In Your Dreams by Ginger Scott

* * * 3/4

Casey Coffield has a growing list of personal flaws he keeps locked away in his head:

He’s never on time.

His list of IOUs to his best friend is endless.

Money is always short.

Goals are never in reach.

Oh, and he’s decided to add college drop-out to that list, too. He doesn’t really think that last one’s such a bad thing, but his family insists it is, so it stays on the list.

On paper, he’s a zero. But in person, when he’s mixing tracks for a sea of bodies at the hottest clubs and parties, he’s downright irresistible. Just-right stubble on his chin, body of a boxer and a smirk that stimulates all the right nerves—women have never been a problem. They flock to his swagger and fall for his charm…fast.

All except for this one.

Purple hair, gray eyes, a raspy voice and sass, Murphy Sullivan is a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll. And her and Casey? They have history. He can’t remember it, but she wrote a song about him—and it’s not exactly a love song. But it is good. Damn good. And uncovering her inspiration just might be the key to solving a few of his shortcomings—not to mention open doors to his own big break in the music industry.

But sometimes dreams get messy when they collide. Sometimes life changes patterns. A past paints the wrong picture and futures get cloudy. The only question that remains is who will you choose when the dust settles—you? Or the girl of your dreams?

** This book is a Falling Series spin-off. It can be read as a standalone. **

I’ve had a hard time writing this review because what can I say about Ginger Scott that I haven’t already said? I’ve read nine books by her including this latest one, and what I do know is that I return to her repeatedly because I admire her writing and I enjoy the stories she has to share. In Your Dreams, is an off-shoot of the Falling Series with characters that feel more grown-up than her previous ones in the series. It follows two individuals who approach their dreams from different directions. Casey, who wants to be a DJ, is told that his dream is fanciful and rubbish by his dad. Murphy, who’s on the quiet side, has her parents’ unconditional support to be who she is as she pursues her singing career. Alone, they’re a little lost. Together they’re unstoppable.

As Casey works hard at making his dream a reality, he's conflicted about the state of his relationship with his dad. I think anyone who’s ever butted heads with a parent about what an appropriate career choice is will absolutely understand where he’s coming from. This part got me. I’ve had toxic relationships with certain family members and I ultimately came to realize that I could only take care of my half. If the other person wasn’t going to meet me half way then I just had to walk away for the sake of my soul and sanity. I envied Murphy’s cozy little family unit. Her parents are awesome, her brother is a delight. Even though she prefers being under the radar, she shines so brightly. She’s comfortable enough about herself. It just takes Casey’s presence to give her a little nudge into the spotlight.

I think you all know that I’m recommending In Your Dreams. Ginger Scott doesn’t write half-heartedly. You'll always find emotion and depth. In Your Dreams offers inspiration for those of us who need that extra push. Persevere. Find your people who get you and your dreams. Hold them closest to you and shine away! 

~ Bel

Waiting on Wednesday (183)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating


By Fredrik Backman
Publication Date: May 3, 2016

From the bestselling author of the “charming debut” (People) A Man Called Ove and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, a heartwarming and hilarious story of a reluctant outsider who transforms a tiny village and a woman who finds love and second chances in the unlikeliest of places.

Britt-Marie can’t stand mess. She eats dinner at precisely the right time and starts her day at six in the morning because only lunatics wake up later than that. And she is not passive-aggressive. Not in the least. It's just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention.

But at sixty-three, Britt-Marie has had enough. She finally walks out on her loveless forty-year marriage and finds a job in the only place she can: Borg, a small, derelict town devastated by the financial crisis. For the fastidious Britt-Marie, this new world of noisy children, muddy floors, and a roommate who is a rat (literally), is a hard adjustment.

As for the citizens of Borg, with everything that they know crumbling around them, the only thing that they have left to hold onto is something Britt-Marie absolutely loathes: their love of soccer. When the village’s youth team becomes desperate for a coach, they set their sights on her. She’s the least likely candidate, but their need is obvious and there is no one else to do it.

Thus begins a beautiful and unlikely partnership. In her new role as reluctant mentor to these lost young boys and girls, Britt-Marie soon finds herself becoming increasingly vital to the community. And even more surprisingly, she is the object of romantic desire for a friendly and handsome local policeman named Sven. In this world of oddballs and misfits, can Britt-Marie finally find a place where she belongs?

Zany and full-of-heart, Britt-Marie Was Here is a novel about love and second chances, and about the unexpected friendships we make that teach us who we really are and the things we are capable of doing. 


By Ginger Scott
Publication Date: March 29, 2016

Casey Coffield has a growing list of personal flaws he keeps locked away in his head: 
He’s never on time. 
His list of IOUs to his best friend is endless. 
Money is always short. 
Goals are never in reach. 

Oh, and he’s decided to add college drop-out to that list, too. He doesn’t really think that last one’s such a bad thing, but his family insists it is, so it stays on the list. 

On paper, he’s a zero. But in person, when he’s mixing tracks for a sea of bodies at the hottest clubs and parties, he’s downright irresistible. Just-right stubble on his chin, body of a boxer and a smirk that stimulates all the right nerves—women have never been a problem. They flock to his swagger and fall for his charm…fast. 

All except for this one. 

Purple hair, gray eyes, a raspy voice and sass, Murphy Sullivan is a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll. And her and Casey? They have history. He can’t remember it, but she wrote a song about him—and it’s not exactly a love song. But it is good. Damn good. And uncovering her inspiration just might be the key to solving a few of his shortcomings—not to mention open doors to his own big break in the music industry.

