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A Dream for Caroline: Chasing a Dream
Chasing A Dream
To have a dream so intense it’s overwhelming, is worth chasing. But is it worth forsaking and risking everything? Chasing A Dream series is filled with stories of people who take that chance, finding perils they never anticipated along the way, finally finding Romance and Redemption. Was it worth
Chasing A Dream?
A Dream for Caroline
Singing and performing were Caroline’s passions, growing stronger with each community or church event. Why did her parents think it was morally wrong for her to move to the big city and become a star? The city held plenty of opportunities, and it wouldn’t take long to find her place among the finest. With her talent, she would have everyone begging her to sign contracts.
Even Jimmy had promised to love her forever, so she had nothing to lose.
Despite the warnings from everyone who cares about her, it was time for her to make her own decisions, thinking only of what was best for herself. After all, the worst thing that could happen was she would have to return to this hum-drum existence.
With suitcase in hand, she closed the door to her parents' house, and to her heart. Her life would never be the same.
To have a dream so intense it’s overwhelming, is worth chasing. But is it worth forsaking and risking everything? Chasing A Dream series is filled with stories of people who take that chance, finding perils they never anticipated along the way, finally finding Romance and Redemption. Was it worth
Chasing A Dream?
A Dream for Caroline
Singing and performing were Caroline’s passions, growing stronger with each community or church event. Why did her parents think it was morally wrong for her to move to the big city and become a star? The city held plenty of opportunities, and it wouldn’t take long to find her place among the finest. With her talent, she would have everyone begging her to sign contracts.
Even Jimmy had promised to love her forever, so she had nothing to lose.
Despite the warnings from everyone who cares about her, it was time for her to make her own decisions, thinking only of what was best for herself. After all, the worst thing that could happen was she would have to return to this hum-drum existence.
With suitcase in hand, she closed the door to her parents' house, and to her heart. Her life would never be the same.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2026
4 people are currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Lynne Lanning
54 books44 followersLynne Lanning has such an effortless way of evoking emotion from her readers. Her characters are so realistic that the reader can feel their pain during trials and their joy during triumphs. Reviews state: "...it's as if Mrs. Lanning lived through this herself." "Couldn't put it down..." "A real page turner." Lynne enjoys turning history and her love of God into enjoyable, relatable stories with practical life lessons that can benefit people today. Each story tells of true bonds of love and loyalty, mixed with tough times and decisions, with a twist of humor and sometimes devastation...the same is true in life. With a blend of her own family members and heritage along with lots of fiction, it's hard to tell where reality stops and fantasy begins.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 14, 2026
ONLY TIME WOULD TELL
The series ‘Chasing a Dream’ is a multi-author, clean, historical series of books that are designed to each read as a stand-alone. As the name indicates, it is the dream of at least one character in each story, and how they go about pursuing it.
“To have a dream so intense it’s overwhelming, is worth chasing. But is it worth forsaking and risking everything? The Chasing A Dream series is filled with stories of people who take that chance, finding perils they never anticipated along the way, finally finding Romance and Redemption. Was it worth Chasing A Dream?”
Caroline Sawyer believes that she can make her dream of entertaining audiences and is willing to leave everyone, including Jimmy, her lifelong love, to make that dream come true. Her ambition is great, but her vanity may be her downfall. One of the guests in the audience, Margot, invites her to come to her business, Finer Things, and that is exactly what she plans to do.
“I’m sure they’re grateful to have someone as talented as me.” –Caroline
“I love you, but you are holding all the cards.” –Jimmy
The story will have the good and the bad. Caroline’s dream is so controlling that she forsakes her family and Jimmy to go to a bigger city and perform. Only, when she arrives and sees the show at Finer Things, it involves women dressed in scant attire, some serving men food and drinks, and others on stage—but she refuses to let that stop her. Margot is a smooth talker with her enticement of promises that has Caroline ignoring her conscience and agreeing. Her saving grace will be the bodyguard/bouncer, Leon, who watches out for the girls.
“Look, Caroline. I’m not trying to make you feel bad. You just need to open your eyes. Sin will take you further than you want to go, and keep you longer than you want to stay. Margot is a shrewd businesswoman. She will always do what’s best for her, even without it looking that way.” –Leon
The story is an eye-opener of how dreams can also be negative if you don’t stick to your principles and upbringing. Entertaining men in lewd and lascivious costumes, then special ‘parties’ to reward a few, had been a breaking point for several of the entertainers. Margot sways them with the promise of scouts coming to see them and sign them on. She uses alcohol as a tool of ‘courage’ to get them to loosen up while doing something they would never normally do. What happens when the audience contains her fiancée and father? Has she destroyed her future for a dream?
The moral lessons were pleasantly surprising and a prime example that no matter how far we go from what we know is right, especially turning to sin and away from God—we can turn back to Him, repent, and find joy, peace, and happiness once again.
The series ‘Chasing a Dream’ is a multi-author, clean, historical series of books that are designed to each read as a stand-alone. As the name indicates, it is the dream of at least one character in each story, and how they go about pursuing it.
“To have a dream so intense it’s overwhelming, is worth chasing. But is it worth forsaking and risking everything? The Chasing A Dream series is filled with stories of people who take that chance, finding perils they never anticipated along the way, finally finding Romance and Redemption. Was it worth Chasing A Dream?”
Caroline Sawyer believes that she can make her dream of entertaining audiences and is willing to leave everyone, including Jimmy, her lifelong love, to make that dream come true. Her ambition is great, but her vanity may be her downfall. One of the guests in the audience, Margot, invites her to come to her business, Finer Things, and that is exactly what she plans to do.
“I’m sure they’re grateful to have someone as talented as me.” –Caroline
“I love you, but you are holding all the cards.” –Jimmy
The story will have the good and the bad. Caroline’s dream is so controlling that she forsakes her family and Jimmy to go to a bigger city and perform. Only, when she arrives and sees the show at Finer Things, it involves women dressed in scant attire, some serving men food and drinks, and others on stage—but she refuses to let that stop her. Margot is a smooth talker with her enticement of promises that has Caroline ignoring her conscience and agreeing. Her saving grace will be the bodyguard/bouncer, Leon, who watches out for the girls.
“Look, Caroline. I’m not trying to make you feel bad. You just need to open your eyes. Sin will take you further than you want to go, and keep you longer than you want to stay. Margot is a shrewd businesswoman. She will always do what’s best for her, even without it looking that way.” –Leon
The story is an eye-opener of how dreams can also be negative if you don’t stick to your principles and upbringing. Entertaining men in lewd and lascivious costumes, then special ‘parties’ to reward a few, had been a breaking point for several of the entertainers. Margot sways them with the promise of scouts coming to see them and sign them on. She uses alcohol as a tool of ‘courage’ to get them to loosen up while doing something they would never normally do. What happens when the audience contains her fiancée and father? Has she destroyed her future for a dream?
The moral lessons were pleasantly surprising and a prime example that no matter how far we go from what we know is right, especially turning to sin and away from God—we can turn back to Him, repent, and find joy, peace, and happiness once again.
January 2, 2026
Caroline was a young woman in a small town, the kind where everyone knew her name before she learned theirs. She lived with her parents, her brother, and her sister in a creaking house filled with routine and love. Life there was steady, predictable—but to Caroline, it felt too quiet for the song that lived inside her.
She sang whenever she could. In the kitchen while washing dishes, on the porch at dusk, and on the tiny stage of the local theater where she played the same roles year after year. Applause came from familiar hands, kind but expected. Caroline dreamed of brighter lights, larger audiences, and cities that never slept. She wanted to be seen.
When the letter arrived—a job doing what she loved her heart leapt. She was so exited to be a big star. Her family hugged her tightly, and soon Caroline found herself surrounded by towering buildings and strangers who didn’t know her name at all. Was this what she really wanted?
Lynne knocked this one out of the park. I couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know how it ended. I love how Lynne writes Christian based books that always make you feel good at the end. I did receive this book as an ARC but the views are my own.
She sang whenever she could. In the kitchen while washing dishes, on the porch at dusk, and on the tiny stage of the local theater where she played the same roles year after year. Applause came from familiar hands, kind but expected. Caroline dreamed of brighter lights, larger audiences, and cities that never slept. She wanted to be seen.
When the letter arrived—a job doing what she loved her heart leapt. She was so exited to be a big star. Her family hugged her tightly, and soon Caroline found herself surrounded by towering buildings and strangers who didn’t know her name at all. Was this what she really wanted?
Lynne knocked this one out of the park. I couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know how it ended. I love how Lynne writes Christian based books that always make you feel good at the end. I did receive this book as an ARC but the views are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Dream for Caroline is a emotional journey of yearning for more. Caroline wants more in her life, away from the town that's too small for her now. She wants the chance to experience life in the City and performing. People tried to warn her about life in the City, but Caroline doesn't want to hear it. Even her family and fiance, try to change her mind. This story will take you on a path, that can prove to be dangerous, in more than one way. She feels safe with the bodyguard, Leon, but is ashamed of her new life. Can she find the Lord again and live the life she deserves. Beautiful story.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.
