This was a good one. I liked the aloha males and enjoyed them watching out for their women. There were a couple things that bothered me. There were way too many characters in this book to keep up with all of them. And there were particular phrases that were repeated way too often

I’m a long time fan of KA and probably re read my favourites from her throughout the year more than any other author I enjoy. That said, unfortunately I was ultimately a fan of this book. It started really well but before I knew it I found myself skimming. I recently purchased and read Dream Spinner and it maybe a case of the series not being a good fit for me.

The writing style was not for me. I know this is the start of a new series and I don't believe the MCs have been introduced on any of her previous books, but I felt like I was missing something because of a so many references to this side character or past event and could tell there was a whole world already built that I didn't understand.

Thanks to Forever for my copy to review.

I honestly don’t know where to begin with Ashley’s Dream Maker. About a quarter of the way through, I was looking forward to my snarky review, but having slogged through it (not an easy feat), I’m too tired for snark. This romance has much good to say about tossing off the bad and embracing the good (I can behind the themes), but it says it so badly. If romance had manga, Ashley’s would be it: caricatured characters, thoroughly one-dimensional. Her characters remind of those Hallowe’en suits, like a Superman one, you “blow up” and get puffy muscles. There’s a kind of breezy, down-to-earth, working-class tone to the novel and characters I found entertaining maybe for ten pages and then, the repetition, the language (woman are “bitches”, “shit” is always going down) and everyone speaks like wound-up comic-book characters. Maybe this novel turns some readers’ crank, but it is NOT a romance aesthetic I enjoyed. To start, plot-non-existent: hundreds of characters, all interchangeable, all men with their chicks, or bitches … and one of them, Lottie, I think, sets up our heroine, Evan “Evie” Gardiner with one of her “boys”, Danny Magnusson. These “boys” seem to run some kind of security firm, not sure what it was, but the room they worked in had a lot of monitors for surveillance, so what else could it be? It’s insta-lust and like and love for Danny and Evan, so poof, that’s taken care of. Sadly, Evan has a TERRIBLE family and she sacrifices and sacrifices and sacrifices for them: her deadbeat brother in jail, her shrew of a mother, and it goes on. Thanks to the family’s nefarious activities, Evie is embroiled in a drug heist and some gun-running, all for the sake of saving her brother’s sorry behind. Bingo, this means Danny can go totally he-man protective on Evie and have her move in with him.

Many pages go by where Evie and Danny seem to eat badly: burgers and steaks and s’mores, I think. They watch movies and do the beast with two backs and Evie gets a lot of “big eyes” moments (see, manga) and Danny thinks she’s cute. Then, she is KIDNAPPED by bad guys and has to be rescued. Then, more bad eating habits form, or are reinstated and enforced. In the meanwhile, lurve sweet lurve makes its way into Evie and Danny’s hearts. And Evie ASSERTS herself against her terrible family and now, the hundreds of hooked up, married, faithful he-men and beautiful women become her friends. Sadly, Evie and her new friends are KIDNAPPED. But all’s well that ends well and Danny and Evie and their couple friends can make manga-goo-goo eyes at each other forever.

I’m glad to have experienced the Ashley phenomenon because I have ascertained that, like manga, it’s not for me. I leave you with one snippet from Dream Maker that says it all. One of the many super-alpha-commando types is describing Danny and Evie and it pretty much sums up the novel’s themes, characters, and aesthetic: ” ‘Bitch is in distress, man moves her in, covers her ass– Then keeps her there, marries her and fills her with babies.’ ” Ugh. This level of awful and reading it is three hours of my life I will never get back. With the horror-stricken Miss Austen, Dream Maker “was badly done, indeed,” Emma.

Kristen Ashley’s Dream Maker is published by Forever. It was released in May 2020 and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-galley from Forever, via Netgalley.

I have loved a few Kristen Ashley's in the past but I don't think this series will be for me, perhaps just not in this season of my reading life?

Evie is a hardworking women who has been being taken advantage of an ungrateful family. When her brother ropes her into one of this schemes all things go down hill. It was sketchy to begin with but it sounded like life or death and she'd do anything for her family. Daniel was on a date when he manages to get pulling into her trouble and wants to do everything he can to help her out. They never expected any of what was going to follow.

