Unfortunately, I was unable to read this book due to a formatting issue.

My review is based on the blurb.

I haven't read any of Lauren Westwood's other books but will definitely be after this one. I loved the storyline and setting. The characters were constructed beautifully. This book is thoroughly enjoyable

I haven't read any of Lauren Westwood's previous books and was surprised just how much I enjoyed this book. It was well written with fantastic characters who I could easily identify with - I really felt for Lizzie and loved Connie her fabulous mother-in-law, along with a great cast of supporting characters. I loved the location of the story set in an old house, Tanglewild, which sounds beautiful and the idea of the film crew using the house as a location. I really loved the book within the story too. The book has a refreshingly different original storyline.

A heartwarming story of new beginnings, inner strength, family and finding happiness. I thoroughly recommend this great book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Evelyn


Reviewed for www.buriedunderromance.com
FINDING DREAMS by Lauren Westwood is an intriguing story-within-a-story. The author artfully weaves a true-life mystery together with the mystery in a book, and the results is a compelling page turner suitable for all audiences.
Lizzie Green thought she had it all: a loving husband, two children and a beautiful old house on a lake just outside London. When her husband suddenly dies, however, she learns that he wasn’t the man she thought he was. Saddled with an immense amount of debt and the real possibility of losing her home, she goes back to work and also agrees to allow a film crew to use her home as the location for the movie version of “The Lady’s Secret”, a book by best-selling author Phillipa King.
As filming begins, Lizzie begins to realize that not all is as it seems. It appears that the selection of her home (Tanglewild) was tied to a long-ago mystery, and that a couple of the key players in the movie had a connection to her home that lead them back. As the secrets begin to unfold, Lizzie realizes that there is danger that comes with the intrigue and glamour of movie stars and movie making, and there is also the real risk that she may be falling in love again.
The characters in FINDING DREAMS are strong and well-written, especially the lead character Lizzie. Faced with numerous set-backs and disappointments, she is fierce in her determination to do what it takes to provide for her family and save her home. She is supported by her in-laws, quirky free-spirits who at first seem adversarial but soon prove to be supportive. Her young children are realistic and loveable.
Phillipa King, the author in the book, is a larger than life character. Lizzie is a fan and is excited, at first, to have her in her home. It is unclear at first, however, which of the many interesting male characters will become her potential love interest: an arrogant, self-involved actor; a friendly, helpful production assistant; the stubborn, dictatorial director; or her new boss who definitely has more than just a professional interest in Lizzie. The romance develops rather slowly so don’t expect a lot of fireworks, but the pace seems appropriate for the story.
As the movie making progresses and the real-life mysteries unfold, the reader is also treated to excerpts from the movie book,
“The Lady’s Secret” and the mysteries unfolding there. The stories soon become entwined, leading to the compelling conclusion. All in all, a well-written story, well worth the time.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book.

Wow, I loved this book. I wish that it was available in audio format. I did check out the one book on audible by Lauren Westwood, and I found that out of the two, that one was good, but this is my favorite.
Lizzie, who is the main character, finds out her husband died. That is not the worst part of it. She learns that he had a secret life. She is so far in debt, that she does not know what to do. Should she give up the beautiful, old house that she and her two children have come to love, or should she remain there until the bank kicks her out.
She is bound and determined to keep the house, go back to work, and take care of the children. She gets a letter in the mail saying that her house is being looked at for the filming of a movie, and will she contact them to let her know she is interested.
They start filming the movie at her house, and her life is thrown into more chaos. By the time that they are done filming the movie, her life, and that of her children will change for the better.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable read and I enjoyed the many twists and turns. The parallels of a book within a book where nicely done. Some of the later dramatic scenes reminded me of one of those silent movies where characters are in terrible danger and it's a will they won't they moment and drama almost turns into farce. In fact, the high drama of it all took me out of the story. All in all a good read.

I really enjoyed this funny, sensitive and mysterious book. The story had a lot of characters in but they were all so unique it was easy to follow, and I thought the setting and the film crew idea was really clever. The older mystery intertwined with the romance was a pleasing mix and added a extra layer of interest.

This is a wonderful read with great location,, characters and a charming rambling old house as the focus. A husband passes away and his dirty secrets come to light. Fighting impending debt his wife and children open their old house to a movie crew hoping to make enough money to hang on to the house. The house has its own history and secrets that weave into the story. This is a well crafted story that is engaging and sweet.
This is charming and sweet story of a widow working through grief, betrayal and hard times. I loved this book and the resilience of this family to overcome their difficulties.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

When Lizzie 's husband dies she finds out that as well as being a liar and a cheat he has left her up to her ears in debt, desperate to keep her head above water she decides to let her quirky old house to a film company as the set for their new film. Soon she is overrun with directors, authors, film stars and crew...... has she done the right thing and will she find someone to move on with?

Another lovely book by this author, as always great characters, storyline and setting which draws you in from the start

I have been completely surprised and blown away by this story, it drew me in right from the very beginning and kept me truly captivated throughout, right to the very shocking outcome as the story concluded.

I loved the setting of the story, Tanglewild sounds truly alluring and beautiful. It was all so very well written, and the characters were all such a delight, getting to know them. I truly felt for Lizzie and all that she had to combat, go through and the challenges that kept coming her way. I adored the characters Jammie and little Jack.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books by this author.

There is nothing better than losing yourself in a good book and if you are looking for a superb tale packed with drama, emotion, secrets, fun, romance and intrigue, then you are simply going to adore Lauren Westwood’s enjoyable and enthralling new novel, Finding Dreams.

Lizzie Greene’s life is turned upside down when her husband dies and she learns that not only was he a liar and a cheat, but that he has also amassed so much death that destitution is about to become a reality for her and her family. Desperate and determined to keep the wolf from the door and a roof over their heads, Lizzie is prepared to do anything to ensure the minimum amount of anguish and financial despair and when she hits on the idea to allow her quirky old house to be used as a film set, Lizzie thinks that she has found the perfect solution. However, little does she realise that she is about to let through her door a plethora of complications that might make her regret her decision.

The filming of Phillipa King’s latest blockbuster romance, The Lady’s Secret, will compel Lizzie and her family to come face to face and encounter an enigmatic author, a gorgeous location scout, a Byronic director and a handsome leading man who certainly put the cat among the pigeons – not to mention Lizzie’s mother in law who has decided to camp out in her drive for the duration of the filming. There is certainly plenty of drama and excitement – not to mention stress during filming of The Lady’s Secret – however Lizzie cannot shake off this feeling that everything is not quite as it seems about the book that is being adapted into a film in her house…

With a burgeoning romance on the horizon, could Lizzie be about to get a second chance at happiness? Or is she about to get more strife than she ever imagined?

Lauren Westwood has written a compulsively readable, charming, seductive and spellbinding contemporary women’s fiction novel that I found absolutely impossible to resist. Her characterization is superb, her writing crisp and compelling and her ability to tell a riveting story absolutely first class. Finding Dreams is a wonderful story that will make you laugh and cry and make you want to read every single thing this talented storyteller has ever written.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the excerpts from The Lady’s Secret and think that Lauren Westwood should publish it as a novel and seriously consider writing historical romance as she’s certainly got the knack for it.

Finding Dreams is an enchanting and engrossing read that I highly recommend and, if you have not yet read Lauren Westwood’s books, then what on earth are you waiting for?

Tanglewild is not just any house. It's a very old, very big house full of secrets and atmosphere. What would you do if your husband passed away suddenly and you had to try and move on with debts and two young children? That's the situation Lizzie Greene finds herself in.
Despite everything, she cannot bear to part with the huge rambling house which she and her husband David bought as a home years ago.

When the house is spotted by a film crew, her hopes soar- could this be the answer to her being able to keep her beloved Tanglewild? We meet some pretty interesting characters in this book as well as Lizzie's ex-mother-in-law who has parked her large silver caravan in Tanglewild's driveway for the forseeable future.....

We get a glimpse into how Lizzie and her children learn to deal with the sudden loss of a husband and father, and are witness to frustration, fear hurt and pain. As the film crew moves in, we see hope and promise. Will the book Lizzie is reading and Tanglewild's secrets help Lizzie and her children move on?

