Dream Maker

by Kristen Ashley

Overview

Two broken hearts find love and healing in each other in this sexy contemporary romance spin-off from the New York Times bestselling author of the Rock Chick and Dream Man series.



Evan "Evie" Gardiner has spent her whole life being the responsible one in her family, but enough is enough. It's time to pursue her own dreams. Evie's finally going to finish that engineering degree she's been working toward. But first she needs to come up with the money to pay for tuition. Working as a dancer at Smithie's club seems like the perfect solution to her problems . . . until her family lands in yet another scrape and comes to Evie for help. Only, this time, her family's recklessness is risking more than her dreams-it's endangering her life.


Daniel "Mag" Magnusson knows a thing or two about desperation and disappointment, but no one notices that his good looks and quick wit hide the painful memories that haunt him. When Evie's family puts her in danger, Mag insists on offering Evie his protection. He has the skills to guard Evie's life, but as they grow closer, Mag realizes he'll need to come face-to-face with his demons to prove himself as the man who will protect her heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538733868
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	05/26/2020
Series:	Dream Team , #1
Pages:	496
Sales rank:	161,453
Product dimensions:	4.25(w) x 6.75(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kristen Ashley is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of over sixty romance novels. Her books have been translated in fifteen languages, with nearly three million copies sold.


Born in Gary and raised in Brownsburg, Indiana, Kristen was a fourth generation graduate of Purdue University. Since, she has lived in Denver, the West Country of England, and she now resides in Phoenix. She worked as a charity executive for eighteen years prior to beginning her writing career.

Editorial Reviews

03/30/2020

The excellent first romance in Ashley’s Dream Team series features the alpha heroes and high-octane suspense her fans expect but balances the testosterone and adrenaline with moments of cozy domesticity. Mechanical genius Evie Gardiner is taking the long route to an engineering degree and works two jobs (providing tech support during the day and stripping at night) in Denver, Colo., so she can continue to bail out her irresponsible family whenever they get into trouble. Evie agrees to a blind date with Daniel “Mag” Magnussen, a former U.S. Marine, and is instantly flustered by his good looks and charm, but their date is interrupted when Evie’s brother, Mick, needs her help. When Mick’s shady dealings make Evie a target for Denver’s most dangerous criminals, Mag commits to keeping her safe. While the subsequent action sequences—including kidnappings and shoot-outs—drive the story, Mag and Evie also spend a lot of time at home, cooking, kissing, and making plans for when their lives calm down. Familiar faces from Ashley’s Rock Chick series will please long-standing fans, and new readers will quickly grasp the established dynamics. Those who like a dash of sweetness in their suspense will be delighted. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"The excellent first romance in Ashley's Dream Team series . . . Those who like a dash of sweetness in their suspense will be delighted."—Publishers Weekly

"I don't know how Kristen Ashley does it; I just read the damn books and happily get lost in her world."—Frolic on the Dream Man series

"Kristen Ashley's books are addicting!"—Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author

"[Kristen] Ashley captivates."—Publishers Weekly

"When you pick up an Ashley book, you know you're in for plenty of gut-punching emotion, elaborate family drama and sizzling sex."—RT Book Reviews

"Kristen Ashley books should come with a warning that says, 'You may become addicted to KA books.'"—Night Owl Reviews

"Any hopeless romantic would devour everything Kristen Ashley has to offer!"—Fresh Fiction

From the Publisher

05/01/2020

The only responsible one in her family, Evie Gardiner has a second job as a dancer as she works toward her engineering degree. Things are fine until her incarcerated brother gets her involved in a dangerous situation. After learning about Evie's troubles on their first meeting, Daniel "Mag" Magnusson steps in to protect her. He has his own emotional baggage that he tries to hide with humor, but being close to Evie might just tear down those walls. While this book is described as the first in a new series, it is actually a spin-off from Ashley's "Rock Chick and Dream Man" series. Some of the references to other characters may be a little confusing to readers coming in cold. Evie's chapters are all written in first person, as though the reader is on the receiving end of her very staccato thoughts. When the POV shifts to Mag, the writing is in the third person. VERDICT The characters aren't very likable, and the plot drags out way too long. Content warning for mentions of rape and violence. Recommended only for Ashley's fans and where her other books circulate well.—Amanda Turk, Corvallis-Benton Cty. P.L., OR

Library Journal

Narrator Susannah Jones brings joyful wonder to Evie, who sees her dysfunctional family through rose-colored glasses. Evie’s first date with Danny Magnusson is interrupted when her imprisoned brother asks a favor that involves Denver’s criminal underworld. There’s trouble on the horizon, but Danny, a former commando who falls for Evie’s sweetness and loyalty, can help. Jones plays up the contrasts in Evie—naïveté about her family’s depredation and sassy smarts that keep Danny off-kilter. Danny’s voice sounds deeper, tougher, and much more abrupt, a delivery that fits his guarded personality. Numerous characters from Ashley’s other series make cameos, and Jones differentiates voices clearly. With swift pacing and a pseudo-argumentative tone, Jones evokes Evie’s hilarious conversational style. This is a fun romp with an invested narrator. C.A. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JULY 2020 - AudioFile

Narrator Susannah Jones brings joyful wonder to Evie, who sees her dysfunctional family through rose-colored glasses. Evie’s first date with Danny Magnusson is interrupted when her imprisoned brother asks a favor that involves Denver’s criminal underworld. There’s trouble on the horizon, but Danny, a former commando who falls for Evie’s sweetness and loyalty, can help. Jones plays up the contrasts in Evie—naïveté about her family’s depredation and sassy smarts that keep Danny off-kilter. Danny’s voice sounds deeper, tougher, and much more abrupt, a delivery that fits his guarded personality. Numerous characters from Ashley’s other series make cameos, and Jones differentiates voices clearly. With swift pacing and a pseudo-argumentative tone, Jones evokes Evie’s hilarious conversational style. This is a fun romp with an invested narrator. C.A. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JULY 2020 - AudioFile