But sometimes dreams get messy when they collide. Sometimes life changes patterns. A past paints the wrong picture and futures get cloudy. The only question that remains is who will you choose when the dust settles—you? Or the girl of your dreams? 



By Annabeth Albert
Publication Date: April 12, 2016

It’s no secret that Portland, Oregon, has some of best restaurants, shops, and cafés in the country. But it’s the hard-working men who serve it all up that keep us coming back for more...

One of Portland’s hottest young baristas, Brady is famous for his java-topping flair, turning a regular cup of joe into a work of art. Every Wednesday—aka “Knit Night”—hordes of women and their needles descend on the coffeehouse, and Brady’s feeling the heat. Into the fray walks a tall, dark, and distractingly handsome stranger from New York. His name is Evren, and he’s the sexy nephew of Brady’s sweetest customer, the owner of the yarn shop down the street. He’s also got a killer smile, confident air, and masculine charm that’s tying Brady’s stomach in knots. The smitten barista can’t wait to see him at the next week’s gathering. But when he tries to ask Evren out, his plans unravel faster than an unfinished edge. If Brady hopes to warm up more than Evren’s coffee, he’ll have to find a way to untangle their feelings, get out of the friend zone, and form a close-knit bond that’s bound to last a lifetime…

This Is Falling by Ginger Scott

* * * * *

First, I had to remember how to breathe. Then, I had to learn how to survive. Two years, three months and sixteen days had passed since I was the Rowe Stanton from before, since tragedy stole my youth and my heart went along with it.

When I left for college, I put a thousand miles between my future and my past. I’d made a choice—I was going to cross back to the other side, to live with the living. I just didn’t know how.

And then I met Nate Preeter.

An All-American baseball player, Nate wasn’t supposed to notice a ghost-of-a-girl like me. But he did. He shouldn’t want to know my name. But he did. And when he learned my secret and saw the scars it left behind, he was supposed to run. But he didn’t.

My heart was dead, and I was never supposed to belong to anyone. But Nate Preeter had me feeling, and he made me want to be his. He showed me everything I was missing.

And then he showed me how to fall.

People, I am completely enamored with this book. This Is Falling is one of the best written, heartfelt stories I’ve read and I wish I could experience it for the first time all over again because it’s just that sweet and thought-provoking.

Rowe arrives at college feeling slightly overwhelmed. It’s a bit of a culture shock for her since she’s been homeschooled for the last two years by her mother. So when it came time to pick a college, even she was surprised that she chose to move away far from home. 

There are a few things about Rowe that you’ll recognize in yourself – the enormity of being away from home, getting used to new people, trying to fit in. You’re not told immediately what exactly makes Rowe function differently from everyone else. If anything, you sense a vulnerable young woman who’s trying so very slowly to step out of her shell. When she and Nate meet, the attraction is mutual. Rowe however doesn’t want a relationship and Nate perceives that she’s different and wants to take his time to get to know her. Their friendship that develops - perhaps the best part of the book - is a mix of flirty and “let’s just be buddies”. 

When Rowe finally feels comfortable enough to reveal her past, all the pieces fall together and you feel both sympathy for and impressed by this young woman. I have to hand it to Scott. I didn’t even come close to guessing what it was and even then, I was amazed as to how delicately she handled it all. I think Scott’s years as a journalist covering various events gave her the valuable insight and compassion needed in writing Rowe's experience.

Aside from Scott’s treatment of the plot, I also really liked Nate. Yeah, he’s a hot jock who’s wanted by all the girls but he only has eyes for Rowe.  He is so attuned to Rowe’s tells – her body language, what her limits are.  Most importantly, he’s sensitive to what she’s been through. He is so not the alpha male type in most NA novels. No, that's left to his older brother Ty. Nate’s got just enough cockiness without being obnoxious. He’s all about making her comfortable, going at her pace, letting her know and feel that she's beautiful and safe. She’s been made aware that he wants her and she appreciates that he has no elaborate schemes when it comes to her:

“I don’t play games Rowe. I will wait but I won’t wait forever.”

This straightforwardness is refreshing. I just wish that they could be this honest more often as they unfortunately end up having a few misunderstandings because they’re too afraid to say something that will scare the other one off. It seems this happens whenever their relationship is at a tipping point. All this struggle makes it that much more gratifying when they finally manage to shed whatever apprehension that remains.

This Is Falling is phenomenal and though categorized as NA and romance, it’s more than just about pining after each other and wanting to get in the other’s pants. As much as I have gushed over Nate, I admire Rowe equally as much. Even as she's coming to terms with all her feelings and realizing all she has to gain, Nate being a huge part of that change in her, it's Rowe who's determined to become better for herself. Scott has done great things here by creating characters with emotional depth, complexity and maturity. The surrounding players in this story also hint that there's more to them than what we've been privy to so far. This sweet, hilarious and moving story is about the healing power of friendship, the gift of patience and the importance of communication. 

As I said before, I wish I could experience this for the first time over and over. Since I can’t, I’ll happily settle in with my own copy and revisit this beautiful story as many times as I want. 

~ Bel

*This Is Falling is the first in The Falling series. I also read an excerpt from the second book, YOU And Everything After featuring Nate's brother Ty and Rowe's roommate Cass. I liked what I read, impressed with revelations within the first few pages and I can't wait for more!