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    In Your Dreams
    In Your Dreams
    In Your Dreams
    Audiobook12 hours

    In Your Dreams

    Written by Kristan Higgins

    Narrated by Amy Rubinate

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Everyone loves Jack Holland, but Emmaline Neal needs him. Her ex-fiancE is getting married in Malibu and, obviously, she can't go to the wedding alone. In Manningsport, New York, tall, blond and gorgeous Jack Holland is practically a cottage industry when it comes to rescuing desperate women. He knows the drill, Em figures, so he won't get the wrong idea. What Jack needs is an excuse to leave town. Ever since rescuing four teenagers from a car wreck, he's been hailed as a hero and the attention is making him itchy, especially since his too-pretty ex-wife is back, angling for a reunion. He's always liked Emmaline. She needs a weekend date? No problem. So when they wind up in bed together, Em chalks it up to red wine and chocolate cake, just one impulsive night not to be repeated. But Jack's pushing for more, and if she lets down her guard, either she'll get her heart crushed again, or discover that Jack's worth more than just dreaming about.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateSep 30, 2014
    ISBN9781490639598
    In Your Dreams
    Author

    Kristan Higgins

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    Reviews for In Your Dreams

    4/5

    121 ratings14 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I loved this book! I don’t remember ever feeling or wanting to describe the contemporary romance novel that I was reading as a page-turner but the description of a page-turner definitely fits this novel perfectly. I don’t think there’s any woman – single or married – that can’t absolutely relate to being single and needing a date to go to an out-of-town wedding and wanting that guy to be have the best of qualities as you go through the events of the weekend [e.g. a people person that can hold his own in conversation in case you need to leave him with a group of people while you run to the ladies room; a heartthrob (and by that we mean = description by Kristan Higgins); a thoughtful guy that will understand when you need some humor to distract you; a guy that will understand when you need some space and when you need a listener. And in this novel, not only does Emmaline Neal need a date to go to an out-of-town wedding but the groom is her ex-fiancé and the bride is bridezilla – “the woman” her ex-fiancé chose over her. Now Emmaline doesn’t only need a guy as I described with the best of qualities, she needs the perfect guy.

      There is a local heartthrob named Jack Holland who meets all the qualities Emmaline could want to be her date but he’s suffering from PTSD after a recent night when he was at the right place at the right time and became a local hero. Jack is so busy trying to be the perfect guy for all the members of his family, his friends, and even his ex-wife that he’s in definite denial of his own suffering. Will Jack be able to be the man that Emmaline needs if only for a weekend? Will Emmaline be able to look beyond her own fears and be the person that can get through to Jack when he’s not even willing to admit that he has fears of his own? Will Emmaline and Jack survive a wedding weekend together and can they return home as though the weekend never happened?

      Kristan Higgins is a dearly loved person and author for so many reasons. But one of the best reasons is that when you see the name Kristan Higgins or start reading one of Kristan Higgins’s books you absolutely know without a shadow of doubt that you’re going to have some fun! Whether you’re reading her comments on Facebook or reading one of her books, you’re in the midst of everyday situations that face us all – the balance of work and play, play and work, our inner perceptions of the “me” we should portray to family, friends, and community, our inner thoughts of who we really are, the actual reality that everyone sees, and the everyday moments that happen during an ordinary day or at a special event such as an ex-fiancé’s out-of-town wedding weekend. The conversations will be lively and fun with giggles and laughter. The serious moments will be there too but they are subtle not preachy like learning a lesson from a favorite teacher or mentor. The characters will experience emotions that every reader can relate to and best of all, the range of emotions are shared with an insightful honesty and transparency that allows the reader to experience the feelings of the characters, perhaps remember a time in their life when something similar happened to him/her, perhaps give him/her a gentle reminder that when a loved one, friend, parent, or child is going through something similar that there could be a different response – maybe this time the reader will remember Emmaline and Jack, Jack’s family, Kevin and Naomi, and even Hadley and respond in their own lives with humor, understanding and love. Thank you Kristan Higgins for reminding us all each day that when we see the humor in life, we find joy in simple pleasures, and delight in sharing kindness, thoughtfulness, understanding, empathy, compassion, and love with everyone that we are blessed to have in our lives.

      I was lucky enough to receive a pre-publication copy of this title as part of the Goodreads First Reads Program.
    • 4/5
      LOVE Kristan Higggins' books!
    • 5/5
      In Your Dreams is the long awaited and highly anticipated fourth installment in the hilarious and poignant Blue Heron series. Tantalizing glimpses of Jack Holland in the previous novels piqued my curiosity about the enigmatic but lovable Holland brother and I have been very impatient for his story. Kristan Higgins' unexpected pairing of him with local deputy Emmaline "Em" Neal is sheer brilliance and their ensuing romance is funny, sexy and oh so sweet.

      Em is a no-nonsense woman who tells it like it is. She is smart, funny and loyal, but the end of her engagement shattered her self-esteem. It has taken her a long time to get over her ex's betrayal and she is stunned when she receives an invitation to his wedding. Unfortunately, complicated family ties between the two families make it impossible for her bow out gracefully and she reluctantly accepts Jack's offer to attend with the wedding with her. Em's return to the West Coast brings her face to face with all of her unresolved issues with her caring, but misguided and clueless parents, childhood bullies, her ex and his cringe-inducing bride-to-be.

      Jack is an all around nice guy who is charming, upbeat and friendly. He is devoted to his family and good-naturedly accepts his sisters' teasing. Jack is everyone's go to guy when a woman needs a date but he has not had a serious relationship since his divorce a few years earlier. Up until recently, he has led a pretty charmed life but his dramatic rescue of four teens has left him with lingering issues that he has been trying to deal with on his own. Adding to his problems is the unwelcome return of his ex-wife Hadley who is suddenly interested in a reconciliation. Needing a break from the pressures of his life, Jack quickly agrees to accompany Em to her ex-fiancé's out of state wedding, but both are surprised when their faux relationship becomes real.

      Back home, Em and Jack's relationship hits a few bumps in the road when real life begins to intrude on the happy couple. Jack refuses to get help for his ongoing issues stemming from his heroic rescue and it is also frustrating that he continues to let Hadley manipulate him. The blow to Em's self-confidence leaves her questioning what she has to offer Jack and she is also feeling threatened by Hadley's continued presence in Jack's life. With both of them under pressure, a family crisis leads to a misunderstanding that might end their budding romance.

      In Your Dreams is written from both Em and Jack's perspectives and flashbacks fill in the blanks about their respective pasts. The incidents from Em's childhood and the events leading up to her ill-fated engagement are heartbreaking but she is surprisingly well-adjusted. Jack has always come across as a little too perfect, but the aftereffects of his rescue efforts provide him with some much needed depth.

      In Your Dreams is another heartfelt and engaging addition to the delightful Blue Heron series. Once again, Kristan Higgins deftly blends her trademark wit with a serious and realistic storyline and the resulting story is insightful and moving. A compelling plot, strong family ties and a believable relationship make In Your Dreams a must read for anyone who enjoys contemporary romances.
    • 4/5
      I love Kristan Higgins, but usually I love the Blue Heron series a little less than the rest of the series. The cast of characters, and the setting, get too familiar, and the plots can seem forced. "In Your Dreams" is an exception. The two central characters are both interesting, and convincing. Their relationship has realistic ups and downs. Overall, a nice book.
    • 3/5
      ****Full Review****


      I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

      Emmaline is a tough chick with a soft sensitive side that she tries to keep guarded. She grew up with a stutter that led to her being ostracized from the other kids, well except from the other outcast Kevin, who was obese. They ended up being each other's shoulder to cry on and their friendship evolved into a romance. As Kevin gets unhealthier, Emmaline tries to encourage him to make healthier life choices, this includes going to the gym. There Kevin meets an over the top trainer who shames and degrades but surprise, Kevin really digs this and decides Emmaline is part of his problem and dumps her two months before their wedding. Reeling from losing her bestfriend and having her life fall apart, Emmaline moves back to her grandmother's house that was left to her and chooses to pursue a life of protecting and serving as the town deputy. Things are going along good, if not for the pesky problem of still missing Kevin and the occasional rising up of the hurt he caused, when a wedding invitation shows up from Kevin and his lovingly abusive trainer. Emmaline decides she has to show up and a date is fast required. Enter Jack, the town white knight. Jack is such an incredibly nice guy, he's liable to give you a cavity. He is just coming off of saving a couple teenagers from a car in a lake, dealing with the guilt of not quite being able to save one of them, PTSD from the accident, and oh, hey, his ex-wife, who cheated on him, is back in town looking to reconcile. Jack, to say the least, is ready for a little vaca and so we have him agreeing to be Emmaline's date to the out of town wedding.
       
      As someone who didn't read the other books in the series, the beginning with all the mentions of the past characters was a little overwhelming; a lot of names are thrown the reader’s way. However, this doesn't last long as the story settles in and focuses more on Emmaline and Jack. This was a problem too as it was Emmaline and Jack, not Emmaline with Jack. There is a lot of story told in flashbacks with Emmaline and her ex-fiancé and Jack with his ex-wife. With that and then Emmaline's unresolved hurt, family issues, Jack with his PTSD, guilt, family issues, and semi-threatening things happening to him, there just wasn't a lot of time left for a romance between our two characters. I never felt exactly why they wanted to be together, well, besides the great sex, but as this is a pretty clean story, we never see that either. Our leads have some great banter but fairly lukewarm chemistry.
       
      The story was rather slow moving with a few redundant scenes, as I read an ARC copy, I hope this gets some editing as I think it would help bring Emmaline and Jack to the forefront more and alleviate some of the bogged down feeling the pace takes on. There are some great lines and the issues Emmaline and Jack deal with will hit home for a lot of people, it's just the romance aspect of the story gets lost in the all the clutter and the ending wound up feeling rushed.
       
      Even with all the complaints I leveled at this book, the author's writing is credible enough that if you are looking for a solid contemporary where romance isn't the main focus but rather two people dealing with their life issues, this would be worthy of a purchase. Others who have read the previous books in the series will probably enjoy Jack getting his happily ever after, also. For me, the occasional witty banter couldn't quite make up for all the other jumbled and imposing elements.

    • 3/5
      3.5 Stars

      This book... well Jack and Emmaline, weren't characters I had longed to read about.. I did have trouble enjoying their relationship.. The way Jack kept going to help his ex, bothered me, the way Emmaline was towards her ex bothered me, and the way Emmaline was towards Jack's ex.. was kinda hypocritical of her.. Granted Higgins did fix all this and gave me a nice HEA.. I just wished she'd fixed all that bothered me a wee bit sooner... just my opinion (hence the loss of a star for that)

      This story was full of emotions for me. I got all teary, and angry, and frustrated and happy.. it was all there, and in the right spots I am guessing.. so points to Higgins on that front. That doesn't happen often. I just wish I could have LOVED the characters more.. the choices they made just killed me sometimes. Still it was worth the read. This is the fourth book in the "Blue Heron" series and I look forward to more as I am still hoping Connor gets a story!
    • 3/5
      I am giving this three and half stars because for the most part it kept me entertained.

      Mostly I liked the main characters of Jack and Emmaline although there was something in the storytelling that kept me from really feeling like I knew them.

      I liked that Emmaline was faithful and loving to Kevin. It shows true loyalty, but years later, attending his wedding and she is all weird? I just don't get. How many times do you have to be kicked to get out of abusive relationships?

      In my mind there just wasn't enough Jack and Emmaline going on here. There were lots of flashbacks of Jack and Hadley and Emmaline and Kevin, but the Jack and Emmaline just seemed to be an appetizer on the menu.

      I felt like Emmaline's parents were stereotypes and Hadley for that matter was also a stereotype.

      With that said, there were some fun moments with Jack's sisters and some fun dialogue. Fortunately, Higgins let this heroine be free from the "must have funny curse word" curse.

      But, there was nothing even remotely resembling the sweet speech and wonderful sappiness of "Just One of the Guys."

      I hope that Higgins can re-find that charm of her earlier books. I imagine that it is hard to keep trying to put charm into situations and not give into cynicism. But her romantic leads really need to be together more so that it just doesn't feel like they are being slammed together for the sake of a story.
    • 4/5
      Diese und weitere Rezensionen findet ihr auf meinem Blog Anima Libri - Buchseele

      Hin und wieder lese ich ja wirklich verdammt gerne mal den einen oder anderen Chick Lit Roman - stupide, klischeebeladene Komödien, die alle nach Schema F funktionieren und vermutlich gerade deshalb so ein großes Potential haben, um als leichte, lockere Unterhaltung zu überzeugen. So auch bei Kristan Higgins "Lieber rundum glücklich als gar keine Kurven", das ich - trotz einiger eindeutiger Schwächen - voller Begeisterung in einem Rutsch durch gelesen habe.

      Während ihrer Highschoolzeit in LA waren Emmaline und Kevin stets die Außenseiter: Sie wegen ihres Stotterns, er wegen seines Übergewichts. Von der achten Klasse an sind sie erst Freunde, dann ein Paar und schließlich Verlobte - bis Em anfängt sich wegen Kevins stetig steigendem Gewicht ernsthaft Sorgen zu machen und ihn bitten, mit ihr ins Fitnessstudio zu gehen. Dort trifft er Naomi, Personal Trainerin á la The Biggest Loser und offenbar genau Kevins Typ, denn zwei Monate vor ihrer Hochzeit lässt er Em für Naomi sitzen. Also packt Emmaline ihr gesamtes Hab und Gut zusammen und wird Polizistin in der Kleinstadt, in der sie einige Jahre bei ihrer Großmutter gelebt hat.

      Auftritt Jack, der nette Junge von nebenan, Schwarm aller Frauen der Stadt und noch dazu ein echter Held. Und als Em eine Begleitung für die Hochzeit ihres Ex-Verlobten braucht, wird ihr Jack direkt von allen Seiten angepriesen - und ist auch sofort bereit mitzuspielen. Dummerweise hat er allerdings auch so einiges an Ballast und da sind seine drei schrecklich neugierigen Schwestern noch das geringste aller Probleme. Viel schlimmer sind wohl seine Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung und Hadley, seine Exfrau, die überraschend wieder in der Stadt auftaucht.

      Wer hier was mit wem anfangen wird, ist natürlich klar. Genau so klar ist auch, dass der Weg dahin kein einfacher wird, denn sonst hätte das Buch wohl kaum fast 500 Seiten. Allerdings wäre es meiner Meinung nach auch gut mit 100-200 Seiten weniger ausgekommen. Vor allem mit weniger Ex-Action! Denn während mir vor allem Emmaline ziemlich schnell sympathisch war, sind mir die ständigen Rückblenden zu ihrem Leben mit Kevin doch bald auf die Nerven gegangen. Genau wie Hadley, die einfach nur unausstehlich nervig ist, und Jack, der nichts besseres zu tun hat, als seinen Heldenkomplex an seiner Ex auszuleben - die natürlich auch gar nicht versucht das zu ihrem Vorteil auszunutzen.

      Ich denke, neben Em waren es vor allem die kunterbunten Nebenfiguren, die mich in den Bann dieses Buches gezogen haben. Denn auch wenn ich deren Konstellationen bis zum Schluss nicht so 100%ig durchschaut habe - da wäre es vielleicht ganz sinnvoll gewesen, erst die anderen drei Bände der Serie zu lesen, die Tatsache, dass es sich hier um eine Serie handelt, ist mir aber viel zu spät aufgefallen -, fand ich sie zu größten Teilen wahnsinnig sympathisch, gerade die Schwester, sowohl Jacks, als auch Ems und sogar Hadleys, haben mir sehr gut gefallen (ich wünsche mir definitiv eine Fortsetzung mit Angela oder Frankie als Hauptperson, für lesbische Chick Lit kann ich mich nämlich eindeutig noch mehr begeistern).

      Jack hingegen fand ich nicht allzu toll und die andauernden Passagen mit den Exen waren, wie schon gesagt, regelrecht schrecklich. Dass Em mit Kevin ihren besten Freund und ihre erste, große Liebe verloren hat, wäre mir auch ohne die regelmäßigen Rückblenden klar geworden und um zu zeigen, dass Naomi ein Miststück ist, das Ems sämtliche Komplexe aufflammen lässt, hätte sie ebenfalls nicht so viele Auftritte gebraucht. Und Hadley? Naja, die ist halt auch die ist halt auch der Grund, aus dem mir Jack nicht unbedingt sympathisch war, denn da sie völlig überzogen wirkt, tut das auch Jacks Verhalten ihr gegenüber - eine einstweilige Verfügung wäre da passender gewesen als diese ständigen Rettungen der Jungfer in Nöten.

      Trotzdem hat mir "Lieber rundum glücklich als gar keine Kurven" von Kristan Higgins eben doch ziemlich gut gefallen. Abgesehen von Jack und den Exen plus Anhang fand ich die Charaktere herrlich sympathisch und auch wenn ich bis zum Schluss Probleme hatte sie auseinander zu halten und richtig zuzuordnen, sorgen sie für viele humorvolle Situationen, dazu kommt ein sehr angenehmer Schreibstil (auch wenn ich einige Rechtschreibfehler entdeckt habe) und eine eigentlich ganz lustige, wenn auch teilweise an den falschen Stellen etwas zu sehr aufgeplusterte Geschichte - vielleicht lese ich Band 1-3, in denen u.a. zwei von Jacks Schwestern ihre große Liebe finden (denke ich zumindest), ja doch noch. Spätestens wenn Ms Higgins einen neuen Teil der Reihe schreibt, in dem eine der in diesem Roman mitspielenden Lesben die Hauptrolle bekommt, werde ich definitiv zum Fan dieser Serie ;)
    • 4/5
      Emmaline, now a small town cop, but once a childhood ugly duckling with a stutter, attends her ex-fiance's wedding with the very sympathetic town hulk. Nice story with touches of humor
    • 4/5
      Chose this book as a palate cleanser, so to speak, after listening to All the Light we Cannot See and The Dovekeepers. It worked! It was light and fluffy, but still interesting enough to keep my attention. I also liked the narrator - she read the story with a bit of humor added to her voice at all the right places. I have to comment on how many times and how many different ways the author needed to tell us that Jack Holland looked like a Greek god. I don't think that it is a spoiler to let out this bit of information as she tells us from the first moment he appears in the story and there after, every time he shows up! So, just be warned - he is very, very attractive!
    • 5/5
      Fantastic book, emotional and fun. Emmaline is a deputy in the Manningsport police department, where she moved after being dumped by her fiancé. Now that fiancé is getting married and Em has been invited. Going alone is definitely not an option, so she asks Jack to be her "plus one". Jack is a nice guy who loves women and helping them out, so he's happy to assist. It will also give him the chance to get away for awhile.Jack is fantastic, but he's got some things going on in his life that are wearing him down. A long time ago his mother died in a car crash and Jack has always felt bad that he wasn't there to help his sister who had been trapped in the car. So he has prided himself on being prepared for any emergency. A couple months earlier he witnessed a carload of teenagers drive off the road into the lake. He pulled all four out, but the fourth one is in a coma and Jack feels guilty for not being fast enough to save him too. The rest of the town is treating him as a hero and he hates it. Added to that, his beautiful but cheating ex-wife is back in town and it's obvious she wants him back. Em gives him the perfect excuse to get away.I loved Em. She's overcome a lot to get where she is. She had a terrible stutter when she was younger, making her a target for bullies. Both her parents are psychologists who talk a great game, but were never really there for her. The only friend she had in school was an overweight boy who was bullied also. When he was sent away to a boarding school, she talked her parents into letting her go live with her grandmother in New York. While she was there, her parents adopted another child, one who seemed perfect in every way. After school was done, Em moved back to California where she reconnected with her friend and they fell in love. Only, not long after they got engaged, he got on a fitness kick with a rabid trainer and suddenly Em was no longer what he wanted. Now she's back in New York and happy with her career and the friends she's made. Yes, she'd like to find that special someone, but she's going to be more careful this time. She certainly doesn't expect anything from gorgeous Jack except for a fun time at the wedding.I loved the romance between them. It started out as friendship, as is common in a small town like Manningsport. Jack likes Em a lot. They play on local sports teams together, she's got a sense of humor that he likes, and she hasn't been treating him weird like others have been. Em's had a bit of a crush on Jack, but just about every woman in town does. But she knows that she's nothing like the type of woman he should have (just look at his ex) so she has to be careful not to let herself get caught up in a fantasy. I loved seeing them at the wedding together. Jack is determined to make things easier on Em, especially after he sees the way she's treated by Kevin and his fiancée. The pool scene was terrific. He finds her really easy to be with. Em has really appreciated Jack's support throughout the wedding weekend. It just adds to the attraction she feels for him and is trying to fight. She also sees that the rescue of those boys is still haunting him, and is supportive without being weird about it. When a late encounter pushes them into bed together, Em figures it's a one time thing and tries to brush it off, but Jack wants more. Once they get back home, Jack keeps pursuing Em, but she's not making it easy on him. She's afraid to risk her heart again, feeling that losing Jack would crush her even more than her previous heartbreak. She also has the problem that every time they attempt to spend time together, something interferes, most often it's his ex-wife. There's a great scene that really shows the difficulties. He's finally talked her into going out, and her friends help her get ready. Em is a pretty down to earth type of gal, and they've talked her into fancy underwear. Her mental conversation with herself about that thong and what it's doing to her is hilarious. Then the ex shows up at the restaurant and is suddenly in hysterics over her cat, throwing herself at Jack and generally making a scene. And Jack is too nice a guy to tell her to leave him alone. He knows he's being manipulated, but he caves anyway. Em, of course, sees what's going on but isn't going to create a fuss, so she just walks away.There were so many times I wanted to shake Jack and tell him that he has to stand up to Hadley if he hopes to have anything with Em, but he has to see it himself. Em needed a bit of a kick herself, as she just can't seem to see what a terrific person she is. Jack tries to show her, but her insecurities run pretty deep. Things come to a head when Jack blames Em for something that wouldn't have been a big deal any other time. He says some things he shouldn't and has to deal with the fallout. Especially when Em lays some truth in front of him, including her feelings and why she feels they would never work. I wanted stand up and cheer for her. I loved the ending and seeing how everything finally came together for them.The secondary characters were fantastic. Of course, I loved seeing the couples from the previous books and how they're doing. It was fun to see the sisters and their relationships with Jack. I liked how he gave credit to them for how well he gets along with women. Em's ex-fiancé Kevin was a real trip. He started out nice, but once he met Naomi he turned into a total ass, and Naomi was worse. I felt like he redeemed himself a little bit at the end, but I'm pretty sure he can still be obnoxious. I loved Em's sister Angela. In spite of their beginning, they have a really good relationship. There was a really neat twist involving Angela that I thought was pretty funny considering what their parents thought about Em. Em's parents really bugged me with their psycho-babble but complete inability or unwillingness to act like parents. There's a little insight into her mother at the end that is actually pretty sweet, and funny too. The storyline with the fourth boy from the car was heartbreaking. It also showed that the boy wasn't the only victim of the crash. I felt so bad for Jack because of what he was going through. I liked seeing how it was shown that it isn't just military who can suffer from PTSD, and how hard it was as he tried to deal with it on his own. There was also a bit with the boy's girlfriend that also involved Em and her sensitivity to other people's feelings.
    • 4/5
      LOVE Kristan Higggins' books!
    • 5/5
      Emmaline's ex fiance is getting married. In Malibu. To a personal trainer. Half her size. Needless to say she's delighted. The last thing Emmaline wants to do is to show up dateless and be the talk of the wedding. Hell her own parents think that she's gay so what would complete strangers think? She needs someone to keep her company, maybe hold her hand, someone to help her create the image that she is, in fact, over her ex. That's where Jack comes in, he's always more than willing to help out where help is needed. The wedding comes at just the right time for Jack, he needs to get away from his town, his home, the constant hugs and congratulations, the free dinners and the over used word that bring up memories he just can't handle; hero. In Jack's eyes he isn't a hero, he's a failure, he waited his whole life to save someone and when he was finally presented with the opportunity he fell short. Together they make quite the pair, neither one is looking for a real relationship, after the wedding they'll go back home, Em will go back to patrolling the streets of Manningsport and Jack will go back to his families vineyard. But fate, or perhaps destiny has other ideas. I don't quite know where to begin with this review, I'll start with earlier today, I was looking for more of Kristan's books at the store today, this was the first one of hers that I've read and it turns out its part of a companion series. While looking over the shelves my sister asked what "In Your Dreams" was about and the quickest, easiest way for me to describe it was this. It's like all your favorite Hallmark movies rolled into one. It was so heartwarming. All the characters, whether they were main characters in previous books (which I am dying to read) or smaller, bit characters, where unbelievable lively and entertaining. I liked that it wasn't an average story about two people falling in love. Em wasn't pining away for a man to come into her life and sweep her off her feet. She was perfectly happy to live her life as she had been for the best couple of years. I liked that Jack had skeletons in his closet, even if one of those skeletons wore six inch Louis Vuitton heels and spoke like a true southern belle. I loved how I never got bored with the back story and the flashbacks never felt like too much. It was all seamless and each piece of the puzzle had a purpose. "In Your Dreams" is a refreshing, captivating and satisfying read, from beginning to end. I loved every second. Until next time, Ginger In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. My review is my honest opinion.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! I don’t remember ever feeling or wanting to describe the contemporary romance novel that I was reading as a page-turner but the description of a page-turner definitely fits this novel perfectly. I don’t think there’s any woman – single or married – that can’t absolutely relate to being single and needing a date to go to an out-of-town wedding and wanting that guy to be have the best of qualities as you go through the events of the weekend [e.g. a people person that can hold his own in conversation in case you need to leave him with a group of people while you run to the ladies room; a heartthrob (and by that we mean = description by Kristan Higgins); a thoughtful guy that will understand when you need some humor to distract you; a guy that will understand when you need some space and when you need a listener. And in this novel, not only does Emmaline Neal need a date to go to an out-of-town wedding but the groom is her ex-fiancé and the bride is bridezilla – “the woman” her ex-fiancé chose over her. Now Emmaline doesn’t only need a guy as I described with the best of qualities, she needs the perfect guy.

      There is a local heartthrob named Jack Holland who meets all the qualities Emmaline could want to be her date but he’s suffering from PTSD after a recent night when he was at the right place at the right time and became a local hero. Jack is so busy trying to be the perfect guy for all the members of his family, his friends, and even his ex-wife that he’s in definite denial of his own suffering. Will Jack be able to be the man that Emmaline needs if only for a weekend? Will Emmaline be able to look beyond her own fears and be the person that can get through to Jack when he’s not even willing to admit that he has fears of his own? Will Emmaline and Jack survive a wedding weekend together and can they return home as though the weekend never happened?

      Kristan Higgins is a dearly loved person and author for so many reasons. But one of the best reasons is that when you see the name Kristan Higgins or start reading one of Kristan Higgins’s books you absolutely know without a shadow of doubt that you’re going to have some fun! Whether you’re reading her comments on Facebook or reading one of her books, you’re in the midst of everyday situations that face us all – the balance of work and play, play and work, our inner perceptions of the “me” we should portray to family, friends, and community, our inner thoughts of who we really are, the actual reality that everyone sees, and the everyday moments that happen during an ordinary day or at a special event such as an ex-fiancé’s out-of-town wedding weekend. The conversations will be lively and fun with giggles and laughter. The serious moments will be there too but they are subtle not preachy like learning a lesson from a favorite teacher or mentor. The characters will experience emotions that every reader can relate to and best of all, the range of emotions are shared with an insightful honesty and transparency that allows the reader to experience the feelings of the characters, perhaps remember a time in their life when something similar happened to him/her, perhaps give him/her a gentle reminder that when a loved one, friend, parent, or child is going through something similar that there could be a different response – maybe this time the reader will remember Emmaline and Jack, Jack’s family, Kevin and Naomi, and even Hadley and respond in their own lives with humor, understanding and love. Thank you Kristan Higgins for reminding us all each day that when we see the humor in life, we find joy in simple pleasures, and delight in sharing kindness, thoughtfulness, understanding, empathy, compassion, and love with everyone that we are blessed to have in our lives.

      I was lucky enough to receive a pre-publication copy of this title as part of the Goodreads First Reads Program.