Dream Keeper by Kristen Ashley

Narrated by Susannah Jones

Book 3 in the Dream Team Series. Stands alone but better if read in order.

Dream Keeper by Kristen Ashley had my favorite element of a great Kristen Ashley novel, a child. I just love the way she writes blended families. The Dream Team Series is kind of like a big reunion special. Many of her series overlap here, including Dream Man, Rock Chicks, Chaos and there may have been other crossovers as well but I will leave that for you to find.

It’s a little campy, a little silly (every match Lottie made worked out perfectly), but it’s feel-good, alpha male/sassy female Kristen Ashley goodness. Pepper is the last of Smithie’s dancers to hold out on the commando who she is destined for, but she had good reason—her 8-year-old daughter, Juno.

But Juno has other ideas. She wants her mom happy and enlists help behind her back to get her mom and Auggie together. It didn’t take long, and I’m glad we didn’t wait a whole book. But they had SO MUCH happen to them from both of their crazy families.

Sigh…I loved Juno and how Auggie immediately fell for her, and like any good KA alpha, he took good care of what he had.

“I’m making you mine. Juno mine. You’re both gonna be in my life. And I look after the people in my life that I care about.”

Likes:

I loved the story of Pepper’s family.
Felt more like the old KA, and her style wasn’t overblown this time.
Juno. I love her so much!
The found family and friendships that are such a huge part of the Kristen Ashley experience.
Since the overreaching dirty cop story wasn’t wrapped up, that means there will be more to the series.
I love visiting with the other couples from this series.
Once again Kristen Ashley wrote an amazing child, and she stole the show for me.
Can we have Cisco’s book please? I love him.

Dislikes:

Though it was sometimes cute and a main part of the story, It was kinda creepy that this 8 year old is having secret conversations with an adult male that isn’t family or family friend. And this man is encouraging the lies. When I overlook this, these convos are some of my favorite moments, so I’m torn.
The investigative skills of the commandos wasn’t so impressive this time.
A few parts really made me feel like a shitty mom. My kid grabs a pop-tart on the way to school, I don’t cook a homemade breakfast for him.
Too many cameos and side stories taking away from the main couple, and even more new characters are introduced. There are characters from almost every series in this book.

The Narration:

Susannah Jones is synonymous with KA heroines for me, and she did a great job.

The Down & Dirty:

Kristen Ashley did what she does best in Dream Keeper: families, both born and found. I love when she writes children and blended families, and both the girls at Smithies and the commandos are like family. Dream Keeper combined romance, friendship, some action, some crazy, and a curveball I didn’t see coming. This far into a series that combines 3 other series there are a LOT of characters to keep straight. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t know who goes with who anymore, but I just go with it and love it anyway. This is a book for KA lovers, and this KA lover…well…loved it!