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Americana #41
Dakota Dreamin'
Now she could make her dreams come true
Edie Gibbs stared at the check in her hand. She'd never imagined that the inventions Joe worked on during their eighteen years of marriage would provide a windfall after his death.
Actually, she had only one dream: to own a ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. And now, she could.
But it wasn't quite that simple. Her new ranch was a run-down wreck, and her neighbor, arrogant local rancher Will Maddock, made every encounter a battle. Some dream, Edie told herself.
Edie Gibbs stared at the check in her hand. She'd never imagined that the inventions Joe worked on during their eighteen years of marriage would provide a windfall after his death.
Actually, she had only one dream: to own a ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. And now, she could.
But it wasn't quite that simple. Her new ranch was a run-down wreck, and her neighbor, arrogant local rancher Will Maddock, made every encounter a battle. Some dream, Edie told herself.
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
148 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dailey
395 books1,849 followersJanet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 25, 2020
"Dakota Dreamin'" is the story of Edie and Maddox.
Super sweet story with mature characters!
Our heroine is a recently widowed mother, with a 18 year old daughter and 20+ year old stepson. In her mid 30s, she unexpectedly receives her husband's secret inheritance, and decides to buy a ranch with her kids. They work hard to move, only to be confronted by the hero, their neighborhood rancher. He instantly tries to buy the land from them, warning that they would be out of there in a year. However, 00 do not give up, and work hard to start up a family business, even when the hero tries to sabotage their plans.
The main plot in the book are formed by the blooming attraction between the strong heroine and the arrogant hero- and the subplot by the young love between their respective kids. I LOVED the relationship between the heroine and her children, how her ex wasn't vilified, how supportive the kids were and how the hero was just sufficiently mean. Ends on a heartwarming note.
Safe
4.5/5
Super sweet story with mature characters!
Our heroine is a recently widowed mother, with a 18 year old daughter and 20+ year old stepson. In her mid 30s, she unexpectedly receives her husband's secret inheritance, and decides to buy a ranch with her kids. They work hard to move, only to be confronted by the hero, their neighborhood rancher. He instantly tries to buy the land from them, warning that they would be out of there in a year. However, 00 do not give up, and work hard to start up a family business, even when the hero tries to sabotage their plans.
The main plot in the book are formed by the blooming attraction between the strong heroine and the arrogant hero- and the subplot by the young love between their respective kids. I LOVED the relationship between the heroine and her children, how her ex wasn't vilified, how supportive the kids were and how the hero was just sufficiently mean. Ends on a heartwarming note.
Safe
4.5/5
June 24, 2024
Sweet, smart, hard-working widow and her two wonderful children deserved much MUCH better than to be saddled with this unethical curmudgeon who tried to sabotage their dream of owning their own ranch, and his awful, spoiled, bratty, disgusting, vicious succubus from hell daughter who did not get any comeuppance and will spend the rest of her life making life hell for all of them :(
July 29, 2018
One of the stars is for sentimental reasons. This was the very first category romance I ever read. I was thirteen years old. Maybe that's why I tend to prefer romances where the hero can be somewhat of a brute in the beginning (a la Rochester in Jane Eyre) but then you see the very moment when he falls in love with the h. Reading it again many, many, *cough cough* years later, some of the material (descriptions, mannerisms) are dated, but the beauty and sweet tension of the romance still shines through.
May 18, 2024
Delightful story of courage and determination mixed with romance
Delightful story of a family determined to carve out a new future for themselves traveling hundreds of miles to a new destination and take on a new way of life. Together as a tight knit family they find adventure and prove that determination to succeed results in surprising results.
Delightful story of a family determined to carve out a new future for themselves traveling hundreds of miles to a new destination and take on a new way of life. Together as a tight knit family they find adventure and prove that determination to succeed results in surprising results.
June 9, 2024
very old book, nice but!
Moving to a new place is always a challenge. And this is one ranch to another. The place they move to is nearly surrounded by a very big ranch and the owner is the big boss in the county. Good setup and played well. The ending seemed very rushed and old fashioned.
Moving to a new place is always a challenge. And this is one ranch to another. The place they move to is nearly surrounded by a very big ranch and the owner is the big boss in the county. Good setup and played well. The ending seemed very rushed and old fashioned.
March 7, 2017
About a woman buying a ranch in the Black Hills, a grumpy neighbor ... guess the rest.
Sorry, that is not much of a review, but the story was so cheesy and predictable that I couldn't review much more about it ;)
Sorry, that is not much of a review, but the story was so cheesy and predictable that I couldn't review much more about it ;)
November 29, 2017
so sweet and awesome. very funny how the main characters met
June 7, 2022
Good Book, liked the story line. I especially liked the fact that it gives hope to those older and still getting a second chance at love. Good Read.
July 23, 2023
dakota dreamin
great book kept me interested. i have always like Janet Dailey books. she is a great writer. thank you for all your work.
great book kept me interested. i have always like Janet Dailey books. she is a great writer. thank you for all your work.
June 10, 2024
Good
This is a Good short romance. I like this author and have read many of her books. Happy trails to you.
This is a Good short romance. I like this author and have read many of her books. Happy trails to you.
August 22, 2025
This was a decent read. It kept my attention and I loved the enemies to lovers aspect.
February 17, 2016
Not a great JD. From the back:
Now she could make her dreams come true
Edie Gibbs stared at the check in her hand. She'd never imagined that the inventions Joe worked on during their eighteen years of marriage would provide a windfall after his death.
Actually, she had only one dream: to own a ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. And now, she could.
But it wasn't quite that simple. Her new ranch was a run-down wreck, and her neighbor, arrogant local rancher Will Maddock, made every encounter a battle. Sours dream, Edie told herself.
Now she could make her dreams come true
Edie Gibbs stared at the check in her hand. She'd never imagined that the inventions Joe worked on during their eighteen years of marriage would provide a windfall after his death.
Actually, she had only one dream: to own a ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. And now, she could.
But it wasn't quite that simple. Her new ranch was a run-down wreck, and her neighbor, arrogant local rancher Will Maddock, made every encounter a battle. Sours dream, Edie told herself.
September 25, 2009
Modern
December 7, 2016
Star Rating: ★★½☆☆
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews