Euro Dreams

by Kate Stewart, Saskia Maarleveld (Narrator), Grant Cartwright (Narrator)

I don't remember booking a first-class ticket to hell…

An all-expense paid trip to Europe. What could be more enticing than that?

Well, other than having the surgeon I fantasize about daily as my travel companion.

To me, that's all Lucian Aston is—a highly sophisticated, posh Englishman who stars in my daydreams. Mostly because of the way he views me as a loud, boisterous, no-nonsense surgical nurse he's stuck touring London and Paris with up to the day of his groundbreaking surgery.

Until then, we've got a lot of downtime to kill. So, it's only natural that I put my best foot forward to get to know him a little better.

Problem is Lucian has no intention of taking a single step in his fancy wingtips to meet me halfway. That is until we strike our deal…

For the next six weeks, it'll be a no-holds-barred, balls-to-the-wall reckoning between me and the prickly heart doctor as I get to know the man behind the scowl and scalpel.

That's the thing about the good doctor's surgical specialty and his skill in the heart department. The more we spend time together, the more I run the risk of losing mine.

Even so, I'm prepared for anything. Or at least I think I am.

You see, there are the best-laid plans for the dream getaway you drum up in your mind, and then there's reality.

In all my careful planning, I don't at all recall booking a first-class ticket to hell.

Euro Dreams is a standalone, spicy romantic dramedy with all the feels from the international and USA Today bestselling author of The Plight Before Christmas and The Ravenhood Trilogy.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Audiobook, Contemporary, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance, Holiday

12 pages, Audible Audio

First published February 25, 2024

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, Amazon Charts, and Internationally bestselling author Kate Stewart, a Texas native, lives in North Carolina with her husband, Nick. Nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance, as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense.

The Ravenhood Trilogy, consisting of Flock, Exodus, and The Finish Line, as well as the spinoff series, Ravenhood Legacy, have become NYT, USA Today, and International bestsellers as well as TikTok sensations. The Ravenhood was recently acquired for film adaptation with Kate set to co-write the script, as well as executive produce, which will kickstart her lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker.

Amongst Kate’s other bestselling works, The Bittersweet Symphony Duet, specifically Drive, was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for best contemporary romance of 2017. Stewart’s works have been featured in USA Today, BuzzFeed, The New York Daily News, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine, and translated into over twenty languages.



More info: https://geni.us/katestewartbooks

Reviews

[Kate Stewart]

NOW LIVE & FREE to read with KINDLE UNLIMITED!!!

Grab the eBook, paperback, and pre-order the audio here-https://geni.us/EuroDreams

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Kate does it again! Euro Dreams is an oh-so-hilarious romantic dramedy that was an absolute blast to read!

Jane and Lucian are coworkers (he’s a surgeon and she’s a surgical nurse) and they are going on an overseas six-week work trip. Jane is thrilled but things don’t go quite as planned. Poor Jane goes through the wringer on this trip. If it could go wrong, it does. But there is one major positive. And that is Lucian.

Lucian is British and back on his home turf. Jane has had a thing for Lucian since he started at her job in Boston, but they have a complicated relationship. The tension. Gahhhh. It was so good. And their chemistry lit the pages on fire. I loved all the hilarious moments, but also the heartfelt ones with them opening up to one another about their families and lives.

How relatable was Jane? Gosh, I haven’t read a heroine so open, vulnerable, and herself in some time. I was so proud of her and how she was 100% herself. Lucian was amazing as well. I loved seeing him heal and grow. These two were perfect together.

Kate Stewart is one of the best writers out there and her stories always draw me in. I was so engrossed with reading this, I laughed out loud so many times, it gave me the best kind of feels, and by the end, you couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face. This will most definitely be a top favorite of the year for me and I highly recommend it!

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know when you are telling a story of something absolutely hilarious to someone and they don’t find it funny at all? It’s because it’s one of those “you had to be there” moments. That is this entire book. It is endless pages of what feels like inside jokes and dull conversations and material better suited for someone’s diary about a vacation.

Kate is one of my most favorite authors, but this book was so disappointing. It started off cute and I was on board with the potential of a vacation fling between a doctor and his surgical nurse. It just never really got interesting. I stay up late reading every single night of my life and usually have to force myself to go to bed. I kept falling asleep WHILE actively trying to read this book. I’d only read half a chapter and be knocked out.

I truly don’t want this review to be me just me shitting on this book but after spending TWELVE days getting through this book, I just need to vent a little. I just kept waiting for Kate’s signature vibe to take off and captivate me. Jane, the FMC, was so irritating. The incessant references to her “kitty” was so cringeworthy. Lucian, the MMC, was boring. He has a bit of a troubled past that is said to be the excuse for why he is so closed off – but I think he just lacks a personality. Their arguments and banter felt contrived and I completely lacked any empathy for both of them. I would have 100000% DNFd if it was a different author. Other fans kept alluding to something happening later in the book so I held on. I was SO SURE it was going to get better. Once I got to the part everyone was losing their minds over (underwhelming BTW), I had just a little bit left to read – so I finished the damn thing (forced myself to finish). The last few chapters of the book were pretty good but not worth the trainwreck of the first 80% of the book. By the time I got to the angsty bits, I just wasn’t invested enough in the characters to care about their trauma and pain.
The writing: good but long winded. If you like Europe and history lessons and dull conversations… this is for you!!! I don’t give a shit about London, France, or history in general so I was bored out of my mind.

The plot: non-existent. Is it about touring Europe? Is it about the groundbreaking surgery they are there to perform? Is it about family drama and grief? Is is about everything AND nothing at the same time? Yes.
The romance: ehhh, they had decent chemistry for a pair of characters that are completely unlikeable. I guess they at least have that in common?
The spice: good but difficult to connect with when you couldn’t care less about either of them
The conclusion: nicely wrapped up or maybe I was just finally glad it was over???

I just want to be done with this, so I have nothing left to say about it. If this is your first Kate Stewart book and you were underwhelmed, I implore you to try the Ravenhood Trilogy, the Bittersweet Symphony duet, The Underdogs series, and The Plight Before Christmas. All of those are 5 star amazing books!

[Jenny Lovez Bookz]

DNF @ 10%...it's taken me 2 days to get this far so I can't imagine another 500+ pages of this. It's so wordy for no reason, I can't connect with the characters and I'm just not clicking with the humor. Maybe it gets better but I just don't have the energy to stick around to find out

[Natalia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually really love Kate’s books, but this one fell way flat 😞. Kate is one of the few authors that can have me laughing out loud while reading, but not this time. I was very disappointed in the characters. Neither one of them were lovable, and Jane’s constant referring to her lady parts as “kitty” was overdone and got to the point of crude and gross, literally no one says “pet the kitty” 🤢.

I ended up DNFing this one, which is honestly unheard of for me with this author! I tried to stay with it for 6 days but had to call it. It was also wayyyyyy too long, and some scenes were completely pointless, especially the one where Jane meets her favorite author on the train to France, who happens to have a social media group page…that Jane is a part of. Those of us who are part of Kate’s social media page will understand the connection, its like Kate gave herself a cameo, which was sort of awkward. 😬

[cha · Rating 1 out of 5]

the heroine, Jane, is so cringe. Please, for once in your life, shut the fuck up. She tries so hard to be quirky. Please do some self-reflection, and think to yourself, "am I the problem?" yes, yes you are, Jane. You can start the journey of becoming a little better by never speaking again. She also frequently refers to her vagina as "my kitty". Please, do all of us a favor, and shut the fuck up.

and Lucian "I allow it, knowing it's our last" Aston, stop being such a pussy ass horny bitch. I've never read such an all-over-the-place character before. We get it, everyone thinks you're hot shit. Maybe I'd start thinking the same if you stopped saying things that don't make sense. His convos with Jane are mega cringe, and they all take TOO long to get to the point. The moment he started calling Jane "cheeky" I should've stopped reading the book.

in conclusion, I need everyone in this book to just, stop. Please. You all are embarrassing. I only stayed for the Raven cameo and even that was a disappointment because this Raven gave Jane something that pissed me off because I want Jane far far far far far far far far far away from the Ravens. Dear God.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Oh Kate Stewart, Queen of the dramedy, able to make me laugh, fall in love and break my heart, all in the same book. Add in overseas travel and a deliciously chemistry-filled, grumpy/sunshine love story, and I was completely hooked.

Jane is a surgical nurse who is relishing the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to London and Paris for 6 weeks. She is travelling with a brilliant heart surgeon for a complicated surgical case, but she is determined to explore and experience everything she can, squeezing the excitement out of every moment as she lives her life to the fullest.

Her travel companion, the gorgeous and talented Englishman, Dr Lucian Aston, does not appear to be the best companion to share the experience with. Sophisticated and stand-offish, he doesn’t seem to appreciate Jane’s excitement and enthusiasm, and her bold, filterless outspokenness leaves him hilariously shocked and clueless as to how to handle her energetic spirit.

A series of mishaps force them to become way more up in each other’s business then they anticipated, and they soon strike a deal to speak freely and honestly, and to actually spend time together exploring, setting the scene for the amazing journey to come.

“You should know you’re more than just a billion-dollar set of surgical hands.”
“If that’s true,” he whispers, glancing over my shoulder briefly and then back to me, his gaze probing. The intimacy of the moment is not lost on me as he crowds in closer with his next question, “Who am I then, Jane?”
“I don’t know, but I plan on finding out in the next couple of weeks.”

The tension between Jane and Lucien is there from the beginning. It’s clear that there’s an attraction between them, and as they get to know each other, open up about the dark parts of their life, and support and take care of each other, things quickly change. With their commitment to being open and honest, they don’t hold anything back, and with the sexual tension between them absolutely sizzling, everything between them changes.

“Fair warning, I can be a sexual fucking heathen with an insatiable appetite and I will push every boundary you set for me.”

Holy hotness, this book is SO steamy. The connection between Lucian and Jane, though unlikely, is undeniable, and their wild passion for each other is explored in all the ways. They don’t plan on it turning into anything serious, but the longer they are together, the harder they fall for each other and it becomes the most epic of love stories.

“If you think I don’t love you with every fiber of my being, that you’re not the most precious, most important person in my life, you couldn’t be more mistaken.”

But there’s so much more to this story. Lucian is back in his home town and with Jane’s encouragement, he’s dealing with heartbreaking family dysfunction, and a still-smitten ex-lover. There’s the medical case that they are there for, which brings its own emotional implications. We also have the magical wonder of Jane experiencing being overseas for the first time, and the wildly hilarious mishaps she has along the way - I would think some of these situations are over the top, but they’re based on the real-life experience of the author (which is actually pretty horrifying), and here, they’re entertaining and bring lightness to the story. And combined with Jane’s lust for living and her desire to drag Lucian out of his shell and get him to experience life, there are so many fun moments in this one.

The different storylines in the book kept my emotions all over the place. I’d be laughing, then swooning, then feeling sad and angsty, over and over again. I love how it’s all tied together and appreciated each part of the story. The ending brings a dramatic twist that I wasn’t expecting, ramping the emotion up even more, and my heart was pounding as it all unfolded.

Through it all, we have these two incredible, imperfect characters who love each other deeply, and who are just trying to figure out their happy ending. It’s not an easy road, and it hurts, but it’s so, so worth it.

“I’m the version of myself I’m most proud of when I’m with you.”

On a side note - Jane’s sister, Charlie and her husband are so freaking funny. Their message chain was definitely a highlight. And there’s a much-talked-about cameo which was really sweet.

So why not 5 stars? Well, this book is just soooo long. Longer than it needs to be, with a lot of inner monologing which felt drawn out and unnecessary. And when there’s so much going on in the story in the first place, it did drag a bit.

But overall I loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved their individual journeys, I loved their love story, how deeply and naturally they fell for each other, how committed they were to each other and how hard they fought for their happy ending. I finished this book feeling all loved-up, with a massive smile on my face.

Such a gorgeous read - 4.5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.

[Joanne Ragona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this but it just never got there for me. It was kind of all over the place and I am left with such mixed feelings. Jane irritated me but I LOVED Lucien. I laughed out loud a lot but I also cringed at certain parts. The main characters pledge to be honest but constantly keep things from each other. The arguments between Jane and Lucien were so repetitive and tedious as were both of their inside thoughts and feelings.

Then there was romantic, steamy love that melted my heart and real and raw emotions from both characters that was so moving and beautiful. The cameos made me smile although a bit contrived. So much back and forth with how I felt while reading this story. I also think it was much too long.

Definitely not my favorite Kate Stewart book. I enjoyed it but I also struggled through parts. I’m happy to see that I’m in the minority and people are loving this story…I adore KS and will always be a huge fan.

[T Rojo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was like one big private joke. Apparently Kate went on a European vacation of a lifetime that went to shit and she wrote a book about it. It’s way too long for no reason.

Plot? Invisible
Characters? Cringey and weird
Conversations? Hard to follow
Unnecessary drama? Almost every page

The cameo in Plight before Christmas was adorable, the cameo in this was so contrived it was cringey.

Merged review:

This was like one big private joke. Apparently Kate went on a European vacation of a lifetime that went to shit and she wrote a book about it. It’s way too long for no reason.

Plot? Invisible
Characters? Cringey and weird
Conversations? Hard to follow
Unnecessary drama? Almost every page

The cameo in Plight before Christmas was adorable, the cameo in this was so contrived it was cringey.

[Jinny Sutter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf @ 16%

Jane is insufferable. She's supposed to be an adult. Are you seriously going to tell me she doesn't understand professionalism on a work trip. She starts asking about his sex life after flashing him. It's not funny or cute to be that clueless.

[Wobilba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh! These two gave me the worst whiplashes with the most annoying bickering ever 😔

Not a bad read if you don’t mind MCs being at each other’s throat every five seconds

[Melanie Jakusz · Rating 1 out of 5]

You should totally read this book if you are into a 27 year old child referring to her lady bits as “kitty”.

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane + Lucian

For six months now Jane has been a nurse in heart doc Lucian's team.
She's also been in hate love with him ever since. He's super hot and just amazingly talented. But he's also super annoying and rude and just does not seem to like her!
And now they're on the 'vacation' of Jane's dreams. Six weeks in London and Paris! Mostly to get ready for the super important heart surgery but there will also be some sightseeing and fun involved. At least Jane plans on having fun. Lucian is not the fun type. Or is he?

LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ....

══════════════════




That was adorable!
I love traveling romances and this was just too cute.
Jane is so adorably clumsy and funny and just sweet and adorable. And Lucian is so grumpy and British. LOL! I just loved those two together.
Both have not had the most amazing time growing up - in completely different ways. And a lot of that has to be discussed and handled and healed.
It's all a bit sad and heartbreaking at times. But mostly this book was super funny and sparky and sexy and just ... fun and LOL funny!

Now for the slightly negative stuff - don't worry - nothing bad! Nothing that takes away our joy of reading this book!
Jane talks a lot. And she has a lot of inner dialogue. It made the book a tiny bit too long for me. And a few things were just repeated too often.
And I know that the book was delayed a bit due to illness .... I wish those few days would have been used to go over everything again. There were a lot of mistakes. Just basic typos and missing punctuation. But also timelines and locations and just wrong things. But I still loved reading this very much. And I would SO watch the movie!


💜 💜

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐'s

I'm EXHAUSTED from that whirlwind!!

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, I’m really torn over this one and really don’t know what to think of it.
I guess it’s worth a read. But it’s not a quick read. It dragged. And it’s nowhere near my favourite Christmas Romances.

I loved the whole Christmas-Time in London vibes, there really is no better be place. And him showing her around everywhere was great, I really enjoyed his history lessons.
And it was great that both Characters came with some baggage that felt kind of authentic and insecurities, because that’s what happens when adults meet.

But starting off so cute and a lot of fun, the fun turned slapstick too many times. The whole thing had me laughing out loud at some parts but also cringe a lot.

When I like a story and the vibes are on, I can ignore a lot. But this was way too long for that.
I mean it’s a great story I guess. But this could have easily been a lot shorter and more enjoyable. It was way too long, repetitive AF, and it was too much of everything.

A great part of it was really sweet and had me feeling for both Jane and Lucian. I really liked their story. But because the whole thing dragged, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I could have.
Lucian really was such a good one. Perfect guy. Jane is also great but also a lot of times seems to be trying too hard to be quirky. And they had great banter.

But this being too much of everything, maybe him being brilliant was mentioned a few times too many. And Jane was great but did she really have to be the best and wonderful so many times and have everyone being after her or into her and have everyone being protective of her and being forgiving after every shit she pulled and forgiving of her antics and declaring her absolutely right even when she’s irrational? And why is she constantly winking?!

[Dahlia Grueneberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved that there was a full figured FMC. You don’t find that often & it’s nice to see her with such confidence as well. There were some funny moments & some had me laughing out loud. So I did enjoy some things. But…Honestly, this book was just long winded…for no reason. I almost didn’t pick it up. The synopsis didn’t really sell me & then the quirky cover almost completely ruined it. But knowing how much I have loved some of Kate Stewart’s other works, I figured I’d give it a chance. Hell, the Ravenhood synopsis and cover had me questioning (for different reasons) before I finally picked it up. And then loved it. Yes, it’s such a bad habit to judge a book by its cover…but if some judgement wasn’t supposed to happen from the cover, so much effort wouldn’t be put into them. Best food forward & whatnot.

I’m a huge huge huge Ravenhood girlie. Also, loved the Bittersweet Symphony duet & novella. There was a slight nod to both in this book. One more blaring than the other, but I appreciated them both. This book just didn’t deliver the way those did for me.

Jane is funny & quick witted. Lucien is kinda serious & a little grumpy at first. They had a little grumpy X sunshine going on. But it just kinda felt like a friend was sharing their stories from a trip & all the crazy things that went wrong. Which, essentially is what this book is. It’s clearly stated in the foreword. The romance was sort of just tossed in for good measure. The dialogue was so scattered and convoluted that it was hard to follow at times. Which is why it took me forever to get through it. I found myself rereading a lot of pages and finally just moving on when I found it was just poorly worded. It’s got gradually better as it progressed, which is the only reason I didn’t DNF it. I assumed it would eventually pick up & be more of what I was hoping for. Unfortunately, that never happened for me.

This book felt rushed to me. I think there may have been gold in there but I don’t think this was it. The book was just too long & wordy. I still am very much interested in what KS does next though. I’ll happily pickup any of her woo. This one just wasn’t for me.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Stewart has done it again.

This book gives you every feeling, I was laughing out loud, giddy, blushing, and crying.

Jane and Lucian are coworkers set to be overseas for 6 weeks in Europe for ground-breaking surgery.

Lucian, the brilliant, handsome, and reserved heart surgeon, is going back to London, which he left behind three years ago.

Jane is the hilarious, unapologetically herself, loud Southern surgical nurse assistant traveling overseas for the first time.

They couldn't be more opposite, but we know opposites attract.

Every embarrassing and travel faux paux happens, in the most hilarious way, which brings Lucian and Jane closer together.

This is a spicy, swoon worthy romance which drives into complicated pasts but shows how communicating is key.

This book was everything I needed.

Also, Chapter 35 - Ravenhood fans will be thrilled.

Thank you Kate and team for the ARC. It was everything.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 12%
FMC was insufferable. Couldn’t push through

[✨alexandria✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my GOD. FEELS, FEELS, FEELS!!! Honestly, I wasn’t expecting too much from this book. I thought it would be a fun & quirky read- an easy read. This turned out to be anything but - in the best way! Jane & Lucian were the BEST. This wasn’t a generic love story. In true Kate Stewart fashion, this was a heart-puller. I truly wasn’t prepared for the depth this delve into. It was a real & relatable story, with a beautiful development, and such a fulfilling ending. This wasn’t a story of just heartbreak, but of joy & finding yourself, as well. My heart broke, and I admittedly cried both happy & sad tears, throughout. So many aspects of this story were touching and tender as heck. We don’t only see two characters here who fall in love and have their happy ending, but we also see the depths of each one. What issues they have, how they attempt to heal their wounds, and how they heal from them- both with & without each other. THAT was the best part for me. The fact that each character truly appreciated and preferred to have one another in their lives, but could also build themselves up alone, if needed, was everything. There was a third act half breakup of sorts, but it wasn’t the generic dumb reasoning & almost unrealistic rejoining & then everything is fine again. There was true strife to work through, and then genuine conversation and concerns worked through BEFORE it gets better again. We see true healing and development of each character, and their relationship as a whole. I couldn’t have asked for a better novel. This was truly a masterpiece, for the story it was going for. 100 stars, if I could!

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

It pains me to write this as much as it pained me to read this, as Kate’s writing usually is a hit for me. This was a complete fumble and a miss—full of contradictory characters with no chemistry and an entirely too verbose romantic dramedy. If you’re looking for intolerable characters and writing, read this book. Also, as someone in the medical field, I’m usually good at separating fiction from the real world, but Kate, at least do a little research before you write complete inaccuracies and portrayals. I would have DNF’d this book if I wasn’t buddy reading it with a friend (who also hated it for the reasons I will get into).

Let’s start with the fact this is 500+ pages. It was unnecessarily long. You could say, “I grabbed onto his arm as our suitcases danced and slid on the ice.” Or you can be this author and write a 40 word sentence out of it. I don’t want to read romances this long, especially with no plot. Which mind you, there may have been a plot, but we lost it along the way.

The timelines are choppy and you truly don’t know how much time has passed. One week is written and drawn out to feel like over a month, months are written vaguely and feel like a couple days. Truly, for such a verbose story it is quite lacking in actual execution or organization.

Jane, an unprofessional and “quirky” surgical RN, and Lucian, an introverted and “grumpy” cardiothoracic surgeon, head to the UK and France to perform a groundbreaking surgical procedure. You will barely hear about this procedure throughout the book and when it’s actually done, you’ll hear nothing more of it and have to assume the results were successful? There truly is not a real, only implied, resolution for this “plot”.

I’m going to start by analyzing Jane’s character and every single way I loathed her. She was written with the intention to be quirky, but I found she was inappropriate, ignorant, brash, a walking contradiction, and a manipulator who thrived at gaslighting Lucian. Her character was not cute, and I believe the goal was to make her the “sunshine” of this story that saved our tortured MMC, but seriously, she was a f’ing wreck who truly was one of the most selfish characters I’ve read about. Someone tell her to read The Four Agreements, because this b**** could learn something about making one’s word impeccable, not taking things personally, not making assumptions and giving everything her best. It was supposed to be comedic, but this girl’s entire existence is the punch line of the joke. The book starts off about how unprepared she was for travel and the UK weather, and it only gets worse when you realize how ignorant, lazy and unprepared for life she truly is. You’d trust this woman taking care of you as a nurse? This girl doesn’t even, and shouldn’t, trust herself.
Now, I will leave you with some quick tidbits and quotes from Jane to drive my point:
•Jane refers to her v@gina as a kitty or cat the entire book and consistently likes to say it’s “purrrrrinnnngggg” or “pet the kitty”. Kitty is said at least 21 times from my count.
•”If you’re feeling any sort of buyer’s remorse right now, I think it’s important you know it’s much too late, Doc. You already took the kitty home and petted it. No refunds.”
•”It’s part of the Jane Cartwright luxury package, and unfortunately those who pet my kitty subject themselves to it.”
•”I should have freaking known why my moods were swinging like a dick in joggers.”

Now, for Lucian. Lucian is made out to be an introverted, “grumpy”, “prick” of a doctor. He’s what you’d expect out of a surgeon—to the point, reliable, intelligent and a bit serious. He has some unresolved traumas from the family he grew up in, where it seemed money talked, but the family did not. He also lost a young brother which continued to alter and break apart their family dynamic. He wasn’t an intolerable character, and most of the time I just felt like he was a lost puppy being ridiculed for existing. Jane spent the entire book trying to “help” him, but to me, it seemed more like she was trying to change him. She manipulated and gaslighted him in many ways. Unfortunately, this man came from abuse and a broken home, thus the abuse from her did not seem like abuse at all because he couldn’t identify it. Poor lost puppy of a guy seemed like he ran around with his tail tucked.

Now, for their chemistry and romance. It was forced. There was none. It should’ve been show, don’t tell. There weren’t really many actions that proved this chemistry they spoke of. He was made to do uncomfortable things and put in unnecessary situations by Jane, that’s not chemistry, that’s trauma. The author tells us of this chemistry he “feels”, but as a reader, I didn’t feel it, only read it. Jane is insecure and ashamed of herself and hides things from Lucian the entire story but then manipulates and gaslights him every time she is caught or called out. She doesn’t apologize for her aggressive behaviors, only demands to be apologized to. She’s not truthful, she’s a mess. All the times that were spicy were written in a way to drive the book for the reader at a meager attempt to continue to engage them, not because the characters had any actual palpable chemistry.

And now, I must also touch on Ch 35, the anticipated Ravenhood cameo. It was unnecessary and did not fit into the book at all. The way the Ravens were written and the way Jane’s character is written, it makes no sense that the Ravens would befriend this woman or continue a relationship in any way. I love a lot of Kate’s other books, including the Ravenhood Series, but let’s just let Ravenhood stay in the Ravenhood. I know it is the author’s most popular series, but this book in that world makes no sense. The cameo seemed more for attracting readers to this book (riding the Raven train) than it was for purpose or plot.

I won’t get into more details telling you why I did not enjoy this book, because I seriously could be as verbose as Kate was writing this book. I’m just hoping if my spoiler-free review can save someone the trouble of this cringey monstrosity, it will.

[❤️ Nanda ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an amazing love story!
It's funny, entertaining, full of love, discover of yourself, character development, angst, family drama, chemistry, banter, steamy and dreamy scenes, and well.... a lot more!

Lucian is stoic and polite while Jane is carefree and spontaneous.
That's definitely a great recipe for an epic love, when she starts to break down his walls, one crass comeback after another 😂😂😂

She's exactly what he needed to let go of his grief and start to live again.

I'll also say that the appearance of Tyler made me want to do another reread of the Ravenhood Trilogy!

Great narration for the audiobook, and that's probably the reason for my 5 starts review, cause I think I would be a bit bored and drop a star to the whole history of England and France, if not for the deliciously British accent on my ears.

[Here4thehea · Rating 3 out of 5]

just okay

As a pretty obsessive Kate reader this one was just okay for me. I laughed and eventually connected to our characters chemistry and I certainly sobbed at the ending but the book was mostly just okay. It was a slow start but there was comedic relief to get you through and around 50% I was happy the book picked up.

[Alba and Her Secrets..♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 'My Cheeky girl' Stars!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.


Another exceptional romantic dramedy from the one and only, Kate Stewart! I had no doubts in my mind she would release another winner as soon as she started teasing us about this book. Hilarious, steamy, swoony, dramatic, and full of feels, Euro Dreams is a wild and wonderful ride you don’t want to miss. If you have enjoyed Kate’s writing in the past and her comedic side, you are in for another treat. I have so many emotions in me right now because this woman has done it again. Well done, Kate!

So, Euro Dreams is Stewart’s newest standalone release and it’s a spicy romcom with a side of drama. It tells the story of Jane Cartwright (aka Cheeky) and Lucian Aston (aka Dr. Prick) and their wild journey to London and Paris for a new and life-changing heart surgery. But Jane’s travel companion is not the best. Lucian has no intention of becoming her friend but that changes when a deal is made after some mortifying moments together. But after finally spending time getting to know each other, sparks fly between Jane and Lucian and now their actual hearts are at risk of falling. What will happen to them when this trip ends?

“You’re infuriating, Jane Cartwright.”
“Thank you.”
“Not everything is a compliment.”
“Guess that depends on which T-Rex you’re talking to.”
“Christ, you’ll be the death of me.”

I can’t even explain myself right now! Gah, I love how this woman writes. SO MUCH. The narrative, the character development, the amazing and hilarious experiences the couple go through, the scorching hot chemistry, the drama, the FEELS. Everything. I just loved EVERYTHING. And can we just take a moment to appreciate these two characters? The banter, the never-ending funny and intense moments and that beautiful connection between Jane and Lucian is what makes Euro Dreams such an excellent read. Together with an amazing crew of secondary characters, some surprise appearances, and such a heartwarming ending, I loved this experience from start to finish.

“I’ve never been so attracted to a woman in the entirety of my fucking life, Jane— on every imaginable level. Watch me appreciate that, appreciate you, because it’s a gift I don’t intend to waste a second abusing.”

Therefore, I am rating Euro Dreams with 5 STARS because I can’t even list the whole array of emotions I felt while reading this book. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, I burned, and I FELT. I loved Lucian and Jane together, I loved their banter, I loved how they support and love each other just as they are and how that is what makes this love story such an intense ride. If you have loved this type of story from Kate in the past or even if you want to start reading something from hers, you’ll absolutely love this one. I highly, highly recommend checking it out!

[Linathebookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was super cute, super fun and super steamy!!!
Lucian and Jane. I am so happy when I read a book where I can relate with the heroine so much. Jane was the sweetest FMC ever and I think she is my favorite heroine from Kate Stewart!
The banter, the spice and humor. It was superb and a total palate cleanser from my last few reads. Just amazing.

[Sarah (The Kindred Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3.75 Stars😊] Euro Dreams was my 5th book by Kate Stewart, and she never fails to write messy and complicated yet relatable characters that you cry, laugh, swoon, and sweat over.

I love a broody MMC, and Lucian was what I've come to expect from a Kate Stewart MMC: tough on the outside but a deep, emotional well on the inside, and I LOVED his emotional growth in this book, and by the end I was obsessed with him. I devoured every chapter from his POV, and one of my disappointments in Euro Dreams was losing his POV for almost the entire second half.

Speaking of the second half of this book.....

While the Paris part was necessary to Jane and Lucian's romantic development, the sassy yet tender-hearted FMC I grew to love in London had an entirely different personality in Paris, and, to be honest, she kept giving me whiplash. Did I still love her overall sense of humor and life outlook? Yes, I really did. But I struggled with her through Paris and, unfortunately, didn't get enough of Lucian's POV to temper my growing indifference towards her. However, the emotional scenes between Jane and Lucian throughout the book packed a heavyweight punch (yes, I cried because I can't make it through a KS book without crying 😅), and the sentiments from each character are so relatable. I loved how they eventually understood and saw one another perfectly.

One of the highlights of the Paris adventure was a cameo by a certain someone from The Ravenhood series, and I loved getting another glimpse of them! 🥰 I love how Kate Stewart loosely weaves all her stories with some character overlap, and Euro Dreams was no exception.

I also thought this book was too long by 100 pages or so. While A LOT of emotional baggage unpacking happens in this book, some other parts felt unnecessarily drawn out. I would have stayed engaged and happily along for the chaotic ride that Euro Dreams took me on if there had been a better sense of balance. However, I also think that any fan of Kate Stewart's previous books will enjoy this one, and I'm excited to see where her books take us!
____________________________________
Details:
💘Contemporary Romance
👀Dual, first-person POV
⛈️Darker themes and elements
🥀Third act separation (breakup adjacent)
✈️Travel
🙌Would re-read

Tropes:
🌓Age gap
🌪Broody MMC
🚦Frenemies-to-lovers
📍Forced proximity
🧩Found family
🌤️Grumpy/sunshine
🪃Return to hometown
🧨Slow burn
👔Workplace romance

Spice:
🔥Explicit content (hot)
____________________________________
Emoji Ranking System:
🤩Fantastic (4.75-5.00)
😍Great (4.25-4.75)
😊Good, but not great (3.50-4.25)
😒Just OK (2.75-3.50)
😑It's A No (1.00-2.75)
🚫DNF

[Tyler | bookishwithty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Stewart has once again captivated readers with "Euro Dreams," a brilliant masterpiece that is truly mesmerizing. This emotional journey with Lucian and Jane is filled with moments that will touch your heart deeply. Without giving away any spoilers, this story is a true work of art that will evoke a myriad of emotions, so be prepared with tissues for this tear-jerker! Towards the end, I found myself feeling a mix of sadness and anger, as Kate's writing took me on an emotional rollercoaster. She has a unique talent for breaking you down and rebuilding you in a way that leaves you forever changed after reading her work. The characters in this story have left a lasting impact on me, and "Euro Dreams" has definitely earned a spot among my favorites. It's a definite five-star read. I will truly miss these characters. Getting to know them so intimately over the past twenty-four hours has left a significant mark on me. Thank you, Kate, for sharing this beautiful story with us! I’m also so sorry for the way your first journey to Europe turned out but can only be grateful it inspired this story!
P.S. It was great to see T again!

[Chenoa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-2.75
If this book had been 200-300 pages shorter, basically take everything out if the middle, it would've been a 4 or 5 star read. I took a two week break in the middle of reading this book because I needed to decide if I wanted to finish it or not. I'm happy I did because I really enjoyed the ending, but the middle was so unnecessary and way too drawn out.
But I did love the mention of characters from ravenhood trilogy

[Erin McKeown · Rating 3 out of 5]

so cheesy but i think ive made it through the slump

[Katie Haw · Rating 1 out of 5]

just bad

It’s really terrible. None of the characters are likable. The situations they find themselves in are just ludicrous and so unrealistic I was afraid my eyes would permanently stay budged to my forehead. Just terrible writing too. Blech. 🤮

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it 🖤

Pick this book up if you want to laugh out loud, but then have your heart broken by the realness of these characters. Kate has a way of storytelling that is so unique that it makes you fall in love with the characters as if you know them…

"Jane, who is lying on her back, one leg bent... fanny out." 🖤🤣

- Curvy, relatable FMC 💁🏻‍♀️
- (Travelling) Workplace romance 👩🏻‍⚕️🧑🏼‍⚕️
- Grumpy x sunshine ☀️
- Spicy slow burn 🐌🥵
- Forced proximity

It is confirmed, Kate Stewart can do no wrong. I gobbled this book (which is pretty thick at c.590 pages) up in less than 24hrs.

Meet Jane, the curvy nurse from the wrong side of town (let me add in here that 22 pages in I discovered Jane was from Triple Falls? *screaming*😱) who is leaving the US for her first trip abroad 🇬🇧🇫🇷alongside the grumpy world renowned heart surgeon, Lucian Aston. Lucian is a Brit working in the US and has been raised to be 'proper' which is everything loud and cheerful Jane is not.

Jane has every intention of making the most of her trip and Lucian is deadset on ensuring that Jane does not set a foot out of place. Until she literally does. This results in Jane & Lucian making a deal where they will be 100% honest with each other for the remainder of the trip and through this they form a friendship and Jane discovers why Lucian is as uptight as he is...

Few of my favourite bits:
- Jane is my favourite FMC written by Kate, she was just so bloody relateable. 🖤
- The 'he shits' comments. This is so accurate it had me cackling💩
- The cat. The meaning of the cat on the cover. This had me laughing out loud so many times 🐈‍⬛
- The fall in front of the hotel? I died for her, but I also could not stop laughing 🤣
- OMG the T-Rex costumes, I get it now 🦖
- The references to London and Paris were spot on! As an expat that travelled both countries 2018/19 the references used (such as Big Ben and the scaffolding) made the writing so much more believable 🕰️
- Jane's speech to William was everything ❤️‍🩹
- The spice was spicing 🌶️🌶️🌶️
- BIG BIRD. Tobias. Reference to *HIM*. The necklace with the wings. Dying, literally shed a tear. 🐦‍⬛🥹
- The way all the laughter dissapeared and my heart genuinely hurt for Jane and Lucian at the end if the trip.💔

The dedication:
''For the women who carry and conduct themselves like the goddesses they are and can straighten their own crown without a reminder. You are awe-inspiring. This book is also, and especially for those who need a little reminder—open the door, Beauties, she’s knocking from within.'' 🖤🖤🖤

Thank you Kate and the KLS Press team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Looking forward to the audiobook releasing in June when I will definitely be rereading this book again!