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True Dreams
True “TJ” Bannister, haunted by his past, abandons the world of sex, drugs, and rock and roll to live a peaceful life as a bookstore owner on Cape Cod. The reformed bad boy thinks no “nice” girl will ever see beyond his tormented soul.
Innocent Sara Storm barges into his shop, and his life, with her sunshine personality. She looks beyond TJ’s past and helps heal his damaged heart. But her goal to be a singer is one TJ can’t support. Her dreams take place in the shattered world he left behind.
Can he choose between his newfound serenity and a life that nearly destroyed him, or is their romance doomed before the last note is sung?
Innocent Sara Storm barges into his shop, and his life, with her sunshine personality. She looks beyond TJ’s past and helps heal his damaged heart. But her goal to be a singer is one TJ can’t support. Her dreams take place in the shattered world he left behind.
Can he choose between his newfound serenity and a life that nearly destroyed him, or is their romance doomed before the last note is sung?
- GenresContemporary
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2020
9 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 5, 2020
I’ve been waiting to read TRUE DREAMS since I first read ELUSIVE DREAMS and the wait was so worth it I can’t begin to tell you!
TJ Bannister, the son of rock-n-roll royalty ran away from the bright lights, fame, and drug culture of his parents’ world ten years ago. He now runs a popular book store and café on Cape Cod and writes grammy winning songs under the non de plume James True. As a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, he likes his quiet, solitary life on the cape with his dog and his employees. He never wants to go back to the life he had before.
Sara Storm is on the cape for the summer and needs a job. She already has one – working at a music festival with the hope of getting discovered as her goal. But that job doesn’t pay well, so the day she walk into TJ’s bookstore looking for work, both their lives are changed forever.
Sara and TJ are polar opposites in every single way from the ways and circumstances in which they were raised, to their education, even their outlook on life. What they do share, though, is a love for music – and a mutual attraction neither of them knows how to deal with.
When Sara is viciously attacked, TJ comes to the rescue.
When TJ wallows in self pity and loathing, Sara brings sunshine into his heart.
Pretty soon these two realize what everyone around them knows: they are perfect for one another.
But TJ can’t get behind Sara’s dream of stardom. He’s terrified it will change her into something he used to be.
I hate spoilers, so I’ll leave the rest of the plot there. Suffice it to say these two have a very long road ahead of them.
Kari Lemor is a one click author for me because she writes emotion like no one’s business, and this book is chock full of it! She can pull the same emotions she’s giving her characters on the page out from her readers, and did time and time again for me while I was reading this story. I routed for TJ, railed at Sara, and then cried with the two of them together. And since this is romance you can bet the love scenes are hot and steamy and exploding with passion. They are also extremely well written and the emotion Lemor drags out her Hero and Heroine ring so true, I kind of felt a little like a voyeur ( in a good way!) when I was reading them, hee hee.
This book was everything I hoped it would…and so much more!
Wish I could give it more than 5 stars. You need to read all the STORMS OF NEW ENGLAND BOOKS – including the ones coming next!
TJ Bannister, the son of rock-n-roll royalty ran away from the bright lights, fame, and drug culture of his parents’ world ten years ago. He now runs a popular book store and café on Cape Cod and writes grammy winning songs under the non de plume James True. As a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, he likes his quiet, solitary life on the cape with his dog and his employees. He never wants to go back to the life he had before.
Sara Storm is on the cape for the summer and needs a job. She already has one – working at a music festival with the hope of getting discovered as her goal. But that job doesn’t pay well, so the day she walk into TJ’s bookstore looking for work, both their lives are changed forever.
Sara and TJ are polar opposites in every single way from the ways and circumstances in which they were raised, to their education, even their outlook on life. What they do share, though, is a love for music – and a mutual attraction neither of them knows how to deal with.
When Sara is viciously attacked, TJ comes to the rescue.
When TJ wallows in self pity and loathing, Sara brings sunshine into his heart.
Pretty soon these two realize what everyone around them knows: they are perfect for one another.
But TJ can’t get behind Sara’s dream of stardom. He’s terrified it will change her into something he used to be.
I hate spoilers, so I’ll leave the rest of the plot there. Suffice it to say these two have a very long road ahead of them.
Kari Lemor is a one click author for me because she writes emotion like no one’s business, and this book is chock full of it! She can pull the same emotions she’s giving her characters on the page out from her readers, and did time and time again for me while I was reading this story. I routed for TJ, railed at Sara, and then cried with the two of them together. And since this is romance you can bet the love scenes are hot and steamy and exploding with passion. They are also extremely well written and the emotion Lemor drags out her Hero and Heroine ring so true, I kind of felt a little like a voyeur ( in a good way!) when I was reading them, hee hee.
This book was everything I hoped it would…and so much more!
Wish I could give it more than 5 stars. You need to read all the STORMS OF NEW ENGLAND BOOKS – including the ones coming next!
April 20, 2020
When reading True Dreams I rode an emotional rollercoaster. The author Kari Lemor introduced TJ and Sara as well rounded but flawed characters that you fell in love with from the first chapter.
I found my self cheering as their relationship developed and Sara's family welcomed TJ for who he was today, not for his past mistakes.
I would recommend this book and after reading it I can't wait to read Storms of New England Book 3.
I won't spoil the ending but it was well written.
I found my self cheering as their relationship developed and Sara's family welcomed TJ for who he was today, not for his past mistakes.
I would recommend this book and after reading it I can't wait to read Storms of New England Book 3.
I won't spoil the ending but it was well written.
March 3, 2020
I could not wait to read the second installment of this series and was not disappointed. Kari writes stories that make you want to find a quiet place that you can read start to finish as you can't wait to see if you are right about how it ends but yet you do not want it to end.
I received an ARC but I loved it so much I still purchased a copy to support this deserving author.
I received an ARC but I loved it so much I still purchased a copy to support this deserving author.
September 8, 2025
DNF 30 %. Saccharine FMC and jaded MMC who can't forgive himself for his wild teenaged years. Not buying it.
March 4, 2020
True Dreams is the story of Erik's little sister, Sara Storm. She's the youngest, used to being overlooked when she isn't being hounded by her trio of over-protective brothers. After a lifetime of being patted on the head and told to be a good girl, she strikes out on her own in attempt to be her own person and follow her dream of being a singer. Even though she really is the good girl they know her to be.
Enter TJ. TJ Bannister has been through a lot. As the son of hard-partying rock stars, he wants nothing more than the quiet life he's managed to carve out for himself. TJ is very closed off, when we meet him. He carries a lot of guilt with him every day over the sins of his past. Despite having walked a long road to recovery, it's obvious he's never forgiven himself or allowed himself to grieve the death of his sister. He doesn't know what to make of Sara at first, but we all know from Page 1, that he's in for quite a ride.
I'm always a fan of Kari Lemor's books. She knows how to put real feeling and warmth into her characters, and there are always twists and turns you don't expect. I love Darcy, Jim, Mary, Sara's brothers, and the whole supporting cast of characters that help bring the world to life. I love the little moments between TJ and Sara, when TJ's charm and sense of humor make an appearance, and you know his walls are slowly coming down. LOVED the slow burn as their relationship develops, and I guarantee tears at the climax of the book.
This was a great installment of this series. Book 3 had better be coming soon!
Enter TJ. TJ Bannister has been through a lot. As the son of hard-partying rock stars, he wants nothing more than the quiet life he's managed to carve out for himself. TJ is very closed off, when we meet him. He carries a lot of guilt with him every day over the sins of his past. Despite having walked a long road to recovery, it's obvious he's never forgiven himself or allowed himself to grieve the death of his sister. He doesn't know what to make of Sara at first, but we all know from Page 1, that he's in for quite a ride.
I'm always a fan of Kari Lemor's books. She knows how to put real feeling and warmth into her characters, and there are always twists and turns you don't expect. I love Darcy, Jim, Mary, Sara's brothers, and the whole supporting cast of characters that help bring the world to life. I love the little moments between TJ and Sara, when TJ's charm and sense of humor make an appearance, and you know his walls are slowly coming down. LOVED the slow burn as their relationship develops, and I guarantee tears at the climax of the book.
This was a great installment of this series. Book 3 had better be coming soon!
April 14, 2020
One of the things I liked most about this book was the slow burn romance between the main characters. TJ has been through a lot in his life; the losses he's encountered have utterly shaped him. Meanwhile, Sara is looking for something to shape the course of her life, though she assumes it will be a career in music, not the quiet shop owner she comes to fall for. They're both forced to confront what they perceive as their "dreams" for the future, and find ways to compromise to make their relationship work. The ending is satisfying and clearly shows that this series may feature emotional challenges to the characters, which allow them to earn truly enjoyable HEAs.
January 29, 2025
I love the dynamic between Sara and TJ. It took a bit to wrap my head around the time line of this book being similar to that of Kari Lemor's Elusive Dreams - I'm so used to series having each book at a slightly different time.
This book confirms how close knit and there for each other the Storms are. It's made all the more obvious by the choice to contrast that with TJ's family and past.
A great read, and I can't wait to see which Storm is next in line for their HE.A
This book confirms how close knit and there for each other the Storms are. It's made all the more obvious by the choice to contrast that with TJ's family and past.
A great read, and I can't wait to see which Storm is next in line for their HE.A
August 5, 2020
Outstanding!
After reading Elusive Dreams and loving it so much, I couldn't wait to read True Dreams. It did not disappoint! Seriously didn't want it to end. Not only is the story well pulled together, but the writing is also terrific!
After reading Elusive Dreams and loving it so much, I couldn't wait to read True Dreams. It did not disappoint! Seriously didn't want it to end. Not only is the story well pulled together, but the writing is also terrific!
June 5, 2020
Oh what a wonderful book! The story with just right amount of steam- wonderful
Looking forward to the next!!!!
Looking forward to the next!!!!
April 24, 2020
The Happily Ever After we all Dream of!
True Dreams by Kari Lemor is the second book released in her Storms of New England series. This series follows the Storm family and True Dreams focuses on the youngest Storm sibling and only daughter, Sara Storm. Sara grew up protected by her three older brothers and never took any risks until she decides to spend a summer away from her family in hopes to launch a music career. She meets older and definitely more experienced TJ Bannister, a former party boy and rock star who is trying to live a quiet and low-key life away from the demons of his past. Kari puts two opposite characters together and the fireworks instantly ignite! Young, naïve Sara is discovering how to make her musical dreams come true while experiencing love for the first time while TJ is hiding from love due to past lifestyle experiences making him think he does not deserve any future dreams.
Once again Lemor hooks the reader in with humor, sadness and of course a roller coaster of a romance. Sara and TJ are developed by a well written supporting cast the reader will also fall in love with. You do not need to read the first book of the series to understand the family dynamics, but you certainly do not want to miss any books from the Storm series! I timed my reading of this book so I could go right into the 3rd book of the series, Stolen Dreams which was just released….another must read.
True Dreams by Kari Lemor is the second book released in her Storms of New England series. This series follows the Storm family and True Dreams focuses on the youngest Storm sibling and only daughter, Sara Storm. Sara grew up protected by her three older brothers and never took any risks until she decides to spend a summer away from her family in hopes to launch a music career. She meets older and definitely more experienced TJ Bannister, a former party boy and rock star who is trying to live a quiet and low-key life away from the demons of his past. Kari puts two opposite characters together and the fireworks instantly ignite! Young, naïve Sara is discovering how to make her musical dreams come true while experiencing love for the first time while TJ is hiding from love due to past lifestyle experiences making him think he does not deserve any future dreams.
Once again Lemor hooks the reader in with humor, sadness and of course a roller coaster of a romance. Sara and TJ are developed by a well written supporting cast the reader will also fall in love with. You do not need to read the first book of the series to understand the family dynamics, but you certainly do not want to miss any books from the Storm series! I timed my reading of this book so I could go right into the 3rd book of the series, Stolen Dreams which was just released….another must read.
August 28, 2020
Another good read
I started reading this book and got half way through when I realized it was book two of the series. So,
I downloaded book one and read that one before continuing with this one. I'm glad I did! I prefer reading series in the order written. Understanding Sara's upbringing helps to understand her dreams and how TJ's upbringing clashes! Working through it all and love conquering all makes for a satisfying read.
I started reading this book and got half way through when I realized it was book two of the series. So,
I downloaded book one and read that one before continuing with this one. I'm glad I did! I prefer reading series in the order written. Understanding Sara's upbringing helps to understand her dreams and how TJ's upbringing clashes! Working through it all and love conquering all makes for a satisfying read.
August 24, 2025
Sara Storm is hoping to make it big in the music industry. TJ Bannister wants nothing to do with it. TJ, the son of famous musicians, lived the rock and roll lifestyle when he was far too young and is still dealing with the fallout. He bought a bookstore in Cape Cod and lives a quiet life. When Sara starts working in his shop he is overwhelmed by her sweetness and optimism. He is attracted to her but feels he is too dark and messed up for her. As they grow closer and TJ begins to think he can find happiness, he still worries that her dreams of stardom will pull her away from him. I really enjoyed this love story. The HEA ending is super sweet. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys emotional romance.
January 14, 2026
Book 2 of the Storms of New England
Contemporary romance
Slow Burn Romance
Well put together story of angst and running away from your past
Contemporary romance
Slow Burn Romance
Well put together story of angst and running away from your past
January 17, 2026
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
I loved listening to this; Cassandra Medcalf did a great job performing this story. Sara Storm is an innocent young woman who wants to be a famous singer. TJ Bannister isn’t all that he seems to be. He has the contacts to help her achieve her dreams but he doesn’t want that life for her.
This is a great start to the Storms of New England series. Sara Storm has three older brothers and this book sets up Erik Storm’s story and I want to read it next.
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
I loved listening to this; Cassandra Medcalf did a great job performing this story. Sara Storm is an innocent young woman who wants to be a famous singer. TJ Bannister isn’t all that he seems to be. He has the contacts to help her achieve her dreams but he doesn’t want that life for her.
This is a great start to the Storms of New England series. Sara Storm has three older brothers and this book sets up Erik Storm’s story and I want to read it next.
May 6, 2022
This is the 2nd book and I was not disappointed. Sara Storm goes to work in TJ's coffee shop and TJ is attracted to Sara but he fears she won't accept him because of his dark past. Sara wants to become a singer but TJ doesn't want her to leave.
Sara will not give up her dream will their love survive? Very inspiring and beautifully written.
Sara will not give up her dream will their love survive? Very inspiring and beautifully written.
November 25, 2025
3.75 stars.
Last December I read the authors Christmas series which is part of the Storms of New England series which I thoroughly enjoyed. This book is book #1 in The Storms of New England series. Author Kari Lemor is a local author I met at a farmers market in Hampton Falls. I will continue with this series.
Last December I read the authors Christmas series which is part of the Storms of New England series which I thoroughly enjoyed. This book is book #1 in The Storms of New England series. Author Kari Lemor is a local author I met at a farmers market in Hampton Falls. I will continue with this series.
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August 16, 2025Please note trigger warnings: detailed attempted SA on page, drug overdose, and heavy reference to drinking/drugs.
I didn’t enjoy this one, but if you enjoyed her previous books, it might be for you.
I didn’t enjoy this one, but if you enjoyed her previous books, it might be for you.
December 29, 2021
I have been ready for this book to come out since reading the first book in the series. It is hard not to become attached to the characters and wanting more.
March 6, 2025
It’s honestly a childish portrait of the music world. The characters seemed a bit out of touch to me at parts. But I honestly did felt moved by the love of the protagonists. It’s cute.
October 15, 2025
I enjoyed this series... cute Hallmark type story with some added spice.
January 28, 2025
True Dreams is a great read. It speaks to a sexy intense romance. I related to Sara on several levels the finding love and not realizing it till you think you lost it for ever. Just a great read loved it. My favorite part is when Sara get the courage to peruse TJ in the tub.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews