Bold Street Books has a winner in Melissa Brayden. Beautiful Dreamer, (to be) published July 16, 2019, is fabulous! I love the characters and the story lines. Elizabeth is a sweet, gullible and extremely intelligent, positive and fun small town girl. She runs her own small business and looks at everyday life with a smile and gusto. Devyn grew up in different circles in the same small town but ran off to make her fortune in the big city as soon as she was able. Devyn’s sister Jill is in a terrible car accident which brings Dev back home to the small town where she and Elizabeth form a friendship. Dev is so wrapped up in her career that she has zero personal life and well, has forgotten the things in life that truly matter.

Brayden has won me over with her writing and I am looking forward to the next story by her. Actually she has quite a few of them already that I need to read! Highly recommend this sweet and fun lesbian romance!

Devyn is a high powered real estate agent in Philly. But, when something happens to her sister, she gets pulled home to South Carolina.

Unlike Devyn, Elizabeth stayed in town and made a life for herself including a gig company On the Spot. She is there when Devyn comes to the Sheriff's Office looking for her sister and they connect and start the back and forth in their relationship and there was a lot of back and forth.

Unfortunately, while I liked 3/4ths of the book, at the end, no- just no, no. All of a sudden the facts about Devyn are horrible and everything is somehow her fault. Even just wanting to have a career or money is somehow bad/evil? I mean, I get that these days you're evil if you say out loud that you'd like to make some money, but, the end of the book was so absurdly one sided that it made me sad.

I really did like the first 3/4ths of the book, but, the last 1/4th really just sapped the joy from the novel.

I received this book via Netgalley thanks to Bold Strokes Books.

This is really good, y'all. It's a feel good romance with leads that have their hearts in the right place, but just don't always know how to express themselves, and a wonderful group of side characters that help round out a wonderful cast. The setting is perfect, as the town of Dreamer's Bay feels like its own character at times. I also thought the pacing was just perfect; giving the leads enough time to get to know each other before they hop into bed with each other. It's a perfect slow burn that gives enough time for the simmer before the romance actually takes off, which is right up my alley.

Speaking of the leads, Devyn and Elizabeth are perfect. They each are genuinely good people, even though what drives them is different in the beginning, they both realize that they have way more in common with each other than not. It feels like Devyn had the most growth in her, as she seems to change a lot from the beginning of the book, but she's still as driven to do well in her profession by the end of the book... just on a smaller scale. Elizabeth, doesn't change all that much from when we are introduced in the beginning of the book, but there's some surprising depth there that just gives an already sweet book just that bit of extra meaning.

With some beautiful locales, great side characters, and steamy sex scenes, this already was set up to be a wonderful romance, however the charming leads and their chemistry made this a top notch read. I couldn't wait to see what the characters would say or do next, and Braydon's quippy and imaginative writing just makes it more engaging. Super great read, and one of my favorites for this year.

Every time a Melissa Brayden book is heading to the bookstores I make sure to get my hands on it as quickly as possible. Her books are not to be missed by any fan of feelgood romance between two ladies.

This book did not disappoint, the main characters were super likable and I found myself connecting to them quickly, the supportive cast are people you either have or would like to have in your life. It reminded me of her book Strawberry Summer with the small town setting, easy going living and friendly neighbors.

The romance between Devyn, an all work-no-play,emotionally closed off broker from Dreamer's Bay who has made it big in Philadelphia and Elizabeth, who stayed in the town all her life and is a perky, upbeat and very warm person, is satisfying. Thrown together by a tragedy at the start of the book, the pace was realistic and the conflict was to be expected. I could understand both parties and the aftermath was believable time-wise. The other side of that coin is that I did think the end of the book felt a little bit rushed with the writer leaping over big spaces of time which is why, for me, the re-connection of the characters was less satisfying than the first part of the book.

All in all though another good book from Melissa Brayden, if you like her other books don't hesitate to pick this one up!

Enjoyable read with interesting characters. Elizabeth Draper, what a wonderful and warm person that you hope will find a long-term loving relationship. Devyn Winters, quite the work-a-holic, not understanding that there is more to life than working and making money. People and relationships are so much more valuable and important. This read with a focus on social class, family, friendships, and appreciating the people around you made me smile and think about some of the same issues both characters were experiencing. I also enjoyed the small town setting and the secondary characters.

This is the story of:

Elizabeth Draper, a jack of all trades, owner of "On The Spot", a service she provides to the townsfolk, running errands, walking dogs, doing small repairs in their homes, and yes, even helping with dance lessons. Elizabeth is quite a "people person" and she was schoolmates with...

...Devyn Winters, snooty real estate broker in Philadelphia who is apparently happy to have escaped Dreamer's Bay, a place she considered dreary and too small. She is the sister of...

...Jill Winters, an elementary teacher in Dreamer's Bay, South Carolina a tiny town between Wilmington and Hilton Head.

Jill Winters goes missing after a karaoke night with her friends at a local bar. After a few hours have passed with no sign of Jill, Elizabeth calls Devyn in Philadelphia to tell her that her sister is missing. Devyn jumps on a plane, leaving several huge real estate deals behind to help look for her sister. And that's where the story takes off!

