Broken Dreams

Dream's Edge #1.5

by Traci Hunter Abramson

A lifetime ago, Maggie Alexander’s parents narrowly missed medaling in the Olympics as pairs figure skaters. Now a coach, her father Gordon is living his dreams through the skaters he trains—until Maggie is forced to deliver heartbreaking news: her mother’s battle against cancer will be a losing one. Shattered, her father loses his dreams in an instant—his beloved wife and his will to coach. Left to pick up the pieces, a devastated Maggie finds herself relying on the steadfast support of her childhood best friend, Lance Whitmore.

Despite the fact that Maggie has never seen Lance as more than a friend, his heart has always been hers. Lance does what he can to help Maggie work through her grief, and soon their friendship blossoms into love. But when distance threatens their relationship, Maggie is torn between building a life with the man she loves and helping her broken father rebuild his life.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Clean Romance, Novella, Contemporary, Audiobook, Historical Romance

155 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2021

About the author

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas as well as the skills needed to survive her children's teenage years. She is a eight-time Whitney Award winner and has written more than forty bestselling novels. For more information about Traci, click here: https://linktr.ee/traciabramson

Reviews

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these novellas that are tied into the Dream's Edge series. This book tells us how Gordon became Amaliya and Tyler's coach (from An Unlikely Pair). We also meet his daughter Maggie who begins dating Lance Whitmore (yes, those Whitmores!).

This is a sad story but it has happy parts too. Maggie comes home to help with her mom while she's undergoing cancer treatments but unfortunately, they don't work and Maggie's mom/Gordon's wife dies. Maggie is torn between staying to help her father and going back to school to finish her degree as she knows her father is struggling to come to terms with his wife's death. Maggie is also struggling to balance school, a budding relationship with Lance, managing her own grief and trying to help her father move forward.

I loved how Lance was so supportive of Maggie and her father. He was there cutting grass, bringing over weekly dinners, helping Maggie with schoolwork, etc, and it wasn't alway easy or convenient for him. It shows what a wonderful guy he is. I felt so much for Gordon--when his wife died the passion he had for skating seemed to die too. Skating had been his life for so long he didn't know what else he could do besides coaching. I liked how Maggie got him back into skating--it was kind of sneaky.

This is a novella so depending on how fast you read, you can finish it in a couple of hours. I love the Dream's Edge world and can't wait to read Dreams of Gold, book #2 which releases in February 2022.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something so fascinating to me about the figure skating world and as this book takes place in the 1980s, when I was very young, it especially holds a special place in my heart. I loved to watch the Olympics and getting a glimpse of some of the behind-the-scenes of that life in this series melts me.

Maggie is such a sweet and solid character. I loved watching her care for both her mother and then her father, especially as they navigate grief. Her childhood best friend, Lance, is there to help and when things develop into a more-than-friends situation, I was on the front row, cheering them on.

Abramson delivers such a powerfully sweet punch with this heartwarming tale. I loved everything about this story!

Content: mild+ religion; mild romance; death

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more of this series!!! Thankfully the second book is coming out in a few months. I'll just have to be patient until them. But if you've been reading the previous books in this series, you're going to love how this novella ties in previous characters and preps us for book 2, Dreams of Gold. If you haven't read any of the books in this series yet, no worries, this book is a fabulous place to start. Then you'll want to go back and learn about some of the other characters that you see in this one. They all tie in together and will be so much fun to see again in Dreams of Gold.

Prep yourself for some tears. And some laughs. And definitely some sweet and swoony moments. This book has it all. Maggie and Lance have been childhood friends for years. He has been gone for a couple years and when he returns, he finds Maggie and her dad struggling as her mom is dying and passes away.

Maggie has to learn how to balance her schooling, her grief, helping her dad and a possible relationship. She struggles but through her struggles she has support and strength from friends. Oh how I loved this book. I devoured it. I didn't want it to end. My mind is still swirling with all of the connections and possibilities for the next book. Traci Hunter Abramson is great at developing her characters and pulling readers into her story through the emotional connections and desire to see these characters thrive and succeed.