I was given an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a really good story! When you stray from the path God designed for you the devil goes right to work. This is exactly what happens to Caroline. She has to come to terms with herself and finally humble herself to God.
There is such passion and misery and love and disgust that you read page after page. Always hoping to see what happens next. I throughly enjoyed reading this well written book.
There is such passion and misery and love and disgust that you read page after page. Always hoping to see what happens next. I throughly enjoyed reading this well written book.
January 11, 2026
Caroline loves to sing and perform. She hates doing the menial chores she does. She wants to go to the big city and become a famous singer. One day while Caroline is in town, she meets Margot who owns an entertainment business in big city. After much thought and without any real thought of how it would affect her fiance, Jimmy, she moves to that town and starts working for Margot. She signs a 6-month contract with Margot to sing and entertain at Finer Things. Caroline becomes friends with the club's bouncer, Leon, who is a nice man who watches out for the girls. He's a Christian man but has his on past he's running from. After a few months, something happens that gets Caroline praying again and has ger rethinking her life. This is wonderful story of angst, repentance, faith, love. It reminds us that God has a plan for each of us and loves us no matter what mistakes we make. I highly recommend it. It does have a HEA ending.
December 22, 2025
Having been blessed with the voice of an angel, Caroline’s focus drifted to more than just singing in church or local events. Even her childhood sweetheart couldn’t tame her restless spirit as she pursued a career in the “entertainment” industry, or so it was labeled. Between her contract, promises of stage fame, not to mention her earnings, was her future dictated or could she still hear her Saviour’s beckoning call? Sworn to protect the girls at Finer Things, just what was it that drew Leon to Caroline? Was it the possibility of a future for the both of them? What a story of God’s grace, forgiveness, unconditional love and His arms always open, ready to receive each of us without hesitation. I close this book with a heart full of renewed gratefulness for these reminders and for an author who consistently follows His heart with each story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have read several of Lynne Lanning's books and enjoyed them, but I think this is her best one yet. It is a wonderful redemption story. Caroline is raised by a Christian family, yet has desires to do more with her singing abilities. She ignores others advice in search of her own happiness. I was hooked immediately and had a hard time putting it down since I wanted to find out what happened next.
January 2, 2026
A hopeful yet cautionary tale of ambition, faith, and the cost of chasing dreams, this story follows Caroline as she steps beyond the safety of home toward the bright promise of the city. With courage in her heart and consequences on the horizon, her journey asks what we gain—and what we risk—when we follow our own way.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Caroline goes on a journey to chase her dream and gets a little more than she bargained for. This story is filled with dreams, redemption, forgiveness, hard lessons, love and so much more. There’s a great inspirational message in all of this author’s books, this one included. Good story.
January 18, 2026
Caroline is a confused young woman in that she believes since she has such a beautiful voice, she needs to go get famous and sing and dance for the worldly crowd. She’s engaged, but apparently doesn’t care too much about Jimmy, because she tells him she has to leave and see if she can find something more interesting. It’s a good thing to check that out before marrying, but of course, she gets drawn in to a world she didn’t know, surely didn’t want, and didn’t know how to get out of! After sux months or so, Jimmy marries another girl from their community. Leon is the tough, strong guy that keeps thugs and bad men away from the girls. He is a Christian but feels like nobody could tell by his occupation! He had to tell Caroline that Jimmy and her father had come there and give her the angry note Jimmy had written to her, although it was kept from her knowledge for several months. However, Leon had saved several young girls from ruining their lives forever. He caught a so-called “agent”, who had been wooing Caroline, spiking her drink with opium! He jerked him up and the woman in charge said for him to never show his face there again! Caroline’s contract is sold to a fairly good agent, but she kept having to go back to the place where she first started whenever there were no bookings for her. She came back and Leon was gone. Another man was in his position but nobody would tell Caroline where he had gone or if he was coming back or not. Finally, the Lord broke through to Caroline and she fell on her knees, asking for forgiveness and she goes home. She had no idea if she’d be welcomed or not, but she HAD to go home! This story has such a beautiful, awesome ending! I won’t spoil it for you, but you’re going to love it!! I was on the arc team and not required to write a positive review. This review is my own opinion of this book! 📕 ♥️
January 13, 2026
Good bood
Ms Lanning's book about following God versus man also is a tale of two people discovering how a friendship can sometimes turn into more, and when it can't...
Ms Lanning's book about following God versus man also is a tale of two people discovering how a friendship can sometimes turn into more, and when it can't...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews