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The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody
A reluctant hero, mysterious portals, inexplicable abilities! She must be off her trolley. Cynthia Peabody's extraordinary dreams give her the power to save dogs and stop crime. While deeply mourning her husband and reentering everyday life, making new friends and planning her future, these bewildering capabilities grow. But so do the sacrifices she must make. Is becoming the unofficial guardian angel of her hometown worth risking her life?
*Potential trigger for #MeToo and miscarriage.
*Potential trigger for #MeToo and miscarriage.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2026
About the author
Lynne Marshall
220 books308 followersUSA Today Bestselling author, Lynne Marshall, used to worry she had a serious problem with daydreaming until she realized she was supposed to write those stories. A late bloomer, Lynne came to fiction writing after her children were nearly grown. Now she explores the mysteries of life through endearing characters in unexplainable situations. Women's Fiction for women of a certain age and everyone who loves their feisty nana. At the heart of every book is a true love story.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cynthia is on a bit of a bizarre mission, you could say. After her husband, Art, dies, she works through her grief and takes up meditation classes. It all sounds so innocent until the dreams she starts having get a little bit too real. Is she astral projecting? Is she time travelling? Any idea she comes up with to explain what's happening just gets more dangerous when she says it out loud to the box of her husband's ashes. While she's trying to understand the new phenomenon, she picks up some new friends along the way, fulfilling her husband's last wish for her to start socialising again once he’s gone.
I very much enjoyed Cynthia's adventures here, from becoming a grandmotherly figure to Juniper to trying to figure out how best to protect her neighbourhood. One thing that annoyed me a bit was her projecting so much of her past onto Juniper. While she might have been right, there are other ways to ensure Juniper is protected without being too pushy. It clearly signifies she's not at peace with her past, and she really should have continued the therapy that was mentioned before.
Much like Cynthia, I do believe her dreams were real, despite the rather medical explanation provided towards the end of the book. The story is like a cozy gathering of multiple genres - from slice-of-life to magic and crime. It tackles grief, starting again (even when you're 75!), dealing with a difficult past, and influencing younger generations with lessons learned from your own life.
Everything that happens to Cynthia reminds us that the time will come for all of us, but it doesn't mean we have to go down without a fight or sacrifice our search for happiness in the process.
It looks like we're getting a second book in the future, and I'll gladly pick that one up as well!
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
I very much enjoyed Cynthia's adventures here, from becoming a grandmotherly figure to Juniper to trying to figure out how best to protect her neighbourhood. One thing that annoyed me a bit was her projecting so much of her past onto Juniper. While she might have been right, there are other ways to ensure Juniper is protected without being too pushy. It clearly signifies she's not at peace with her past, and she really should have continued the therapy that was mentioned before.
Much like Cynthia, I do believe her dreams were real, despite the rather medical explanation provided towards the end of the book. The story is like a cozy gathering of multiple genres - from slice-of-life to magic and crime. It tackles grief, starting again (even when you're 75!), dealing with a difficult past, and influencing younger generations with lessons learned from your own life.
Everything that happens to Cynthia reminds us that the time will come for all of us, but it doesn't mean we have to go down without a fight or sacrifice our search for happiness in the process.
It looks like we're getting a second book in the future, and I'll gladly pick that one up as well!
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Did Not Finish
March 25, 2026DNF’d at 10%.
March 24, 2026
What a lovely surreal dream.
I went into this one mostly blind as I requested it from NetGalley based on the cover, which was beautiful (yes I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by its cover but oh well. No one is perfect) and I fell in love with Cynthia Peabody.
At the start of the story, 75 year old Cynthia has been grieving the loss of her husband for a few months. But she’s decided that enough is enough and she refuses to isolate anymore and starts to interact with her old friends and new neighbors, befriending the shy 16 year old girl who just moved in next door with her dads.
Cynthia also has just started having the strangest dreams that have the peculiar habit of showing up in her every day life. A foiled crime is reported on the news, a strange dog from Finland appears in her backyard one random morning. And other things.
Is it early senility or extreme grief playing tricks on her? Or has she stumbled onto some trick of time travel through her dreams? I honestly couldn’t decide until the very end.
The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody is an intriguing and heartwarming story about an older woman coming into her own as she navigates a new chapter of widowhood and forming new found family while discovering magic in her life.
Highly recommend!
I went into this one mostly blind as I requested it from NetGalley based on the cover, which was beautiful (yes I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by its cover but oh well. No one is perfect) and I fell in love with Cynthia Peabody.
At the start of the story, 75 year old Cynthia has been grieving the loss of her husband for a few months. But she’s decided that enough is enough and she refuses to isolate anymore and starts to interact with her old friends and new neighbors, befriending the shy 16 year old girl who just moved in next door with her dads.
Cynthia also has just started having the strangest dreams that have the peculiar habit of showing up in her every day life. A foiled crime is reported on the news, a strange dog from Finland appears in her backyard one random morning. And other things.
Is it early senility or extreme grief playing tricks on her? Or has she stumbled onto some trick of time travel through her dreams? I honestly couldn’t decide until the very end.
The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody is an intriguing and heartwarming story about an older woman coming into her own as she navigates a new chapter of widowhood and forming new found family while discovering magic in her life.
Highly recommend!
March 30, 2026
There's nothing I love more than a reluctant hero (or in this case heroine). Add in the real life doubts and quirks of a newly widowed woman who thinks she might just be losing her marbles and mix it with a fantasical mystery of the supernatural and voila! You have the tale of Cynthia Peabody! I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Lynne Marshall knows how to keep a story fresh and unique and I highly recommend this book for a fun - and yes, emotional - read.
I was given an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review. Honest!
I was given an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review. Honest!
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March 28, 2026What a fantastic story! Gripping me from the first page through the last. Belief in reality beyond what we think is not that far-fetched. Many believe our waking life is the dream, while our dream life is reality. Could it be that Cynthia Peabody has discovered this truth? Wonderful story! I look forward to reading more by this talented author!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒚. 𝑴𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍.
Cynthia is simply trying to figure out how to live again after losing her husband when something very strange begins happening to her. Her dreams start nudging her toward real-world moments where she can help people in varied ways, sometimes by stopping a crime, sometimes by saving a dog, sometimes by showing up exactly where she’s needed. These scenarios sound unbelievable, I know. But the longer the story unfolds, the more it starts to feel like Cynthia has somehow been handed an unexpected role as the quiet guardian angel of her town whether she asked for it or not.
What I loved most about this story is how it refuses to sit neatly in one genre. It’s a little magical, a little funny, a little thoughtful, and very human. Cynthia isn’t charging around like a superhero with a grand plan. She’s grieving, rebuilding, making new friends, and occasionally waking up wondering why on earth her subconscious is sending her on another bizarre mission. There’s something oddly comforting about watching someone ordinary stumble into something extraordinary. It quietly reminds you that life has this strange way of expanding again after loss, even when you’re convinced the story is basically over.
By the time I reached the final pages, I realized this book isn’t really about dreams or strange abilities at all. It’s about that unsettling but oddly beautiful truth that none of us get unlimited time here. We’re all just moving through the world doing the best we can, hoping we show up for the moments that matter. Cynthia just happens to get a few extra nudges from the universe. And if this story leaves you with anything, it’s the gentle reminder that being a little kinder, a little braver, or a little more present in someone else’s life might be the closest thing any of us get to being extraordinary. I finished with happy tears in my eyes. Many thanks to BookBuzz for this early copy that will publish March 25, 2026.
Cynthia is simply trying to figure out how to live again after losing her husband when something very strange begins happening to her. Her dreams start nudging her toward real-world moments where she can help people in varied ways, sometimes by stopping a crime, sometimes by saving a dog, sometimes by showing up exactly where she’s needed. These scenarios sound unbelievable, I know. But the longer the story unfolds, the more it starts to feel like Cynthia has somehow been handed an unexpected role as the quiet guardian angel of her town whether she asked for it or not.
What I loved most about this story is how it refuses to sit neatly in one genre. It’s a little magical, a little funny, a little thoughtful, and very human. Cynthia isn’t charging around like a superhero with a grand plan. She’s grieving, rebuilding, making new friends, and occasionally waking up wondering why on earth her subconscious is sending her on another bizarre mission. There’s something oddly comforting about watching someone ordinary stumble into something extraordinary. It quietly reminds you that life has this strange way of expanding again after loss, even when you’re convinced the story is basically over.
By the time I reached the final pages, I realized this book isn’t really about dreams or strange abilities at all. It’s about that unsettling but oddly beautiful truth that none of us get unlimited time here. We’re all just moving through the world doing the best we can, hoping we show up for the moments that matter. Cynthia just happens to get a few extra nudges from the universe. And if this story leaves you with anything, it’s the gentle reminder that being a little kinder, a little braver, or a little more present in someone else’s life might be the closest thing any of us get to being extraordinary. I finished with happy tears in my eyes. Many thanks to BookBuzz for this early copy that will publish March 25, 2026.
April 1, 2026
Cynthia Peabody is having difficulty adjusting to life alone. Recently widowed, her grief consumes her. She’s bent on talking out loud to her husband about everything under the sun. She can’t sleep so she’s been practicing meditation. While meditating, she discovers a portal in her backyard. Her dreams are so vivid, some of them are coming true. She befriends her next-door neighbor’s teen, Juniper, and an unexpected friendship blooms. Cynthia experiences things that can’t be explained and she’s determined to use what time she has left to help others. Can Cynthia figure out what’s happening to her or is it just her sanity fleeing due to grief?
The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody is one of the best women’s fiction I’ve read this year. This is my first book by Lynne Marshall, and her writing is captivating from start to finish. The narration is emotional, descriptive, and colorful. Every scene is intricately detailed. The world-building is flawless. But it’s the characters which make The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody an unputdownable read.
Cynthia is our heroine and she is delightful. While grieving the loss of her husband and not knowing how to move on, her emotions are all over the place. Readers will understand on a deep level how much her loss has rocked her world. She’s such a strong character with a quirky inner voice that makes reading The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody a joy. By the time I completed this book, Cynthia became a part of my soul.
Fans of Meg Cabot, Dee MacDonald, and Kristy Woodson Harvey will want to read The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody.
My Rating: 5+++ stars
Reviewed by: Nancy
This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...
The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody is one of the best women’s fiction I’ve read this year. This is my first book by Lynne Marshall, and her writing is captivating from start to finish. The narration is emotional, descriptive, and colorful. Every scene is intricately detailed. The world-building is flawless. But it’s the characters which make The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody an unputdownable read.
Cynthia is our heroine and she is delightful. While grieving the loss of her husband and not knowing how to move on, her emotions are all over the place. Readers will understand on a deep level how much her loss has rocked her world. She’s such a strong character with a quirky inner voice that makes reading The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody a joy. By the time I completed this book, Cynthia became a part of my soul.
Fans of Meg Cabot, Dee MacDonald, and Kristy Woodson Harvey will want to read The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody.
My Rating: 5+++ stars
Reviewed by: Nancy
This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...
April 6, 2026
I received a free copy from both Hidden Gems and NetGalley and I'm willingly leaving a review
Did Not Finish. Stopped at Chap15, p.129 47%.
I expected the grief since the description said Cynthia was recently widowed. I expected the appearance of the dog from her dreams, and some sort of fantasy story because of this. And I expected Cynthia to have problems facing the world again, all alone, without Arthur, her husband who died of cancer. What I did not expect is a pastor and his husband, with a child from his former wife, and extreme details of Cynthia being gang assaulted. It started with snippets here and there, and finally, chapter 15 comes by and the author decides to give you every detail. Every detail of what happened during and Cynthia's life following it. Not only that, but Cynthia has her eyes wide-open about a boy who is too much interested in Juniper, the pastor's daughter, and touches her inappropriately. No one else sees it. I am not interested in this kind of book and it should have been made known to the readers, on both accounts (graphic details of assault and the LGBTQ+).
Did Not Finish. Stopped at Chap15, p.129 47%.
I expected the grief since the description said Cynthia was recently widowed. I expected the appearance of the dog from her dreams, and some sort of fantasy story because of this. And I expected Cynthia to have problems facing the world again, all alone, without Arthur, her husband who died of cancer. What I did not expect is a pastor and his husband, with a child from his former wife, and extreme details of Cynthia being gang assaulted. It started with snippets here and there, and finally, chapter 15 comes by and the author decides to give you every detail. Every detail of what happened during and Cynthia's life following it. Not only that, but Cynthia has her eyes wide-open about a boy who is too much interested in Juniper, the pastor's daughter, and touches her inappropriately. No one else sees it. I am not interested in this kind of book and it should have been made known to the readers, on both accounts (graphic details of assault and the LGBTQ+).
March 26, 2026
Cynthia Peabody is grieving for her lost husband and struggling to find her place in the world without him. But even worse, when she falls asleep, she has the strangest dreams. Each dream shows a person or animal in trouble, and when the events they portray start to come true, Cynthia knows she can’t stay on the sidelines. In this gentle story of empowerment and friendship, Lynne Marshall gives us memorable characters and a heroine we can cheer for. Pick up this book for a satisfying journey that will stick with you. (I received an advance copy of this book from the author and provide this honest review voluntarily.)
March 27, 2026
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.
I’ve always loved the idea of having abilities that let you protect animals and anyone who needs help, so this story hooked me right away. I truly felt Cynthia Peabody’s grief as she navigated life after losing her husband, and I loved watching her slowly rediscover herself.
As Cynthia opens her heart to new possibilities, she forms a meaningful friendship with the teenager next door, and it becomes clear she’s exactly the kind of hero her hometown has been waiting for. I really enjoyed this journey, and I hope there are more books to come about her extraordinary adventures.
I’ve always loved the idea of having abilities that let you protect animals and anyone who needs help, so this story hooked me right away. I truly felt Cynthia Peabody’s grief as she navigated life after losing her husband, and I loved watching her slowly rediscover herself.
As Cynthia opens her heart to new possibilities, she forms a meaningful friendship with the teenager next door, and it becomes clear she’s exactly the kind of hero her hometown has been waiting for. I really enjoyed this journey, and I hope there are more books to come about her extraordinary adventures.
March 27, 2026
This is one of the most charming books I've ever read. At first I was only attached to Cynthia and to young Juniper, but in no time, I was drawn into the "family" the rest of the cast created--including the contents of the wooden box! I hurried in the reading of it, because I got a late start on it, but it's definitely a story for the keeper shelf (even if it's electronic) for the express purpose of reading it again. Kudos to Lynne Marshall for such a wonderful release.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 1, 2026
The Extraordinary Dreams of Cynthia Peabody by new to me author Lynne Marshall is a charming and bittersweet story. Cynthia Peabody is grieving for her late husband, struggling with her grief and has the most amazing dreams, that's all I'm giving you have to read the book. This is an unputdownable book that enchanted my imagination. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 25, 2026
She is grieving for her husband and she can go through portals to save dogs and others. Her life is changing and she begins to wonder if she is the town guardian. See how she gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a lovely tale
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a lovely tale
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews