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Sell Me a Dream
Sell Me A Dream by Leigh Michaels released on Oct 23, 1987 is available now for purchase.
191 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
3 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Michaels
351 books173 followersLeigh Michaels is the pseudonym used by LeAnn Lemberger (b. July 27 in Iowa, United States), a popular United States writer of over 85 romance novels. She has published with Harlequin, Sourcebooks, Montlake Romance, Writers Digest Books, and Arcadia Publishing. She teaches romance writing at Gotham Writers' Workshop (www.writingclasses.com) She is the author of On Writing Romance.
When Leigh was fifteen she wrote her first romance novel and burned it. She burned five more complete manuscripts before submitting to a publisher. The first submission was accepted by Harlequin, the only publisher to look at it, and was published in 1984.
Michaels was born in Iowa, United States. She received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, after three years of study and maintained a 3.93 grade-point average. She received the Robert Bliss Award as top-ranking senior in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and won a national William Randolph Hearst Award for feature-writing as an undergraduate.
She is married to Michael W. Lemberger, an artist-photographer.
When Leigh was fifteen she wrote her first romance novel and burned it. She burned five more complete manuscripts before submitting to a publisher. The first submission was accepted by Harlequin, the only publisher to look at it, and was published in 1984.
Michaels was born in Iowa, United States. She received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, after three years of study and maintained a 3.93 grade-point average. She received the Robert Bliss Award as top-ranking senior in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and won a national William Randolph Hearst Award for feature-writing as an undergraduate.
She is married to Michael W. Lemberger, an artist-photographer.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 20, 2020
"Sell Me a Dream" is the story of Stephanie and Jordan.
H O R R I B L E.
Ok, the blurb is simple. Divorced single mother heroine works for her overbearing fiancé boss and tolerates her child. She is a real estate agent and a pushover. Ex husband re-enters life and drama ensues.
My problems with the book:
1. The heroine was not a good mother. She barely tolerated her child, spent more time pushing her away than caring for her, did not respond to verbal cues when the child begged for love, and allowed her fiancé to misbehave with the child.
2. The fiancé was a controlling creep and she let him wipe his poop sodden shoes on her carpeted body.
3. Her hiding the truth from her ex was simply unethical because all he did was look for a better life because they were dirt poor
4. They were divorced and both moved on- but we saw the heroine attempting to sleep with OM
NOT MY CUP OF TEA.
Unsafe
1/5
H O R R I B L E.
Ok, the blurb is simple. Divorced single mother heroine works for her overbearing fiancé boss and tolerates her child. She is a real estate agent and a pushover. Ex husband re-enters life and drama ensues.
My problems with the book:
1. The heroine was not a good mother. She barely tolerated her child, spent more time pushing her away than caring for her, did not respond to verbal cues when the child begged for love, and allowed her fiancé to misbehave with the child.
2. The fiancé was a controlling creep and she let him wipe his poop sodden shoes on her carpeted body.
3. Her hiding the truth from her ex was simply unethical because all he did was look for a better life because they were dirt poor
4. They were divorced and both moved on- but we saw the heroine attempting to sleep with OM
NOT MY CUP OF TEA.
Unsafe
1/5
September 4, 2017
3.85 stars
I have always love Leigh Michaels writing. And I just realized that I also love the reconciliation trope haha.
As a woman myself, I do understand Stephanie's decision to marry Tony (even if I don't like it). And I have to admit, sometimes we feel the need for security exceeds everything else and coloured the decisions we have to make (and sometimes it also blinded us to any fault in that). Is it right or wrong decision is another matter.
The awakening come a bit sudden. But most importantly, it's a happily ever after for all concerned (of course it is!)
I have always love Leigh Michaels writing. And I just realized that I also love the reconciliation trope haha.
As a woman myself, I do understand Stephanie's decision to marry Tony (even if I don't like it). And I have to admit, sometimes we feel the need for security exceeds everything else and coloured the decisions we have to make (and sometimes it also blinded us to any fault in that). Is it right or wrong decision is another matter.
The awakening come a bit sudden. But most importantly, it's a happily ever after for all concerned (of course it is!)
