Review by Gabrielle
Series Name: Clover Lake, #1
Sexy and joyful, Dream On, Ramona Riley is a terrific start to a new series from Ashley Herring Blake.
Favourite Quote:
Looking at Dylan was like looking at art-those Pointillism paintings made up of a million tiny dots, so intricate, you could spend hours just staring, getting lost, trying to make sense of how it all came together so perfectly.
Book Synopsis:
Once upon a time, Ramona Riley was a student at a prestigious art school, with dreams of landing in Hollywood as a costume designer to the stars. But after her father’s car accident, she had to quit and return to her small New Hampshire town, Clover Lake, to help take care of her younger sister. Twelve years later, Ramona is still working at the town’s café, all but given up on her dream. But when a big-budget romantic comedy comes to Clover Lake to film, she wonders if this could be her chance. There’s only one problem—Dylan Monroe, her first kiss and Hollywood’s favorite wild child—is the star.
Dylan Monroe has always lived an unconventional life, having famous rock icons for parents. But she wants to prove that she’s not some chaotic, talentless nepo baby, that she has actual skills, that she’s just a normal person. To do that, Dylan takes on a project at a charming lake town—she even works at the town’s café (very quaint), shadowing a local waitress there (very cute), and asks her to take Dylan around to do Normal People Things.
But Dylan soon realizes it’s not just some small-town waitress she’s getting to know—Ramona Riley is someone she’s met before, someone who remembers her even more vividly. Before long, however, reality hits them, and both women must decide if the spark between them can fan the flames of their individual dreams, or if it will extinguish their light.
Review:
A new series by Ashley Herring Blake? Yes, please! I am such a total fan of her books. I simply cannot get enough. And I am happy to report this story lives up to her stellar reputation. It is everything I love about her books – wonderful character development, realistic relationships I can buy into, and so much heart.
There is a lot to love about both the MCs in this book. Ramona was my favourite. She’s just so sweet and caring. And she’s talented too. She has a real way with clothes and styling, and although she had to drop out of college to help raise her little sister, that spark of a dream to work on movies is still there deep inside her. The relationship between her and her little sister Olive is really heartwarming. I loved watching them together. Olive is about to go off to college herself, and Ramona isn’t quite sure what to do with herself. She’s put herself and her dreams last for a really long time. Meanwhile, Dylan is a bit of a mess. She’s been in the spotlight all her life growing up with famous parents (bonus points that they were both in 90’s grunge bands- I appreciated the reference). Let’s just say they weren’t the best parents; she has complicated feelings about it. Dylan is known to blow up at the media or cause scenes at parties, but she longs to be someone different. Someone more normal. When she gets the chance to play a normal waitress in a new rom-com, she leaps at the chance. To research her role, she tries working at the local cafe, where she is assigned Ramona to show her the ropes.
The connection between Dylan and Ramona is pretty instant, but they start off slow. I liked this; it felt more realistic. Dylan asks Ramona to help her experience some normal activities around town, and as they spend more time together, they cannot deny their attraction. Their chemistry is great, and I love them together. They really take the time to have some deeper conversations and get to know each other. Once the flame is lit, it is fireworks! This one is spicy, folks. Super spicy. At the same time, though, they both have ulterior motives in the background that create the conflict they’ll have to overcome.
Longtime fans of Ashley’s work will appreciate a cameo appearance by Iris Kelly of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date fame. It’s her book that is being adapted into the movie Dylan is in. Ang big bonus points for excellent secondary character April, Ramona’s best friend. I absolutely loved her and she provided some great comedic moments.
One of my favourite reads of the year so far, Dream On, Ramona Riley, is simply delicious. I already can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series – Get Real, April Evans.
Thank you, Berkeley Romance, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
