Book Review – Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley

Sweet Dreams (Colorado Mountain)
Oh woooooowww!! Another awesome find, and this one, I found pretty much by accident (well sorta). “Morgan” suggested the “Rock Chick” series from this author (“…not rock stars but they are DEFINITELY badasses!!”), and when I looked it up, THIS one caught my eye (from another series altogether), and I downloaded it immediately!

I had a busy (and awesomely fun) weekend and I completely shirked my responsibilities. There was reading, shopping, restaurant eating, friends, a movie (Breaking Dawn, but of course!!) and even a rodeo! A RODEO!! I never thought I’d attend one of those before, but when my friend called with some VIP tickets, I thought it might be a fun new experience. Boy was I right!!

So even with all that, the highlight of my weekend was this lengthy and completely absorbing book. Yep! Even though I witnessed some mighty fine daring cowboys riding bucking broncos and bulls (you should see some of the “flying through the air shots” we captured – my husband is working on getting those to me). Yep! Even though I was standing right there in the VIP pit, right up against the protective railings, and got horse breath on me (and dirt from all that bucking). Yep! Even though at one point, a bucking bull and his rider were right in our faces before the rider got thrown off at our feet (and knocked out cold). I mean. Right. At. My. Feet!!! (No worries, EMT was there, he came to, and walked off like a champ! *phew*).

Yep! Even with all that, TATE from this book was my favorite part of my weekend.

About the book: It sucked me in, right in from the first few pages, and I barely let it go. It even came with me to the rodeo (yes, I carried my iPad. You know. In case I thought the rodeo was boring or something. 🙄 LOL!!!)

I almost stayed up all night. I had to put it down at some point, (when I realized it was 5am) and it just didn’t seem “right” to pull an official all-nighter. Although this was pretty close. I was so enthralled in this book, so into Tate,  that I barely slept, even when I did “sleep”. This one was a dreamer for sure.

As I told my Facebook friends:

Quick Update. Read “Sweet Dreams” until 4am. No. Scratch that. 4:45am. I was insistent that I mustn’t hit 5am…. wait. Maybe it was 5am. Oh poop. Anyway… I read practically non-stop until then, obsessed-like, i’m FINALLY at the halfway point (50% – it’s a long book) so I turned off the iPad. It’s 8:30am. What. Am. I. Doing. Up? Oh yes… I wanna read some more. That’s what it is. I’m in for a zombie weekend.

And from the response I’m getting from so many of you guys (right here on my “Currently Reading” page) and also on Facebook, I got it right again, didn’t I?!!

Melissa: Reading it and loving Tate! Thanks for the tip!

Jennifer: Ditto for me, Melissa! Thanks, Maryse! 🙂

Jenny: ‎30% in……. Serious lack of sleep but it’s worth it. I Love It!! And Tate? oh. my. god! words fail me. I love the humor in it too

Maryse’s Book Blog (Paranormal & Urban Fantasy) And he just keeps getting better… I’ve got 20% left 😉 ‎”Babe.” that’s all he needs to say. Works like a charm!

Jenny: Oh my god!!! Seriously Maryse he is something special! Oh yeah Babe works for me haha

Sandra: Loving it….it the words of Lauren. Oh. My. God.

Jenny: Yep, you’ve picked a winner there Maryse. I have so much to do and keep stopping to read “one more chapter” and can’t stop at that

Michele: I am at 26% now & loving it so far!!! I took my daughter to see Breaking Dawn last night. We were there about an hr before the movie started & ALL I could think about was “Why didn’t I bring my kindle?!?!?! LOL!!!

Hey! We know what we like! Rose made me chuckle when she said: “Maryse – you certainly have a type!” *blush* I know. I’m a little transparent. *winces*

So anyway? What’s the big deal about Tate? He’s all that. ALL that!! But he’s got his human side (aka his “jerk” side). And he can be a real one, at times. Lotsa times, even. But my goodness, can he make me swoon. NON stop. This one definitely put me in the slow motion reading, I love so much. He made me catch my breath so many times (sometimes because of his outrageous ‘tude) but mostly because of how just… WOW he was. Some of the things he said and did. I can’t describe him properly enough (I just can’t do his character justice) other then he’s everything you’d want in a bad boy character. He was real. Raw. Gritty. Not sappy in the least, and yet… everything he said or did was better than “sappy”.

You knew where he was coming from. ALWAYS. There were no games, and yet, he still kept the reader absolutely mesmerized and titillated. He was strong, hard-headed, demanding, insistent… and yet also a true protector. A beautiful heart, hiding behind his no-nonsense gruff ways and demeanor. But his character was so wonderfully convincing, I just believed that no matter his “mood”, he was always trustworthy, and safe. All that and of course, a little icing on the cake. You know 😉 Being a gorgeous, tattooed, longish haired, powerhouse of a motorcycle ridin’ man. Little warning – this one is extremely Alpha male. Just a little hint on that, ’cause not everyone loves an “alpha” and he is one… in spades!!! He may be “beautiful” but he’s not always pretty, if you get where I’m coming from. He’s an ex-cop turned bounty hunter with a crazy past that continues to haunt him (you’ll meet her, plenty). That’s fun too. Adds to the drama.

But this book isn’t only about Tate. It’s about the character that you will become. And you will. Lauren. A 40-something woman (WAIT!!! WAIT!!!!!! I read  a few mention that the age factor almost detracted the reader from reading. Don’t shrug this one off ’cause of her age). She’s wonderful, real, humanly beautiful (exceptionally beautiful to a few particular men, in fact), and just coming out of a disheartening marriage. A cheating husband, a terrible “best friend”, leaving her materialistically rich and pampered life to find a different kind of “rich”. Driving for weeks (months) aimlessly, living pretty much out of her car… simply looking for a new place, far away from her old life to call home. And she thinks she finds it when she drives into “Carnal” (a small biker town where everyone knows each other, seemingly, all of their pasts intertwined somehow). Lemme tell you. She is NOT accepted right off the bat. Her designer clothing and hair, scream NOT one of “them”, but a few befriend her, and a few others conditionally give her a chance.

“I don’t want special anymore. I waited and I tried to make it happen and it didn’t. So be it. Now I want to live someplace that is just a place. I want a job where I can do a good job while I’m doing it and then I can go home to a place that’s a home and just be a home. I don’t want anything. I’m done wanting. I’ve been wanting and yearning for forty-two years. The only thing I want is peace.”

“You think you’ll find peace in a Harley bar?”

Some make her feel at home, give her hope.

“I’m not looking for a thrill. I’m not looking for adventure. I’m looking for nothing special because I can be content with that. That’s what I’m looking for. Can you give me that?”

Some make her feel an outcast and hurt her feelings. YES TATE!!! I’m looking at you, you big meanie!!! Ooooooooh THAT MAN made me so mad at times. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

That beautiful man’s words ricocheted around my head causing damage that was so excruciating I knew the way it was inflicted it would never, never heal.

“Whaaaaat?!!!” you ask. What did Tate say that was so bad!?? Here’s a tidbit… he didn’t realize she was in “hearing distance” when he said it, but hehe… I gasped. My heart broke with her for chapters, over it. And yet, I fell for that very man. She did too. As will you.

“I know you heard,” he said.

I knew he knew I was just surprised he brought it up. I showed no response except to raise my eyebrows again.

“I was in a sh*t mood, babe. Shake it off,” he ordered, and I stared.

And that’s when you’ll know you’re hooked, dear reader, and in it for the long haul (’cause it is a long book. Delightfully so!!)

The writing is such, and so wonderfully detailed, that you will come to care so deeply for every character in the book. Heartwarming, chuckle inducing, heart-wrenching, steamy as all get-out… page turning. Each character stood on it’s own, each one felt real, each one had a story. Even the bad guys. And there certainly are a few in this one, including a serial killer on the loose (but none of the danger and mystery detracts from the intense romance of this story). I promise.

and when fellow reader, Penny said this:

“This author is amazing I have read everything she has written and have never, not once closed a book unsatisfied.”

I knew I’d be devouring the next ones!

Okay, I think I’ve said enough. You won’t know that I’m telling you the truth until you delve in yourself, and then you’ll smile to yourself as you realize… “Yep. The highlight of her weekend, despite the real cowboys that were bouncin’ all around her. I get it, now!”

Get back to me on it 😉

5 stars!!

Interested in the series! Of COURSE you are!! One of the best I’ve read in awhile!! —> Colorado Mountain Series Reading Order

➔➔➔  Looking for more of my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 star reviews. 😀

➔➔➔  Love this author? Browse more Kristen Ashley features and reviews on my blog.