settings with characters all in each other's business. Well-intentioned in this case! But yes, no escape from the rumor mill. If I could add one scene to this story I would have loved to see the proposal and/or a wedding vows scene. The epilogue was a nice bow on top, but either of these scenes I mentioned would have tied it together so nicely. Yes, I'm maybe being greedy haha.

I would love to visit Dreamer's Bay again. Perhaps to get a story for MJ?? ;)

Savanna Potter has decided she’d make ‘Dreamer’s Bay’ her home. It’s where she grew up living her first twelve years with her Mom and Dad and she could honestly say she had a wonderful life, until an accident changed her life. Losing both her parents was a hard blow but there to ease the rest of her life was her aunt Lindy. It was Lindy who gave her a warm, welcoming home.
Jonathan, her friend forever it seemed. She loved him because he, like Lindy, made her feel safe and loved. Not ‘that’ kind of love but the kind that lasts a lifetime. Over the years she added to her friends list but her romantic life, not so much.
Dr. Kyle Remington was just finishing up her residency in Charleston, South Carolina and happened to be staying at the same hotel as Savanna. Savanna traveled there to get some ideas on how to turn the house left to her by Lindy into an ‘Airbnb’. She was doing all right, she managed the local grocery store but going with ‘Airbnb’ allowed her to keep Lindy’s home. Kyle was there because of work being done at her apartment.
Spending the weekend together was the best and since they had so much fun they’d meet again after a year's time. Easy, right, but plans dont always turn out the way she’d hoped. Simply put. Another great book by Melissa Brayden, you know the author that has a love affair with wine and donuts. A very, very entertaining and fun read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books