Woo there is so much to uncover this book. First of all I can't stand her family, her stepfather I'm good with but her family was straight up wrong. I loved her adoptive family aka her stripper family the people she works with they were the family she needed, they were there for her and put up with a lot to be in her life and I just loved them. Then there was that attraction between Evie and Danny and it was pretty hott with plenty of steamy scenes to go with that. Then there was the whole thing about this book which was the trouble her bother pretty much put her in. This book was a roller coaster, with ups downs twist and turns and really knows now to keep the readers hooked. Overall I really enjoyed it.

No rating, as I DNFd this one. I'm not sure at what point. I just know that it wasn't soon enough.

I keep picking up KA's new books in the hopes that she's honed her writing. I had especially high hopes for this one, as it wasn't self published, but those hopes were dashed. This was no different from her other books, including the fact that a good 300 pages could have been shaved out with an editor. And honestly, I am shocked that this actually got through an editor. It makes me wonder if KA is receptive to feedback. She was definitely on a social justice high when she was cranking this one out, and she was trying so hard to make this book 'feminist' that it was like she discounted the fact that her heroines have (for the most part,) always been strong in their own ways. They don't need to be put into a mold.

This is where I part ways with this author, and it makes me incredibly sad. For a Contemporary author, she excels at world building. An odd thing to say when you're reading a book set in our world, but it's the truth. I would love to visit Carnal or Gnaw Bone, and I was joking with a friend recently about how KA's characters get on my nerves, but if she wrote from the town's perspective on what it has seen, it could be so interesting!

Anyway, I hate to end a relationship on a low note, but I also can't put myself through another KA book.

Evie is a genius, give her an engine, she can pull it apart and put it together better than it was before. Give her some numbers, she is queen. Which is why there is only one reason that she has two jobs, a stripper and tech support, to pay her rent: her deadbeat family. Only this time they’ve asked for too much, forcing her in way over head into the underbelly of Denver. Evie never expected that Daniel “Mag” Magnusson to step in and protect her. Mag is an alpha male commando and man who saw her nearly knock herself out by being a klutz on their first (and only) date, the last thing she expected was for him to step up. But, now she has Mag and a team of commandos as well as her girl posse at her back, all Evie has to do is accept their help.

I’ve been a big fan of Kristen Ashley for a long time, especially when it comes to her older series, like Colorado Mountain, the ‘Burg, Dream Man and Rock Chicks. This book felt like vintage Kristen Ashley, with a heavy Rock Chick vibe i.e. lots of crazy kidnappings and male and female camaraderie. And Tex. Only in the Dream Team series we have a new set of girls: the strippers from Smithie’s club and a new set of guys: the commandos who work for Hawk.

I am referencing a lot of characters and places that are part of the Ashleyverse and if you’ve never read any of her series you won’t be aware of Smithie’s history or who Hawk or Tex are. Does this mean you can’t read DREAM MAKER? No, the romance itself doesn’t require any knowledge of the characters and places that Ashley has created. However, I can’t deny that having that knowledge of the Ashleyverse does lend a certain richness and warmth to the story. It felt like visiting a group of old friends you haven’t seen in a while.

But there was one major difference between this book and the Rock Chick series: the level of alpha maleness. Mag is an alpha hero for the modern age; he takes a command of situation, and yet somehow does not do it in such a way that it doesn’t takes choices away from the heroine. I both loved this and didn’t. I missed Ashley’s hyper masculine OTT alpha heroes, they used to drive me crazy and yet I adored them. That’s probably just me being contrary though, Mag was a great hero and I loved the care he took with Evie.

In fact, I loved the whole romance between Evie and Mag, from the start you could feel the pull of attraction between them. From there it follows the fairly standard Kristen Ashley template: move in together immediately due to bad guys gunning for the heroine. But, just because I’d read it before, that didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. Mag and Evie were cute together, not to mention hot as hell.

However, the relationships that I really enjoyed seeing in this book were the female friendships. It is something that was done really well in the Rock Chick series and Kristen Ashley continues this tradition in the Dream Team series. Our new gang of girls, the Dream Team, all support and encourage each other with unfailing loyalty; whether it’s helping to buy sex shoes or plotting to escape when kidnapped. Female friendship is an important part of most women’s life and I love it when this is demonstrated in romance novels; after all, who else but your girls would you talk to about a new relationship?

Absolutely loved this book, it managed to feel like vintage Kristen Ashley with a twist of modernity. A brilliant start to a new series and I can’t wait to read the next book.

I read a previous book by this author and thought it was ok. Was possibly me and not liking how she wrote a motorcycle club story. I thought I'd try another book as this was a different series.

I ended up DNF'ing it at 30%. Unfortunately, I don't think this author is for me. There's something about her writing that just doesn't jive with me.

Thank you for the opportunity to try her again.

3.75

Told in dual POVs I really liked the group of friend in this book. The hero was an alpha but I’m glad the girls stood her ground and didn’t just let him make decisions. I loved the action in the book. Some romance but also with some suspense in there. I am really excited for the next books in series since I’m really curious about her other friends. While her other books are from another series and this a new one we were introduced to ALOT of characters so that was kind of hard to keep track of.

I’ve tried to finish this one a few times, and I think Dream Maker and I need to part ways. I loved Lady Luck by Kristen Ashley, but I don’t have a ton of experience with her other titles. The writing felt a bit choppy for my tastes and I struggled to feel invested in the plot. I might try this one again after reading more of her backlist, or I might just move on to the next in this series. DNF

I loved this book HARD. Dream Maker is classic Queen Kristen Ashley and it was just what I needed. We meet up with some old favorites from Rock Chicks and Mystery Man - how is that NOT happiness right there? If you've not read the Rock Chick series or the Dream Man series they are just a must. You'll thank me for it.

Back to Dream Maker....

The "Dream Team" is Hawk's team of commando men and basically (and she says it in the book) the second generation and that made this fan so happy. Kristen sets up the rest of the series in this book and that just makes me want them all right now!

Evie and Danny are so good together and it's all classic banter and butterflies and perfect. Her family is a big fat waist and so Danny steps in and helps her. While helping her sparks fly! The more he learns though the more he falls for Evie and wants to strangle her families collective necks. I loved how much Evie discovers in this book and it does warm the heart a bit.

The book has lots of humor and action and "all the things" fans of Kristen Ashley love about her books. The book was almost like visiting old friends - the Rockchicks, the Hotbunch and Tex plus other fan favorites.

Totally worth picking up and reading.

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

Did not finish

I went through a phase where I was reading everything Kristen Ashley wrote and was telling all my friends to read her books. I was a huge fan. Was. I am not sure if my reading preferences changed or if her writing style did. Either way, those two things don't line up like they used to.

I have a big problem with the run-on sentences and alpha-speak that her characters routinely use. I find it distracting and confusing and ultimately frustrating. I picked this book up with the idea that I'd give her writing another chance and told myself that I could stop when I felt frustrated. I didn't make it through the first chapter. Did I give up too soon? Possibly. Do I think I could have gotten through to the end of the book? Not likely.

I still have a soft spot in my heart for KA, the friendships I found in like-minded readers and more than a few of her alpha men but I think I'll just have to leave it at that.

I was a bit lost reading this book. I am going to go back and read Kristen Ashley's backlist to get a better understanding of this book. Thank you for letting me read and review this title

I've never read a Kristen Ashley book that disappointed me. And this start to a new series is exactly what we need in 2020! Combining two of my all time favorite KA series, Rock Chick and Mystery Man, into a brilliant new crossover series has me begging for more!

Evie and Mag check all the boxes in this spunky romance. From their first encounter, you know that these two are all sparks waiting to ignite. They may be seemingly opposites but to their deepest core, they both want the same things, a stability and love they can rely on. When life seems to be hell bent against them, with a little help from the Rock Chicks and friends, these two set off on a whirlwind adventure teaming with danger, high stakes, and passion.

The beauty of a KA book is that while there might be a main set of characters featured, the supporting cast is vibrant and alive from cover to cover. That is one of my favorite things about her writing. I see my favorites from other series flow in and out of new books, giving you a glimpse of their HEAs. These secondary characters round out a fabulous story and create a sense of nostalgia for some of my all time favorite books.

I need more Dream Team NOW! But for now, I will dive head first into re-reading Dream Maker, excited for what comes next!

I fall head over heels for every KA book. I don't even question it anymore.

This book felt so familiar because it was on brand as a KA book. But there were many aspects that were refreshing and new. I loved how this book was a spin off of a much loved series but was also better at some important parts.

Mags and Evie had an instant connection and boy their chemistry was SCORCHING! I instantly adored their relationship and knew I'd be rooting hard for them throughout.

Mags is such a progressive KA hero and I adore that about him. I know that his need to provide everything for Evie was insistent but he respected her and her career choice. He actively tried to do everything to support her life choices and I can't tell you how amazing it was so see playing out.

Evie is such a strong character. Her family was practically worthless and she had no friends. I actually really enjoyed her growth and character development through the story. I did find her a bit childish at times but she did great towards the end.

I think the most beautiful part of this story was the female friendships. I live to see women supporting other women and this book showed exactly what wholesome women friendships should look like.

When I need a comfort read, KA is at the top of my list and I love that I have so many of her books to choose from that I know will reset my palate and make me feel great.
I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed heading back into the KA's world of the Rock Chicks, the Hot Bunch, Chaos and more.
I love having a new group to get to know but still have familiar faces involved in the storyline. It's exciting and comforting at the same time.
Dream Maker checked all of my boxes and I'm eagerly looking forward to more from the Dream Team series!

Dream Maker is set in the same world as the Rock Chicks and Dream Man series. We were first introduced to Hawk and his men in Mystery Man, and more recently we got to know them in Quiet Man. Dream Maker follows Evie, a stripper, and Mag (Daniel Magnusson), one of Hawk’s commandos.

Holly: Kristen Ashley is one of my favorites. Her novels are all very similar, but it’s easy to fall into them. This was one of the better ones of hers I’ve read in awhile. You’re still pretty new to KA. What did you think of it?

Casee: I really, really liked this book. I think it’s one of KA’s better books. Of course it could have been shorter, but I was so into the story that I didn’t really care. I’m so glad I read Quiet Man first. I know it’s a prequel, but it was sure nice to know what was going on.

Holly: I’m not one for reading in order, but I think reading Quiet Man first is a good idea. It sets the stage (stage, get it? ha ha) for this novel and gives us a better understanding of why Evie and Mag were set up together.

I really liked how close knit the group was in Quiet Man, and I think some of that was missing here. I wanted more interactions between Evie and the guys. But I still really liked it.

Casee: I really liked Evie’s personality. I loved her quirkiness and her loyalty (although misplaced) to her family. I loved how she called Mag “Danny” and he got annoyed when she called him “Mag”. So stinking cute.

I felt that some of the closeness of the group was missing as well. I really liked Lottie’s interactions with the guys in Quiet Man. While Evie did interact with the guys, it wasn’t on the same level.

Holly: I liked certain aspects of Evie’s character, but she also made some dumb decisions based on her insecurities. I was really glad to see how things progressed with her through the novel.

I agree. It wasn’t the same. I mean, I guess it makes sense that not every girl will have a connection with them, but usually KA is big on that kind of thing.

Casee: Did you like any of the secondary characters? I’m not sure I liked any of them. Not a whole lot anyway.

Holly: I don’t like the Rock Chicks. They’re annoying. I did like the other strippers and Mag’s friends, but they played such a small part. I definitely didn’t like Evie’s family.

Casee: Favorite part of the book?

Holly: I know it’s weird, but it was when Evie was a bitch to Mag and called him a manwhore and he got pissed. Something about his reaction really worked for me. Yours?

Casee: That is weird, but totally understandable. My favorite part was when she told her mother off. What a bitch that woman was. She cared more about her son being in jail than her daughter being kidnapped. Bitch.

Holly: I was glad she told off her mom, but honestly I wanted to see her tell them all off. I did like that her sister came through in the end, though. I also liked that Evie was super judgmental about her sister, then realized the error of her thoughts. I like how multi-layered KA’s characters are.

Casee: Where does this fall in comparison to your favorite KA books? This one ranks pretty high for me. I really, really enjoyed it. I would give it a 4.25 out of 5.

Holly: It’s mid-range for me. I prefer her older books. In terms of her more recent releases, this is better than most, but not my favorite. I’d give it 3.75 out of 5.

3.5/5 stars

I really liked this start of a new series along with Evie and Mag's romance.

<u>Characters, Pacing & Points of View</u>
This book was a decently paced read when the story actually focused on Evie and Mag, our two main points of view. I really liked Evie! She has a nurturing, dorky, kind soul and will give you the shirt off her back even though her family has clearly never done the same for her. She had family drama from the start. Mag was very alpha male especially when it came to protecting those he cared about, which you gotta love.

<u>Overall</u>
Overall, I liked Evie and Mag's story, however I believe I would have loved it if I had read all of the author's previous series. This story felt like more of a continuation of the other series with multiple mentioning of prior characters and events that went on for pages. There was enough name droppings that it made me feel a bit out of the loop. Saying that, I definitely plan on backtracking and reading all her previous works! I would love to read her prior series and come back to reread this story with a new perspective and an appreciation for all the characters.

*Thank you so much to Forever publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This felt so much like the Kristen Ashley of old that my heart was happy. Great romance and I love the cameos from her old series.