I'd go 4.5 on this one but rounding up because I couldn't stop smiling at the end.

I've been hit and miss with Ms. Brayden's books but have figured out that I'm a sucker for her stand-alones but not so much of a fan of the ensemble series books. I've always had a tough time with reading any series so it's not a big shock for me.

Beautiful Dreamer was perfect for me in many ways: lots of humor, great chemistry, family issues that aren't completely resolved (because that's how family works), and a happy ending that didn't just happen but took some time. I also seem to be a fan of the "woman returns to small town home after being away for many years, only to discover love and happiness in the place she ran from" trope. While reading Beautiful Dreamer, I had a burning desire to reread [b:Behind the Pine Curtain|645675|Behind the Pine Curtain|Gerri Hill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1370190649l/645675._SY75_.jpg|631834] and caught myself thinking of other favorites that have the same premise. Didn't [b:Strawberry Summer|31213312|Strawberry Summer|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1470695133l/31213312._SY75_.jpg|51867866] have the "woman returns" thing happening too? Just checked and it did. I loved that book. Yep, it's official. I'm a second chance/come-on-home romance sort of woman.

Now I'll patiently wait for the next stand-alone from one of the best sweet romance writers around.

Thanks to NetGalley and BSB for the ARC! ( )

This book is the epitome of romance. It has everything you could wish for. The epilogue, in particular, rounded off the story beautifully. I'M IN LOVE.

It's about Elizabeth Draper, a thirty-something living in a small town called Dreamer's Bay on the coast. She is known in her town as a kind and generous person. When something unexpected happens that throws the locals into turmoil, she meets Devyn Winters.

Devyn lives in Philadelphia and has to return to her home in Dreamer's Bay because of an emergency. She is a workaholic and lives for her work. But now, she finds herself forced to return to the place she has avoided for so long.

Of course, a lot changes when Devyn returns to Dreamer's Bay. This is also the book's main plotline, which the author crafted so lovingly. All the characters are incredibly charismatic and drive the plot forward seamlessly. The character of Elizabeth is particularly well done because she is multi-layered, and you get an incredible insight into her feelings and thoughts.

I don't know how to express the feeling, but I especially liked the book's setting with the beach/coastal style in a small suburb. It just seemed coherent, as did the portrayal of the residents.

This book covers much, if not all, of what you would expect from a love story. Nothing is rushed, and the author leads you slowly to the climax. Of course, there is drama like in any other love story, but it feels appropriate. The ending and epilogue then brilliantly rounded off this remarkable story, which I thought was a perfect conclusion.

___
Check out my blog www.wordsandfiction.com to find more reviews. ( )

I've been working on reading more F/F so when I saw this on NetGalley, I had to request it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

This was my first book by this author but will definitely not be my last. Devyn, a big shot real estate agent, has to go home to the small town she grew up in to take care of a family issue. She really does not want to go. While home, she meets Elizabeth Draper. The two actually went to high school together but Devyn doesn't really remember and they didn't run in the same circles.

What happens next is a wonderful slow burn relationship that starts out as a friendship. Elizabeth is an amazing character and you can see why the entire town is in love with her. She shows Devyn all the town they grew up in has to offer and along the way, the two get closer and closer and eventually fall in love.

If this book is any indication of the author's other works, she has a new fan in me. Definitely smiled a lot and even laughed a few places. A heart warming and wonderful strangers to friends to lovers story. ( )

Ya know, Ms. Brayden, I think…"I’m learning you." There are many amazing writers in our world of sapphic romance; however, your stories make some of us grateful for our forever person and give others hope in finding theirs. Oh, and your covers always rank five on the jalapeño-ranking scale, too.

Commencing a very, very unbiased review from one of my favorite, favorite authors...

Elizabeth and Devyn are on a journey to find their forever person. Unfortunately, it’s those pesky little character flaws that sometimes get in the way. And, ouch, do Elizabeth and Devyn have theirs.

For the past fifteen years, Devyn “Love the Grind” Winters wore horse blinders that kept her laser-focused on her career. She’s driven by success, loves a good challenge, and is always prepared. She’s an expert at turning off her feelings at the sound of cha-ching, cha-ching. She’s not a confessor, reveler, or dweller. She doesn’t get sentimental, let her guard down, or put herself in the position to feel weak or vulnerable. And you know what? She’s comfortable with all of these traits. But life seems to always expose those little chinks in our armor. For Devyn, those chinks give her the opportunity to remove the blinders she’s gotten so used to wearing and to experience what caring for her forever person would feel like. This experience is unpredictable, terrifying, messy, and as a result, Devyn finds herself unprepared and perplexed. But what's a woman like Devyn to do when the vivacious, quirky, and warm Elizabeth Draper walks into your life, grabs your heart, and doesn’t want to let go?

Yeah, Lizzie is my favorite character. What’s not to like? She’s personable, single, “makes people feel better about themselves,” single, trusting, single, “radiates happiness,” and... did I mention single? Just like Devyn, Elizabeth is comfortable in her own skin and semi-solitary lifestyle. Yet again life and those damn chinks. The struggles of self-worth can be inconvenient a real pain in the ass when trying to build a forever relationship with someone. There’s nothing more disheartening than a genuine, beautiful person like Lizzie believing she’s destined to be alone because people will always leave her. With the exception of KC, Dexter, and Jill, I blame the residents of Dreamer’s Bay for Elizabeth’s perception of herself. The town is just too...slow-paced...and...and...dreamy. (I blame the author for making the setting so real.) Come on Bayers, wake-up! No way y’all let Elizabeth spend each day believing she doesn't matter to other people. Isn’t everyone supposed to know everyone else? I know, to blame the residents is silly, but who else am I going to blame? Elizabeth has had no parental guidance since her father died , and she reveals her true feelings about herself while sitting on the floor talking to Scout, her dog.
“I matter to some people,” she said to Scout, through tear-filled eyes. “Me.”
Okay, this scene with Scout was the first of several ah man-blink away tears-sniffle moments for me. (Second, the bedroom window scene near the end, which was romantic as hell. Hmm…. I wonder if a certain attractive, blowtorch weidling main character will wear a tool belt to fix the window she broke while trying to get the attention of her possible forever person.)

Moving on, Beautiful Dreamer replaces [b:Just Three Words|22750233|Just Three Words (Soho Loft, #2)|Melissa Brayden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416873467l/22750233._SY75_.jpg|42295527] as my favorite book by Brayden. The setting is believable and the complexities of the main characters increase gradually as the story progresses. This story does not have a wow moment because it's fairly easy to predict what will happen. However, Devyn and Elizabeth's flaws are what make us care more about what happens next.

Overall, this is another great read by Brayden. Buy it. Read it. You'll love it from beginning to end.
( )

Devyn is a high powered real estate agent in Philly. But, when something happens to her sister, she gets pulled home to South Carolina.

Unlike Devyn, Elizabeth stayed in town and made a life for herself including a gig company On the Spot. She is there when Devyn comes to the Sheriff's Office looking for her sister and they connect and start the back and forth in their relationship and there was a lot of back and forth.

Unfortunately, while I liked 3/4ths of the book, at the end, no- just no, no. All of a sudden the facts about Devyn are horrible and everything is somehow her fault. Even just wanting to have a career or money is somehow bad/evil? I mean, I get that these days you're evil if you say out loud that you'd like to make some money, but, the end of the book was so absurdly one sided that it made me sad.

I really did like the first 3/4ths of the book, but, the last 1/4th really just sapped the joy from the novel.

I received this book via Netgalley thanks to Bold Strokes Books. ( )