With the passage of time and some really, really enjoyable dialog, Elizabeth and Devyn become attracted to each other, but Devyn doesn't believe she could ever leave Philadelphia and her multi-million dollar real estate business to again live in Dreamer's Bay, a little town she once found boring.

This is the first book I've read from this author, but I am looking forward to reading others in her collection.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Brayden books are one of those releases you mark in your calender, i am a big fan of hers and this book did not dissapoint!

It starts so damn exciting with the disappearance of a sister, pulls you in with its charmig little town and its activities that makes you dream of such a place to live in, makes you unable to put down the book with the schmexy story of Devyn and Elizabeth cause haaaawt damn and also awwww feelings.. you know that purrfect mix that makes hopeless romantics like myself just swoon

If this is a book you are thinking about reading then yes YES do it!

I will pretty much read anything that Melissa Brayden writes. This was a solid book. It won't become my favorite by her, but it was well written and sweet.

Every book doesn't need to have crazy conflicts or coincidences. Everything about the story made sense and progressed normally. I could actually see this happening in real life. Sometimes I have a hard time picturing a story playing out in real life, but this wasn't one of them.

Both of the mains were enjoyable and they worked well together. Another plus was that the secondary characters were well written.

I do wish that communication issues (or no communication) weren't conflicts at the end. For someone who is so assertive I didn't necessarily feel like Dev would ghost Liz even if she was feeling overwhelmed. Some of the ending was a little predictable but compared to the rest of the book I can't gripe too much.

This is a sweet, feel-good read.

A Nice Read!
Another well written book by Melissa Brayden. Similar to Strawberry Summer (my favorite of Ms. Brayden's books - yes I saw that Carrington's department store reference!), the setting of this book is a small town where life is simple and everyone knows each other. Elizabeth, a kind hearted woman who enjoys the simple things in life reconnects with Devyn, who is very driven and thrives in a fast-paced world. Could Devyn survive and appreciate small-town life?
I enjoyed reading this story because it explored how 2 people with completely different approaches to life could have an influence on each other and how they approach life. While Elizabeth's approach to life was refreshing, I must say that on a few occasions (based some of the things she did or said), I found myself asking "how old is Elizabeth again"?
Overall, the main characters are well developed which makes it an enjoyable read!

Like every Melissa Brayden book I've read, this did not disappoint. As always, the biggest draw of the book is the characters. The main characters were very well written and likable. Each character had a unique personality, including the secondary characters, and they stay faithful to their established personality the whole way through.

The story was very engaging as well. I found myself laughing often at the humor and I even teared up a couple of times, especially near the end of the book. The ending as well felt very believable. The characters had to work a bit for their happy ending without everything falling into place too neatly.

When one has read all the books written by an author one can’t help but compare them. I place all of Brayden’s books in one category except Strawberry Summer (SS) which is exceptional and in a completely different league. The latter reminds me of the quality of writing the author is capable of producing. Beautiful Dreamer comes closest to SS in its treatment. It’s believable — slow burns usually are; all the characters, important and otherwise, are complete human beings; the dialogues are realistic; and the humour is refreshing.

The set-up is quite similar to SS. Two small town girls – one in love with the town, the other escaping it. The book also has a Gilmore Girls feel to it, with the abundance of festivals and typical small town characters. It all adds to the charm of the narration.

Though it’s hard to accuse Brayden of not bringing in enough emotion to a story, the end does feel a little deficient in that respect. One of the protagonists’ speech in the end seems a bit forced, perhaps because there isn’t enough detail about how she is feeling in that moment while saying all those things. Even when the lovers finally reconcile, the moment demands a more emotionally charged reconciliation (a hug, tears, for instance) rather than a sexually charged one. The sex should’ve come in a little later.

A note to the publisher: There were a few annoying typos like ‘“piece” of mind’, which I hope will be taken care of in the final publication.

Melissa Brayden does it again with this novel. Going back to hometown(s) is a familiar premise in lesbian fiction and Brayden's execution is not original but enjoyable.

The two characters are entertaining extremes and whilst their connection doesn't always seem genuine, it somehow works.

Melissa Brayden created a perfect small town Southern slow burn romance in beautiful Dreamers Bay, South Carolina. This well written book had a little bit of everything including wonderful main and secondary character development, a tragic event that draws the main characters of Elizabeth and Devyn together, a cute dog, angst and stife, romance, hot chemistry, and witty dialogue. I'd highly recommend reading this book. 5 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Melissa Brayden has done it again!! I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end!! Devyn and Elizabeth went through school together in a small town on the coast of South Carolina. Elizabeth stayed and created her own business doing “on the spot” jobs for the townsfolk of Dreamer’s Bay while Devyn went as fast and far away building a life is in Philly selling commercial real estate. Devyn came back to Dreamer’s Bay when he sister went missing and Elizabeth’s caring nature and superior organizational skills were the reason Jill was found. Elizabeth and Devyn were complete opposites yet complimented one another perfectly. Elizabeth was probably one of the nicest and kindest literary characters I’ve ever encountered. Their relationship from more than friends developed naturally and was truly believable. I loved the main characters as well as all of the supporting characters in this book. While some may say this is simply a book about a women coming back home ( which has been done hundreds of times), it’s so much more than that and Melissa Brayden’s amazing humor, romance, and quirkiness shines through in this. Thank you Melissa for another amazing read!!

Hey Melissa: What is up with you NAILING almost every single book you put out there ?? Woman, do you ever disappoint??
Now my review :) ok so this one was UNBELIEVABLY good! What a BRILLIANT, WONDERFUL, ROMANTIC book!
The 2 MCs were so adorable together.. Elizabeth is a ray of sunshine while Devyn is so badass .. this combination worked for me and I fell in love with their chemistry and how their relationship developed throughout the story.
This book I think is one of the longest I’ve read by this author, and the most interesting part is that I didn’t even want it to end.
There’s actually not a single thing that I disliked about this book. It’s full of love and just the right amount of angst. Even that town where the MCs lived, I want to visit it one day and attend their festivals and eat the fried Twinkie’s :)
Melissa Brayden has a talent, she makes you connect so much with the characters and the setting that you actually end up even having a connection with Scout the dog!
This is a very solid 5 for me and I highly recommend it ! Thank you miss Brayden for putting a smile on my face :)
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”

Another excellent book by Melissa Brayden. A small town slow burn romance, very heavy on the romance :)

'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'The principle of true storytelling is not to portray but to evoke..I have found that a really good story leaves a deeper impression when it is impossible to tell which side the writer is on..'

'BEAUTIFUL DREAMER' is a romantic love story with the dynamics of family, friendship and a neighborhood -- offering both a penetrating and exquisite portrayal of authentic intimacy,physical & emotional longings,angst,heartache and the solvable or unresolvable issues surrounding a relationship that might end up being a threat to destroy or saving it.
Readers will come to discover on these pages that true Love is found in an unexpected place between a number of unmindful individuals. They will also encounter a slowly developing romance that might persevere through distance, status, patience and family trauma etc.
For the two leading characters, carrying us the overzealous readers on their roller coaster beginning from being standoffish, excited, engaging and then that anticipation of courtship to that deep connection of genuine commitment.
This storyline also did reveal the fractious and remarkable journey that their relationship took even with an enrichment of chemistry and that drive of soul searching on what or who was the most important to either.
With all that other reviewers have said and will say I will add that Melissa Brayden has written a long list of exceptional books so for all interested readers, 'BEAUTIFUL DREAMER' is just another one of her masterpiece.

Melissa Brayden has yet to disappoint. Another excellent book which I read in "one go." I only took a break because I had to go to work. A small town, with character full people, old friends, and the past coming back. The romance between Elizabeth and Devyn grows slowly but steadily. With a burst of angst in the end. A great read for the summer.

*****Some Spoiler in this review*****
I won't recap the story sine other reviewers have done that...I'll just let you know that this is classic Melissa Brayden. I love that her women characters are strength personified. In this case, Elizabeth was a sweetheart and owned it. She loved being happy and saw the good in everyone and was not afraid to show it. But in the end, when Devyn hurt her, she didn't just bend over backwards and thank her lucky stars that Devyn realized that she was indeed worthy. Melissa Brayden was able to have the characters relatable and they are always likeable. I loved the book!

Falling in love in a small town.

Devyn is a work-a-holic real estate broker in Philadelphia. She left Dreamer's Bay behind for bigger and better things. Elizabeth is Dreamer's Bay's sweetest resident. She couldn't imagine anyone not loving it in the small town. An incident requires Devyn to return, and the two women end up spending time together. As they become closer, Elizabeth will have to deal with her growing feelings when she knows that Devyn is not there to stay.

This starts off exciting as we are taken on a bit of a mystery and grass roots investigation. It's not for long, but it certainly made a great way to begin the story. From this incident, we get a glimpse of who the main characters are in this story. Devyn is uptight and a bit snobby. Elizabeth is down to earth and a bit quirky.

Brayden sure knows how to build a relationship from 'no way' to 'meant to be.' She takes the time with lots of interactions and cute moments that literally light the characters up on page. Plus, she writes adorable leading ladies. Who could not have a big old crush on Elizabeth Draper? Ever the positive, kind, and dorky woman of Dreamer's Bay. Sigh.

But this was not just a light and breezy romance. There was quite a bit of depth as it dealt with abandonment and being closed off to love. There was a bit of family drama and facing lightweight bullies. The growth of both Devyn and Elizabeth was an awesome journey to go on with them.

The best part of this book was the angst and having to overcome mistakes. I had watery eyes for the last 20% of the book, I believe. This was unique in that there isn't just a speedy happy ending. And it was really satisfying to see some work toward happily ever after. Especially when it was called for.

Overall, this was a great love story. Cute and likable characters. Fun outings. Swoon worthy flirty banter.

I recommend this to everyone. Friends with benefits, romance, abandonment, bullies, priorities, small towns, second chances, courting, and corn hole.