Dream with Me

Elladine Fire #5

by Finley Daniels

We were the classic cliché: Small town high school couple where brainy girl tutors hot, swoony quarterback and they fall in love. Then they live happily ever after…

But that only happens in fairytales, because our marriage is in trouble. Big trouble.

Standing before a judge—who delays our divorce, by the way—doesn’t quite align with the dreams we once had. It’s more like a nightmare than a fairytale.

Troy gets to keep the job he loves as a firefighter, his annoyingly good looks, lean muscular build, and his wicked skills in the bedroom.
I get the house, twenty extra pounds I can’t shake, and lingering depression.

Seems fair.

But here’s the thing about a court mandated slowing down of our divorce… Now that we’re apart, Troy and I spend more time together than we had been the last few years of our marriage.

We’re talking more. Laughing some.

We’re both working harder to be our best selves, something we failed to do when our marriage was crashing and burning.

Maybe time, a little perspective, and being snowed in together during a blizzard with only one bed is all we need to see that there still might be something between us worth fighting for. It might be all I need to see that dreams evolve and maybe what I’ve been yearning for is right in front of me.

With only days left until our final day in court, I’m wondering if I’m really ready to give up on us and say goodbye to our love or am I going to fight for our marriage.

Genres: Second Chance, Small Town Romance

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2025

About the author

Finley Daniels writes romances that are heartfelt, healing, and filled with happy endings. Don’t be surprised if you laugh, cry, then laugh again all in the same book. Finley probably did all of those while writing it…

Finley is a voracious reader. She often loses herself (and sleep) for hours at a time into the world of whatever book she is reading… especially if she’s lucky enough to be relaxing somewhere on a warm beach near the ocean.

She loves gardening, being out in nature, and her fur babies. Her husband isn't so bad, either. She’s also obsessed with watching the owls that live in a nesting box in her back yard. That means if you follow her newsletter, you’ll undoubtedly see lots of pics featuring flowers, pups, and owls!

Finley lives in the Northeastern United States.

Stay up to date on Finley’s latest news on her website, Facebook, or Instagram.

Reviews

[Rombookfanlove · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, I don’t think I’ve just cried through the whole first 20% of a book before. Some chapters had me nearly sobbing. I then cried sporadically through basically the whole book and even the happy ending - families and family dynamics will get me every time 😭 I didn’t even have divorced parents or anything but it just gets me lol

I’ll emphasise here that you definitely get an HEA and that falling-in-love (again) fuzzy feeling, but ooof it hurt getting there (in a good way).

I am interested in the idea of the marriage in trouble trope, of which I’ve only read one before, and so I was intrigued by this book. Initially, I wasn’t sure whether I could connect with this much, not having been a mom (nor married). The other one I had read was a couple that didn’t have kids. So, the kind of‘worn down by parenting and life’ part I wasn’t sure of initially for myself. But I started then really getting into it and their relationship.

Gah, this one just makes you ache. You know they love each other but just lost their way. Those little moments where they remember each other and reconnect a bit- aghhh 🫠 absolutely lived for those (and - surprise - they made me cry). I dunno, there’s just something different about seeing people who are actually in love figuring out how to work a rough patch out. It is romance in a completely different way, it’s exploring that deep, solid love bond.

It’s a very real-life story in some ways, and I suspect some people may struggle if it hits close to home, but I think the realness makes it that much more beautiful of a story too.

I just really enjoyed this. It’s gets you in the gut but the payoff is so lovely. I f-ing love Troy and really felt for him so much throughout the book. Sweet Shannon had a lot to work through for herself and it was nice seeing her journey.

The writing is great, easy to get into and makes the book come alive. Nothing is overdone, it just flows smoothly and realistically. It’s my first read by this author and I’ll be going back at some point to read the other books in this series. Definitely recommend for an emotional read you can really dig yourself down into and enjoy.

5/5 ⭐️

I received an advance copy of the book and have left my honest, influence-free review

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/10 yearning and angst. I ate it up!

[Georgia Dalianis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe this is the sixth (including the prequel novella) book in the series and the last one. I love the small town of Elladine where these books take place and I love all the characters from the books. So many hot firefighters, so many strong FMCs.
Anyways, on to the book I read now:

I think this is the most I have cried from a book ever. I cried so many times and at one point I had to take a little break, blow my nose and breathe because it was impossible to read with all the damn tears 😂
It just felt so real all of it.

I say this every time I read one of Finley’s books, but Troy is now one of my favorite MMCs from the series. 😍 I really loved him and really felt for him with everything that happened. 😭

And Shannon. Wow. I really related to her. Maybe more than ever before with a FMC.

This is only my second “marriage in trouble” book, and I really enjoyed this kind of different dynamic. I’m so happy they got their HEA even though the road was long and hard.

Tropes and stuff:
👨‍🚒Marriage in trouble
❤️Small town
👨‍🚒High school sweethearts
❤️Mental health and neurodivergent rec
👨‍🚒One bed
🌶️Open door spice

I now want to ask my husband to DREAM WITH ME ♥️

[Pene|ope • Reading Slump, Send Help · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ended up being a tiktok rec that was actually good. I ended up skipping to 3/4 through the book to read it and see if I thought it would even be as good as the video that recommended it made it sound. I was shocked that it seemed to be, so I went to the beginning and started over.

This book had me yelling, swooning, crying, and delaying irl responsibilities in order to finish it.

I love second chance romances but for some reason the save-the-marriage version of that trope isn't something I usually like. But it was done so well here! These two really were still in love with each other, they had just fallen out of communication with each other and didn't know how to move forward together. One of them got too comfortable, the other one too dissatisfied, and they both were individually drowning.

There were parts that really annoyed me. The FMC was very needy and jealous even though she's the one that initiated the divorce proceedings. I think the author did a great job, though, at showing us how they both started to see things that they hadn't seen before, and that they both did the inner work on themselves in order to be able to be what the other needed so that they could see that they still wanted the life they had been building together.

This was a really sweet read that was outside of my usual, and I'm glad that video came across my tt feed so I got the chance to read it.

As an FYI, neither MC is with other people during the separation. They both very much don't even want anyone else.

[Mo ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED IT, I'm surprised on how much I actually loved this book. Especially because I had mixed feelings on all the previous books in this series. But this one was so good and just raw with emotion. I always love Marriage in trouble books but I didn't expect to love this so I'm pleasantly surprised. 🫶💓💓💓

[Alice Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Elladine Fire Series and Finley Daniels really brought it with this story. The emotions are so relatable and will absolutely tear at your heart. I loved both the FMC and the MMC, as well as their family and found family.

Our FMC, Shannon, has been married for 15 years to the love of her her life. They met in high school when she was 15 and he was 17. She was his tutor. He was the star quarterback and fell so hard for her. Shannon is a busy mom, juggling 4 kids, a part time accounting job, running their household, and her husband works long hours as a firefighter. As with so many of us moms, Shannon first suffered with postpartum depression that devolved into a state of depression she could no longer handle. She saw herself as a complete failure in her career, as a wife, even as a mom. We have all been there! Shannon stopped seeing the good in her husband and only saw problems in their marriage.

Troy is a totally hot firefighter who loves Shannon with all of his heart. His childhood left him with the inability to communicate well and issues that made it difficult for him to be a good listener. He is the most gentle and loving man, but is unable to give Shannon what she needs.

Shannon asks for a divorce and the judge delayed the process giving these two time to sort their finances, child custody, etc.

Reading the heart wrenching emotions of each of these two characters will shatter you from the beginning of this book until the end. Their feelings are so true to life, you will wonder if Finley Daniels hasn't lived it herself. Thankfully, there is a HEA

Definitely read this book (be sure to read Book 1-4 first) and thank me later!

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shannon and Troy Willson fell in love when she was sixteen and he was seventeen and she was his tutor. The minute he saw her he thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world and there were never any other girls/women who caught his eye. She was everything he wanted in a woman. He was a man of few words who had been diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and had started meds and they had worked quieting his brain. Except once his father left them because of him they had no money to continue.

So Troy went on the internet to figure out how to find techniques to curb the urges to blurt out comments or answers to situations or direct questions asked of him. However, in a marriage, this method can cause problems and show a lack of interest in the topic, the marriage, or the spouse. But what is just as important is listening skills. And this is partly to blame for Troy and Shannon’s current strain on their marriage. When you see the small tweaks to the marriage that if they had kept them up they might not have had any problem with marriage and found out what was truly happening.

Was the overtime worth losing your family over? Didn’t think so. No woman gets married to be a single woman. To see your children respond to your ex and accept direction, eat foods you’ve tried hard to get them to eat. So four kids between the ages of three to twelve, one dog, laundry that no one likes to put in a basket, cooking, making lunches, breakfast, and school lunches with school drop off and pickup lines. The very ones she has been known to fall asleep in. Yet, she can’t even rest when she gets home.

Here youngest won’t even take naps. You see she does books for two businesses in town. So when Troy is late coming home after twenty-four hours on she finally texts him he calls her all apologetic. He had picked up an extra shift something to offset the dance shoes his daughter needed that Shannon had told him about. She asked him what else she had told him was happening that she needed for herself. That once again he blew off as if she never even said it. All because he never fully listened to her.

Forget once again, something I told you I need doesn't matter. That's when he remembers she had plans with her sister. He starts to say he’s sorry and that he loves her but before he could finish she hung up. No matter what he said or did she couldn’t find what she was looking for. And if she couldn't find it, let’s just lash out at Troy. The poor man was lost as to how to fix any of it, and then she said the words no man wants to hear, I want a divorce. He is devastated he is truly in love with Shannon. Always has been, always will be. See how these two work out their differences and how her mom and sister tell her there is a hormonal imbalance called postpartum that even her mom dealt with. Shannon learns that she has to learn that her listening skills are harsh, too.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the last book in the series, and even though you can totally read it as a standalone, it focuses on Shannon and Troy Wilson. They’ve been married for about 15 years, have four kids, and met back in college—basically childhood sweethearts.

The beginning of the book, maybe the first three chapters or so, is from Shannon’s POV, and honestly, it’s kind of heartbreaking. She’s the main caregiver, juggling the kids, the house, and just everything. She has a toddler, and you can tell she’s overwhelmed and probably depressed. Everything is just a bit chaotic, and she’s feeling like she’s drowning.

Things really start to unravel when Troy, who works at a fire station, picks up more shifts. She ends up missing a brunch and yoga class with her sister, and it’s like the last straw for her. Troy comes home, they reconnect physically, but then she breaks down crying. The next day, she tells him she wants a divorce.

A couple months later, they’re in front of a judge, and the judge tells them to take 30 days to adjust to being separated—sort of like a trial run before the divorce is finalized. So Troy moves out into a small apartment, and the rest of the book follows them trying to figure out life apart.

Shannon starts working again at her old accounting firm, has a creepy boss, but also makes a new best friend. Troy’s trying to deal with the separation too. And what’s refreshing is that there’s no cheating, no “other woman” drama. It’s just two people who still love each other, but who stopped communicating.

We learn that Troy has undiagnosed ADHD, which explains a lot about how he’s been dealing with things—basically by shutting down and avoiding hard conversations. He starts going to therapy, Shannon starts taking antidepressants, and they both really start working on themselves.

There are some sad misunderstandings—like Troy seeing Shannon with her boss and misinterpreting it, or Shannon seeing Troy with his (female) therapist and getting the wrong idea—but it’s nothing wild. Just real, emotional moments that hurt because they care so much about each other.

Eventually, they sit down, have some honest conversations, and start going to couples therapy. Troy moves back in, and the epilogue shows them in a much better, healthier place. Everyone’s happy, and it ends on a really sweet note.

