Dream Sequence

Dream #1-3

by J.J. DiBenedetto

Sara Barnes thought her life was perfectly ordinary – until the night she began stepping into other people’s dreams.
Follow Sara as she learns to cope with this extraordinary gift (or curse) in the first three books of the Dream Series:

DREAM STUDENT
It’s bad enough that, thanks to her supernatural talent, Sara is learning more than she ever needed to know about her friends and classmates, watching their most secret fantasies whether she wants to or not. Much worse are the other dreams, the ones she sees nearly every night, featuring a strange, terrifying man who commits unspeakable crimes. Now Sara wonders if she’s the only witness to a serial killer – and the only one who knows when and where he’s going to strike next.

DREAM DOCTOR
Medical school and life as a newlywed would be enough by themselves for anybody to handle. But Sara’s got another problem – her dreams have started up again. Almost everyone at the medical school is dreaming about the death of the school’s least popular teacher, Dr. Morris, and once again, Sara finds herself in the role of unwilling witness to a murder before it happens. But this time, there are too many suspects to count, and it doesn’t help matters that she hates Dr. Morris every bit as much as any of his would-be murderers do.

DREAM CHILD
Sara thought she had made peace with her dreaming talent, but she’s got a surprise coming: her four-year-old daughter has inherited it, too. Unraveling a mystery with lives on the line is difficult enough under the best of circumstances. But when Sara has to view all the evidence through the eyes – and dreams - of a toddler, it may be an impossible task.

Genres: Paranormal, Thriller, Fiction

836 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2014

About the author

J.J. (James) DiBenedetto was born in Yonkers, New York. He attended Case Western Reserve university, where as his classmates can attest, he was a complete nerd. Very little has changed since then.

He currently lives in Arlington, Virginia with his beautiful wife and their cat (who has thoroughly trained them both). When he's not writing, James works in the direct marketing field, enjoys the opera, photography and the New York Giants, among other interests.

J.J. is the author of the Dream Doctor Mysteries, the Jane Barnaby Adventures and several other works.

Reviews

[Rosemary Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1
Nightmares are bad enough, but to find that you are in some one else's dreams, and then to find that the dreams are a precursor to murder, that would do anyone's head in.
However, are you heroine is made of stancer stuff than that. Having meet her "boyfriend", Brian,through a dream, she was the one to take the initiative in real life, and boy, was that an electric mixer!!
Then, with the help of her friends, they figure out who, what, when and why, about the murderer and his next victim. Do they succeed?? You best read, or as I did, listen, to the author's words, they tell the full and complete story, in such a way, you feel like one of the group. Fantastic read!!

Book 2 Dream Doctor
Sarah and Brian had graduated and married. She has started her first year of medical studies. They are living in a small apartment, for married students on campus. She is finding the course tough, and her lecturers even more brutal.
Then the dreams begin again. She cannot ignore them, but finds it difficult to hide how she knows some information, before it becomes common knowledge.
She again has a mystery to solve, lives to save and friends to help.
Her special talent can be a curse or a gift, but can help her save lives.

Dream Child
Sarah did succeed, with all her hopes and aspirations in life.
She has a wonderful marriage, a successful career ahead of her and a precocious daughter. One that appears to follow her in all things, including dream sharing. Together they need to help her daughters playmate and family, from a villain that doesn't care who is harmed in his pursuit of profit.
An enthralling book with a dramatic conclusion to the problem they faced.
I enjoyed the audio rendition of this series of books.

