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Rocky Road Dreams

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♥The Candy Beach Series ♥Kyle’s mom died when he was three – but he still remembers her.Plagued with questions about his childhood, Kyle Baxter takes a Christmastime hiatus from his law firm. As he uncovers secrets about his past, he's determined to learn more about his mother.During his hiatus he rents a beach house – right across the street from his childhood friend, Melanie. He’s had a secret crush on Melanie Richards for years, but she was smitten with his identical twin brother, Keith. Recently sober, he’s determined to show Melanie how much he’s changed.Obese as a child, Melanie Richards is now slender and beautiful. She owns an herbal health food store. Having her own business comes with a high price. Her uncle agrees to finance her shop as long as she agrees to mentor Chloe, her drunken, wayward, 21-year-old cousin. Chloe’s erratic behavior wreaks havoc in Melanie’s life. Can a Christmas road trip help to solve Kyle's and Chloe's problems? Is Melanie attracted to Kyle because he resembles his twin, or does she love Kyle for himself?Order this delightful, tasty Christmas story today!Books in The Candy Beach SeriesCaramel Kisses - 0Chocolate Dreams - 1Milk Chocolate Kisses - 2Bittersweet Dreams - 3Coffee and Kisses - 4Rocky Road Dreams (A Christmas Novel) - 5

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2022

13 people are currently reading
21 people want to read

About the author

Cecelia Dowdy

33 books186 followers
Loving Luke (A Christmas Novella)(Cookies and Kisses):http://amzn.to/1LjHc3o

Raspberry Kisses
A sweet, charming romance is available to order:
http://amzn.to/1oSyRi3

I'm a Christian fiction author and I'm also a book reviewer. If interested in my novels, you can find them here:

https://www.amazon.com/Cecelia-Dowdy/...

Connect with me on Facebook:
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To find out more about me, visit my website and my blogs:

http://ceceliadowdy.com/
http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/
https://ceceliadowdy.com/category/hal...

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Ishan Agrawal.
946 reviews48 followers
March 28, 2022
After reading quite a few historical books was looking to pick a somewhat light read and nothing better than a romantic novel that can just sail through.

The story mainly revolves around Kyle and Melania who are really good friends since childhood but with the passage of time the male protagonist develops feelings for her . This may sound cliched but uptil here its just the tip of an iceberg. Both the characters individuality is also portrayed like Kyle has faced lots of struggles in his life and has firm belief in that power of conscience and Almighty that has helped him turn into a sort of teetotaler from an addictive person. On the other hand Melanie has her own dreams and aspirations and is trying her best to accomplish that.

The novel is intricately written. The author is quite popular in this genre and her narration proves that. The human bond ,the emotions , relationship aspects are artistically engraved. The cover could have been more vibrant though. The side characters like Keith and Chloe also play their part to perfection and their role is also justified in the book.

Overall an entertaining and enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Loraine.
3,457 reviews
July 31, 2022
Quick, easy to read, enjoyable romance novel. Christmas only plays a small part in the story. Rather the story is set during the Christmas season. It was nice to see the way the 2 main characters took their time developing their relationship since both had been hurt in previous relationships. They also each depended upon their faith to make decisions. Dowdy also included a nice thread about recovering alcoholics and their needs and struggles.
Profile Image for Readwithmadhu.
507 reviews23 followers
March 19, 2022
There are few sub tropes in the romance genre that are liked by all the readers alike and one of them is chance romance, most probably between two people who did not get along much well initially, but then continue to grow as the time passes.

The main reason why they are so liked is because they usually have all of the history that the readers love about a romance but it is without all of the drama that most dislike.

‘Rocky Road Dreams: A Christmas Novel’ by Cecilia Dowdy is a book that has the depth of a budding, unexpected romance with a fresher feel and better “getting to know you” phase.

There are many books where the heroine nurses an unrequited crush on the hero, however what I felt refreshing that in this book, it was Kyle who was taken by Melanie and did all these sweet gestures to get her attention and make her feel special.

Also, unlike most protagonists, Kyle also showed the positive trait about taking time to get to actually know Melanie as a person, what she liked and all that instead of just taking it for a face value.

Apart from the romance between the two, there is also an element of mystery added in the story that makes the readers just that much invested to know about the past and how it is all connected.

While there’s a touch of the forbidden, considering that the female main protagonist thought that she was in love with the male protagonist’s twin brother, the author has tried to elevate it and often kept it light and romantic, with a build in intimacy that was the standpoint. I am going to give this book FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for Bookish Buddy.
147 reviews6 followers
March 20, 2022
Rocky Road Dreams: A Christmas Novel
~Cecelia Dowdy

Rocky Road Dreams by Cecelia Dowdy is a Christmas novel in the The Candy Beach Series. The main characters of the novel are Lawyer Kyle Baxter and Melanie Richards. Kyle has a secret crush on Melanie but she is in love with his twin brother. Kyle and Melanie are childhood friends.

The novel is a perfect blend of all the elements. We could see friendship, relationships, agog, love and many more.

Kyle is a lawyer and he is in pursuit to unravel the mystery surrounding his mother's death. Some of the other important characters are Keith who is Kyle's twin brother and Chloe, Melanie's 21 year old cousin.

The novel is really intriguing and the pace is just perfect. There are many cute moments as well as serious plots. Christmas road trip part is executed really well. Grab the book to know more about the story.
Profile Image for Smily .
477 reviews9 followers
March 13, 2022


Have you ever felt the need to be loved by someone? Have you ever thought of chasing that person who comforted you when you were low? Well, if you have experienced these feelings then this book might be a great one for you.

Kyle is a lawyer by profession who has feelings for his childhood friend Melanie and he finally decides to confront her and make her fall in love with him by taking things slow. The thing that I liked the most about this book is that it doesn't focus on the kind of love that is actually described in books, which maybe "cliche" for some people. Rather it is a blend of emotions and practicality.

Melanie is having a hard time in her life and Kyle tries to make everything easy. Not because he's in love with her, but also because that's what true friends do. While it sounds like Kyle was too good to exist, we also find that Kyle gets jealous which is a true human behaviour. I just love that there is a blend of feelings in the texts. I didn't feel that I'm reading a fictional novel, and at the same time I was charmed by
the feelings the characters threw at me.

I highly recommend people to read this book if they believe in true love. This book will actually be a motivation for you to be a good human.
Profile Image for Manish Raj.
114 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2022
Love is the most beautiful feeling. A pure emotions. Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning. And fortunate are those who is loved by someone by their whole heart. Such was the love Kyle has for his childhood friend Melanie.
The book Rocky Road Dreams:A Christmas Novel by Cacelia Dowdy is the book in romance genre which will make you turn pages till it gets over. The story is the compilation of frendship, love, bonding, desire to be together, twists and turns and many unexpected beautiful things.

The story revolves around Kyle and Melanie.
Kyle is lawyer by profession and he helped Melanie in whatever way he could in her tough times. He stood by her side always, slowly but surely Melanie also did fall for his love for her. With so much of emotions there is a mystery too, his mother died when he was just two.
What is the mystery about? is worth to find out by reading.
Will Melanie see Kyles love for her or will he be able to express his feelings to her. Dive into the book and find out your own 😍.
It's awesome to see how he helped her and how they falling in love with each other. This book touches many themes at once. A perfectly blended love story with all the emotions I was looking for. I got stunned by the narration style. I loved the plot how it's set and progresses the story.
The writing style is lucid and and the narration of the story seems intriguing and engaging.
I would recommend readers who love to read romantic book, it is totally worth to read .
Thank you ✨
Happy Reading 📖❣️
609 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2022
Melanie and Kyle were friends as kids, but she was better friends with his twin brother Keith. Melanie wanted to establish her dream of owning her own health food store and struck a fool's bargain with her Uncle Larry. Larry essentially fobbed off parental responsibility of his daughter to his niece in exchange for running her shop. Kyle reentered Melanie's life with so much baggage that needed resolving but set off in helping Melanie with her Chloe problem. Kyle and Keith uncovered a few family secrets along the way which kept Kyle on an emotional rollercoaster but with his continued faith he kept his sobriety. I think it really helped Kyle when Karen explained about her past and how it took time for her to accept Keith in her life. I love how Cecelia incorporates previous characters or their stories into the current storylines.

'I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.'
Profile Image for Aakriti Srivastava.
395 reviews5 followers
Read
March 15, 2022
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"Rocky Road Dreams" by Cecelia Dowdy is a book based on romantic fiction genre. It involves elements like friendship, connections, love, togetherness, bondings, ups and downs with blend of twisting turns and an unpredictable end. I love reading love tales and this book was a "WOW" experience for me. Perfectly blended with emotions, feelings and memories.
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The story revolves around the two characters, namely, Kyle and Melania. They both were good childhood friends. Kyle had some feelings for Melania, but he didn't wanted to force her to get loved infact he made her fall for it. He was a lawyer by profession and wanted to help her in anyway he could. Do grab your copies and go through their amazing tale so wonderfully penned down by the author.
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Now, coming on the book cover, it's bright and catchy. The title was apt and well-suited. The writing style of the author was rich and engaging. It will keep you hooked from the first page till the end. The pace was good as it was a short read. The plot was great. The narrations were apt. All the characters were wonderfully put up and built.
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Overall, a great read and will definitely recommend.
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Profile Image for Preetha Ramachandran.
88 reviews2 followers
March 16, 2022
The story portrays strong family bonding and cute relationships between pious characters.
Kyle being the protagonist of the story showed a huge character development, he went from struggling to control his alcoholic urges to getting his job back and finding a stable position in his life. He was a pious person; everyone needs something to get them out of their dark times and kyle believed in his religion and used it to find himself.
Melaine wanted to pursue her dreams, and it was within her reach but she can’t fully grasp them due to various circumstances. Her journey to in which she supports herself was inspiring.
Keith was one dutiful brother. He supported kyle in every step of his life. he didn’t give up on him. We all need a Keith in our life to help us get through our blurry days.
Overall, the book was easier to read and was easier to follow along with the story. And the characters were inspiring to read.
1,023 reviews13 followers
April 3, 2022
Rocky Road Dreams
By Cecelia Dowdy

Love is the most beautiful feeling in the world . If you have ever experienced the right love you know how soothing and calming it is for the soul .

This book is a love based fiction story of two childhood friends and the male protagonist that is Kyle was completely in love with her friend Melanie .
He really wanted her to be happy and live a good life she has some issues and was going through a rough phase in her life and he wanted to give his best to overcome every struggle and remove all bad days from her life .

I really enjoyed reading this book grab your copy to know the whole story it is definitely worth your time .

Language used is simple and easy to understand and narration done is very well.

Must read ❤️
Profile Image for Bookreviewer.
18 reviews7 followers
February 27, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️New⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Rocky Road Dreams" a spellbinding romance by Cecelia Dowdy.
Melanie used to be in love with Kyle's identical twin. Could she really have feelings for Kyle - or does she like him because he reminds her of his brother?

Lawyer Kyle Baxter had a secret crush on Melanie Richards for years, but she was smitten with his identical twin brother, Keith. Recently sober, he takes a Christmas-time hiatus from his law firm. He rents a beach house - right across the street from Melanie. As he uncovers secrets about his past, he's determined to learn more about his mother who died when he was a baby.

Obese as a child, Melanie Richards is now slender and beautiful. She owns an herbal health food store. Having her own business comes with a high price. Her uncle agrees to finance her shop as long as she agrees to mentor Chloe, her drunken, wayward, 21-year-old cousin. Chloe’s erratic behavior wreaks havoc in Melanie’s life. Can a Christmas road trip help them to solve Kyle's and Chloe's problems? Is Melanie attracted to Kyle because he resembles his twin, or does she love Kyle for himself?
322 reviews5 followers
March 20, 2022
Kyle, Melanie and Keith have been fast friends since their childhood. Kyle has been in love with Melanie since times immemorial but Melanie's heart fluttered for Kyle's twin brother, Keith.

Cut to the present scenario when Kyle is a lawyer and Melanie is trying to establish her dreams and ambitions, Kyle is trying to give his love another shot by confessing his feelings to Melanie and hoping for her to reciprocate gradually.

After lot of setbacks, uncovering of family secrets and getting to know each other better, will Kyle, Melanie and Keith get what they want?

✒VERDICT
🥇Pros:
1) The author gave a very unconventional twist to this love triangle which kept the story gripping and interesting. I love the emotional depth that the author has been able to create through the characters of Melanie, Kyle and Chloe.

2) I felt the storyline to be refreshing and not another run-of-the-mill love triangle. The author incorporated a good combination of family drama, suspense and romantic moments which kept the pace of the story going.

3) Another plus point is the writing style and the narrative quality of the author which made this book a pleasant read.

💫Rocky Road Dreams is a recommended read for all the romance fiction lovers who enjoy matured content and are inclined towards love triangle tropes.
Profile Image for K-BRC.
1,027 reviews
March 11, 2022
I enjoyed this neighbors-Twin’s romance. There were so many opportunities to have another spin off, so who know if this completes the series. I enjoyed the read and appreciated the dynamics.
433 reviews7 followers
March 20, 2022
Love is a beautiful feeling and when we fall in love things around us become beautiful.

I’m not just falling in love with you, I’m falling into you. You’re an ocean, and I’m falling in, drowning in the depths of who you are, Kyle a lawyer by profession had the same feelings for his childhood friend Melanie.

He decided to make her life easy as she was going through tough times. He wanted to face her and wanted Melanie to fall in love with him.

The story takes you to every next page and you can't wait to know what happens next. Will Kyle express his feelings and take their love forward?
What will happen with the love story which is filled with emotions. Grab your copy and know what's the story going to take Kyle and Melanie.

The writing style of the author is simple yet descriptive which helps the readers to connect even more . The language used is easy to comprehend and actually stayed till the end. The cover is simple and apt as per the story line. However, the title made the book a little more intriguing.
The characters are well developed and share a bonding among themselves.
105 reviews
March 20, 2022
Review of book 'Rocky road dreams' by author 'Cecelia Dowdy'

My Rating - 4.5/5 ⭐
Length - 173 pages
Genre- Romance

Rocky road dreams is the fifth book in the 'candy beach' series however it can also be read as a standalone.

Plot- Melanie used to be love with Kyle's identical twin. Could she really have feelings for Kyle - or does she like him because he reminds her of his brother?

The book is a light romance fiction.

The book contains elements of love, friendship, jealousy, twists, suspense and many other emotions.

The writing style of author is very interesting and is filled with rich vocabulary which kept me hooked apart from the story line.

The book is a fast paced read since it's very short. I like how the author hasn't tried to stretch the scenes or the story line unnecessarily.

The title of the book is appropriate but I think the cover could have been a bit better.

The book is overall or light romance fiction that I would like to suggest to people who like to read romance genre books or a new to it, and also to people who like to read short stories.

The book can easily be read within one or two sittings.

Profile Image for Periwinkle  Wisteria .
407 reviews12 followers
March 20, 2022
I don't read romance stories often but the cover seemed so intriguing that I decided to pick this book up. The title is indeed catchy and interesting. This is the fifth book in the Candy Beach Series. The story is a perfect blend of romance, love, friendships, bonding and much more. Our protagonists are Kyle Baxter and Melanie Richards. Kyle had a secret crush on Melanie and Melanie used to be in love with Keith, the twin brother of Kyle. Kyle is in quest of truth about his mother's death and Melanie is trying to balance the chaos in her life created by her cousin, Chloe. Can a Christmas Road Trip solve their problems and bring them closer? Read on to find out.

The theme is wonderful and the plot-flow is beautiful. The language is simple and lucid. The narration is absolutely compelling and the writing style is fascinating. This is a fast paced read and I must admit that I was absolutely glued to the story till the end.

Overall I really liked this book.
Recommended for all romance lovers..
174 reviews1 follower
March 19, 2022
Book name : Rocky Road Dreams"

Author : Cecelia Dowdy

Ratings :5/5

The storyline revolves around a cute and lovely love story.


The cover and tittle is very catchy and impressive

The language is lucid and understandable to all the readers

The plots and twist were well-crafted and well-placed..

The storyline contains emotion like friendship, connections, love, ups and downs with blend of twisting turns and an un thinkable end. 

Kyle is a lawyer. Who has feelings for his childhood friend Melanie and he finally decides to confront her and make her fall in love with him by taking things slow. 

In other hand Melanie was having a hard time in her life and Kyle tries to make everything easy. Because he wanted that she will be happy and he loves her...

What happened next?
Did their love story have happy end or sad ??

If you want to join or fell the journey of amazing love story then why are you waiting for just grab it and enjoy....

Happy reads
 
485 reviews3 followers
March 20, 2022
Christmas is my favourite and I really look forward every year for it. The book's narrative that revolves around this joyous occasion are my favourite.

I recently read the book "Rocky Road Dreams: A Christmas Novel" by Cecelia Dowdy and it is the fifth book in the Candy Beach Series. The storyline revolves around a beautiful girl Melanie. The book takes us on a journey where we get to experience her feelings and her love story. The story isn't as simple as it seems. There are lots of twists in the narrative that makes this book a fun and gripping read. How will the narrative progress? Read this book to find out.

The writing style of the book is strikingly impressive. The characters have been well sketched. Readers who are interested in reading romance fiction should definitely check out this book.
Profile Image for Shruthi Inkit writings.
605 reviews14 followers
March 19, 2022
Book review✨📚
⭐My Rating - 4.5/5⭐

The book "Rocky Road Dreams" is a romantic fiction by Author Cecelia Dowdy.

The story revolves around the main characters Kyle and Melanie and their own set of problems.

Kyle is a lawyer by profession who is in secret love with his childhood crush Melanie. But Melanie on the other hand was attracted towards Kyle's identical twin earlier in childhood.

And now he is actually trying to help her in all ways possible as a lawyer, which in turn makes her fall for him slowly. Mean while he is in a quest to unravel the mystery about his mother who died when he was a small baby.

Will he succeed in finding the secrets? Will Melanie fall in love with Kyle? Read and find out what happens next.

This was a fun reading and a nice plot by author. It did had unique qualities and the narrative was well established. Overall a happy read.

306 reviews3 followers
March 18, 2022
Kyle Baxter had a crush on his neighbor Melanie Richards, since their childhood, though she was smitten with his identical twin Keith. Years later, he once again comes across Melanie, during a Christmas vacation.

Apart from being a second chance romantic fiction, the book also gives importance to family and moral values. It is a simple read with just about 170 pages that you can easily finish within a day or two. There aren't many characters or subplots making it less complex and light read.

It is fast-paced and neatly penned down in rich language. Though there aren't any wow elements, the book won't let you bored. The title seemed perfectly apt to the storyline along with a catchy cover. Give it a try if you are looking for a simple feel-good read for your leisure hours.
Profile Image for Jackie .
111 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2022
Good Read

5th book of the Candy Beach series. A wonderful read. I loved it was a continuation from the 4th book. Another twist unexpected the story of the twin’s mother. Nice surprise!!!
57 reviews3 followers
January 29, 2022
Did Not Disappoint

I love all of Cecelia's novels. It was wonderful to have the main character be a male. The author did a great job describing his character, including his faults and weaknesses, to make him humble and interesting. I was in his corner and wanted to see him succeed. Great job Cecelia! I look forward to your next Novel.
Profile Image for Renate Deutsche Oma.
1,402 reviews
January 21, 2022
Rocky Road Dreams is an inspiring romance. This avid reader, mom and grandma related with Kyle and Melanie's dilemmas - weight struggle, alcoholism, an overbearing Uncle Larry, and verbal abusive. Rocky Road Dreams is a page turner with some mystery, family conflicts, a winter Midwest blizzard, a believable resolution, mouth watering chocolate and can be read as a standalone.
Profile Image for Arlena.
3,481 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2022
Title: Rocky Road Dreams: A Christmas Novel
Author: Cecelia Dowdy
Publisher: Divine Desserts Publishing LLC
Series: The Candy Beach Series Book 5
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Rocky Road Dreams" by Cecelia Dowdy

My Assessment:

"Rock Road Dreams" was another of this author's good reads. The read goes right along with the rest of the series. The story was very inspiring that will keep one turning the pages to see what was coming next for Kyle and Melanie. It felt for Kyle as he was trying to work with his struggle with alcoholism as Melanie was working with her weight and job problems and her family conflicts with her uncle and cousin. While the story continues with Kyle having had feelings for Melanie, would she be able to comply with his feelings for him after she finds out more about his struggles? It was so good to see Kyle now having a relationship with his twin brother as he tries to work his problem. And whr\at all comes out after Kyle goes through his mother's things? Will Kyle and his brother Kevin get the answers they wanted about their mother? Yes, we all have 'faults and weaknesses,' but what will happen when it all comes out? Will Melanie and Kyle finally get their HEA?
To get the inside of this beautiful story, one will have to pick up this good read and see how well this author brings it all out. So be ready for a good read in the midwest blizzard, which will have decisions that will be made along with eating some sweet chocolate candy.

In the story...there was a mention of Kyle making 'Rocky Road Dreams,' which was candy...and I bet it was as good as it sounded!
Profile Image for thebookwormcritic.
197 reviews15 followers
March 20, 2022
💯 BOOK REVIEW 💯

Book - ROCKY ROADS DREAMS
Author - Cecelia Dowdy
Genre - Romance
Format - kindle

My rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

REVIEW :

Finally a romantic read after so long . Rocky roads dreams , is a beautiful romantic book by author Cecelia Dowdy . This is my first read by the author . I was skeptical at first but trust me when i say i am just in awe of the author's writing style .

Rocky roads dreams , is the book five of the Candy beach series , but it isn't necessary to read the book in the sequence only. The story revolves around Kyle , a lawyer and his crush Melanie. Kyle has always been in love with Melanie , but couldn't express his feelings towards her. But one fine day , he finally gathers together his gut and speaks his heart out to her. What will happen ? Will Melanie accept his love ? Will there be a happy ending ?

Inquisitive read and a beautiful sweet love story , this book literally takes you back to the times of your first crush , first love experience . Written in Extremely easy to understand language and lucid in flow , i highly recommend this book to all the romantic fools out there.
1,079 reviews17 followers
March 20, 2022
📚 Book Review 📚

Cecelia Dowdy must be appreciated for authoring the novel "Rocky Road Dreams: A Christmas Novel". The book is a perfect pick up for someone who loves to read and dive deep into the romantic story.

The author had mentioned various human emotions within the book which made me smile and cry. Especially the bond of friendship & soul to soul connections added magnificence to the storyline.

The story is set around the protagonists - Kyle and Melania. The two of them are good and best friends since childhood. Their togetherness and closeness is well written. Kyle gradually develops feelings of love for Melania. He never spoke up about his feelings because he didn't want to force his best friend to say yes to the love forcefully.

What do you think the story' contains next? Know it all yourselves by just grabbing the book and reading the story.

All in all, the writing style, the plot set up, the characterization were all good enough to grab reader's attention. I expected the cover page to be more attractive, yet it's overall good.

Rating: 4.5/5
Thank You.
Happy Reading 📚
260 reviews1 follower
April 11, 2022
Ladies and Gentlemen, let's talk about "LOVE". YES! That one thing our generation is scared about.
Agreed it's just a four letter word but it's more complicated than that.
This book revolves around simple characters of Kyle and Melanie, childhood neighbours and lovers in their adulthood, although Melanie initially didn't intend to end up with Kyle, this story will make us go through a simple yet a graceful plotline carefully woven with ups and downs which Circle our love life, emotions, our fears, struggles and our day to day contemplations.
The raw and absolutely simplistic portrayal of characters make them more relatable and the story to have an aspect of rationality and reality.
It's ofcourse never a world with rose coloured glasses, sometimes your paradise might be grey or black or white! But it's still a paradise isn't it.
I would recommend it to beginners in romance genre who prefer light hearted contemporary Romance, since there are not that many complexities involved this will be the best one if you're tired super complicated plot twists which lead you nowhere!
737 reviews9 followers
April 18, 2022
Title - Rocky Road Dreams
Author - Cecelia Dowdy
Genre - romance fiction

'Rocky Road Dreams' by Cecelia Dowdy is a romantic fictional read and is the fifth part in the candy beach series. The story revolves around the characters Kyle and Melania. Kyle had a secret crush on Melania since childhood but Melania had an eye on his twin brother Keith in earlier childhood. Kyle is lawyer by profession and wanted to help Melania in every possible way to make her fall in love with him.

Was he able to express his love and feelings to her? To know you have to read the book.

The author has narrated the story really well which has the elements like love, friendships, bonding, togetherness, twist and turns. The writing style of the author is smooth and flowing that makes it an engaging read. Language used is simple and easily understandable. Characters are well developed and described by the author. The cover of the book is bright and the title is totally apt to the content. The flow of the book is well paced.

In nutshell, a good read.

Rating - 4/5

Recommendation - yes
Profile Image for Diane R..
118 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2025
Rocky Road Dreams is a tender, heartwarming Christmas romance that beautifully blends personal healing, second chances, and the quiet power of love rediscovered. Cecelia Dowdy crafts an emotionally rich story where Kyle Baxter’s search for truth about his mother is handled with sensitivity and depth, giving his journey a poignant emotional backbone that lingers long after the final page.

Melanie Richards is an equally compelling heroine resilient, compassionate, and grounded by her determination to build a meaningful life on her own terms. The dynamic between Kyle and Melanie is layered with history, unspoken feelings, and personal growth, making their connection feel authentic and earned. The addition of Chloe’s troubled arc adds realism and emotional complexity, reminding readers that healing often comes through unexpected responsibility and grace. Wrapped in a festive beachside Christmas setting, Rocky Road Dreams is a comforting, emotionally satisfying read that celebrates forgiveness, transformation, and the courage to love for who someone truly is.
Profile Image for Tejas.
35 reviews1 follower
March 13, 2022
"She smelled delicious. Like flowers and lemon. Liquid warmth filled him. The urge to kiss her slammed through him like a freight train."

These are the lines in the very first chapter of the book. This was the first instance when I felt that this book was worth buying. The way Kyle describes Melanie is mesmerizing. There are incidents in the book where I didn't want them to stop and read 2-3 times.

I can really call this book fascinating but practical. The problems described in the book are actual problems, while the definition of love is too good to be true. I was able to draw the characters in my imagination due to the usage of simple words all over the chapters. This makes it a perfect combination of feelings and a great masterpiece.

The author has a great sense of describing the feelings, this book opened my eyes to what actual family problems look like. Melanie is going through a tough patch and Kyle makes sure that she isn't alone this time. It kinda saves my faith in humanity and I hope everyone meets a real life Kyle in their life. Seeing Kyle pursuing the love of his life and helping her whenever she needs it, makes me want to be like Kyle (a true gentleman.)
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