I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
What Dreams May Come (Once Upon a Time) by Kay Hooper Series: Once Upon a Time #3
on November 29th 2016
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 192
Goodreads
FINAL DECISION: For such a short novel, this book is well constructed with a suspense story along with an angst filled second chance at love story. I loved the setup for this story and the story between these characters went in unexpected directions.
THE STORY: Ten years ago, Kelly Russell’s world was shattered when her fiance was in a car accident which resulted in him ending up in a coma from which doctor’s said he would never awaken. She is shocked when he returns having finally awakened and wants to pick up where they left off. While John Mitchell’s life stopped ten years ago, Kelly has lived a life and suffered pain and loss. She knows they can’t recover what they lost, but Mitch wants to try and see what might still exist between them.
OPINION: I really enjoyed this book. The book begins with a rip van winkle/sleeping beauty premise. The hero is placed in suspense while Kelly’s life goes on. She lives a decade, loses family, marries and divorces, and creates a life for herself that is far from what she anticipated at eighteen when Mitch ended up in a coma. When the two meet again, there is the echo of their past together, but things have changed for both of them. What I find intriguing about this story is that the past is not idealized between these two. Although Kelly loved Mitch, she recognizes that their relationship was shallow then. Mitch wanted a woman who was weaker and more innocent than Kelly is now. Kelly knows that she has changed and doesn’t believe that there is any possibility of them having a future together.
While the pace of this book is incredibly fast in real time (only days pass before everything is resolved), I thought the feelings and issues were complex for the length of the book. Kelly and Mitch have to resolve incredibly difficult issues. Kelly has experienced ten years but Mitch has not. The two have to resolve the past and learn who they are now. I enjoy a book with angst and this book has the most angst of the series. For me, when these two find one another, it is sweeter.
WORTH MENTIONING: WHAT DREAMS MAY COME was originally published as a Loveswept category romance in 1989.
CONNECTED BOOKS: WHAT DREAMS MAY COME is the third book in the Once Upon a Time series but each book can be read as a standalone since they are only loosely connected.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.