Dust

by S.J. Cavaletti

Sometimes, we find love when we need it most and least expect it.

Maeve is at her lowest of the low when she steals her dead father’s ashes against her mom’s wishes. But a promise is a promise. He wanted his final resting place to be at a crazy desert festival only Maeve knew he loved.

But leaving secretly and in a hurry has major disadvantages. When she unpacks her trunk for her week in the desert, she knows her meager supplies will never survive the blazing hot days and frigid nights. Sitting in her musty little tent with only an urn for company is rock bottom.

When a gorgeous stranger offers to help, she’s reluctant to confess what she’s there to do. But as the week unfolds, she realizes this kindred spirit has a lot more to offer than a warm, comfy bed, food and an entourage of found family. Yes, Drake saves her from a miserable week and is one hell of a distraction, but he also saves her from herself.

Dust is an 18+ strangers to lovers, vacation romance that will make you believe in soulmates. If you love a romance with new girl in town and hot AF true love match vibes, grab a box of tissues and welcome to Uyu- the world’s wildest festival.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Slow Burn, Friends To Lovers

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2022

About the author

SJ Cavaletti is a contemporary romance author. She lives on a farm in England with her husband, three kids, ponies, cat, dogs, chickens and likely many more animals by the time you read this.

When she’s not writing, she can be found hiking and swimming in the sea. Like every respectable woman she also loves drinking champagne and eating half of every chocolate in a truffles box.

Her spirit animal is a butterfly.

You can connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sjcavalettib... or see her website sjcavaletti.com

Reviews

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 1st in a new series and is Drake and Maeve’s story. These two meets during a crazy festival, where Maeve is solely focused on fulfilling her dad’s last wish, and as they get to know each other they realize that they are kindred spirits, as both are tormented with their individual pain, and the chemistry between them is palpable. This is a beautifully written emotionally charges story which is filled with friendships, love, and is a slow burn and entertaining tale. I was hooked throughout this riveting and addictive page turner, and I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Bookbug_40 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Love doesn't hurt, It's the only thing that doesn't hurt."
Deeply moving and very emotional story. I loved Maeve and her courage to fulfill her father's last wish. The festival theme really is super entertaining. The chemistry between Maeve and Drake is awesome. It's not just a simple love story but a meaningful one. I'll be surely waiting for the next one.

[Katerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book from this author!!!!❤❤❤❤❤🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/4/2021)! 🎁

[Chanel Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rating rounded up to 5


Romance in a place where you are free to be yourself. A place with zero judgement. Where no one knows who you are or why you’re there. Lifelong friendships begin here. Festival Uyu.

Maeve is unsure of her path. She has lost her father who was her best friend and hero. She promised him she would spread his ashes at Festival Uyu, a place where the two of them had visited before. But her mom does not want her taking his ashes out of the house.

When she arrives at Uyu, she has limited supplies because she hurriedly left the house to avoid her mother. She sees a familiar face who takes her in. Her one goal and only focus at this festival is to spread her dads ashes on the last day but she doesn’t want to do anything else.

Musician Drake spots her frowning on a couch and tries to engage with her. She finally relents and joins him and his group on a boat. From that point, they spend the entire week together.

Drake and his friends help create a ceremony for the final day. Some dance, some play instruments, Drake writes a song. Spreading the ashes, has become the best part of her trip. She doesn’t want it to end. Will Maeve and Drake see each other after the festival? Or is this just the magic of Uyu?

Drake is a sweetheart. He is so thoughtful and caring. This story was not about the drama. It was about friendship and patience, growth and love. I fell in love with Maeve and Drake.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/ 5
🌶🌶🌶/ 5

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review as part of the Indie June author month.

Stealing her father's ashes from the cabinet her mother locked him in, Maeve set out to fulfil her father's dying wish to scatter his ashes o the final day of the Uyu festival, right as the Drag Queen parade walks by. Still heartbroken from his loss, Maeve forgets to pack even the most base of things, all the while being brusque towards people trying to befriend her. Will Drake, a musician from Seattle, break through to her?

Heart-breaking and honest, Burn With Me follows guarded and closed off young woman, struggling to move on. Her father was the life of a party, open to everything life had to offer. How will she go on without him?

Drake has a hard time after his best friend steals his songs. Now his band is broken up, just as he thought that he could make it full-time in the music industry. He can't wait to get to Uyu, where his found family gets together every year. A rag-tag band of misfits that somehow fit together.

Friendship, love and totally unique festival experience makes me give this book 5 out of 5 stars. There are a few spicy scenes between Drake and Maeve, but overall this is a wonderful new adult story.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic start to this new series. Drake and Maeve meet at a crazy festival that was brought to life with all of the amazing imagery on every page. I felt like I was right there with them experiencing it through their eyes. They have this instant connection that only grows stronger the more they get to know each other. You could feel the chemistry between them just pour off the pages and I just knew that when these two finally gave into their desire’s fireworks were going to go off.

This was a beautifully written story filled with so much emotion, heartache, friendships and passion, and with some incredible characters that make you want to join in and become friends with them all. Drake and Maeve will pull you in and keep you hooked on their phenomenal love story.

I can’t wait for the next book to see how their relationship progresses or if the magic of Uyu was the end for them as a couple.

[HighsAndTheLo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this read. I’d give it a 4/5. As someone who recently lost their dad less than a year ago I really connected with Maeve. Plus having the story set at a music festival in the desert is something that I hadn’t seen before. I like that we got to see Maeve come out of her shell in more ways than one. I loved the secondary characters and am honestly looking forward to learning more about mysterious El, especially when even drake didn’t seem to have him all figured out. It took a few chapters for me to get invested at first, but once I was I couldn’t put the book down. I would like to know what happens after the festival. Did drake go to Los Angeles? Did Maeve head to Seattle? What happened with Maeves mom? Did she forgive and understand Maeves reasoning. And WHAT HAPPENED WITH JAY. it seemed like such a plot point that he stole drakes music but then we never ran into him and it felt unresolved. I also would have liked to get to know drake a little deeper. But maybe that was just because we got such an inside look at Maeve since her struggles were so much more apparent? Overall, great read. Quick and sweet. Loved the chemistry between Maeve and Drake. Along with the touch of a found family situation as she became more comfortable with his friends!

[Claire Trickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written and an emotional rollacoaster!

Maeve lost her father and his dying wish is for his ashes to be scattered at the Uyu festival, a place he loved. He also wanted her to open up to other people while at the festival, so she wouldn't be alone.

However, her mother doesn't want the ashes to be scattered. Will Maeve do what her father asked and break her mother's heart? Or will she do what her mother wants and potentially great not honouring her father's last wishes.

I recommend that you read this book to find out! Also, have the tissues ready!

I also read the bonus epilogue, which gives a sneak peak into life after Uyu. This is available at the end of the book and sent when signing up to the author's newsletter.

I received a complimentary copy of the book and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Juliana Cotrin Sobreiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a nice story about two people who get to know each other during a crazy festival, while suffering from different kinds of pain. At first, the girl doesn't want to meet other people because she's focused on fulfilling her promise to her father and then she ends up becoming close to the guy and his friends. It's a good text about friendship, love and enjoyment of life.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All the opinions expressed in this review are my own and freely given.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this.

This book was great. I loved reading the different views. I can't wait to read more books from SJ Cavaletti.

[𝓢 · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf @ 75% not too interested to finish it

[Allyson K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just need to take a second to talk about how beautiful these covers are! Absolutely stunning and primarely the reason I wanted to read them. I went into this completely blind without reading the synopsis. I really liked the setting and felt that it was an interesting location. And since I know absolutely nothing about the world of festivals, it was really interesting to read about their experiences. I loved the deeper plot context and the steam was wonderful. I enjoyed the stories, the side characters, and the backgrounds of the two MCs, there was just something missing that kept me from loving this more. Knowing this sets up to be a trilogy gives me high hopes that the next two book will be even better.

Things aren't looking all that great for Maeve, she is greiving and trying to process how to move forward. To start, she packed her bags, a bit too spur of the moment, and decided to hit up the desert Uyu Festival that she had been attending the past couple years with her father. It is unlike anything else and full of wonder, magic, and some very interesting creatures. But this year, she is tackling it alone and she is insanely underprepared. But then she meets Drake, a gorgeous stranger with a pack of friends willing to bring her in. Uncertain she gives them a chance and what she gets in return is far from what she could have ever expected.


Tropes: strangers to lovers, vacation romance, musician, found family

[Heather Gosselin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional wreck

I am an emotional wreck after reading this book. I couldnt put it down. There was so much raw emotion and beauty that I coupdnt help but be moved.

[sav · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️: 5/5
AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

“Uyu isn’t real for anybody. It’s a cautionary tale, a lucid dream or a fable; and the things that happen there are left to each individual to weave into reality if they choose.”

This book truly took me by surprise. It originally caught my eye because of the stunning cover but I knew shortly after starting to read that this book was special. There is an aspect of poetic prose to this author’s writing that especially drew me in. This book takes place at a fictional festival called Uyu, which seems similar to the real-world Burning Man. There’s something about the setting of this book that makes Drake and Maeve’s story almost magical despite the insta-love. This novel was unique in its setting which made it unlike everything I’ve ever read. It is not often that I can say that about a book, especially in this genre. As a forewarning, there were quite a few issues with the editing that were distracting at times, but to me I was so captivated by Maeve and Drake that I was able to move on from the editing mistakes quite quickly.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW death of a parent, cancer, grief

*sobbing*

This was gorgeous. A boy and a girl meet at a festival and a week long whirlwind of a romance ensues. Tied up with some beautiful found family vibes.

Our heroine, Maeve, has recently lost her dad and is fulfilling his last wish to scatter his ashes at the festival they attended together.

Our hero, Drake, is a musician who is a delightfully poetic and wholesome cinnamon roll.

This story, for me, was a great representation on how to do "falling in love quickly" correctly. There felt like there was no rush even though the book only runs over the course of 7 days. I don't know how she did it, but we ended up with a falling hard and fast, but it felt like a slow burn. What sorcery is this?

The descriptions of the setting and the actual writing of this was so good, I kept getting so wrapped up in what was going on and what was being said, instead of speeding through quickly like I've done with many books. I wanted to savour the festival and really follow Maeve through her grieving process.

This is a tearjerker for sure, and the found family trope is really strong as well which just added a whole other layer of wholesomeness to the story.

[Linda English · Rating 5 out of 5]

So different

Was not sure what to expect from this book. It was written boldly, and made you visualise everything. An unusual subject, dealt with beautifully. I never leave a review, but fealt this book was worthy of one.

[Patti Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting of this story is one that I’ve not encountered yet which makes it unique. Maeve and Drake meet at Uyu, which is a festival of sorts where clothes are not required, but our main characters usually have them on in group settings. Where the oddest of things occur, a week long retreat where people look forward to going to to live life as openly as they’d like. Where they can go to experience things they’d not experience in the real world. Maeve is mourning her father, Drake is there with close friends minus one who’s recently screwed him over. Boy sees girl, girl disses HOT boy, but with a little persistence and fate they connect and they do so well! I really enjoy Maeve & Drake, but the irritant is that so much of the story is inside the heads of the main characters. On one side, there is no mistaking the setting of the scene and what’s on their minds; a very good picture is set. But on the other side this takes away from the story moving forward and I find myself skimming forward to move it along.

This is book 1 of 3 in the story of Maeve & Drake. As I said, I do like the characters and am very curious where the author takes them. I’ve already begun book 2.

[Maddy Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maeve is grieving the loss of her dad and made her yearly pilgrimage to Uyu to scatter his ashes. Drake and his friends are also on their yearly pilgrimage to Uyu and this year he’s trying to deal with his best friends betrayal. When he spots Maeve from across a stage and he’s just drawn to her. The story is good but the incessant one sided conversation in their heads is getting on my nerve. Also I’m forty percent into this book and there’s talking, dancing and lots of drinking and it’s stuff that’s not moving the story forward. There was also a lot of people in this group which I found very distracting to the storyline. It was still a nice love story that didn’t end because there’s a book two. I’m giving it four stars.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though not my taste still a good book!

So I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book. The author weaves a great story I think and the pacing is pretty good.
There was just something about it that I had a hard time connecting with.
If you enjoy summer fling types of stories this may very well be the book for you!

[Chelsea Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is where we first meet Maeve and Drake when they go to a music/art festival in the desert and find each other there. I only gave this four stars because I couldn’t really connect well with the setting. I did however LOVE their chemistry and their banter! They have such a deep connection and it was amazing!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled to start reading this book but once I got into it, I had to continue reading then ended up finishing the series within 3 days 😂 I love Maeve and Drake together. They did fall for each other very quickly which I normally dislike but with the way it was written, it didn’t seem all that quick which made me enjoy the book even more.

All in all, a great read.

[T.J Velliquette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grief can swallow you alive and this story explains the process through a daughter's promise to her father. In the beginning of the book she takes his ashes against the wishes of her mom to spread them at a local festival in the desert. Her father took her there before he died and it held special memories for him. There she meets a man who helps heal the broken pieces of her heart.

[Hayley Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful writing, I almost felt like I was there with the characters, I loved reading about all of the different experiences at the festival.
Maeve and Drake have great chemistry and the story was well paced throughout. Great start to a series.

[Anne Turnley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange

I found this book hard to read but, the story was promising so I kept going. Lots of stream of consciousness from both parties all amid a week long festival of sorts out in the desert. This story kind of ends except there us another book about what happens next.

[Jannieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really liked this way more than anticipated! It was deep yet still at surface level, it was real but still swoonworthy and they formed a beautiful yet still funny and lighthearted bond all the while the plot and setting stayed entertaining!

[Mill · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 61%
too slow
boring
not spicy enough

[Liv’s Library]

DNF @2%

[Gisela Armetta Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was cute i liked it

[Sophie Huang]

dnf, lost my interest i might continue it sometime