[Curly's Ramblings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first three books of this series. The recounting of Sarah's life as a young adult is interesting, part suspense, part murder mystery, part romance, and part young adults coming into their own. The characters have depth, seem real, & likable.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dream Student:
This book is one of the best plotted books I have ever read. The characters come to life as the author takes us through Sara's story, page by page. The main character discovers she can see into people's dreams, and she soon finds herself in a nightmare when she sees murders taking place. This, however, is just part of the story. The author does a wonderful job with character development, adding each new friend and acquaintance one by one to build up a huge cast of characters and small storylines to go along with the larger mystery. The heroine is easy to connect with, a very likable pre-med college student. This is the first of the series and even though each book can stand alone, I would suggest starting with this one and working your way through the others. There is so much to learn about each person and their life and the author does a fantastic job of incorporating everything into the storyline and making it all come together smoothly in the end. This first book builds up to a thrilling ending, and I am sure you will want to go right to the next book as soon as you finish this one.
Dream Doctor:
This second installment of the Dreams series is a wonderful continuation of the story of Sara and Brian's life. This picks up soon after the first book and very much like the first book, the couple is in deep in their studies, in student life. Only this time, Sara is in med school and studying and going to class, which takes up most of her waking time. But when she isn't awake, she is back to dreaming and she has a new mystery to solve--who is trying to kill her professor? Everyone seems to hate him, so it could be anyone. This mystery is in the background throughout this book. What seems to be in the forefront is the personal life of Sara and the friendships she makes, the hardships of being a med student and a newlywed. The author does such a fantastic job of character development, leading us into the lives of Sara and her friends and family. This book was a joy to read. There is a little bit of everything in here: humor, mystery, and romance. You don't need to read the first book to understand this one, but I think you would get more out of the story if you did. Plus, I just think the set of these books is better read together, in order. Enjoy!
Dream Child:
This third book in the Dreams series seems to take a little different turn. Sara and Brian have children and the responsibilities of parenthood. Lizzie, their smart little girl, has ended up with Sara's gift of dreams and has her own mystery to solve when she runs into a congressman's son on the train and starts to have dreams of some kind of cover up. Sara and Brian are there to do what they can to help her solve the mystery and track down the clues. This storyline has a lot more mystery in it, which is what I really enjoyed in this book. There were a lot of characters to track down and investigate, but in the end, the little family find the answers they are looking for. The end culminates with Sara in a controntation that is one of the best scenes in the entire book and shows us what a strong character she is. Yes, you can read this book by itself, but I think it would be better to read the other two first to get more background on the main characters and get a feel for their lives.

[Marilyn Groves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this one as part of a set on sale at Amazon. The plot was interesting - it seems that Sara can share other people's dreams. Unfortunately she starts seeing the dreams of a killer.

Here's my problem with the first book (Dream Student) - it is told in first person by college aged Sara, and done quite appropriately. However, I grew weary quickly of the college life stories, in college aged vocabulary with all the drama and angst of college aged kids. Sorry - it was tough enough dealing with it when my kids were that age LOL

The concept held me through the book, though, and I'll certainly go on to read #2 - after a break with a book starring a more adult protagonist though. There are three books in the set I purchased - hopefully Sara will grow up a bit as the books progress.

Just finished the second book in package... Sara is older, but not significantly more mature. Didn't keep my attention as much as the first one, but wasn't bad. Continuing onwards to the third in the trilogy package (leaving rating as is).

Finished the last of the three part package, and liked the third book the least. Honestly, if I read the word 'brave' one more time.........!!!

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not entirely fair to say I read this and gave it a fair shot. I can't get past book 1. I am about halfway through it and I can't get past the maturity level of the main character and the love story is awkward and irritating to me. I hate to quit a book but this is one I'm giving up on....

[j. denise carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got bored

This is like three stories in one. I really enjoyed the first one, got a bit bored by the second one, and over it by the third. It was a good story, but got monotonous and less interesting as it carried on.

[Uvi Poznansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is amazing to watch how the author, James DiBenedetto, fleshes out the growth of her personality as she goes through life changes, while the underlying premise, 'What if you could see someone else's dreams,' evolves with new revelations from one book in the series to the next.

DREAM STUDENT
In a story reminiscent of Dorothy in the land of Oz and Alice in wonderland, here is a new heroine exploring the strange realm of her dreams, in a journey to find her inner power to solve them and finally, turn a corner. But this is no children story, or as she puts it, "Not in Kansas anymore": Sara is the chatty and slightly naive college student, living in the dorms. She refuses to talk about her nightmares, hoping they may eventually go away.