Content: Clean. The death of a parent could be a possible trigger for some readers. But I thought it was done so tastefully and showed natural emotions and grief for these characters as well as finding healing.

I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traci is a really fantastic author. I like her books so much and have really loved this series. This is a novella that gives a bit of backstory to Gordon and the struggles he went through before deciding to coach Amaliya and Tyler. To be honest, it’s kind of sad. There is a lot of sad, of grief, happening in this book. But it ends on a hopeful note.

I love Maggie and Lance. They are perfect for each other and adorable as a couple. Lance is a really great guy and Maggie couldn’t do better (IMO). I wanted to shake Maggie a bit at one point in the book but thank heavens her father was present enough to put her in the right place. He saved the love story!

My heart goes out to Gordon. The poor man has been through so much and I just ached for him and his grief. I definitely cried in this book.

This is a super short, quick read. Not a lot happens but that’s the nature of its short length. It’s very well written and I liked getting Gordon’s story from his perspective. It was fun to immerse myself into this world again and I am really looking forward to the next book!


*Note: cancer related death; brief mention of serious car accident; grief

**Many thanks to the author for the advance copy, which I was offered with option to review. These are my very own thoughts.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tasha (the_clean_read_book_club) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has never been a secret that I’m a Traci fan. I love her writing and see a lot of happy reading in my future! I love these novella’s because they are like little teasers to the next full-length novel in this series. Is it February yet? I am so excited for the next book, but loved seeing this back story into the life of the coach and why he is the way he is.

There are some heartbreaking moments in this story, but trust it all of the way to the end. I really enjoyed seeing carry-over characters from other books and series I love in this one. I also secretly wish the Whitmore’s were real people. I’m a big fan.
Stay tuned for the next book, because I have a feeling things are just getting started with this series!

Thanks to the author for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something really satisfying about reading a book in one sitting. I was happy to have this book on my flight last month. And it was so great that I had it finished before we touched down. And it was so great!

I love the way Traci Hunter Abramson is writing these. They connect her books in this series together and it’s one of my favorite things. Make sure to read Dancing to Freedom first. But don’t miss An Unlikely Pair either.

This novella tells the story of Maggie and her dad Gordon. It’s not the happiest of stories, but we all have our ups and downs. I love the way family is everything to these two. Especially after Maggie’s mom/ Gordon’s wife dies from cancer.

I really loved the way they were able to fight through the hard times and emerge stronger in the end. Part of that is due to Lance for Maggie. He is always there for her when she needs him. And he goes out of his way to do kind things for her.

Maggie is the rock for her dad. She gets him to try harder to find who he was before. And that was a beautiful thing.

I can’t wait for February to read Dreams of Gold. I know it will be as amazing as this one was.

I was sent an e-copy of Broken Dreams as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[the girl who reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first Dream’s Edge book, and I loved this novella as well, even though it made me cry! I enjoyed reading Gordon’s story and what happened to him before he said yes to coaching Amaliya and Tyler. And I loved Maggie and Lance, and I especially loved getting a glimpse of a teenaged Jim Whitmore, who is in many of Traci’s other books. And I laughed at the price of a VCR in 1980! Traci has been a favorite author for years, and I’m excited to read the next book in this series!

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I would call "the rest of the story". It's the background story for a character in An Unlikely Pair, book one in this series who will have a more prominent role in the next book. There is a prequel novella as well that does the same thing for another set of characters. All this is in anticipation of book two, coming in February. It's nice to get a more in depth background understanding of key secondary characters because I think it will make the next book all the sweeter.

Gordon Alexander is an Olympic figure skating coach. Tragedy strikes and he loses his will to coach. It was so good to have a better understanding of this pivotal time in his life. He comes into the very end of book 1 in this series as he reluctantly watches Tyler and Amaliya skate for him as they are looking for a coach.

The story is gentle, a bit sad, but ends in a place of hope. We get to watch the sweet romance of Gordon's daughter, Maggie and their neighbor, Lance, which helped balance out the sadness of tragedy. (also, hello Whitmore's! It's a little connection to the Saint Squad series by this author!)

Content: death, kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I can't believe this is a novella. Usually, novellas don't feel as complete as this one did. The characters have great development and the story wasn't rushed. It may have helped that I was familiar with the characters in this series.

This story is about Gordon, the coach, and his daughter, Maggie. I knew some of his back story going into this book, but it was nice to understand him better and know what he went through to coming back to coaching. This is not only Gordon's story. It is also his daughter Maggie and her childhood friend Lances' story.

The book takes the reader from heartbreak to healing. I also loved how she has a tie-in to another series of books she wrote through Lance Whitmore. I was so excited when this crumb was offered. It is fun for me in this fantasy world to realize how connected Traci Hunter Abramson's books are.

This is a series that I highly recommend. I can't wait until "Dreams of Gold" is released in February. I feel like the old commercials where the character is looking through the store window saying "open, open, open." That's how anxious I am for the next story.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Holly Bleggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great novella that helped us to understand more about the coach from Traci’s “Dreams Edge” series. I liked learning more about what he and his daughter went through after the death of their wife and mother. It helped me to understand why it was so amazing that he would come back to coach Tyler and Amaliya. I also liked how we saw some cameo appearances from characters in other series. I also really liked seeing how Traci showed how different people deal with grief. I thought she did a really good job with that. Overall, a really good novella.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own. 

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was seriously so touching! I loved the tender relationships throughout the book and how inspiring it all felt and hopeful in the end. The romance was sweet and getting to learn more about coach Gordon was wonderful even if there was some major heartbreak in his past. I also love the connection to the Whitmore’s, major happy face!
Abramson's writing is always so phenomenal. She brings to life characters you feel are your own family and friends. I can't recommend this enough as well as the Dream's Edge series. This makes me that much more excited for what's still to come.
I received an advance reader copy of this novella. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Dreams is a novella in the Dream's Edge Series. It centers around the life of Gordon Alexander, an Olympic Figure Skating coach who readers met in the novel, An Unlikely Pair. The novella shows how Gordon eventually became the coach to Amaliya and Tyler. Much of this novella can be heartwrenching as we see how Gordon and his daughter Maggie learn to deal with the loss of Gordon's wife and Maggie's mom.

Another wonderful aspect of this novella is we see the Whitmore family (Remember Senator Jim Whitmore from the Saint Squad Series?) that live next door to Gordon and Maggie. Lance Whitmore has been Maggie's best friend for years. We see why the Whitmores are such super people in that they truly supported the Alexander family as Irene went through her cancer struggle and after she passed. We also see the love that went into Gordon and Maggie healing from their loss.

I simply love this new series, Dream's Edge, and the world of competitive figure skating. Traci is so amazing at what she does, in that she can make a novella seem like a complete novel. This author creates such magic with her characters as she brings them to life. I'm always pulled into the characters' lives, thoughts, and feelings. It will be hard to wait until February when the next novel, Dream's of Gold comes out. You definitely want to read this novella that firmly stitches together your view and insight into more characters in the Dream's Edge series.

[Marilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this novella! I enjoyed being back in the Dream's Edge world as An Unlikely Pair was one of my favorite reads this year.

Loved seeing the backstory of the ice skating coach, and even though this is a quick and easy read, it pulled me right in with heartwarming scenes (as well as some teary ones), cute romance, and little teasers of the next book in the series. I also loved the connection to the Whitmores from the Saint Squad series and would dearly love to know why they can't be my next door neighbors.


I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.

Trigger warning: death of parent, cancer

[kate. · Rating 4 out of 5]

lance 🥺

[Crystal (Books Are Sanity!!!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, loss, and learning how to heal. Broken Dreams takes on one of the most difficult issues in life and addresses it beautifully. Once again Abramson writes a fantastic story that I could not put down. This next novella in the Dream’s Edge series shares coach Gordon’s story and it is a must read. You experience so many emotions such a short span. I was crying at points and cheering at others. Somehow Abramson magically packs everything from a full length novel into a novella. This is a must read installment in the Dream’s Edge series. Why is February so far away? I need the next book now! I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Heather Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these novellas that show us glimpses into side characters lives. I also love how this story has a cross over character from some of her other series. Seeing Jim Whitmore as a young man was fantastic! My favorite part of this book though was watching Gordon Alexander go from extreme grief to finding himself through the things he loves. It was beautiful!

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Abramson’s writing! She weaves a great story with intriguing characters who go through difficult experiences. They aren’t perfect but they are quick to learn from their mistakes.
I loved getting more of Gordon’s backstory. It was also fun to see younger versions of characters we’ve been familiar with in some of the other series. Some novellas feel rushed but this didn’t.

[Kim - Inside the Wong Mind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Dreams
by Traci Hunter Abramson
Book 1.5 in the Dream's Edge series
Rating: 4/5

Set in the world of Dream's Edge, this story focuses on Gordon and his family's backstory before he agrees to coach Tyler and Amaliya from Book 1: An Unlikely Pair. When his wife's cancer becomes fatal, Gordon can't bring himself to do or see anything that reminds him of his beloved Irene. He is grief-stricken and can't find it in himself to even go to work on the ice. Meanwhile, his daughter, Maggie, is also dealing with her grief but finding new love with her best friend and childhood neighbor, Lance.

This novella is definitely a sadder story but does still have some lighter moments. It's an easy read and well written. The unbearable and overwhelming grief that Gordon has is understandable and unfortunately, he does not handle it well.

"Could he learn to coach without her when he had yet to learn to live without her?"

Meanwhile, the developing love story of Maggie and Lance is adorable and very sweet. When the long distance starts straining the relationship, Maggie and Lance have a choice to make. Because of the shorter length of the story, the author did not quite go into as much development of the characters but she did provide enough for the reader to connect and sympathize.

Highly recommend this clean, sweet romance about what happens after your dreams are broken.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this sweet novella in one day! I recently found Traci Hunter Abramson’s books and I have fallen in love! Her books are always interesting and engaging with great characters and this book was no different. Broken Dreams is a novella in Traci Hunter Abramson’s Dreams Edge series, it is 1.5. Broken Dreams was a fun novella that really added to the series and I am so glad that I read it!
A lifetime ago, Maggie Alexander’s parents nearly medaled in the Olympics as pairs figure skaters. However, now her father Gordon coaches and is following his dreams through the skater he trains. But when Maggie is forced to deliver the heartbreaking news that her mother’s fight against cancer will be a losing one, his dreams are shattered yet again. After losing his wife, her father loses the will to coach, and Maggie is forced to try to make sense of her new life. Feeling out of her element she leans on the steadfast support of her childhood best friend, Lance Whitmore. Although they have never been more than friends, Lance’s heart has always belonged to Maggie. As Lance comes alongside Maggie, their friendship starts to grow to something more. However, when distance and family threaten their relationship, will they be able to last?
Maggie was such a strong character. Her family was her life, but the death of her mother changed everything. I enjoyed reading about Maggie as she learned to come to terms with the death of her mother and how she grew from it. She was struggling because she wanted to help her father too, when her mother died she felt as if she lost them both. I adored Maggie from the start, and I wanted her to find her happy ending. It was sweet to read about her connection with Lance. He was a friend who could help bear the load. They were a cute couple. However, Maggie will have to learn how to balance her relationship with Lance and her father, learning what it means to fly the coop.
Lance was an awesome character. He was so kind, and he really cared for Maggie. He was learning how to love her and help her in a way that worked. I enjoyed reading more about him and seeing his relationship with Maggie. He was such a great guy. However, he had to learn how to not take things too fast and wait patiently on Maggie. He didn’t have that many faults, but I still liked him as a character, he was just leaning towards the perfect side :)
I was definitely excited to learn more about Gorman. He loved his wife dealing and he didn’t know what to do after losing her. It was sad to see his desperation and his sadness, but he tried his best for his daughter. I liked reading about him growing up and seeing that he couldn’t give up. He was breaking but he wasn’t broken beyond repair.
Broken Dreams was a sweet and short novella, the characters were amazing and I really felt for them. The ending was awesome and oh so sweet, I want to reread An Unlikely Pair now! I would totally recommend Broken Dreams! Broken Dreams is a clean, historical romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Dreams is the heartbreaking yet hopeful 2nd novella in the Dream’s Edge novella collection. Set in 1980, it features Gordon Alexander, a great father, husband, and coach who’s suffering from grief after losing his wife to cancer.

Gordon feels lost not only with losing his wife, but the Olympic figure skating team he coached unexpectedly didn’t medal. He’s given up coaching and struggles to know what to do next.

His daughter Maggie is struggling too, not only with the loss of her mom, but helping her father find purpose again. Enter Lance Whitmore (Saint Squad fans will definitely recognize that name.)! He does all he can to help Maggie and her father, and turns their friendship into something more.

As they grow closer, Lance helps Maggie find balance in caring for her father & going after her own dreams. Their gift and Maggie’s chance for happiness push Gordon to find a new perspective & hope when an opportunity for coaching comes around again.

Have your Kleenex handy! There are lots of emotions with this one. I loved getting to know Gordon who becomes the figure skating coach to Amaliya & Tyler who are introduced in the first book An Unlikely Pair. The romance between Lance and Maggie was sweet and brought some lightness to the story. I enjoyed the way Lance provided kind acts of service to both Maggie and her father and didn’t give up when circumstances seemed bleak.

I enjoyed this novella and can’t wait to read the full length series. It’s a testament to Traci Abramson’s great writing that she made me really care about these characters in just a little over 100 pages & excited to read the full length novels.

Broken Dreams can easily be read in a day and is a perfect introduction to the series. Can’t wait to read the other books! I received a complimentary paperback copy from the author. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

[Leslie Books and Socks Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a short novella but has many themes: friends to lovers, overcoming grief and pain, coming to terms with your new reality and not giving up.
💍
This is a multi POV which Traci seems to prefer. I still get thrown off by her fast change of POV where it’ll be the next paragraph (sometimes changes even in the same paragraph!) that the POV or location changes without much segway. For example, at the beginning it talks about Maggie’s mom’s hospital bed. Next thing we know Maggie is in the kitchen and her mom needs an ambulance to go to the hospital. I was so confused I missed something because she should’ve been at the hospital already! Then Maggie gets her dad to come see his wife, they’re at the hospital. Then back at home waiting for her die. I was getting whiplash trying to see where I missed these breaks in time and location. It did get better later on but was very confusing at the very beginning of the book. I felt like it was too much work as a reader to try to piece these bits together. Maybe that’s when a whole novel length would’ve been better? But even a few extra words could let the reader know. And extra spaced paragraph break, a *** to let us know. Very little. 🤷🏻‍♀️
💍
Maggie and Gordon go through their grieving with the help of good friends. I haven’t experienced such a tragic loss as a spouse/parent, but they make small steps of progress. I liked getting to know Maggie and Lance. And seeing the Whitmores from Traci’s other series was fun.
💍
This leads right up to events in book 1, so it says book 1.5 I would say it’s like book .7. I can’t wait to continue to read the next book in the series and see what happens next!
💍
I was given a complimentary e-arc copy of the book by the author and publisher. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella tells the story of the romance between Maggie Alexander and Lance Whitmore (brother of James Whitmore, who appears as a senator in some of the author's other books--it is really fun to see how these people and families fit together). It also tells the background to how Maggie's father, Gordon Alexander, came to coach the skaters Amaliya Marcell and Tyler Linden in her previous book, An Unlikely Pair--no doubt in anticipation of her forthcoming book, , where she will continue their story. I love Abramson's books, especially her "Saint Squad" and "Guardians" series, and am liking the "Dream's Edge" series more than I though I would, as it is more romantic without the element of suspense, and I like the suspense. My only complaint about this story is that it is too short--but I really appreciate authors who don't pad a story to make a full-length novel when a novella will do. These young people are beset with the usual insecurities and obstacles to communication that seem to be so common in romance novels, but in this case their problems are credible because they are young and their relationship is new, and when they do have a chance to talk things out, they do, instead of prolonging the agony. Enjoyable story; good characters.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traci Hunter Abramson writes with so much emotion. I don't know she always manages to make me feel ALL the feelings, even in just a novella. I also love how her books all intertwine, it makes it pretty fun to read and try to catch all the Easter eggs she includes.
I'm a big fan of novellas, they're like a cupcake or a tart. A small bit of something delicious. Not to much, not to little. So I would obviously recommend this novella to anyone. Especially if you like a little romance, a little Olympics, a little heartbreak and a lot of growth. I mean, that sounds like a perfect recipe to me.
.
Book notes!
- I've never read books with as many viewpoints as Traci's books
- guys. Why?? Too many feelings.
- her books are pretty gripping. I get completely sucked in
- I like these novellas that just really fill out the story
- It covers a lot of time but it doesn't feel choppy
- Oh Maggie and Lance. Adorable.

[Rorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment in the Dream's Edge series! Not only is it an enjoyable read, but we get to meet the Whitmore family too!

I will admit, I spent most of the story trying to figure out how Maggie and Lance fit into the previous books in the Dream's Edge series. It wasn't until the end that it hit me. I kinda feel like I should have figured that one out much sooner than I did.

I really liked Lance. Maggie too, but Lance was just the perfect boy-next-door character. Plus, he's a Whitmore, and they seem to be the best kind of people out there.

There is a lot of heartbreak and grief in this story, but the reader gets to see how each character works through it (or doesn't.) It's not all rainbows and unicorns, life can be HARD, and this story shows the struggles of moving on after hard things happen.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Dreams by Traci Hunter Abramson hit me in the feels from the opening page. Grappling with themes of loss, this novella tells the story of a family moving forward after losing a wife and mother to cancer. While romance does play a role in the story, the focus really is on finding hope when you think your dreams are gone. I enjoyed getting to know Maggie and seeing a glimpse into the Whitmore family tree, characters from some of Hunter’s other books. I liked Gordon from the other books in this series, but getting to read more of his story added depth and dimension to this gruff ice skating coach in a wonderful way.

*Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Emily Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often, all I need is a really good Novella. Make it a part of a series and I get some extra information and a good quick read. This one does not disappoint. And if you have read any of Traci Hunter Abramson's other books, you might even recognize a character or two.

I loved learning more about Gordon and his daughter and their emotional journey after losing his wife to cancer. I couldn't even fathom how I would be affected by such a loss. The length of the of the book does nothing to detract from the emotional impact and journey of the book.

Maggie and Lance's story was all it should be as well. I look forward to seeing them appear in future stories. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

I was given an eARC by the publisher and this is my honest review.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Dreams is a novella part of the Dream Edge's series. This could be read as a stand-alone or part of a series. This novella isn't an easy read in that it deals with a romance in the midst of grief and trying to recover over the loss of a loved one. I felt like it was realistic in some ways by showing the sad points in the life and the resilience to deal with it and to find joy again. The characters were likeable and memorable. The story was well-written and planned out. I look forward to reading more in this series.

Please note that I received a free ebook to review, however, this is my honest opinion.

[Jami Pruitt (My.lovely_readingcorner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! I absolutely loved getting to know Gordon better and to understand his past. I also loved getting to know Maggie and Lance and watching them fall in love.

Make sure you have the tissue box nearby. This book had me in tears within the first few pages. I felt so much emotion from the character as they went through the pain of a loved one suffering from cancer.

Even though this book starts with a great deal of pain and sadness, I love the theme of hope woven into the story. "Never give up." Watching these characters move past their heartbreak and find love and peace was so beautiful.

This is book 1.5 in the Dream's Edge Series. It can be read as a stand-alone.

[Charity Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella from Traci Hunter Abramson’s Dream’s Edge series was a great side story and helps you better understand Gordon Alexander, the coach who is taking Tyler and Amaliya to the Olympics. You don’t need to read an Unlikely Pair before reading this, but I do recommend it. You’ll already be invested with the character if you do.

One of my favorite things about this story is that it ties into the Whitmore family. If you read her other series, then you will understand my delight.

I can’t wait until the next book is released in February.

[Terressa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this series is so good! I am excited for the next book to release in a couple months. I need more! I just love how Traci writes her characters. There’s time to catch up before the next release-and you’re going to want to!

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.