Overall, this book was just cute. Like, really cute. I’ve only read the first book in the series, so I kind of knew it would be PG and not super spicy. But it didn’t need all that—it was warm and real, about two people who genuinely love each other but were just going through tough stuff on their own and didn’t know how to say it out loud. It wasn’t messy, it wasn’t dramatic—just heartfelt and relatable.

[Sherley's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the beginning stages of a relationship, a lot of time, care, and devotion is given. Often, as the years pass, we don't devote as much care to ensure the growth of our relationships. We don't nurture our marriages and relationships as we should. 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞 is a cautionary tale, a guide and an inspiration. It shows what can happen when we start to put our marriages last. In 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞 we see that there was always love between Troy and Shannon, the main characters, but at some point, they became just "mom" & "dad" and ended up as roommates more than anything else. Just like every other relationship, it is important to continue to water and nurture our marriages to ensure that it continues to grow and blossom.

Straying far away from one another, separating, and then taking a step back and seeing just how much they meant to each other, Troy and Shannon were able to do the work, communicate, date again, devote time to each other and essentially water their dying marriage, brining it back to life.

This story tore at my heartstrings. For me, it was an emotional read as it was a reflection of what my marriage to my husband was like years ago. Like Shannon and Troy we had lost ourselves in the daily grind. As a stay-at-home mom of three, I felt unappreciated and that I had lost myself in being a mother and a wife. My husband worked so hard to care for us and at the end of the day, we barely had time to breath. But I am so happy that like Shannon and Troy, we decided to put in the work. We realized that just because we had been married for over 10 years, it did not mean that our marriage did not need nurturing. We communicated more, spent more time working on our "husband and wife" relationship and after all was said and done, I got my best friend back.

This book will always have a special place in my heart. It was well written. The characters, their humanity, their growth, everything was so well done!

I would recommend that everyone read 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞, especially if you are thinking about getting married or have been for a while. Like I said before, the way this book is written, it will cause you to self-reflect and is almost like a guide on how to get your marriage back on track.

I did not expect this, thinking I was just going to read a simple romance novel but this was so much more.

Brava Finley Daniels. This one was a true gem.

[ANISSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last of the Elladine Fire Series and Finely YOU. DID. NOT. DISAPPOINT… Thank you Finley Daniels for the ARC of this book... 😃

ARC Review

You broke me and then put me back together again... So many emotions and tears throughout this book. So very relatable and so very real.

What happens with you feel like you are not being seen by your husband, that your are just an afterthought? Ask for a divorce? I think not...

High school sweethearts and married 15 years.... Suffering form postpartum, while feeling stuck, unfulfilled in the career department, feelings of failing as a wife and mother. Shannon asks Troy for a divorce.

Troy a workaholic HOT firefighter is just trying to provide for his family picking up the extra shifts so his kids won't go without the things he missed out as a child.

Separation, custody agreement and what they thought was an easy spousal/child support agreement is not what the judge expected, so she delays the divorce proceedings, in order for Troy to sort his finances and reconvene several weeks later.

Read the book to find out how they finally get their HEA. 🤭

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a journey with this series and this is probably the most emotional book of them all.

Life, work, raising their children, and insecurities got in the way of Troy and Shannon's marriage. We follow their journey as a couple who lost their way and worked on themselves so that they could find their way back to each other.

I loved Troy, Shannon, their children, and all the friendships in this story. Troy was doing his best to be a good father and provide for his family, but his childhood left him with the inability to communicate effectively. Shannon was trying her best as a mother, juggling four children while her feelings of inadequacy/insecurity bubbled to the surface.

There was such a realness to this story – Troy's anguish, Shannon's sadness – with so much raw emotion from two characters who were struggling both mentally and emotionally. It was a good reminder that broken things can be healed/fixed into something more beautiful.

