Dream Keeper
Release Date November 30, 2021
Spinning off from the bestselling Dream Man and Rock Chick series, this is the emotional and steamy contemporary romance fans of the Dream Team series have been waiting for!
Pepper Hannigan is determined to keep any romance off the table—and out of her bedroom—while her daughter Juno is still young. Sure, a certain handsome commando is thoughtful, funny, and undeniably hot, but Pepper’s had her heart broken before, and she won’t let it happen again. Not to her or her little girl, even if this hero could melt any woman’s resolve.
Augustus “Auggie” Hero can’t deny his attraction to beautiful, warm-hearted Pepper or how much he wants to make a home with her and her little girl, but Pepper’s mixed signals have kept him away. That is, until Juno decides to play matchmaker. Her efforts finally bring Pepper into his arms, but they expose the danger Pepper is in. To protect Pepper and Juno, Auggie will have to live up to his last name and prove happy endings aren’t just for fairy tales.
Graphics from Author's Facebook page
It's finally time for Auggie and Pepper who have been playing cat and mouse this whole series. Well, Auggie has been chasing and Pepper has been running scared.
They are the last of Lottie's fix-ups and Auggie has been on board. He is a good guy. He is funny, sweet, persistent, and craves love. But Pepper has been burned before and she has her daughter to consider. I have to say Pepper really frustrated me for a bit. Her resistance, skittish behavior, and pushing him away is hard to take at times. But she is a fierce Mama Bear who has reason to be wary and needs to be sure. And he does not always say the right things all the time either.
But these two have more than just one matchmaker working for them now so resistance can only last so long. But they both have plenty of family, ex, and outside drama surrounding them and keeping them on their toes.
This brings the elements and cameos of the old Rock Chick, Dream Men, Chaos books. It is a story about a woman, her girls, her ex, her kid, a commando who wants to be hers, his team, some crazy families, and some messy investigations. There are several redemption arcs, some surprises, old friends, drama, and of course some meddling. I really loved Auggie and just wanted to hug him. He may be a tough alpha and in control, but he had his broken parts too that needed to feel true love. And I ended up really liking Pepper and how she protected those that were hers. Little Juno is a bright light and her storyline just added to the sweetness of this romance.
Even though this ties up the original Dream Team, there looks to be a few new guys on the horizon and the main story arc running through the background of this series is still hanging out there. So I imagine we will be seeing more in a spinoff or continuation. I really want to see one other special character find his happy ending as well.
Every time I pick up a new KA, I love that there are aspects I know to expect -- strong female characters, alpha males, and copious wardrobe and decor descriptions. But I also love that the story stays fresh and there are new ways for these couples to find their way to each other.
Pepper and Auggie are the final holdouts from Lottie’s match-making plans when she dreamed up the Dream Team, and though Pepper has been holding out, Auggie was been on board from the beginning. In this book, Lottie is not the only one playing matchmaker, though she is the only one being public about her efforts. Pepper has her reservations about starting a new relationship, and Auggie has his own reasons for not repeatedly pursuing her despite his interest.
This was an entertaining continuation of the Dream Team series, with classic KA storytelling and characters. There were plenty of cameos for longtime fans as KA’s worlds regularly crossover. Pepper’s daughter stole many scenes as she did her best to help her mom find happy, and her persistence and devoted personality had me wishing for slightly different circumstances for the mother-daughter pair at times.
At the core, there are several family dramas holding up a future between Pepper and Auggie, and I loved how they fought for each other even when they had been happy with their individual status quo -- they wanted the best for the other and weren’t inclined to sit back when they saw a barrier for the other. (And can I just say, I was floored at the amount of dysfunction in both of their families, but particularly Pepper’s family situation.)
While this is the final of the original Dream Team match-ups orchestrated by Lottie, I see potential for other stories as there are some new commandos on the team, as well as a new batch of dancers needing to be hired. The series storyline has a few loose ends as well that could use tying up as well.
From Kristen Ashley's website:
This is a mashup spin-off series from my Rock Chicks and Dream Man Series. In Quiet Man, you’ll meet Mo’s four best friends. And, Lottie (from the Rock Chicks, our heroine from Quiet Man), decides they need the perfect matches. And she’s going to make them! Let the dream making commence!
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Ashley comes a new story in her Dream Man series…
Charlotte “Lottie” McAlister is in the zone. She’s ready to take on the next chapter of her life, and since she doesn’t have a man, she’ll do what she’s done all along. She’ll take care of business on her own. Even if that business means starting a family.
The problem is, Lottie has a stalker. The really bad kind. The kind that means she needs a bodyguard.
Enter Mo Morrison.
Enormous. Scary.
Quiet.
Mo doesn’t say much, and Lottie’s used to getting attention. And she wants Mo’s attention. Badly.
But Mo has a strict rule. If he’s guarding your body, that’s all he’s doing with it.
However, the longer Mo has to keep Lottie safe, the faster he falls for the beautiful blonde who has it so together, she might even be able to tackle the demons he’s got in his head that just won’t die.
But in the end, Lottie and Mo don’t only have to find some way to keep hands off until the threat is over, they have to negotiate the overprotective Hot Bunch, Lottie’s crazy stepdad, Tex, Mo’s crew of frat-boy commandos, not to mention his nutty sisters.
All before Lottie finally gets her Dream Man.
And Mo can lay claim to his Dream Girl.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Dream Maker
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Kim's 4 star review
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Dream Man and Rock Chick series comes a brand new story about love, friendship, and the bonds of sisterhood.
Evie is a bonafide nerd and a hyper-intelligent chick who has worked her whole life to get what she wants. Growing up, she had no support from her family and has only ever been able to rely on herself. So when Evie decides she wants to earn her engineering degree, she realizes she needs to take an alternative path to get there. She takes a job dancing at Smithie's club thinking this would be a quick side gig, where she can make the money she needs. But with her lack of dancing skills and an alpha bad boy who becomes overly protective, Evie realizes this might not be as easy as she thought.
Daniel "Mag" Magnusson knows a thing or two about pain, but the mask he wears is excellent. No one can tell that this good-looking, quick-witted, and roguish guy has deep-seated issues. Mag puts on a funny-guy routine so he can hide his broken heart and PTSD. But when Evie dances her way into Mag's life, he realizes that he needs to come face-to-face with the demons of his past if he wants a future with her.
Dream Bites Cookbook
Cooking with the Commandos
Buy HERE
Cooking with the Commandos
Buy HERE
From New York Times bestseller Kristen Ashley and USA Today bestseller Suzanne M. Johnson…
See what’s cooking!
You’re invited to Denver and into the kitchens of Hawk Delgado’s commandos: Daniel “Mag” Magnusson, Boone Sadler, Axl Pantera and Augustus “Auggie” Hero as they share with you some of the goodness they whip up for their women.
Not only will you get to spend time with the commandos, the Dream Team makes an appearance with their men, and there are a number of special guest stars. It doesn’t end there, you’ll also find some bonus recipes from a surprise source who doesn’t like to be left out.
So strap in for a trip to Denver, a few short stories, some reminiscing and a lot of great food.
Welcome to Dream Bites, Cooking with the Commandos!
(Half of the proceeds of this cookbook go to the Rock Chick Nation Charities)
Dream Chaser
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Our 4 star reviews
Our 4 star reviews
In this steamy, addictive contemporary romance spinning off the New York Times bestselling Dream Man and Rock Chick series, Ryn Jansen must put her trust in the one man she wants -- and the one man she can't let herself have.
Ryn Jansen has no interest in taking a risk on Boone Sadler. Thanks to a long list of men who've done nothing but let her down, Ryn vows to stay far away from the caring, protective commando. And when Boone confronts Ryn with evidence that her loved ones are conning her, Ryn is less than thrilled -- with her family and Boone. But even as Boone proves he's the kind of guy to meet her every need, she doesn't trust him to stay when life gets hard . . .
Boone Sadler's never been one to back down from a challenge. He's determined to show the funny, sexy Ryn that the irresistible connection between them is worth exploring. But caring for Ryn's heart and body becomes a matter of life and death when Ryn's beloved niece and nephew are put in danger and dirty cops begin gunning for Ryn. Soon Boone realizes their romance is in danger of more than heartbreak -- and to have any future together, they'll have to put their trust in each other.
Dream Spinner
In this steamy and emotional contemporary romance from a New York Times bestselling author, two damaged souls must overcome the pain of their pasts to have the love they've always dreamed of.
Hattie Yates has finally met the man of her dreams. Yet years of abuse from her demanding father have left her petrified of disappointment. She’s already failed to reach her goal of becoming a professional ballerina—she can’t handle the terrible consequences of another dream becoming a nightmare. But when a stalker sets their sights on Hattie, there’s only one man she dares to hope can help . . .
Axl Pantera knows Hattie is the only woman for him. Yet despite the attraction burning between them, Hattie refuses to let him in. The former soldier is determined to woo her into letting down her walls. And when danger comes calling, he’s up against more than her wary and bruised heart. Axl will do anything to prove to Hattie that they’re meant to be, but first, he’ll need to keep her safe.
KRISTEN ASHLEYKristen Ashley is the New York Times bestselling author of over seventy romance novels including the Rock Chick, Colorado Mountain, Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Heroes, The ’Burg, Magdalene, Fantasyland, The Three, Ghost and Reincarnation, Moonlight and Motor Oil, Mathilda SuperWitch, Dream Team, Wild West MC and Honey series along with several standalone novels.
She’s a hybrid author, publishing titles both independently and traditionally, her books have been translated in fourteen languages and she’s sold over four million books.
Kristen recently released CHASING SERENITY, the next novel in the River Rain Series, the story of Chloe and Judge. River Rain is a series that Kristen created with her readers during the COVID pandemic. She will continue writing this series with her readers, polling them about characters, plot points, pets, and anything else on which they can collaborate. If you're interested in casting your vote when she writes the next River Rain, be sure to subscribe to her newsletter and follow Kristen on Facebook.
Kristen will round out 2021 with the next Dream Team novel, DREAM KEEPER, releasing on November 30, 2021.
Kristen, born in Gary and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana, was a fourth generation graduate of Purdue University. Since, she has lived in Denver, the West Country of England, and she now resides in Phoenix. She worked as a charity executive for eighteen years prior to beginning her independent publishing career. She now writes full-time.
Although romance is her genre, the prevailing themes running through all of Kristen’s novels are friendship, family and a strong sisterhood. To this end, and as a way to thank her readers for their support, Kristen has created the Rock Chick Nation, a series of programs that are designed to give back to her readers and promote a strong female community.
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