This book was written in an original style, and the story-within-a-story letting us get an insight into how Lizzie attempts to deal with her grief, and provides an element of mystery to the plot.

Thanks to Aria, an imprint of Head of Zeus, for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Compelling, poignant, and uplifting!

Finding Dreams is an entertaining, heartwarming read about letting go of the past, accepting the things you can’t change, forgiving, surviving, taking chances, and moving on!

The writing style is engaging and creative. The characters are reluctant, troubled, and lovable, including the quirky, old Tanglewild, which is a character itself with its landscape, history, and multitude of secrets. And the plot, using a story within a story, is an intriguing, mysterious tale about life, loss, heartache, infidelity, friendship, family, romance, and the crazy world of movie making.

Finding Dreams, overall, is a delightfully charming tale that is heartfelt and genuine and reminds us that good things can happen if you believe in yourself, stay openminded, and be excited for whatever comes next.

I really liked the sound of this book when I was invited to be part of the blog tour, but it’s even better than the blurb suggests.

It grabs you right from the start. There’s Lizzie just having an ordinary day, slightly hassled in the supermarket, when a phonecall changes her whole life.

I loved the characters, Lizzie was particularly likeable, she really triumphs over adversity. Her ex-mother in law was both formidable and funny! When she turned up first I thought I wasn’t going to like her, but by the end of the book I loved her. The cast and crew of the film were excellent, all such different characters.

The plot is wonderful. There’s the human side of Lizzie’s story, the fascinating insight into the world of film, and a back story of the book that the film is based on. There’s both romance and mystery, and the plot just draws you in. It’s a very well rounded book.

The setting was magical. I could picture her quirky and fascinating house and it’s surroundings perfectly. It was so atmospheric and really made the story.

A story full of twists and turns, captivating and absorbing. I loved it.

Lizzie's life changes overnight from normal to tragic when her husband dies suddenly, leaving her and the children grief-stricken when fate deals her another blow. Her husband had a secret life tainting her memories of their life together and facing debts that threaten their family home.
Lizzie is a great character, and facing more than her share of life's woes, you have to empathise. Her one asset the family home is historical and striking and is scouted for a film, which brings an eclectic cast of characters, humour and poignant scenes worthy of any Hollywood film. The vivid setting and believable plot make this imaginable and readable, although the romance's course is predictably choppy, it is lighthearted and hopeful. An easy to read writing style keeps you turning the pages with just enough conflict and surprises right to the end, it an enjoyable read. I received a copy of this book from Aria Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Oh my flipping goodness - what an opening!! As soon as I started to read the first chapter, I had no idea what was going to be in store for me as the story progressed. Lizzie had just been hit by one of the biggest curveballs in her life (and unfortunately, not the last either!). How is she going to move on with her life with two young children; a life which has been based on more lies than an episode of Jeremy Kyle? You would be made of ice if you didn't at least show some empathy towards Lizzie and her situation!

I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of 'Finding Dreams', with some pages warming my heart a lot more than others. Lizzie's two children are unbelievably cute. I just wanted to pick up the youngest and give him a big cuddle, so when Lizzie's ex mother in law came back on the scene and started, in my opinion, sticking her nose in, my hackles went up and I found myself becoming extremely irate at what was coming out of her mouth in regards to that little boy. Maybe I was being over sensitive, or maybe it was because I had had similar comments made to me when my little girl was the same age. I don't know. Either way, it got to me. I also thought she patronised Lizzie a lot too and, even though Lizzie seemed to be rather accommodating towards the end, I did feel like she was letting her ex MIL walk all over her without standing up for herself. I mean, Lizzie was perfectly capable to tell someone else that she wasn't happy with something, why not tell the monster in law as well?

What I loved most about this book was how it had a little story within the fictional story itself. Confused? Don't be! I spent a lot of timing wishing that Lauren Westwood would publish the novel within the novel, as her next book - I was rather hooked! It was so different and so engaging, I couldn't help but be transfixed by what I was reading.

Having read Lauren Westwood's previous novels (and loved them, obviously), I have to say that even though the author had set the bar incredibly high for herself, she blew the bar out of the water where this book was concerned. In my eyes, 'Finding Dreams' is Lauren Westwood's book yet. Everything about the storyline was magnetic, majestic, and utterly moreish. Okay, the romance section was a little predictable, BUT, because the rest of the storyline was very strong and full of guts, thankfully it didn't lower my opinion of the overall book.

I loved how the author chose a unique route with her book, how she didn't get confused by the endless flow of characters, I do not know - how impressive!

'Finding Dreams' is full to the brim of everything anyone could ever want from a contemporary fiction novel, and more. A cleverly crafted storyline, rock solid characters, and enough drama to rival the biggest soap opera on T.V just now - seriously, what more could you want?

This book may be called 'Finding Dreams', but it is safe to say that I had found my dream book in this. Absolutely brilliant! Now, how is Ms.Westwood going to top this with her next novel? To be honest, I have a lot of faith that she will blow the bar out of the water once again.

A really stunning novel of romance and mystery alongside traumatic life changing events. Thoroughly enjoyable and different.

When Lizzie loses her husband she discovers that the life she thought she had is all an illusion and she is in danger of losing everything. When she receives a letter through the door, maybe her life is about to change for the better.

She decides to allow a film company to use her beautiful house for their latest film and then her life is a whirl of meeting the writer, directors and actors and the promise of a romance is in the air.

The house itself was in need of some tender loving care and I loved the fact that she was keen for her house to be given a blank canvas- so that she then had the chance to make a fresh start for her family.

I loved all the characters- especially her mother-in-law who turns up in a huge silver caravan with her second husband and actually becomes a huge support to Lizzie. She's a bit of a free spirit with a heart of gold.

The history of the house is linked with the people connected with the film and little threads of the past reveal themselves and you wonder what else will become part of the story.

I fell in love with the house- although the idea of letting my home out to a film crew (as if that would ever happen!) doesn't appeal at all!

Lizzie Greene has just lost her hsband, as if that is not enough she finds out he has left her with so much debt she might lose her home. As a single parent with two children to care for she wants to hold on to her home, so it seems like fate when she finds a letter saying her home could be used in a film.
This is interwoven with the plot from the film itself, and as the film crew descend on the house, secrets are revealed.
There is a great mix of chracters, including the mother in law Connie, and film director Luke, along author Phillipa.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publishers for this review copy, given in exchange of an honest review. Also thank you to Melanie from Aria for organising the Blog Tour!

Lizzie Greene’s life is suddenly turned upside down when one day she receives a phone call from her husband’s PA telling her that he has died. Not just having to contend with the grief of losing her husband and facing bringing her two young children up on her own, she then discovers that her husband was not the man she though he was, and he has left her on the verge of bankruptcy with huge debts and unpaid insurance policies. She has no idea how she is going to survive financially and contemplates putting her old ‘quirky’ house up for sale. Lizzie resigns herself to the fact that she is going to lose her home until she has interest from a property scout to use her house in a film based on a bestselling romance novel. Will this be the answer to her problems, or will it bring more problems in its wake?

My first book by this author and I started this book with the opinion that it was going to be a really sad book. It does begin sad with the death of Lizzie’s husband, which she finds out about whilst in the queue at Tesco’s. It then gets sadder when she finds out he’s a cheat and a liar and has left her and their children financially destitute. My heart broke for Lizzie to read of her being in such an awful situation. The story then begins to lose its sadness a little when Lizzie begins to realise that to survive this she needs to rent out her house to a film company who are filming an adaptation from a bestselling romance novel.

The story is interspersed with chapters from the book that the film is based on – “The Lady’s Secret”. I have to admit I skipped over these chapters. I understand that they were in the book to give the back story of the house but I didn’t feel that they were really necessary. All the characters were interesting and likeable, although some lesser than others! I loved Lizzie’s mother in law, Connie. She bought a comedic element into the book and when she first arrived, caravan in tow, I thought she was going to cause so much trouble for Lizzie!

A heart-warming story with so many different morals – don’t always trust the ones you love, you’re stronger than you think and you can find happiness again to name but a few! It held my attention throughout the whole book and it was a much more light-hearted book than I initially though it would be. I would definitely recommend this book and will certainly be looking out for more by this author.