Finding herself all of a sudden in a cheerleader's outfit, Sara realizes one thing, which is crazy and impossible--but all the same, true: "this is not her dream anymore." Somehow she has slipped into someone else's head, and she doesn't know how to get out of there. Unlike her own dreams, his persist, somehow, in her waking memory. Trapped in terror, she is utterly passive, the way we find ourselves helpless to escape while we dream. Luckily, at first he is oblivious to the fact that Sara is watching his sick fantasies.

When she reads a newspaper report about the murder of the victim she saw in her sleep last night, Sara comes to realize that what she sees are premonitions of the next murder. Her visions are puzzling, and they compel her to put together the pieces of the puzzle in order to try and avert what she knows is about to happen. Will she succeed doing it in time? Will she put herself on the line, risking her own life? "He saw me. He knew I was there. He knew I was watching."

The book alternates between two points of view: Sara's voice (in first person) and the description of her dream sequences (in third person.) Why are these sequences in third person, and italicized, to mark the difference in an even more pronounced way? Because, I think, these are out-of-body experiences, and we get to witness them not through Sara's voice but through the author's all-seeing eyes. James DiBenedetto presents us with a mental exersize, a riddle for us to solve, if only we suspend disbelief.

I loved the narrator's voice in the audiobook edition. Heather Jane Hogan brings the story to life, she lifts every strand in the yarn, clarifies every subtle shade of meaning in every word, and she does it so charmingly, with the fresh, naive voice of a college girl.

DREAM DOCTOR
The story opens with what should have been a crowning moment for Sara: walking to the podium to receive her degree. “She finds it harder with each step, until her ankle gives way and she tumbles to the floor, her cap falling off her head and rolling right under the stage.” This moment endears her to us, and makes her hesitation amidst all the chores and the confusing calls of life very accessible.

The last thing Sara wants is her gift of penetrating the minds of others. “Sara is surprised, but only for an instant; then it becomes clear to her what’s going on. This has happened before; this is not her dream at all. She don’t cry, or scream; she simply closes her eyes and pleads — already knowing she will not be answered — “Please, God, not again!”

I love the fact that from one book in the series to another, Sara is undergoing a change, both in the development of her professional career and in her personal life. At the beginning of this book, she starts out thinking about her upcoming wedding to Brian. “I’m not even nervous about the wedding itself. It’s pretty much all out of my hands anyway. It wasn’t as though I could do much planning while I was finishing up my last semester…” and by the end, she has just relayed the results of her pregnancy test to Brian. “He kisses me, and holds me even tighter. His cheeks are wet — he’s crying.” These events delineate the phase in her life, and the position of the book in the Dream series.

As in the first book, Dream Student, the narration alternates between two points of view: Sara's voice (in first person) and the description of her dream sequences (in third person, and in italicized font.) These are out-of-body experiences, and we get to witness them not through Sara's voice but through the author's all-seeing eyes. James DiBenedetto presents us with a riddle for us to solve, and allows us to see his lovely Sara from outside, as well as inside her skin.

DREAM CHILD
This time, the twist of the entire Dream series on the “What if you could see someone else’s dreams” question has taken an extra new bend. It is, “What if your child could see your dreams, and the dreams of others? What if she has your power?”

Here is the first time Sara realizes that her daughter, Lizzie, can see inside her: “She was seeing—she was inside—she saw me dreaming. She’s got it just like I do.” Being inside her is doubly frightening because at this point there is a new life inside Sara: she is pregnant again. So in a way, there is a sense of violation when boundaries can be crossed like that, even when the dreamer is only a four-year old, sweet child. On the other hand, there is the motherly wish to keep her daughter safe, which in this case may mean keeping her away from people whose dreams she might penetrate. Which is exactly what happens when Sara and Lizzy meet two strangers, a woman and her son Billy, on the train. Billy’s father is being blackmailed, which will put Billy and his mother in danger.

The conversations are lovely, showing you a family scene between Sara, her mom, her husband Brian, her mother-in-law, Helen, and Lizzy. It is the dialog that wraps the entire mystery in a wholesome, familiar veil, and observations such as this, about Lizzie: “Then she occupies herself by trying to get both twins smiling at the same time, which is a trick none of us have managed yet.” . And, it is also the sense of inheritance of power, and the connection between generations: “I can��t believe that in all this time, for seven whole years, I never once wondered about my mother. If Lizzy got it from me, I had to get it from somewhere too. And I never gave it a thought.”

Five stars.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream Sequence (Dream #1-3) was a good read by J.J. DiBenedetto. This box set consisted of; Dream Student, Dream Doctor, and Dream Child. Dream Student (Dream #1) was a good read by J.J. DiBenedetto. Sara Barnes can see other people's dreams. She can watch their hidden fantasies and uncover their darkest secrets. She sees a strange and terrifying man who's dreams can get her killed. Dream Doctor (Dream #2) was a good read by J.J. DiBenedetto. Sara is starting to adjust to life as a newlywed while also starting medical school. Unfortunately she starts seeing the dreams of everyone around her again. It seems as though the dreams could ruin her hopes of becoming a doctor, wreck her marriage, or even her life. Dream Child (Dream #3) was a good read by J.J. DiBenedetto. Sara is a resident at Children's Hospital. She is used to working ninety hour workweeks and saving her young patients from deadly diseases. But she isn't prepared when she finds out her four year old daughter inherited her ability to see others dreams. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

All three were good, I do think that it would have been more entertaining if it had gotten into the dreams more. Thats the most interesting part. I mean its great to have someone you love there by your side but the way she always says oh I love him that's one more reason love you and here's another reason why love him like a little repetitive so I think if we had gotten into the story more about the dreams it would have been a lot more interesting my favorite book is the last one where it comes to Lizzie I do think that she is too cute.

[Sarah Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good narrator! Interesting audio book and unique take. Sarah Barnes later Alderson begins to have strange while a medical student. These dreams are like a mystery holding some truths. With the knowledge of these dreams, Sarah saves lives. In Dream child, her eldest child, Lizzie has these dreams also at age of four. I loved the descriptions of the dreams.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel this is a wonderful series that is not totally dark and not a touchy feely writing. As the series goes on it gets better with wonderful characters what you can relate to. The author gives wonderful plots for each story which makes most of it believable. The writing style has improved with each addition to this series. Some parts are better than others but all in all it was a great read. I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

Dream Student
For me this book starts out very slow it than takes off as Sarah starts dreaming. She wakes up in a nightmare but soon comes to realize that she is seeing into other people’s dreams. When she first sees Brian and knows he is the man in her dreams she goes over to him to talk. They soon become very close as you watch their relationship grow. The author gives a very unique twist to this story which makes it very interesting. The author does but a twist in with her having nightmares about a girl getting raped and killed. She doesn’t know this girl but the face of the attacker is knows she knows him. The ending does play apart with her dreams It does end on a good note. Some will love this book others will not it will depend on what you like.

I did like Sarah she is just a great character the author told her story very well. She is just the sweeties thing. Brian was a great guy who doesn’t know how to take her at first. When he first sees her he tries to talk his self into going to talk to her but as he finally gets there she comes up missing. He dreams of her each night. When they finally get it together and talk it is a very touching story.

This isn’t a completely dark story nor is it a touchy feeling one but somewhere in between. There are areas I loved and others I did not. I had thought it would be more supernatural but I did not find it so. It was a good read the author gives you wonderful characters and a great plot. I wouldn’t say this book did it for me nor would I say it did not. I am kind of on the fence. I am glad I did read it and thought it was a different kind of read that I enjoyed. The author does give you a good base for the rest of the series.


Dream Doctor
This was a great addition to book one in the series starting off where book one ends with Sarah and Brian getting married. She starts med schools they go through the normal adjustments of newlyweds. She has had no more dreams but that is about to change when her dreams start as she tries to work out what they are about, how she can help without harming her life and the plans they have made.

The author puts humor in book 2 which I totally enjoyed, I got more a feeling of connecting with the characters. This is a great read but I would have liked to have seen Brian stand out more comforting his wife is great but it would have been nice to have him be more of his true self. It was great that he is such a wonderful husband. There is no doubt he is devoted husband and loves his wife dearly but I would have liked to see him grow more into the man he is. Sarah does have a lot on her plate for one so young. I do wonder if this was real life could one handle all this and still deal with the day to day issues as well as she did.

I loved the way the author brings the dreams into play how he interacts each character however I didn’t feel Sarah needed to go through the steps of why she is feeling things every time she wakes up from a dream. It was wonderful to see the characters all have flaws this makes them seemed more real. The author gives wonderful characters that you will enjoy hanging out with. I felt this was a wonderful plot that is very original, the authors writing style is very good just a few bumps that could have made it a better read. I have enjoyed this series and look forward to reading more from this author.


Dream Child
The series continues with Sarah and Brian having a daughter who has inherited her mother’s dream talents. As a mother myself I can relate to how Sarah feels wanting to protect your child, take away the bad and leave only the good. To have a child have to deal with these nightmares makes it a nightmare for the parents. I could relate more to the characters than I could in the first two books.

I loved Lizzie she is such a sweet, friendly, smart, cute and bubbly with a wonderful imaginative she is such a delight and a very bright child. The author does a wonderful job writing in the eyes of a 4 year old. It is just a delight to hear her stories as she tells what happens in her world. You are going to love this little girl. Your heart goes out to her and her parents. Watching how this effect the family is intriguing with such a busy life and so much going on there is more on their plate than most families have to deal with.

I felt the author did a wonderful job in pulling the reader in with a great plot and a very intriguing story. The author does a great job balancing between the adult sides to the Childs side. I felt it was a well written story that will keep you guessing as the author spins a tale of suspense. The author gives you characters that feel real which makes this a believable story. I am so looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

book1:
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. It seemed almost Nightmare on Elm Street ish (if you know me then you know the appeal). However it reads almost as a diary, this date this occured. It was done in a unique and entertaining way. Our lead character keeps having these horrible nightmares of murders, but then realised they are real events that a killer is dreaming about. Fantastic story line that pulls you in til the very end. I have to say the entire time I'm screaming at them to go to the police!
book 2:
This series does need to be read in order for a better understanding. in book one we learn of Sarahs special ability, and meet Brian her boyfriend. book two continues their journey, which is predictable, but not in a bad way. I like following the new set of dream sequences, and how the story unfolds. I did struggle with how someone so incredibly book smart is so dense in other areas. The narrator did a fantastic job telling the story and making it come alive.
book 3 :
This series does need to be read in order for complete understanding. In book one we meet Sarah and follow her in college, dealing with nightmares, that are actually real life events. in each book we jump forward a little bit in Sarahs life. Absolutely adore this story line, the author has taken an amazing concept and brought it to life. He ending was quite a suprise, cant wait to read more from this author! I listened to this book on audible, the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story to life and pulling you into the story line.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The publisher's blurb does an excellent job of hinting at each of the books in this part of the series, so I feel no need to recap or give spoilers. I loved the writing and the plots were fascinating and interconnected. I read the audio version as it is very long (but no problem with maintaining interest/fluidity) while at a recurrent opportunity to multitask. The characters are really well done, and I have learned rather quickly to look for more of this author's work.
Heather narrates clearly and well, but I needed to increase the speed for my listening pleasure.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually listened to this as an audio book. It was very long and very detailed. If that is a book you like to read then this series is for you. The narration for this story is very fitting. I liked Sarah and her story.

[Deedra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audible:I gave up in part 2.It is a VERY slow book.College love story and immaturity gets in the way of the story.Heather Jane Hogan has a nice voice, but needs to put some gumption in her reading.I was provided this book by the author, narrator or publisher.