What do you think?
Rate this book
Never a Dream
A story about love, but not just a love-story!
“Never a Dream” tells a tale of eternal love, the one that never ends, and lasts longer than one lifetime. The kind of love everyone is searching for…
Except for, maybe, Matt — he is too busy living the classic rock-star’s dream full of music, drugs and girls. Lots of girls. Life is treating him well, until reality starts to bite.
Rain, on the other hand, is a dreamer She recovers from one failed relationship and, with her eyes wide open, jumps straight into another. Her passion for antiques drags her into a new adventure that, like every castle-builder’s wish, begins in dreams.
Wishful thinking is not something, Ed is familiar with. His life used to be strictly practical, however, Ed suffers from solitude, that even he fails to recognize. Even in a relationship he is still lonesome. But changing that means changing his whole life.
Changes are also the thing Charlie is craving for. She’s been playing warm family life for long enough to get tired, so now she is ready for another step. Only she has no idea, where exactly is that step supposed to be leading her, and how many people she might hurt on her way.
If there is something they all share - it's a burnt down mansion, a small ominous town, and a century-old legend about two crosses.
Darren H. Pryce is a pseudonym for Polina Traore and Dana Kaledin
Never A Dream is only available under real names, not a pseudonym!
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2014
3 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Polina Traore
2 books12 followersI share my head with voices. Usually, those are the voices of future book characters. I am one of the authors of "Never a Dream" - a recently published romance/mystery. In fact, I am many things: a reader, a journalist, a music-lover, a comic book fan, a gamer, a tv-show addict, a youtuber, and a dreamer. Even if it's never a dream, that leads me to combining letters together in an attempt to tell a story. (You see, what I did there?)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 2, 2017
I melt into these sort of novels when they get me analysing dating dynamics in a dry and objective style that would never just happen consciously and that’s how I’m thinking now. It’s like a philosophy exercise where you reach new conclusions that were in your subconscious all the time, arriving finally on the page and radiating a squeak of universal truth. I guess that’s what the best songs do, plugging into our minds and hearts and connecting into something deep we always knew was there but could never put into words, always circling the heart but the singer touched it like he could see through us, to what is hidden inside. I do talk a load of faff, don't I?
Never a Dream is not too ambitious in scope but it’s an easy read that has the comfortable feel of a casual 20s about town, hedonistic, sassy web of characters making mistakes, finding their feet in careers, living life on their own terms and secretly needing their bones squeezed by love. The theme also explores the classic question for girls: When and why do men settle down? The next discussion of the core theme is going to be useful and unpleasant but it’s best to get it out of the system, a bit like a shewee.
The music star in this piece is a typical Michael Hutchens sort of heart-throb who, de-sensitised by easily obtained sex has lost sight of the ability to love. Despite his talents and looks, here’s someone who can’t do what other people find natural and easy, fall in love. On, for heaven’s sake, he hasn’t even stepped in it a few times? The star has writing and performing talent but essentially he’s a straight lad doing what they all do, to prioritise sleeping with any girl who’ll accept him, lose respect for her soon after the act because the chase was too easy and then move on to persuading the next prospect. I suspect that for the small number of men with this power, the routine really is de-sensitising and meaningless after a few years, when it becomes repeat, repeat and their names go in one ear and out the other. If a guy continues a quest for sex which is no longer thrilling (some give up: “I’d prefer a good cup of tea”, Boy George), they can then choose between extending their ethical limits into ever more perverse experiences (Caligula, Nero, de Sade, Ted Heath) or they can switch to a new set of criteria and look for a long term companion or marriage partner. This story catches the youthful rock-star at precisely this point of transition, the moment he grows up and changes from endlessly trying to score, becomes aware of adult responsibilities and then sees a girl he could commit to, The Girl. Pity she’s already got a boyfriend. Send in the ninjas [sadly, this doesn’t happen].
Here’s where I let the cat out of the bag because the female of the species performs this transition too. When the teenie crush phase has passed and you’re in your late teens and twenties, there are two categories of men. Category A is the standard leisure model, for all your entertainment and performance needs, in music terms they’re the rhythm section, with a glint in their eye and a hole in their pocket – but they are available for experience. Category B save their pennies, have no confidence, need to be told what to wear, don’t wear scent, shop for gifts at Tesco, always choose safe activities and remind you of your uncle slightly. Cat. A take you somewhere unexpected, change the plan on a whim when they arrive, you’re never quite sure they can pay the bill and you just might end the date climbing out through a window. They also borrow money and don’t stick to what they promised. Cat. B takes you to the same place and always, always, orders the second cheapest bottle on the wine list because they’re careful with cash but don’t want to appear completely cheap. Cat. A cheat on you, sometimes with your best friend, but that’s okay because you cheat on them and they’re so wrapped up in themselves they never know it. After the seemingly endless supply of Cat. As, when you wake up in the morning, look into the mirror and realise it can’t always be like this, the situation changes. It’s time to build a nest while you still have the goods to collect a quality Category B. Should you jump into security early, before all the best ones go off the market? This is not dropping standards so much as growing up. Both sides do it, if they can, if they’re not ugly bugly, but music stars are perceived as drenched in extra sexuality and they are given rights of skip-a-few-stages access, perhaps not by you but always by someone. The someones in this book are all called Kitty because he can’t remember their names. Red flag. There’s Kitty and another Kitty. There's a Kitty with a ring.
“Paul was sacked out in the chair”. That’s good imagery. Can I start using it? “This was the first time she’d ever looked him in the eye. It was like a shot of adrenaline. A straight line, a bounce”, that’s born for film noir. Then there’s this terrific quote from when the band members find a book in the dressing room: “The book was plain and it felt like it was stinging in his palms. Oh, his head started spinning as he tried to read the headline. Dostoevsky?”
Showing the star in a psychiatric session is a clever technique from these authors because it gives the reader a route into masculine motivations, not just a view of the surface you’re meant to see. His hierarchy of needs is pretty limited and entirely selfish but I can just about relate to the idea “if I didn’t do that, what would I be?” The number of conquests and bottles of Irish whiskey is just a score card to track how successful he is as a musician and song writer. There’s then a scene at about the 39% mark which is pretty steamy and, you know, you probably would, which is where this swearing, arrogant, moody, drunk, ignorant kid and centre piece of the book turns into someone else. Then he spoils it with more immature stupidity later.
Yet, he isn’t the centre piece, is he? That would be Rain, a secondary character in a Cat. B relationship who is artistic, imaginative, dreamy and grows on you until you acknowledge her importance in the story and remember her name. Someone compliments her name early on, which sounds silly to her and she sees it as a kind of pattern of what blokes are supposed to say on a date. Nowadays we all have friends called Rain, Wind, Snow, Sleet and Cumulonimbus, which we no longer associate with weather conditions and take them seriously (as if). Even so, Rain should find a new crowd to hang around with because she’s going places, if she can drag herself away from antique shops for long enough. She also has an unacknowledged guy who she meets in dreams and everybody knows they should be together except themselves.
Taking all of that commentary and pulverising it into a dough ball of essential life knowledge, to be mangled into the pasta of realisation, with the spinach of determinism, here I go, the perfect partner is a Category A (the three Fs: frivolous, fun) who then metamorphoses into a more stable and reliable form that you can emotionally invest in, who’ll pay a mortgage and will be there for the children, i.e. a Category B (the three ibles: sensible, dependable, reliable). If he can switch back into an A when the children are in bed, that’s quite cool. I think Cat. A guys eventually settle with Cat. B girls, the best they can get from the pool of slow-reacting women who couldn’t secure more reliable men before they all flicked off the confetti and went indoors. I’ll say it now: Before a girl about town finds her perfect B and settles down, the impulse is to try a string of Category As. To return to the question – When do men settle? About 29 years old. For women it’s about 24 or 25 (change your name and don’t stay in contact with anyone). First year at Uni though, promise your parents you’ll be getting plenty of straight As, like they wanted, make them proud, so proud; and the occasional interracial.
What the book doesn’t cover is how the charming Charlie can keep hold of her rock idol, a text book Category A but with a reliable income, both an F and an Ible. Thousands of famous people’s partners have never solved this control problem. If they are highly attractive and always away from home, what do you do? Just accept it and welcome home or are you going to spend your life shielding your investment from #them? Either way, when he’s bored or you have to leave early to look after the children, the rosy future can lose petals. Got him? Good. Your work has just begun, unless you freeze him in carbonite. So tempting.
The story is a fulfilling tale that does what it should and makes you feel warm and fuzzy but I’m not going to give it five stars because there’s room for improvement and I think the authors could do even better with the next one. That’s a challenge. In future I can imagine each pop star or actor might be followed by a drone which reports home but until that happens this is a bad industry to wed into, so the wise advice in real life is still to marry a Cat. B. Will she? No, of course not, so that’s good romantic fiction.
There are a few killer lines in this but here’s the one you buy it for: “Matt swept Charlie up”.
Never a Dream is not too ambitious in scope but it’s an easy read that has the comfortable feel of a casual 20s about town, hedonistic, sassy web of characters making mistakes, finding their feet in careers, living life on their own terms and secretly needing their bones squeezed by love. The theme also explores the classic question for girls: When and why do men settle down? The next discussion of the core theme is going to be useful and unpleasant but it’s best to get it out of the system, a bit like a shewee.
The music star in this piece is a typical Michael Hutchens sort of heart-throb who, de-sensitised by easily obtained sex has lost sight of the ability to love. Despite his talents and looks, here’s someone who can’t do what other people find natural and easy, fall in love. On, for heaven’s sake, he hasn’t even stepped in it a few times? The star has writing and performing talent but essentially he’s a straight lad doing what they all do, to prioritise sleeping with any girl who’ll accept him, lose respect for her soon after the act because the chase was too easy and then move on to persuading the next prospect. I suspect that for the small number of men with this power, the routine really is de-sensitising and meaningless after a few years, when it becomes repeat, repeat and their names go in one ear and out the other. If a guy continues a quest for sex which is no longer thrilling (some give up: “I’d prefer a good cup of tea”, Boy George), they can then choose between extending their ethical limits into ever more perverse experiences (Caligula, Nero, de Sade, Ted Heath) or they can switch to a new set of criteria and look for a long term companion or marriage partner. This story catches the youthful rock-star at precisely this point of transition, the moment he grows up and changes from endlessly trying to score, becomes aware of adult responsibilities and then sees a girl he could commit to, The Girl. Pity she’s already got a boyfriend. Send in the ninjas [sadly, this doesn’t happen].
Here’s where I let the cat out of the bag because the female of the species performs this transition too. When the teenie crush phase has passed and you’re in your late teens and twenties, there are two categories of men. Category A is the standard leisure model, for all your entertainment and performance needs, in music terms they’re the rhythm section, with a glint in their eye and a hole in their pocket – but they are available for experience. Category B save their pennies, have no confidence, need to be told what to wear, don’t wear scent, shop for gifts at Tesco, always choose safe activities and remind you of your uncle slightly. Cat. A take you somewhere unexpected, change the plan on a whim when they arrive, you’re never quite sure they can pay the bill and you just might end the date climbing out through a window. They also borrow money and don’t stick to what they promised. Cat. B takes you to the same place and always, always, orders the second cheapest bottle on the wine list because they’re careful with cash but don’t want to appear completely cheap. Cat. A cheat on you, sometimes with your best friend, but that’s okay because you cheat on them and they’re so wrapped up in themselves they never know it. After the seemingly endless supply of Cat. As, when you wake up in the morning, look into the mirror and realise it can’t always be like this, the situation changes. It’s time to build a nest while you still have the goods to collect a quality Category B. Should you jump into security early, before all the best ones go off the market? This is not dropping standards so much as growing up. Both sides do it, if they can, if they’re not ugly bugly, but music stars are perceived as drenched in extra sexuality and they are given rights of skip-a-few-stages access, perhaps not by you but always by someone. The someones in this book are all called Kitty because he can’t remember their names. Red flag. There’s Kitty and another Kitty. There's a Kitty with a ring.
“Paul was sacked out in the chair”. That’s good imagery. Can I start using it? “This was the first time she’d ever looked him in the eye. It was like a shot of adrenaline. A straight line, a bounce”, that’s born for film noir. Then there’s this terrific quote from when the band members find a book in the dressing room: “The book was plain and it felt like it was stinging in his palms. Oh, his head started spinning as he tried to read the headline. Dostoevsky?”
Showing the star in a psychiatric session is a clever technique from these authors because it gives the reader a route into masculine motivations, not just a view of the surface you’re meant to see. His hierarchy of needs is pretty limited and entirely selfish but I can just about relate to the idea “if I didn’t do that, what would I be?” The number of conquests and bottles of Irish whiskey is just a score card to track how successful he is as a musician and song writer. There’s then a scene at about the 39% mark which is pretty steamy and, you know, you probably would, which is where this swearing, arrogant, moody, drunk, ignorant kid and centre piece of the book turns into someone else. Then he spoils it with more immature stupidity later.
Yet, he isn’t the centre piece, is he? That would be Rain, a secondary character in a Cat. B relationship who is artistic, imaginative, dreamy and grows on you until you acknowledge her importance in the story and remember her name. Someone compliments her name early on, which sounds silly to her and she sees it as a kind of pattern of what blokes are supposed to say on a date. Nowadays we all have friends called Rain, Wind, Snow, Sleet and Cumulonimbus, which we no longer associate with weather conditions and take them seriously (as if). Even so, Rain should find a new crowd to hang around with because she’s going places, if she can drag herself away from antique shops for long enough. She also has an unacknowledged guy who she meets in dreams and everybody knows they should be together except themselves.
Taking all of that commentary and pulverising it into a dough ball of essential life knowledge, to be mangled into the pasta of realisation, with the spinach of determinism, here I go, the perfect partner is a Category A (the three Fs: frivolous, fun) who then metamorphoses into a more stable and reliable form that you can emotionally invest in, who’ll pay a mortgage and will be there for the children, i.e. a Category B (the three ibles: sensible, dependable, reliable). If he can switch back into an A when the children are in bed, that’s quite cool. I think Cat. A guys eventually settle with Cat. B girls, the best they can get from the pool of slow-reacting women who couldn’t secure more reliable men before they all flicked off the confetti and went indoors. I’ll say it now: Before a girl about town finds her perfect B and settles down, the impulse is to try a string of Category As. To return to the question – When do men settle? About 29 years old. For women it’s about 24 or 25 (change your name and don’t stay in contact with anyone). First year at Uni though, promise your parents you’ll be getting plenty of straight As, like they wanted, make them proud, so proud; and the occasional interracial.
What the book doesn’t cover is how the charming Charlie can keep hold of her rock idol, a text book Category A but with a reliable income, both an F and an Ible. Thousands of famous people’s partners have never solved this control problem. If they are highly attractive and always away from home, what do you do? Just accept it and welcome home or are you going to spend your life shielding your investment from #them? Either way, when he’s bored or you have to leave early to look after the children, the rosy future can lose petals. Got him? Good. Your work has just begun, unless you freeze him in carbonite. So tempting.
The story is a fulfilling tale that does what it should and makes you feel warm and fuzzy but I’m not going to give it five stars because there’s room for improvement and I think the authors could do even better with the next one. That’s a challenge. In future I can imagine each pop star or actor might be followed by a drone which reports home but until that happens this is a bad industry to wed into, so the wise advice in real life is still to marry a Cat. B. Will she? No, of course not, so that’s good romantic fiction.
There are a few killer lines in this but here’s the one you buy it for: “Matt swept Charlie up”.
October 9, 2016
3.75 Stars
This was story of expectation, of looking at what you have, where you are and where you hope you are heading and taking steps, hopefully the right steps to take you in the right direction. But there are occasions where no matter how much you want or don’t want something, fate has something else in mind and in this story the impact of those other expectations had a lot to say.
Rain’s dreams weren’t only her imagination, they were depictions of her past, a place where she was not a viewer but an integral part of the story as it unfolded in her head, but what happens when her imagination isn’t content to remain contained, when the characters that keep her company as she lies asleep are ready to cross into her here and now?
There was more to this story than I had initially anticipated, I didn’t read any blurb prior to opening the front page and I think I gained from that, I had no expectations as I made my way through the book. I could take the journey that the authors had planned alongside the characters and because of that I found that the depth of character was much more entertaining.
This was about love, and it was one that was played on repeat across time.
I liked Rain, she was a survivor, a touching woman with a liking for antiques but I also found that the secondary characters were more than able to stand their ground. I don’t think for one minute that it was coincidence that these people were interacting in the way they were. But was I right?
I wasn’t sure about Matt; he was doing what he could to fulfil his dream of making it in the music industry but did he really have to absorb all the aspects of the lifestyle too. His extracurricular activities were exhausting but were his days numbered? When would it all come crashing down because I couldn’t help but get the feeling that he had another path to follow?
And then there was Ed, now I have to say out of them all I think Ed was the one I liked best, he had been around the block a bit, hit both the highs and lows in his time and all that meant that he was not willing to see life through rose tinted glasses, he called it like it is and as you would expect not everyone was going to like that. He was a lonely man and for the most part he seemed to enjoy that, it was just the way he was, I wasn’t sure that he was willing to make any changes but then again I didn’t actually think any of them had a choice.
Charlie, well there was a woman on a mission, ready and willing to take a new direction, she embraced the fact that and she had the foresight to make a change but at what cost?
You have to pay attention, while not a complex read this isn’t a story that you should skim through there are details, pertinent details littered throughout the pages and a story that will drag you all the way from start to finish.
I enjoyed this, I can’t say it was what I expected as I didn’t actually know what to expect but having finished the story I will now say that I am glad have.
This was story of expectation, of looking at what you have, where you are and where you hope you are heading and taking steps, hopefully the right steps to take you in the right direction. But there are occasions where no matter how much you want or don’t want something, fate has something else in mind and in this story the impact of those other expectations had a lot to say.
Rain’s dreams weren’t only her imagination, they were depictions of her past, a place where she was not a viewer but an integral part of the story as it unfolded in her head, but what happens when her imagination isn’t content to remain contained, when the characters that keep her company as she lies asleep are ready to cross into her here and now?
There was more to this story than I had initially anticipated, I didn’t read any blurb prior to opening the front page and I think I gained from that, I had no expectations as I made my way through the book. I could take the journey that the authors had planned alongside the characters and because of that I found that the depth of character was much more entertaining.
This was about love, and it was one that was played on repeat across time.
I liked Rain, she was a survivor, a touching woman with a liking for antiques but I also found that the secondary characters were more than able to stand their ground. I don’t think for one minute that it was coincidence that these people were interacting in the way they were. But was I right?
I wasn’t sure about Matt; he was doing what he could to fulfil his dream of making it in the music industry but did he really have to absorb all the aspects of the lifestyle too. His extracurricular activities were exhausting but were his days numbered? When would it all come crashing down because I couldn’t help but get the feeling that he had another path to follow?
And then there was Ed, now I have to say out of them all I think Ed was the one I liked best, he had been around the block a bit, hit both the highs and lows in his time and all that meant that he was not willing to see life through rose tinted glasses, he called it like it is and as you would expect not everyone was going to like that. He was a lonely man and for the most part he seemed to enjoy that, it was just the way he was, I wasn’t sure that he was willing to make any changes but then again I didn’t actually think any of them had a choice.
Charlie, well there was a woman on a mission, ready and willing to take a new direction, she embraced the fact that and she had the foresight to make a change but at what cost?
You have to pay attention, while not a complex read this isn’t a story that you should skim through there are details, pertinent details littered throughout the pages and a story that will drag you all the way from start to finish.
I enjoyed this, I can’t say it was what I expected as I didn’t actually know what to expect but having finished the story I will now say that I am glad have.
February 28, 2017
WOW! Interesting read!! It's an interesting book. I was easily captured from the start up to the last. The story and the characters are good. It's the first book I've read written by these two authors and I will definitely would read their other works. Anyway, overall, the story and the characters are interesting. My favorite character among them is Rain, there's something about her that made me easily fall in love with her. I love the uniqueness of each of the characters - one of the things I like about it. I was easily pulled in into the story. I only wish there would be chapter titles tho..
I recommend this book to readers who likes chicklit, contemporary romance. :)
I recommend this book to readers who likes chicklit, contemporary romance. :)
October 22, 2016
When I started reading the book, I didn’t know what to expect. I had read the blurb, but still wasn’t sure what genre I was entering into. Was this romance? Contemporary? Maybe even Paranormal? I was intrigued to find out.
The story introduces to you a lot of different characters and every chapter seems to be the beginning of another story. There’s Rain, the designer girl who is kind, always smiling and dreaming. Then there’s Charlie, the tough PR manager, ambitious and strong-minded. Next, we get to meet Matt, the famous rock star. A spoiled, arrogant womanizer who after his first hit single, already lives the rock star life. And there’s Ed, the club-owner who has seen it all. He’s had his ups and downs in life and still doesn’t seem to feel quite old enough to settle down yet. And there are a lot of other characters as well, drifting in and out of the scenes, surrounding the main characters and their lives. So all characters live their own lives and follow their own stories until Rain buys a mysterious antique cross.
This book keeps you reading because you want to find out what all the different characters have to do with one another, how their stories might combine or intervene. And slowly, love stories evolve, friendships grow and relationships end.
Even though I found the book intriguing from the very start, I will only give it three starts because at times the storyline just got too complicated for my taste. There seemed to be too many people doing too many different things which distracted me from the main story. Plus, sometimes I wasn’t sure anymore what was a dream and what was really happening, what was the past and what the present. I suppose that’s just what the authors intended, still I found it too confusing at times.
This book is definitely different from any other book I have ever read before and it left me wondering about the stories and characters long after I finished it, which is how every decent book should be. So if you are looking for something special, different and intriguing, read this story and find out for yourself how it might change your view on things!
The story introduces to you a lot of different characters and every chapter seems to be the beginning of another story. There’s Rain, the designer girl who is kind, always smiling and dreaming. Then there’s Charlie, the tough PR manager, ambitious and strong-minded. Next, we get to meet Matt, the famous rock star. A spoiled, arrogant womanizer who after his first hit single, already lives the rock star life. And there’s Ed, the club-owner who has seen it all. He’s had his ups and downs in life and still doesn’t seem to feel quite old enough to settle down yet. And there are a lot of other characters as well, drifting in and out of the scenes, surrounding the main characters and their lives. So all characters live their own lives and follow their own stories until Rain buys a mysterious antique cross.
This book keeps you reading because you want to find out what all the different characters have to do with one another, how their stories might combine or intervene. And slowly, love stories evolve, friendships grow and relationships end.
Even though I found the book intriguing from the very start, I will only give it three starts because at times the storyline just got too complicated for my taste. There seemed to be too many people doing too many different things which distracted me from the main story. Plus, sometimes I wasn’t sure anymore what was a dream and what was really happening, what was the past and what the present. I suppose that’s just what the authors intended, still I found it too confusing at times.
This book is definitely different from any other book I have ever read before and it left me wondering about the stories and characters long after I finished it, which is how every decent book should be. So if you are looking for something special, different and intriguing, read this story and find out for yourself how it might change your view on things!
September 23, 2016
Hello to each and every one, who added “Four Parts of the Universe” to their bookshelf.
Well, here’s the full story of this book: Originally, it was posted under a pen-name of Darren H. Pryce, and without any editing. The first reviews, however, showed us, that it was not such a great idea. So we decided to turn things around and did what any ashamed author would do: hired an editor! This journey was long and exhausting, but finally, we managed to shape this story into something readable (and hopefully quite enjoyable :) ).
The book didn’t just get much needed editorial help, it got a new name, and a new cover.
So we present to you the same story (only better written) of the same people now called Never a Dream
It’s only 0.99 on Amazon right now.
We would appreciate honest reviews!
Sincerely, and with lots of love
authors of “Never A Dream” (ex- Four Parts)
Polina Traore & Dana Kaledin.
Well, here’s the full story of this book: Originally, it was posted under a pen-name of Darren H. Pryce, and without any editing. The first reviews, however, showed us, that it was not such a great idea. So we decided to turn things around and did what any ashamed author would do: hired an editor! This journey was long and exhausting, but finally, we managed to shape this story into something readable (and hopefully quite enjoyable :) ).
The book didn’t just get much needed editorial help, it got a new name, and a new cover.
So we present to you the same story (only better written) of the same people now called Never a Dream
It’s only 0.99 on Amazon right now.
We would appreciate honest reviews!
Sincerely, and with lots of love
authors of “Never A Dream” (ex- Four Parts)
Polina Traore & Dana Kaledin.
March 8, 2017
I was offered a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I accepted it because the idea of the book sounded interesting. It's a fun mystery about four different people and how their like will interweave and progress into romance and friendship. And their meeting will impact on their lives.
I loved the characters in this book. At first I found it hard to figure them out but once I had I was intrigued about where the stories would lead. I loved each of their little quirks and personalities. I admit it took me a little longer to warm up to Matt then the other characters, but I loved him just as Ed, Rain and Charlie by the end of it. I also really enjoyed the interconnections of the characters at the different levels, it helped with the mystery of trying to figure out where the book would lead you.
I think this book exceeded my expectations over all. I was intrigued by the synopsis but I struggled with the first we chapters because I was adjusting to the structure of the book and trying to figure out the characters. But once my brain figured it out I was hooked.
I read the authors plan to bring a second part out for "Never a Dream" to explore the characters further and that they have some other projects in the works in an Interview they had with Coffee with Architects of Worlds Afar. I will be keeping an eye out!
I have also published a copy of this review on my blog http://www.abookishshelf.com
I loved the characters in this book. At first I found it hard to figure them out but once I had I was intrigued about where the stories would lead. I loved each of their little quirks and personalities. I admit it took me a little longer to warm up to Matt then the other characters, but I loved him just as Ed, Rain and Charlie by the end of it. I also really enjoyed the interconnections of the characters at the different levels, it helped with the mystery of trying to figure out where the book would lead you.
I think this book exceeded my expectations over all. I was intrigued by the synopsis but I struggled with the first we chapters because I was adjusting to the structure of the book and trying to figure out the characters. But once my brain figured it out I was hooked.
I read the authors plan to bring a second part out for "Never a Dream" to explore the characters further and that they have some other projects in the works in an Interview they had with Coffee with Architects of Worlds Afar. I will be keeping an eye out!
I have also published a copy of this review on my blog http://www.abookishshelf.com
April 15, 2017
I am so glad I read this great book that gives you lots of great characters, Rain is the designer who always has a smile on her face and loves her dream, Matt a real rock star who has a the life lots of people dream of, Charlie the PR manager that’s ambitious but also has his work cut out for him and Ed the club-owner you are really going to love these. You want to keep reading it because you need to know what happens next, it all flows and you just keep wanting more. I received this from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.
March 8, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this Book at first I didn't think I was going to be able to follow along with the pace the book set. Once I really got into it I loved it and can't wait to read more, I love the whole degrees of separation and the characters!!
February 8, 2017
Italian review here ----> https://lalibreriadigabri.wordpress.c...
3.5 stars.
This book was a discover from the very first page.
When I started it I didn’t know what to expect. The only thing I knew was that it was about a love story. Actually it isn’t a single one.
There is a twist of element that define every character and their story that makes them meet eventually.
At first we have Rain, the dreaming girl, who is a designer. Maybe you may think that she falls in love with Matt the rockstar, a spoiled man who become famous thanks to his first hit. But we also have Ed, his club and his feeling of not being old enough to settle down. And Charlie, a strong woman who works as a manager.
This story involves all these characters and some more. I couldn’t put down this book because all I wanted was to know how all of them were related and how the story would developed .We have romance, a bit of adventure, comic scene and cliff-hangers. As I read it, I felt it was also about real life. I mean, we grow, fall in love, lose and find new friendships and lovers. All of this is in this book, in every single chapter.
So, how can I say this is a good book? Because when I finished it, when I turned the last page I kept wondering about the characters and their lives. Think about it. It only happens when you really liked your reading, so this one is very very good.
The only thing that maybe be a little bumbling is the change of POV in almost every chapter, it may be a little difficult to follow the story in this way, but you’ll love it anyway.
Good book, nice and friendly authors. It certainly deserves to be read.
3.5 stars.
This book was a discover from the very first page.
When I started it I didn’t know what to expect. The only thing I knew was that it was about a love story. Actually it isn’t a single one.
There is a twist of element that define every character and their story that makes them meet eventually.
At first we have Rain, the dreaming girl, who is a designer. Maybe you may think that she falls in love with Matt the rockstar, a spoiled man who become famous thanks to his first hit. But we also have Ed, his club and his feeling of not being old enough to settle down. And Charlie, a strong woman who works as a manager.
This story involves all these characters and some more. I couldn’t put down this book because all I wanted was to know how all of them were related and how the story would developed .We have romance, a bit of adventure, comic scene and cliff-hangers. As I read it, I felt it was also about real life. I mean, we grow, fall in love, lose and find new friendships and lovers. All of this is in this book, in every single chapter.
So, how can I say this is a good book? Because when I finished it, when I turned the last page I kept wondering about the characters and their lives. Think about it. It only happens when you really liked your reading, so this one is very very good.
The only thing that maybe be a little bumbling is the change of POV in almost every chapter, it may be a little difficult to follow the story in this way, but you’ll love it anyway.
Good book, nice and friendly authors. It certainly deserves to be read.
October 13, 2016
Reviewed by: Jess
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
A free copy was provided by the author.
Initial Thoughts:
It was an easy read and the characters were really interesting, however the grammatical mistakes were very off-putting. For example Brian being spelt Bryan and Brian, 'no' instead of 'know' and missing whole words out of sentences. The ending left me really confused.
What I Loved:
Hmm, well I loved that the story connected so many characters together, I loved that even though it was consistently in third person you could clearly hear which character's perspective it was, I loved the simple text and writing style.
What left me wanting:
Final Thought:
My final thoughts are that if you can ignore the grammatical errors and cope with overzealous descriptions at points it's a worthwhile read. I would have written a completely different ending but that's why it's so good, I clearly became immersed and affected by the plot.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
A free copy was provided by the author.
Initial Thoughts:
It was an easy read and the characters were really interesting, however the grammatical mistakes were very off-putting. For example Brian being spelt Bryan and Brian, 'no' instead of 'know' and missing whole words out of sentences. The ending left me really confused.
What I Loved:
Hmm, well I loved that the story connected so many characters together, I loved that even though it was consistently in third person you could clearly hear which character's perspective it was, I loved the simple text and writing style.
What left me wanting:
Final Thought:
My final thoughts are that if you can ignore the grammatical errors and cope with overzealous descriptions at points it's a worthwhile read. I would have written a completely different ending but that's why it's so good, I clearly became immersed and affected by the plot.
August 3, 2017
This book is a discovery from Instagram and I received an epub version of this book by the authors in exchange for an honest review!
How do I begin? At the beginning, I was so confused that it took me almost 2 months to understand all the relations and characters. For me, Never A Dream clutched grip after almost 300 pages.
The book starts from The Charles Dickens Pub which is always swarming with visitors, with different types of people sitting at the tables. Charles Dickens never stayed empty as the visitors always came back, most of them have met there. Charles Dickens was not just another pub, but also a special place in the Universe, where life itself ties the knots.
This story revolves around 4 messy characters, Rain, who goes to a Pub when she needs a friend. Charlie, the challenging PR manager, committed to a lawyer, who meets the famous Rockstar Matt who is a charm for every girl while he calls them his "kitties". Charlie is now his band's manager and ends up falling in love with him. Also, Ed, who is making a club and has seen so much in life. Living with his dog, he’s had his ups and downs in life broke up with his demanding-oh-not-so-caring-long-term-girlfriend and still doesn’t seem to feel quite old enough to settle down yet. There are also other a lot of different characters and every chapter seems to be the beginning of another story which makes you forget about the dream and leads you more towards Matt and Charlie's story. I personally loved reading about Charlie and Matt. Their romance is what kept me hooked along with the book.
Dealing with daily life struggles all the four characters have their own integrity until Rain buys a mysterious antique cross. The book was not so intriguing for me from the very start, I will give it three stars. There are too many people doing too many different things which distracted me from the main storyline. I suppose that’s just what the authors intended, still, I found it too confusing at times with all the abuses and other not so decent words used by the characters. I feel the abusing part was unusual more than to be expected from a book like this which is a tale of love.
Although I thought to give up on first few chapters, that's not actually me who gives up on something so easily. So kept reading the book until I came to its crux. Once my brain figured out what's going on in the book it kept me hooked till the end. I can’t say it was what I expected as I didn’t actually know what to expect from this book but having finished the story I will now say that I am glad to have. :)
P.s.: Miss Polina Traore and Dana Kaledin, I’d like to thank you for letting me read your book. It was a nice experience that I hope to repeat. Thank you again!
You can talk to the authors directly at their Instagram
How do I begin? At the beginning, I was so confused that it took me almost 2 months to understand all the relations and characters. For me, Never A Dream clutched grip after almost 300 pages.
The book starts from The Charles Dickens Pub which is always swarming with visitors, with different types of people sitting at the tables. Charles Dickens never stayed empty as the visitors always came back, most of them have met there. Charles Dickens was not just another pub, but also a special place in the Universe, where life itself ties the knots.
This story revolves around 4 messy characters, Rain, who goes to a Pub when she needs a friend. Charlie, the challenging PR manager, committed to a lawyer, who meets the famous Rockstar Matt who is a charm for every girl while he calls them his "kitties". Charlie is now his band's manager and ends up falling in love with him. Also, Ed, who is making a club and has seen so much in life. Living with his dog, he’s had his ups and downs in life broke up with his demanding-oh-not-so-caring-long-term-girlfriend and still doesn’t seem to feel quite old enough to settle down yet. There are also other a lot of different characters and every chapter seems to be the beginning of another story which makes you forget about the dream and leads you more towards Matt and Charlie's story. I personally loved reading about Charlie and Matt. Their romance is what kept me hooked along with the book.
Dealing with daily life struggles all the four characters have their own integrity until Rain buys a mysterious antique cross. The book was not so intriguing for me from the very start, I will give it three stars. There are too many people doing too many different things which distracted me from the main storyline. I suppose that’s just what the authors intended, still, I found it too confusing at times with all the abuses and other not so decent words used by the characters. I feel the abusing part was unusual more than to be expected from a book like this which is a tale of love.
Although I thought to give up on first few chapters, that's not actually me who gives up on something so easily. So kept reading the book until I came to its crux. Once my brain figured out what's going on in the book it kept me hooked till the end. I can’t say it was what I expected as I didn’t actually know what to expect from this book but having finished the story I will now say that I am glad to have. :)
P.s.: Miss Polina Traore and Dana Kaledin, I’d like to thank you for letting me read your book. It was a nice experience that I hope to repeat. Thank you again!
You can talk to the authors directly at their Instagram
May 6, 2017
The Goodreads group Read It & Reap provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for and honest review.
Polina Traore and Dana Kaledin’s Contemporary Romance Never a Dream is more than a romance as it is filled with mystery as well. The authors introduce the main characters of this page-turner—Rain, Charlie, Matt and Ed. Curiosity will immediately draw the reader into each character’s world. These personalities are not connected until Rain makes a unique purchase. As the original story unfolds they begin to make adult choices and connections. The authors cleverly share inner thoughts via individual points of view. They reveal their hopes, fears, frustrations and goals. The honesty of their private voices gives insight into each personality. The secondary characters add depth to this read. This entertaining read is filled with drama, humour and unexpected twists and turns.
Polina Traore and Dana Kaledin’s Contemporary Romance Never a Dream is more than a romance as it is filled with mystery as well. The authors introduce the main characters of this page-turner—Rain, Charlie, Matt and Ed. Curiosity will immediately draw the reader into each character’s world. These personalities are not connected until Rain makes a unique purchase. As the original story unfolds they begin to make adult choices and connections. The authors cleverly share inner thoughts via individual points of view. They reveal their hopes, fears, frustrations and goals. The honesty of their private voices gives insight into each personality. The secondary characters add depth to this read. This entertaining read is filled with drama, humour and unexpected twists and turns.
Want to read
February 25, 2014Only .99 on Amazon right now! Click HERE to buy.
March 8, 2017
3.5 Stars
I went into this book fully not knowing what to expect. At first it was a little slow for me to get into. But once I realized the whole mystery behind it all the end of the book flew. It had to go slow to build the characters and create that thread of familiarity and connections. I think we either all have been or known someone in a situation of questioning if you're really in a relationship with the right person or the I'm not looking for love. But bam it all happens. And that is what happened For Ed, Charlie, Rain and Matt.
It was interesting to see each character getting to know each other without knowing that they all know each other friend one way or another. Rain and Charlie became fast friends when Charlie really needed someone to help question her relationship. Matt and Ed had that friendship that they knew each other in the past but lost touch. Once you add common ground and a little what seemed like matchmaking or the universe pushing it all became beautiful to see these friends develop that love. Once the couples got together it all made sense even more so with the help of Rain's dreams.
Overall I was a sweet mystery of love. The characters where loveable. This was my first book for these authors and I'm interested in seeing how they grow with their future books.
I went into this book fully not knowing what to expect. At first it was a little slow for me to get into. But once I realized the whole mystery behind it all the end of the book flew. It had to go slow to build the characters and create that thread of familiarity and connections. I think we either all have been or known someone in a situation of questioning if you're really in a relationship with the right person or the I'm not looking for love. But bam it all happens. And that is what happened For Ed, Charlie, Rain and Matt.
It was interesting to see each character getting to know each other without knowing that they all know each other friend one way or another. Rain and Charlie became fast friends when Charlie really needed someone to help question her relationship. Matt and Ed had that friendship that they knew each other in the past but lost touch. Once you add common ground and a little what seemed like matchmaking or the universe pushing it all became beautiful to see these friends develop that love. Once the couples got together it all made sense even more so with the help of Rain's dreams.
Overall I was a sweet mystery of love. The characters where loveable. This was my first book for these authors and I'm interested in seeing how they grow with their future books.
December 7, 2016
Wow – Never A Dream is a very unique story containing a bit of everything all wrapped up in one hell of a fun ride! You’ve got the hot guy with his Rockstar with a capital R attitude, truckloads of humour, the gothic mystery of the dreams and a love that spans time. Actually, there are two love stories to enjoy. Double the fun! Looking forward to the next book. P.S. I wish the chapter titles at the back of the book were placed at the beginning of each actual chapter – they were a crack up.
February 26, 2014
Did not finish. Stopped at 10%.
Editing issues became a distraction to the story. Missing conjunctions made some conversations sound pidgin and therefore, hard to follow.
I can't review the actual storyline up until this point, since I didn't really "get it".
Editing issues became a distraction to the story. Missing conjunctions made some conversations sound pidgin and therefore, hard to follow.
I can't review the actual storyline up until this point, since I didn't really "get it".
Want to read
March 17, 2014I can't find the kindle vers. on Amazon
did-not-finish
May 28, 2017Stopped reading at 18%. This book appeared to be nothing but a series of interrupted conversations. Banal, tedious ones between sufferers of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Amusingly, my last borrow before I cancelled my Kindle Unlimited subscription. And eminently typical of the breed.
As is usual with an unfinished book, I leave no rating.
Amusingly, my last borrow before I cancelled my Kindle Unlimited subscription. And eminently typical of the breed.
As is usual with an unfinished book, I leave no rating.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews