Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a story about redemption and healing. Gabe Bonner just wants to be left alone after the death of his wife and son. Rachel Stone is a widow, trying to stand on her own and survive with her son. She is trying to create a new life for herself that has nothing to do with the life she lead as the younger wife of a "take the money and run" preacher. Gabe doesn't want her son near him. It reminds him too much of his dead son.
Phillips is a writer who has a way with snappy dialogue and humor, but she has chosen topics that are not easy. Recovering from religious betrayal is not a popular topic in romance books. But she tackles it with grace and sensitivity. Rachel can be seen as just trying to grab her share of the pie, but Phillips shows us that beneath the tough shell, she is a person who has doubts and fears. She also tackles the topic of trying to have a relationship while having a child. That is never an easy process, and she makes the relationship between Gabe and Edward a cantankerous one. It does test the love Rachel has for Gabe.
She also has some excellent secondary characters in Ethan and Kristy. Ethan, Gabe's brother, is a preacher who seems attracted to the bad girls and doesn't notice the good girl - Kristy - who is in front of his nose, until she quits working for him. A fun couple to watch.
This book is part of an overall series (Chicago Stars) that Phillips has, but it can be read as a stand alone. It really is a nice example of well developed romance fiction. Some people may have trouble with the religion topic - there are good preachers and bad ones - but I think she is brave enough to take it on. A very good read.
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