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Tortured Dream: Dreamwalker Series | Romantic Suspense| Magical Realism
Sydney Mckenna has a gift; she's a dreamwalker. But after a traumatic event almost two years ago, she believed her gift was destroyed, along with her chances at a normal life. Still dealing with her past, Sydney escapes to the mountains of British Columbia.
When a storm passes through one night, Sydney discovers she is still a dreamwalker when a stranger pulls her into his dreams. She later finds him in the woods surrounding her property, bloody and unconscious.
Garret Rogers is an agent working to catch a monster who tortured a former agent before escaping custody. He wakes up in a strange bed, in a strange room, beaten and weak. The last thing he remembers is going to a bar... and dreaming about a beautiful woman with a scar running down the right side of her face.
A special connection forms between the two, but Sydney soon discovers her past is about to catch up to her. If she wants any chance at love, at a future, she needs to face her demon and win. And this time she isn't alone.
When a storm passes through one night, Sydney discovers she is still a dreamwalker when a stranger pulls her into his dreams. She later finds him in the woods surrounding her property, bloody and unconscious.
Garret Rogers is an agent working to catch a monster who tortured a former agent before escaping custody. He wakes up in a strange bed, in a strange room, beaten and weak. The last thing he remembers is going to a bar... and dreaming about a beautiful woman with a scar running down the right side of her face.
A special connection forms between the two, but Sydney soon discovers her past is about to catch up to her. If she wants any chance at love, at a future, she needs to face her demon and win. And this time she isn't alone.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
A drama, thriller read. Trauma driven, conquering adversities, seeking justice with a dash of spice and romance.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Tortured Dream: Dreamwalker Series, Book 1
By: J.M. Stockford
📖 E-Arc Read
I was really surprised to discover that this was a debut novel.😍
I'm giving it a 3.75 star rating because I enjoyed it so much. The plot and characters were both well developed, and the 'dreamwalker' ability was fascinating!👏 I did feel there could have been little less spice and a bit more attention paid explaining who 'Diaz' was.🤔
The cover is absolutely stunning and so fitting.🤩 It fits the drama, tension, and deadliness of the storyline, as well as the beauty of the love story and family loyalty!🫶
I will definitely continue this series, and I'm hoping it will be Darius' book next.🥵🔥
Debbie, 1970, UK
By: J.M. Stockford
📖 E-Arc Read
I was really surprised to discover that this was a debut novel.😍
I'm giving it a 3.75 star rating because I enjoyed it so much. The plot and characters were both well developed, and the 'dreamwalker' ability was fascinating!👏 I did feel there could have been little less spice and a bit more attention paid explaining who 'Diaz' was.🤔
The cover is absolutely stunning and so fitting.🤩 It fits the drama, tension, and deadliness of the storyline, as well as the beauty of the love story and family loyalty!🫶
I will definitely continue this series, and I'm hoping it will be Darius' book next.🥵🔥
Debbie, 1970, UK
May 12, 2026
Tortured Dream 💭
@authorjmstockford
Sydney McKenna is a dreamwalker. After a traumatic event, she believed that part of herself was gone for good, along with any chance at a normal life. Seeking peace, she retreats to the mountains with her dog, Cane.
But one stormy night changes everything. Pulled into a stranger’s dream, Sydney realizes her ability was never truly gone. She later finds that same man — injured and unconscious in the woods near her home.
Garrett Rogers is an agent hunting a dangerous criminal who escaped custody after committing unthinkable acts. The last thing he remembers is a bar… and a woman in his dreams.
~
This is such a fun mix of thriller and spicy romance.
The story is fast-paced and easy to get into. The dreamwalking concept is really well developed and adds a unique layer to the suspense. I’m definitely curious to see how it expands in the next book.
Sydney and Cane? I loved them. Their dynamic and their quiet life in the mountains almost gives Stardew Valley vibes, which made the setting feel both cozy and immersive despite the darker elements of the plot.
Sydney herself is a deeply shaped character — everything she’s been through has changed her and it makes her feel real and grounded.
And Garrett, such a contrast. Calm and steady, he brings a sense of balance to her chaos.
Also, Diaz? Absolutely horrible. The kind of villain you just hate. (And he’s getting his own novella later this month 👀)
📖 “For him to say he wanted to protect me, to fight my demons for me, a big part of me wanted to hide away and let him. But if I let him, I would always be half the woman I once was, always hiding, and I didn’t want to be that woman anymore.”
💫 Thriller • Paranormal • Romantic suspense
🌿 Featured at Merveilles & Chuchotements
A gripping, fast-paced read perfect for readers who love thrillers with a paranormal twist and a touch of romance. Ideal if you’re looking for something immersive, slightly dark, but still emotionally engaging.
⚠️ Content warnings: profanity, torture, kidnapping, violence, trauma, death, spicy scenes (112–117; 120–124; 159–161; 199–202)
@authorjmstockford
Sydney McKenna is a dreamwalker. After a traumatic event, she believed that part of herself was gone for good, along with any chance at a normal life. Seeking peace, she retreats to the mountains with her dog, Cane.
But one stormy night changes everything. Pulled into a stranger’s dream, Sydney realizes her ability was never truly gone. She later finds that same man — injured and unconscious in the woods near her home.
Garrett Rogers is an agent hunting a dangerous criminal who escaped custody after committing unthinkable acts. The last thing he remembers is a bar… and a woman in his dreams.
~
This is such a fun mix of thriller and spicy romance.
The story is fast-paced and easy to get into. The dreamwalking concept is really well developed and adds a unique layer to the suspense. I’m definitely curious to see how it expands in the next book.
Sydney and Cane? I loved them. Their dynamic and their quiet life in the mountains almost gives Stardew Valley vibes, which made the setting feel both cozy and immersive despite the darker elements of the plot.
Sydney herself is a deeply shaped character — everything she’s been through has changed her and it makes her feel real and grounded.
And Garrett, such a contrast. Calm and steady, he brings a sense of balance to her chaos.
Also, Diaz? Absolutely horrible. The kind of villain you just hate. (And he’s getting his own novella later this month 👀)
📖 “For him to say he wanted to protect me, to fight my demons for me, a big part of me wanted to hide away and let him. But if I let him, I would always be half the woman I once was, always hiding, and I didn’t want to be that woman anymore.”
💫 Thriller • Paranormal • Romantic suspense
🌿 Featured at Merveilles & Chuchotements
A gripping, fast-paced read perfect for readers who love thrillers with a paranormal twist and a touch of romance. Ideal if you’re looking for something immersive, slightly dark, but still emotionally engaging.
⚠️ Content warnings: profanity, torture, kidnapping, violence, trauma, death, spicy scenes (112–117; 120–124; 159–161; 199–202)
Review of advance copy
4 stars and 3 peppers
For this being Stockford’s debut novel it is well written and thought out. The characters show growth and realism. Knowing that the MMC and FMC went through such trauma and are still able to find love within each other is an amazing thing to see. The antagonist is seriously one sick, sadistic, and deranged butt munch. I enjoyed reading about the dreamwalking because I have never heard of this particular type of power…or at least how this one is described in the book. I also like the variation of the powers. Read to find out what I mean by that. The FMC, Sydney, is a damaged girly pop and not in a chip on the shoulder kind of way but more of a ‘I went through some shit and I am doing what I can to survive’ kind of way. Honestly if I was her I wouldn’t even let another man with a couple 100 feet of me but she was able to find the love that she deserves. The MMC, Garrett, is the most patient and understanding even though he also has the right to just be like f-it and never enter society again. And then her dog, Cane, is actually the sweetest most amazing guard dog ever who deserves all the treats in the world. I hope that this series continues and we see more of the mechanics when it comes to the dreamwalking because it is so cool to me. All in all, great writing, character building, and growth. Can’t wait to see what Stockford does next! Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
For this being Stockford’s debut novel it is well written and thought out. The characters show growth and realism. Knowing that the MMC and FMC went through such trauma and are still able to find love within each other is an amazing thing to see. The antagonist is seriously one sick, sadistic, and deranged butt munch. I enjoyed reading about the dreamwalking because I have never heard of this particular type of power…or at least how this one is described in the book. I also like the variation of the powers. Read to find out what I mean by that. The FMC, Sydney, is a damaged girly pop and not in a chip on the shoulder kind of way but more of a ‘I went through some shit and I am doing what I can to survive’ kind of way. Honestly if I was her I wouldn’t even let another man with a couple 100 feet of me but she was able to find the love that she deserves. The MMC, Garrett, is the most patient and understanding even though he also has the right to just be like f-it and never enter society again. And then her dog, Cane, is actually the sweetest most amazing guard dog ever who deserves all the treats in the world. I hope that this series continues and we see more of the mechanics when it comes to the dreamwalking because it is so cool to me. All in all, great writing, character building, and growth. Can’t wait to see what Stockford does next! Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
January 3, 2026
**I received an ARC copy of this book to review** and i enjoyed it! Highly recommend this quick read!
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was so intrigued and it delivered! It was hard to put this down. The story is fast paced, keeping me sucked in for hours. The dream walking ability was developed beautifully and I look forward to the next book in the series to learn more and meet others with this ability.
Sydney and Cane are such a dynamic duo, living the Stardew Valley dream! The setting is beautiful and is easy to picture with how it’s described. Stockford’s characters are easy to connect with. I hope she is able to settle back in and enjoy her home.
The characters are bad ass and keep you on the edge of your seat. I felt like I was watching an episode of SVU!
The villain was not extensively developed - knowing more about his motive and a little more info about his organization would’ve been nice BUT i was still rooting for his downfall. Despite not having a ton of background on him, Stockford did an amazing job making me hate him. He’s a menace, he’s horrible.
I’m excited to see what this author does next! They’re so talented and I hope to see this book on shelves near me!
When I read the synopsis of this book, I was so intrigued and it delivered! It was hard to put this down. The story is fast paced, keeping me sucked in for hours. The dream walking ability was developed beautifully and I look forward to the next book in the series to learn more and meet others with this ability.
Sydney and Cane are such a dynamic duo, living the Stardew Valley dream! The setting is beautiful and is easy to picture with how it’s described. Stockford’s characters are easy to connect with. I hope she is able to settle back in and enjoy her home.
The characters are bad ass and keep you on the edge of your seat. I felt like I was watching an episode of SVU!
The villain was not extensively developed - knowing more about his motive and a little more info about his organization would’ve been nice BUT i was still rooting for his downfall. Despite not having a ton of background on him, Stockford did an amazing job making me hate him. He’s a menace, he’s horrible.
I’m excited to see what this author does next! They’re so talented and I hope to see this book on shelves near me!
January 14, 2026
This is primarily a thriller with a side helping of spicy romance, which is a great combination! The storyline is well thought out, the main characters are real and gritty and damaged in their own ways. The villain, Diaz is absolutely horrible and he's so easy to hate.
The book opens with the source of Sydney's trauma, which i really appreciated. It puts her entire personality and all of her choices in perspective and gives us a whole new level of respect for her.
She's also a bit of a psychic, which is a really cool twist all on its own! She's involuntarily dragged into the dreams of people in traumatic situations, which helps her find and direct authorities towards them for rescue. Right up until SHE'S in need of rescue herself.
I would have liked to see a slower burn romance, especially in light of her past trauma and trust issues. I feel like that should have been a bigger hurdle for her to overcome, but I also like my romance glacially slow anyway haha.
The book opens with the source of Sydney's trauma, which i really appreciated. It puts her entire personality and all of her choices in perspective and gives us a whole new level of respect for her.
She's also a bit of a psychic, which is a really cool twist all on its own! She's involuntarily dragged into the dreams of people in traumatic situations, which helps her find and direct authorities towards them for rescue. Right up until SHE'S in need of rescue herself.
I would have liked to see a slower burn romance, especially in light of her past trauma and trust issues. I feel like that should have been a bigger hurdle for her to overcome, but I also like my romance glacially slow anyway haha.
February 4, 2026
Resilience, Romance, and a Totally Unique Magic System
Stockford’s debut novel is a "shelf trophy" find and a powerful, well-thought-out story about resilience and recovery. The FMC, Sydney, is an authentically realistic protagonist doing what she must to survive, and Garrett’s patience makes him the perfect counterpart—not to mention their amazing guard dog, Cane. Seeing two characters navigate such intense trauma to find love was deeply moving and felt earned.
The dreamwalking concept is incredibly fresh, and the unique magic and high stakes kept me hooked throughout. While the prose was occasionally choppy and I hope the sequel dives deeper into the "how and why" of the power's mechanics, the character building was strong enough to keep me fully invested. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting a bingeable read with a dark antagonist and a beautiful story of healing. I can’t wait to see what Stockford does next!
Stockford’s debut novel is a "shelf trophy" find and a powerful, well-thought-out story about resilience and recovery. The FMC, Sydney, is an authentically realistic protagonist doing what she must to survive, and Garrett’s patience makes him the perfect counterpart—not to mention their amazing guard dog, Cane. Seeing two characters navigate such intense trauma to find love was deeply moving and felt earned.
The dreamwalking concept is incredibly fresh, and the unique magic and high stakes kept me hooked throughout. While the prose was occasionally choppy and I hope the sequel dives deeper into the "how and why" of the power's mechanics, the character building was strong enough to keep me fully invested. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting a bingeable read with a dark antagonist and a beautiful story of healing. I can’t wait to see what Stockford does next!
May 3, 2026
This is the debut novel for this author. It's a thriller packed with suspense, trauma, emotional turmoil and definitely heavy on the spice.
I will say I would have loved a little more attention to the actual story over the spice, but overall, I enjoyed the story.
Our FMC, Sydney, has endured so much that it's changed the scope of who she is at her core. She is merely doing what she can to survive day in and day out. I think most people who endured what she had to would probably feel the same way. OUR, MMC Garrett, is such a kind gentle soul that has so much patience. He's the balance in her world. That stability that she needs. I love it when a character has to endure so much to find that strength that lies within them.
Atempting to bring down a syndicate can be more treacherous than you think. Yes Sydney is determined. Her tenacity is evident. This was a great little read, and I whipped through it in no time.
I give it four out of five stars.
I will say I would have loved a little more attention to the actual story over the spice, but overall, I enjoyed the story.
Our FMC, Sydney, has endured so much that it's changed the scope of who she is at her core. She is merely doing what she can to survive day in and day out. I think most people who endured what she had to would probably feel the same way. OUR, MMC Garrett, is such a kind gentle soul that has so much patience. He's the balance in her world. That stability that she needs. I love it when a character has to endure so much to find that strength that lies within them.
Atempting to bring down a syndicate can be more treacherous than you think. Yes Sydney is determined. Her tenacity is evident. This was a great little read, and I whipped through it in no time.
I give it four out of five stars.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The idea of dreamwalking paired with emotional trauma, isolation, and a slow-building connection felt fresh and deeply atmospheric. Sydney is a heroine I genuinely connected with flawed, guarded, and still carrying the weight of what she’s lost. Her struggle to trust herself again, both in her abilities and her heart, felt raw Garret was a strong counterpart to Sydney: protective without being overpowering, broken in his own way, and easy to root for. Their connection felt natural, earned, and layered with tension.
What kept this from being a five-star read for me was pacing in a few spots, some moments lingered a bit longer than necessary, while parts of the external conflict felt slightly rushed compared to the emotional buildup. That said, the emotional payoff was worth it, and the way the past and present collided kept me invested until the end.
What kept this from being a five-star read for me was pacing in a few spots, some moments lingered a bit longer than necessary, while parts of the external conflict felt slightly rushed compared to the emotional buildup. That said, the emotional payoff was worth it, and the way the past and present collided kept me invested until the end.
December 18, 2025
I received an advanced review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to JM Stockford for giving me the opportunity to review your book.
Sydney Mckenna, Cane hiding from the past till they met Garret Rogers. We all need a Cane in our lives. As much as I love Sydney and Garret, Cane is my favourite character.
The book is fast paced and keeps you on the ride with Sydney, while wanting to know more about her past. With what information is given it leaves the story open enough that there is a book at least of Sydney’s past life.
JM Stockford has created a world where revenge & physic abilities meet. Be mindful of the trigger warnings for the book.
I look forward to book 2 and learning more about the world of the Dreamwalker Series.
Sydney Mckenna, Cane hiding from the past till they met Garret Rogers. We all need a Cane in our lives. As much as I love Sydney and Garret, Cane is my favourite character.
The book is fast paced and keeps you on the ride with Sydney, while wanting to know more about her past. With what information is given it leaves the story open enough that there is a book at least of Sydney’s past life.
JM Stockford has created a world where revenge & physic abilities meet. Be mindful of the trigger warnings for the book.
I look forward to book 2 and learning more about the world of the Dreamwalker Series.
January 19, 2026
I enjoyed the premise and plot of the story, but I wished it went a little more in-depth with the characters and more information on dreamwalking (explained slightly more in the second half of the book, but like how and why, were not really answered).
The writing at times felt a bit choppy, I'm not sure if it was the structure of the sentences (lots of very short sentences and then occasionally a very long one that's suddenly descriptive). There was definitely more telling/recalling than showing.
I would still read the second book when it releases as this was a debut novel, so I feel like the author would improve more.
The writing at times felt a bit choppy, I'm not sure if it was the structure of the sentences (lots of very short sentences and then occasionally a very long one that's suddenly descriptive). There was definitely more telling/recalling than showing.
I would still read the second book when it releases as this was a debut novel, so I feel like the author would improve more.
December 28, 2025
Received an ARC of this to review and I enjoyed it a lot. Can’t wait to see where the rest of this series goes. This book was full of action and suspense from the first page. The main female character is stronger than she realizes but is still dealing with the lingering effects of what happened to her. Turns out she’s what they call a dream walker and can go into peoples dreams. That’s how get and Garrett first meet. He shows up. She nurses him back to health and boom the spice starts as they fall in love.
January 19, 2026
Sydney is our FMC who is an agent that had a very traumatic experience on a case, she's also a talented dreamwalker able to find her dream person. Garrett is our MMC who is in a similar situation to what Sydney went through, and by happenstance ends up on her land, left for dead. They work together along with his dreamwalker brother Darius to bring down a syndicate. Very good spice, great mystery thriller story plot.
January 31, 2026
I absolutely loved this book from the second I picked it up, I really enjoyed the Dream Walker ability that was different from any other books I've read, and I think it was a great basis for a story. The characters had good depth and development. Very instant love story between the two main characters but it worked well for the story. Looking forward to additional books building into more dream walking and the "agency". Would recommend.
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
March 12, 2026
This was such a quaint little mystery romance and honestly a really enjoyable read. The pacing is fast, so the story moves along quickly and makes it easy to finish in one sitting. I did find myself wishing it had been a little longer because I would have loved more time with the characters and to dig a bit deeper into the mystery. Still, it was a fun, quick read that blends romance and intrigue in a really satisfying way.
Make sure that you read the trigger warnings.
Make sure that you read the trigger warnings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars for this one and thats only because my personal preference is not books written in third person but honestly it would have otherwise been a 5 star read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this and really felt the emotion was portrayed well. I would happily recommend this book to anyone who asks as the story was well written and exciting and one i binged in a couple of sittings.
January 3, 2026
Tortured Dream is a fast paced story that you can easily enjoy in a day, I kinda felt like there was more spice than the plot but honestly, that’s ok. The plot did feel a little rushed but for 218 pages, the story worked really well and I am interested in reading the next in the series when it comes out, I feel the Dream Walking aspect is interesting and I can’t wait to see more of it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was pretty good! I loved the dreamwalkers aspect of the book. I love a good Romantasy. I do wish there was more story development on Diaz but that is truly my only complaint. 2/5 on the spice level 3/5 at most! The main character development was on point!
I recieved this book as an e-ARC
I recieved this book as an e-ARC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2026
This was a great book for fans of supernatural abilities and redemption! I loved reading of Sydney’s growth after such a terrible time in her life and fulfilling her need for redemption to herself to live out the rest of her quiet life she made. While Garret throws a wrench in the plans, he definitely steps up to the challenge to help her. Loved it!
January 14, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It was really fast paced , lots of drama and spice. I would have loved a bit more plot to spice ratio. But I will definitely still read the next book in the series to see what happens next . The characters were relatable, well written. Loved the dog. The setting was gorgeous in my mind as I read. I’d highly recommend it.
January 20, 2026
This story is about Sydney, a dreamwalker. And Garrett, an agent that’s on the hunt for a monster that killed another agent. I thought this was actually pretty good. It was a thriller with a lot of suspense and spice. It was pretty intense at some points. I just wish the story had more depth. Really got into the backgrounds of both of the main characters. But overall, I really liked this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
RTC
January 6, 2026
Received an advance reader copy. Very unique story; from the dream aspect to the Canadian wilderness. Liked that it had some darker themes, but the romance was very sweet.
January 7, 2026
Such a mesmerizing read! I cannot wait for the next part! People who love a good read on revenge and friends to lovers this one's for you!!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Sydney lost her powers as a dreamwalker almost 2 years ago when she was on a mission. Little did she know that that was all about to change for her when she fell asleep one night.
Soon enough she meets Garrett.
Will he be able to help her through some of her trauma? Read this amazing story to find out!
Soon enough she meets Garrett.
Will he be able to help her through some of her trauma? Read this amazing story to find out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the first book I the dreamwalker series.
I enjoyed the premise of this story; I just wished it went a little more indepth with the background and the characters...
I know it's the first in the series and will get a better overview and character development in the coming books but I just wanted more of this story.
I enjoyed the premise of this story; I just wished it went a little more indepth with the background and the characters...
I know it's the first in the series and will get a better overview and character development in the coming books but I just wanted more of this story.
March 15, 2026
A female undercover agent, Sydney, survives being tortured by a madman, only to find another agent, Garret, who was beaten and left for dead on the edge of her remote property. As she helps him recover, she realizes that he was tracking her own tormentor, who is free after escaping custody, and searching for her so he can finish what he started. Using her ability to dream walk, she discovers where the madman is, and, along with Garret and his brother, Darius (also an undercover agent), they hatch a dangerous plan to catch him and end him once and for all.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews