Licence to Dream

by Anna Jacobs

Meriel grows up in England a tomboy, helping her beloved grandfather with DIY projects. At school she discovers a talent and love for art, but her mother forces her to become an accountant. She’s good at that too, but her heart just isn’t in it. When she wins some money, her lifelong dream suddenly becomes possible, and she quits her job to buy a house in Australia where she can combine her love of the outdoors with her work as an artist.

In Australia, Ben has dreams, too, but they’ve been on hold in the years since his wife’s death. Very different characters, each with their own goals, circumstances force Meriel and Ben to share a house and the attraction between them becomes impossible to deny.

There are many obstacles to overcome, but if Ben and Meriel work together they might just find a way to save and unite their dreams…

A heart warming story of love, family and adventure perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Ebooks

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

Anna Jacobs has 87 novels published as of April 2019. She writes historical sagas and modern novels alternately, and in the past has written historical romances and fantasy novels (the latter as Shannah Jay).

She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com

Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.

Reviews

[Hiba · Rating 1 out of 5]

The pros: a quick, easy read. The storyline had potential but the cons: zero to little character or plot development and incomplete story arcs made it lack depth. It was much more of a “don’t show, tell” kind of book and it spelled out the obvious, which left little to the imagination.

[Ann Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meriel did not have a great childhood, very little love or encouragement from her mother. Meriel was told to do a degree in accountancy, against her wishes although she did make a reasonable career of this, it was not her dream job: Meriel had loved to paint and wanted to become an artist. However by chance Meriel won some money on the lottery, said goodbye to her family and started a new life in Australia. Here in Australia she met Ben, some romance and Meriel was able to realise her dream.

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely light easy enjoyable read, you can live easily with the characters. It was such an easy read I read it in a day. A five stars from me.

[Marjan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lekker verhaal , leuke karakters , niks mis mee , gewoon lekker leesvoer

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this easy going book. It was easy to read and had fun characters and a good story. Different from a lot of the Anna jacobs series but it was good.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a 2++ or a 3-, but I couldn't quite, almost but not quite, bring myself to my 3 "liked a lot" rating. In many ways this is an odd little book. Very straight-forward, not many adjectives, simple sentence structures, "this is who I am" characters and not a lot of detail.

Yet. But. It was endearing. I can't entirely figure out why. But I did enjoy it and looked forward to reading it and was satisfied with the story. It was wholesome, in a way, but more than anything there was a brightness to the plot - I think part of my attraction is that I loved how things worked out for the main character. She was a good egg. Good egg things consequently happened to her, and she deserved them. She had problems. She faced them, figured out how to work through them, was willing to grow and learn. She didn't devolve into puddles and neuroses or agonies and blame. She just picked up and moved on and made the best of things. I like that! A lot. I don't know that I could be close friends with her, but I totally like and respect her and would be happy to be in her acquaintance.

The book was satisfying. That is the best I can explain it.

[Deb McMillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible Ending

You decide to have Ingram come up with an idea to get rid of the developers, but you don't include it in the story?!!!
How dumb is that! 😠

[Shrutee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not liked the start if the book. It was so slow and had a lot of unnecessary details but when the main characters met I really enjoy their love story and the suspense... l still was shocked when the main male character's brother had tried to kill their dog.

Meriel Ingram made a great decision by studying acc but also arts and she was really good at it... she has not give up her dreams. She has really work hard to succeed.

Ben Elless was very good at planting or making eco system decoration with plants🪴. He have later married a woman named sandy which one day died in a car accident. Later he could not find another ones to love like he love sandy and he didn't like the ambulance because when the latter had happened he had saw his wife going in the ambulance and then never returning back alive.

Later both characters met in the bank in a meeting according to his financial situation. Then with all the difficulties they both get married as she was pregnant for his child. Meriel didn't wanted to invite a lot of people only their close ones but Ben wanted a grand marriage to take his vow. Meriel think that a paper can't make and separate people when the love each other but she then married him grandly...

[Glenys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started yesterday, finished today... loved this book. Especially as I had been to the township of York (WA) many years ago, and it is on my travel list for another trip to WA. As a child Meriel had always wanted to be an artist, but her dream was quashed by an overbearing mother (who was very set in her ways) and wanted her to study accounting. Meriels grandfather was lovely and encouraged her to follow her dreams. Ben had dreams too, but they got put on pause when his young wife was killed in a traffic accident... after 4 years of grieving, Ben meets Meriel who was working for an accountant, they have a fiery start as they rebuffed each other, only when Meriel wins tattslotto and buys a property next door to one Ben has just inherited from his uncle do they meet again. With a few trials and tribulations along the way caused by Bens Business partner and Meriels reluctance to get into a relationship do they give love a chance.

[Hana Abdul · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing Style was so good and easy to follow But the reason why i gave 3 stars was that :

1) the title of the book Is not related to the story becouse mariel imagined her life to be a famous artist and makes her dream Come true But she was NOT that Exaggerated as she will be in the future.

2) i expect that they will get married which it means lack of plot twist , from the day the two couples see each other You'll expect what will happen next So it isn't something new ..

3) despite from that, the point of view of the story are from 1st, 2nd, 3rd ..

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book and look forward to reading more by this author. I would have given 5 stars but the ending seemed very rushed. Having had issues with developers and partner it suddenly finished, what happened to get the developers back off and who were they? Were they linked to the partner? Did they get found out or did Meriels plan (whatever that was) work? Loved the book till 10 minutes from the end!

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022: I really enjoyed this book. Glimpsing a bit of childhood for both leads was nice as it did set up the story really nicely. Meriel was a very independent woman, Ben was a tiny bit of a wuss, but together they were perfect.
The backstory with Phil was good, but the story about the developers was sadly unresolved, even though there was some mention of it.
It definitely was a book I wanted to continue reading.
8/10

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice little book, nothing exciting just a good easy read. Meriel escapes her over powering and selfish Mother and emigrates to Australia where she aquires a job as an accountant. One day she has an appointment with a client who she feels dangerously attracted to. Although she tries to fight her feelings for him, they later meet again under tragic curcumstances.

[MRS S PUSEY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good story from this author

I enjoyed this story Merial new what she wanted to do with her life and achieved this with the help her wise granpop as she called him he told her she could achieve anything in life she put her mind to a and her lotto win ,her meeting Ben Ellis i think was a bonus great read i would recommend this author.

[Carolyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a waste of time. I have never thrown a book in the garbage before.....this was a first. I only finished it because I needed to finish 30 books for the year.
not all things were tied up at the end. It was telling, not showing . So weak. Sorry.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

Couldn’t put this book down. As always , Anna Jacobs stories pull me in from the first page and I can’t put it down. Wonderful story and such relatable characters. Definitely a good read.

[Sharon Gillam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a take on holiday kind of book easy to put down and pick up again. I felt the story was rushed in the end almost as if the author had to finish it within so many pages …. And things were just washed over and the story not finished

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben and meriel

Another fan book from this author moving from one country to another then A lottery win things turned around for Meriel 5 stars .

[Janice Blakey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Super writing as always from Anna Jacobs. Love her books set in WA. Visit family often in Busselton area. Please keep writing!!!

[Lynette Christine Aldcroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping


Yet another example of how love will conquer all, really hope that a sequel will follow, Anna Jacobs you're amazing.

[JENNIFER BALDWIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Liked all of it, easy read. Love her books lots of twists never know how it will end. Will order more

[Vicki Anne Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed +++

Great story, great characters. I really enjoyed reading it. I ended reading it during the day which is very unusual for me

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read this lovely book, it is one of my keepers.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice, light beach read. Predictable.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable love story and an enjoyable read.

[John Milliner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting story by Anna

[Clare Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Loved this wonderful love story. With many twists and turns. I could not put it down once I had started to read it.

[rosie-may · Rating 3 out of 5]

Borrow it off my aunt for holiday. Read it very quickly, wanted to the know what was going to happened next so it was good. However, it did feel rushed.

[Myra Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read

I have just recently found Anna Jacobs and every book I've read I've found amazing. Such amazing stories. I recommend her.

[olivia ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆
full review to come
loved this! haven't read a book this quickly in a while