November 11, 2011
Five years ago the hero and heroine were married. Both were immature and both of them were really bad with money. The heroine was on her last leg of college before getting her degree when the hero was offered a partnership in building a company from the ground up. It would mean no money until the company started making profit, if it ever did.
The heroine would not be able to complete her degree because the place where they would move had no college. She wanted them to wait so that if something happened they had her degree to fall back on for money. The hero absolutely refused to wait and instead just moved out there without her. After a while with no contact, the heroine filed for divorce.
What she didn't know at the time was she was pregnant. Because the hero never bothered to contact her after, she never told him.
Now five years later the heroine is working as a realtor. She had to drop out of college anyway because she couldn't afford college and her baby. She's engaged to the man who owns the company she works for. He's very cautious with money and is very much save save save. This drives the heroine a little crazy because she wants to be able to spend on some things like a new bike for her daughter and new clothes for herself.
While out to dinner with her fiance she meets her ex husband again. He's just bought the closed down factory in town and plans on building robots in the plant. He wants her to find him a house to live in, but the heroine is convinced that he's just stringing her along. While her boss forces her to work solely on getting the hero a house, she loses any commission money she would get from selling other houses.
The hero finally realizes he has a daughter and visitation starts up. Of course he makes cutting comments about how he doesn't want the heroine anymore, and she's not that great etc.
The writing is actually good, and the book is pretty decent. I didn't think it spent long enough on showing the love between the hero and heroine. Or perhaps, the love now as opposed to, I've loved you all along. Gag.
But what really bugs me is the only mature thing the heroine did in her marriage to the hero was take a stand about money. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with her finishing her degree so that they had a guaranteed income while he started from the ground up building a new business. With other people as partners by the way.
At the end she takes the blame for that because she should have trusted him.
So what happens when they move to this new place with no college and the business hasn't made any money yet but now the heroine is pregnant and there's a baby? According to the book they were a spend the money when they got it and then live off ramen until the next windfall. You can't do that with a baby. So he has no income, she has no income and there's a baby. They are also living well away from family so don't even have them to fall back on.
But of course she was wrong because he's rich now.
The heroine would not be able to complete her degree because the place where they would move had no college. She wanted them to wait so that if something happened they had her degree to fall back on for money. The hero absolutely refused to wait and instead just moved out there without her. After a while with no contact, the heroine filed for divorce.
What she didn't know at the time was she was pregnant. Because the hero never bothered to contact her after, she never told him.
Now five years later the heroine is working as a realtor. She had to drop out of college anyway because she couldn't afford college and her baby. She's engaged to the man who owns the company she works for. He's very cautious with money and is very much save save save. This drives the heroine a little crazy because she wants to be able to spend on some things like a new bike for her daughter and new clothes for herself.
While out to dinner with her fiance she meets her ex husband again. He's just bought the closed down factory in town and plans on building robots in the plant. He wants her to find him a house to live in, but the heroine is convinced that he's just stringing her along. While her boss forces her to work solely on getting the hero a house, she loses any commission money she would get from selling other houses.
The hero finally realizes he has a daughter and visitation starts up. Of course he makes cutting comments about how he doesn't want the heroine anymore, and she's not that great etc.
The writing is actually good, and the book is pretty decent. I didn't think it spent long enough on showing the love between the hero and heroine. Or perhaps, the love now as opposed to, I've loved you all along. Gag.
But what really bugs me is the only mature thing the heroine did in her marriage to the hero was take a stand about money. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with her finishing her degree so that they had a guaranteed income while he started from the ground up building a new business. With other people as partners by the way.
At the end she takes the blame for that because she should have trusted him.
So what happens when they move to this new place with no college and the business hasn't made any money yet but now the heroine is pregnant and there's a baby? According to the book they were a spend the money when they got it and then live off ramen until the next windfall. You can't do that with a baby. So he has no income, she has no income and there's a baby. They are also living well away from family so don't even have them to fall back on.
But of course she was wrong because he's rich now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2021
Not a likable hero, heroine, OM or wannabe OW. The little girl was cute.
Not to self…. Don’t reread.
Not to self…. Don’t reread.
February 25, 2015
Utterly predictable unrealistic fluff. I don’t expect great plot or writing with HP books but what really got me is the heroine. Totally unsympathetic character who wanted to marry a man who despised her little daughter. What kind of mother is she? Thank goodness the hero came and saved the day.
February 8, 2021
A sweet story, well written, Leigh Michaels does have a writing style easy to absorb and keep moving through. There's an adorable little girl at 4 years old who is both cute, spicy, and tantrumy in the story. I like the author shied away from making it too sappy sweet to where it's nauseating and realistic, but instead portrayed realistic single mother struggles, money drama, fears of custody, jealousy with affection toward other parent when it first starts. We even get the messy house, the ran over tricycle, the colds spread from the mini germ factories. The hero is fine, but more could have been done with him. Sometimes he's irritating, sometimes I get him, but he could have been fledged out more. The heroine is the biggest obstacle as she's just not that bright. I get being blind to some faults when you're vulnerable, but how she could have kept going with Tony when love wasn't help blind her? Some of her misconceptions of the hero's motives were also not sensibly thought out. She started getting on my nerves in different ways over time due to this -- but, ultimately this was a well-written Harlequin with a sweet ending, it had a rich enough story considering page length and not relying only on the formulaic misunderstandings and lies these tend to, and by keeping it focused on emotions instead of the physical. Recommended for Harlequin romance fans.
October 2, 2011
Oh! the dilemma.
The heroine Stephanie had been burned before by young idealistic love. She had married Jordan five years ago and when proverbial wolf came knocking on the door – when she had to make a decision to follow him to an uncertain job or stay and finish her degree, she chose the security of her schooling. She filed divorce, thinking she could force him to come back. On the other hand, he couldn’t contest it because of lack of money so he let it go, not knowing that she was also pregnant with their child. When he returned to the town as a successful business man, and discovered her secret, his anger was understandable.
The whole time I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but heap the blame on the heroine. Yes, she raised their daughter well and she gave up her college dreams to build a life. But divorce is such a serious thing that it shouldn’t be broached upon with the intent to provoke but as a final and last measure when all hope of reconciliation is gone. Her immaturity was obvious then. But now, she was committing the same mistake by opting to marry a financially secure (but stringent) man.
Given her track record, if I were the hero, I’d make sure she understands the part of “for richer or for poorer” in the marriage vow before attempting to marry her the second time around.
The heroine Stephanie had been burned before by young idealistic love. She had married Jordan five years ago and when proverbial wolf came knocking on the door – when she had to make a decision to follow him to an uncertain job or stay and finish her degree, she chose the security of her schooling. She filed divorce, thinking she could force him to come back. On the other hand, he couldn’t contest it because of lack of money so he let it go, not knowing that she was also pregnant with their child. When he returned to the town as a successful business man, and discovered her secret, his anger was understandable.
The whole time I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but heap the blame on the heroine. Yes, she raised their daughter well and she gave up her college dreams to build a life. But divorce is such a serious thing that it shouldn’t be broached upon with the intent to provoke but as a final and last measure when all hope of reconciliation is gone. Her immaturity was obvious then. But now, she was committing the same mistake by opting to marry a financially secure (but stringent) man.
Given her track record, if I were the hero, I’d make sure she understands the part of “for richer or for poorer” in the marriage vow before attempting to marry her the second time around.
December 1, 2015
A sweet romance.
Jordan and Stephanie having married 5 years ago in a rush of perfect love find out that being married is hard and that sometimes you need to compromise. But both being used to only thinking of themselves compromise is not something they do so he takes a job in a distance city. After not hearing from him for 2 weeks and afraid to follow him into unknown future, she files for divorce. With no money to fight Jordan lets it go through.
Now years later both are older and wiser and when they meet again that spark is still there. Not knowing about his daughter angers Jordan and he makes some threats. Fearing losing her child Stephanie sets about securing the dream house Jordan wants.....not realizing she will fall in love again.
Stephanie matures even more as she comes to realize want she thinks she wants is not necessarily what her or her daughter need...and that sometimes giving up, you win.
A well written read....Katie really kind of steals the show with her charm and cuteness.
Jordan and Stephanie having married 5 years ago in a rush of perfect love find out that being married is hard and that sometimes you need to compromise. But both being used to only thinking of themselves compromise is not something they do so he takes a job in a distance city. After not hearing from him for 2 weeks and afraid to follow him into unknown future, she files for divorce. With no money to fight Jordan lets it go through.
Now years later both are older and wiser and when they meet again that spark is still there. Not knowing about his daughter angers Jordan and he makes some threats. Fearing losing her child Stephanie sets about securing the dream house Jordan wants.....not realizing she will fall in love again.
Stephanie matures even more as she comes to realize want she thinks she wants is not necessarily what her or her daughter need...and that sometimes giving up, you win.
A well written read....Katie really kind of steals the show with her charm and cuteness.
November 10, 2017
2.5 stars. Both Stephanie and Jordan were rather passive aggressive - okay, very passive aggressive! - but the fact that she never told him he had a kid and let everyone believe that he didn't care about his daughter and left her penniless when none of it was true? Not okay in my book, very much not okay. You just don't do something like that!
June 28, 2018
This is the very first harlequin romance I read. I read it when it very first came out back in the 80's. It changed forever how I looked at love and romance and made me a very impressionable teenage girl a fan of the genre for life.
December 22, 2017
I read this book doing a long term (10 days) stay in hospital after some major surgery. I had a friend who owned a used bookshop and she brought me a grocery bag full of books to read. She had the bag, a pen and notepad to me and said, "Read and enjoy, but write the title down and if you think I should donate it or put it up to sell." There were all kinds of books in the bag--everything from Harlequin, like this book, to some very obscure fantasy and sci-fi books and even a few non-fictions in the bag. This book was OK, not great, but not a totally annoying read, so it gets 3 stars as an "average" read.
May 31, 2022
This is one of Michaels's second-chance romances, and it's got two major problems: firstly, the heroine didn't tell the hero that she was pregnant when they divorced (because she thought he was flaky, not for any other reason), meaning he's got a school-aged daughter he never even knew about, which is gross. Secondly, the heroine's engaged to her boss, who visibly and obviously loathes her child, controls her finances, and all but calls her stupid on a daily basis. Um. It's hard to root for her, is what I'm saying; somebody who makes these kinds of decisions for her child is someone it's hard to get behind.
March 19, 2018
Otravná sobecká hrdinka, kterou poněkud obtěžuje i její malá dcera, se chce provdat za svého hamižného šéfa. Její první manžel chtěl o všem rozhodovat sám, takže mu pro jistotu ani neřekla, že je těhotná. Její současný snoubenec za ni rozhoduje taky. Stephanii sice některé věci vadí, ale prostě se chce vdát (i když jí dal prsten s malým diamantem).
s. 24 „Vždyt je sám-“
„Jak to víš?“ (…)
„Ne,“ řekla. ?
s. 48 Chodili jsme s Tashou [ona a Tasha]
s. 83 dloho
s. 24 „Vždyt je sám-“
„Jak to víš?“ (…)
„Ne,“ řekla. ?
s. 48 Chodili jsme s Tashou [ona a Tasha]
s. 83 dloho
January 30, 2019
The first Harlequin/Mills and boon/Silhoutte I ever read at a very young pre-pubescent age so of course I thought it was awesome and nostalgia is a big part of the rating.
November 2, 2012
Jordan and Stephanie had been married before. However, when she couldn’t completely trust him (money wise) and stand by him when he wanted to take chances and gamble in making more….they split. Of course, Jordan maintains that she left him, but she claims that he went away and she hadn’t heard from him for 2 weeks so she began divorce proceedings. He didn’t stop them as he had no money. Now he has moved to her hometown and is setting up shop. Stephanie kept a secret from him, but she didn’t know at the time that proceedings were begun. YET, she did soon after and she was childish, selfish and perhaps vindictive enough to keep her mouth shut!!
This was actually a decent story. Jordan was hard to read at times but his explanation at the end made a lot of sense. I think sometimes he made empty threats….okay a lot of times he did, but Stephanie believed him. However, he never followed through. Does that mean she still doesn’t trust him not to hurt her? I couldn’t believe her dad’s quick about face though. It was as though he was all about money! Okay, maybe that is where she gets it from – he knew what side his bread was buttered on! LOL! The OM was made out to be pretty rotten too. She freakin’ picked him out, what’s that say about her? For some odd reason it felt like there was a comparison b/w the house and the h too! You know Jordan had OW over the years – they were divorced after all, but he still said that he always saw Stephanie as his wife! Does that mean he was up for some cheating then? LOL! Not sure if she had OM though, wondered if she ever slept w/ that penny pincher OM though? Oh and why is she making excuse for him not liking the girl because of the r/s w/ Jordan? He never knew before and he didn’t seem to like her then either. The potential OW would have added a lot more to the mix if she and her manipulative mother had been used more though.
This was actually a decent story. Jordan was hard to read at times but his explanation at the end made a lot of sense. I think sometimes he made empty threats….okay a lot of times he did, but Stephanie believed him. However, he never followed through. Does that mean she still doesn’t trust him not to hurt her? I couldn’t believe her dad’s quick about face though. It was as though he was all about money! Okay, maybe that is where she gets it from – he knew what side his bread was buttered on! LOL! The OM was made out to be pretty rotten too. She freakin’ picked him out, what’s that say about her? For some odd reason it felt like there was a comparison b/w the house and the h too! You know Jordan had OW over the years – they were divorced after all, but he still said that he always saw Stephanie as his wife! Does that mean he was up for some cheating then? LOL! Not sure if she had OM though, wondered if she ever slept w/ that penny pincher OM though? Oh and why is she making excuse for him not liking the girl because of the r/s w/ Jordan? He never knew before and he didn’t seem to like her then either. The potential OW would have added a lot more to the mix if she and her manipulative mother had been used more though.
May 4, 2020
Okay, I'll admit that I read a Harlequin Romance. I've actually had the book for years and found it again the other day when we cleaned out the storage. The main character, Kathleen, is a real estate agent who is getting ready to get married for the second time when her ex-husband comes back to town and she's caught between her reliable fiance or her unpredictable ex-husband. The story takes place during the fall and the author's descriptions just remind me of Northern Michigan, which is probably why I like it so much.
September 22, 2016
Jordan and Stephanie having married 5 years ago in a rush of perfect love find out that being married is hard and that sometimes you need to compromise. But both being used to only thinking of themselves compromise is not something they do so he takes a job in a distance city. You will love that story.
June 2, 2022
I loved Jordan’s character but parts of his dialogue just didn’t make sense. Stephanie’s dialogue never made sense. Katie was too grown up sometimes for a 4 yr old. I hated Tony! Stephanie’s parents were the most believable characters. I remember reading this to my mom tho when she lived with me. It was a quick and easy read.
I owned this book but gave it away.
I owned this book but gave it away.
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August 7, 2024The first Harlequin I ever read, and when I reread it a couple of years ago? It held up pretty darn well.
Just be prepared for the old school style where you only get the heroine's POV--that was jarring after having read so many contemporary books.
Just be prepared for the old school style where you only get the heroine's POV--that was jarring after having read so many contemporary books.
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July 4, 2018Would they try again, or finally say goodbye?
Stephanie hadn't expected to see Jordan Kendall ever again. In the years since their young marriage had ended in disaster, she had managed to build a career for herself in real estate as well as make a home for her small daughter. Their small daughter, although Jordan didn't know about Katie.
And there was Tony: staid, dependable Tony. Their engagement was the final piece in her new life. A life of security. A life totally different from the one she had had with Jordan.
So, after all these years, why did he have to come back and mess up her life now?
Stephanie hadn't expected to see Jordan Kendall ever again. In the years since their young marriage had ended in disaster, she had managed to build a career for herself in real estate as well as make a home for her small daughter. Their small daughter, although Jordan didn't know about Katie.
And there was Tony: staid, dependable Tony. Their engagement was the final piece in her new life. A life of security. A life totally different from the one she had had with Jordan.
So, after all these years, why did he have to come back and mess up her life now?
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews