I saw the name—Alana Terry. Without even reading the synopsis, I filled out the form to request a review copy. See, I’ve learned something in the past year or so. If Alana has written it, I want to read it.
Dare to Dream Again would be no exception.
Two months passed. Then the moment came. My editorial calendar said I must read Dare to Dream Again and have the review up by October 23. Today I opened my Kindle app and began reading. Now, to be fair, I didn’t even remember whose book it was by this point That’s kind of important to know. Because as I read the first lines… the first paragraphs… the first page of the book, my heart sank. First-person/present tense. My nemisis. Seriously. I HATE first-person/present tense.
I could not do this. Crazy would be too normal for me long before I finished. I could not read this book.
A glance at the author’s name gave me a double take.
Uh, oh.
Seriously, I thought I’d found a book by Alana Terry that I couldn’t finish. Kind of awkward when I’d requested the copy. Double awkward because we’re in a few collections together. Triple awkward because we’re roomies in Las Vegas in just a couple of weeks.
Eeep!
One page turned. The next. Relief.
It was just a stylistic device for a specific kind of scene. I could handle a few of those sprinkled through the book.
So, with that relief still cleansing the panic from my spirit, I dove into the book with no idea of what I was supposed to be reading.
Note: links are likely affiliate links that provide me with a small income but it doesn’t cost you extra. Additionally, I requested a review copy of this book and subsequently chose to review it. Thanks!
Why You Need to Dare to Dream Again
I’ve been telling people all year that Alana Terry writes a really interesting book. She takes things we’re not used to reading and makes them happen. Her Out of North Korea made my top 10 for the year so far because she not only told a compelling story, she did it in first-person, present-tense without me even noticing for the first three-quarters of the book.
Dare to Dream Again does something similar… and opposite. This time, Alana Terry takes familiar things that usually annoy readers and makes them work. We have instant attraction working out in a reasonable, rational way for that character. We have an abusive father…and a little pipsqueak of a kid who isn’t the horrible nightmare you’d expect–even while he is.
Every time something happened that would have annoyed me in any other book, I had to admit that it worked. Not only that, but I liked how it worked. The main character, Gloria, had a personality and a history to make every decision that would have been rather overly-convenient in any other book fit perfectly in this one. She’s even annoying at first!
And Derek? The guy would have moved way too fast and been much too invested far too soon—except his history set him up to be exactly where he was and act precisely the way he did.
A subtle lesson flows through the book, too.
When we’ve had our dreams fulfilled in beautiful ways, we often feel like we don’t have the right to keep dreaming, but the Lord loves to give “good gifts” to His children just like any father. Gloria learned that in the book… and I got a nice reminder of it.
Look, I keep wanting to complain about things in Dare to Dream Again.
In any other book, I’d be telling you how implausible this or that is and how it just didn’t work for me. But the characters are realistic. They behave in realistic ways. None of them are obnoxiously perfect. And all of them have something to teach us without being preachy.
And the next book? What Dreams May Come? Yeah. Already shelved that sucker in my Kindle Unlimited. I fell in love with Susannah (Gloria’s oldest daughter) in this book. I want to see where she goes in life.
My only quibble is that it’s a novella, and like many novellas, it ends much too soon for my taste. Part of that is my personal objection to the shortness of novellas. Most of it is just that I wanted more of Derek and Gloria.
And I can’t tell you how relieved that made me. I wouldn’t want to annoy her and later discover that Alana short-sheeted my bed or anything. She’s already torturing me with “tenor rock” one night. Just sayin’.
This sounds like my kind of book! Thanks for the chance.
It’s a lovely book.
This sounds really good.
Wow… Out of North Korea was such a eye opener for me and now here you are with two other books… I need to catch up… sadly my Dad died and so did my pastor, so the last two years have been a blur… Cant wait to read these !!! Going to follow the blog tour !!!
Blessings
Linda Marie Finn
Faithful Acres Books
[email protected]
This book wasn’t as hard hitting. Just light and fun. 🙂
Thank you for the wonderful review! Sounds like a great book!
It really was. Just a whole lot of fun.
Good Morning! Thank you for the book description.These tours are great and we have found some terrific books so thanks so much.
Haha laughing my head off! No short sheets 🙂 Promise.
I’m more nervous than ever. Remember, any torment you do to me you have to live with the aftermath. I’m just sayin’.
Wow! Thanks for the review. I’ve met some good books and authors because of your reviews. I like Alana Terry, so am so happy I visited her website — and got a free book. Woohoo! Thanks to both of you!
I loved this book! Thanks for the giveaway!
I thought it was really sweet without being sugary.
I’ve become quite a fan of Alana Terry, too! This one was really good. Your comment about being annoyed with novellas amused me–one of the things I like about your books is that they’re long!
Even my novellas are as long as they can be without stretching into novels. Snort.
Thank you for your review and for being part of the book tour for “Dare to Dream Again” by Alana Terry. Loved reading about the book and I’d love the opportunity to read about Derek and Gloria.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
It really is a lovely little book.
I feel the same way about novellas. The only good thing is that they don’t give me “readers hangover” – if I get sucked in and read the whole thing in one night, at least it’s not so late!
That is true. It’s always such a delight to look at that little bar on the Kindle and go, “WAIT! It’s half done!?!?! I just got started!” (being a fast reader has its perks.
For some reason I have found that I really enjoy reading Novellas on my kindle. I don’t read a lot of following books on it, but for some reason the novella length plus the Kindle works for me? Sounds like this is one I need to check out.
Just be prepared to want the next!
Thanks so much for bringing to our attention another great book out there to read. I appreciate hearing about them since I have so many readers in my family.
I love sharing books! Happy reading!