4.75

[Vickie Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in the Elladine Fire Series. The entire series can be read as stand-alones, but the next book in the series is introduced in the previous book. This one had me in tears. Shannon and Troy's marriage reminded me of my own marriage. I had to start and stop reading to get my emotions under control. I tried to cry quietly to not alarm my kids and them think something was wrong. I truly enjoyed this book emotions and all. The entire series is a great read and I truly suggest reading it.

Shannon and Troy have been together for eighteen years and the last few years have been a struggle for both of them. Shannon asks for a divorce and Troy is against it.

Do they get their divorce? What happens to Shannon to make her get help? What makes Troy get help? How does the family react to the situation? How are the kids? Does anything happen with the kids? Let's finish reading to find out!

[Chia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream with Me is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant romance that delves into the complexities of love, loss, and healing. Finley Daniels crafts a narrative that is both heartfelt and poignant, with characters that are deeply relatable. The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, and their journey is one of growth and rediscovery. The prose is lyrical, painting vivid images that linger long after the last page. While the pacing slows in parts, the emotional payoff is well worth the journey. A touching story that stays with you.

I was part of the ARC Team for this wonderful book. I'm voluntarily reviewing and recommending it ♥

[Brenda Hojonski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story tore my heart out and put it all back together in this moving story of a couple who lost their way and worked to find their way back to each other. Troy, devoted father and husband, is torn apart when the love of his life, Shannon asked for a divorce. The scene in front of the judge tore my heart open. The care they took to make sure their children got their needs met and how they each worked on themselves as they healed to be a better couple was intense and moving. The Dream with me toast was so sweet. I loved this so much!

[lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not ready for this series to end but what an amazing book to end it with. It was fantastic. Shannon and Troy had a wonderful marriage until it wasn’t. This author took you on a gut wrenching tale of heartbreak, loss, dealing with depression and a slew of other emotions. Make sure you have Kleenex on hand. No matter what this couple went through I loved how much they loved each other. And they got their hea which was well deserved. This is a phenomenal series and this book was a great ending to it. I highly recommend it.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS, stories like this, Dream with Me are the reason why Finley Daniels has fast become one of my favorite Authors!

Marriage can often times be messy and Finley has taken us on an emotional journey through depression, ADHD and past fears, showing us that perservance and love can win if you just continue to dream.... Troy did not give up and Shannon chased after her dreams through the struggles. They had an amazing family that was always behind them and that band of brothers is something special. I am going to miss Elladine, but I know whatever comes next is going to be spectacular.

[Ameira · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book

This is a great story enjoyed this a lot.
How the situations are dealt with are healthy and progressive.
Both characters are loveable and there connection shines through.
Will definitely read more from this author.
It was just a touch repetitive but other than that an enjoyable read.

[Mary Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit close to my heart

I never thought I might be reading a story so close to my own. Sometimes I was afraid to reacts next chapter. The author wrote my every fear , heartache, misery, joy and love. It was a rollercoaster ride! It turned into the beautiful end I got and I was so glad. I loved this book and this series!

[T.Albada · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good book with a good writing style you keep reading and you just empathize. is about a couple who grow apart within their marriage, and file for divorce. But gradually grow back together and come out stronger

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

good escape

This was a good quick read. I felt that the female protagonist was fairly realistic. The male was not even close. Good enough that I may read some of the others in the series. Not good enough that I would reread.

[Trish Goings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream with me

A good read. This book has a boatload of things going on relationships, friendships, marriage, and family lots of drama in real life situations Worth the time.

[Kailiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its like a habit now to pick up series' last book, without reading from the beginning.

[What am I going to read next? · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this was one hell of a book. Absolutely devoured it.

[Toi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Read

Cute Read, and I'm sure more marriages go the this then anyone will ever know - I loved the cup that was glued back together and what it symbolized.

[Carolyn Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is your friendly reminder that TikTok cannot be trusted 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Irena · Rating 5 out of 5]

6⭐️

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and heartbreaking

Just beautiful. I don’t know how she did it but it was just beautiful. The perfect representation of a marriage not being tended to over time.
I felt the heartbreak, the growth, the isolation and just the beautiful coming together!