Review: If Only in My Dreams by Carrie Aarons

Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author.

Carrie Aarons delivers a heartwarming holiday romance in her newest standalone. If Only My Dreams is a story about second chances with an lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers feel to it. Madison Goldwin and Porter Kelly were once young and in love, albeit neither one admitting to feeling the latter. She's back in their hometown after her husband unexpectedly divorced her. After a rather caustic reunion in the grocery, Madison wants nothing more than to cancel the holidays. But she doesn't really have much of a choice but to be merry and bright, what with her parents insisting that she do her share with the family business. The clincher? Porter works for her parents, being all swoony while serenading those who ride the Christmas train. Maybe this is a second chance for them to rekindle what they once shared, but this could also be yet another opportunity for Porter to break Madison's fragile heart.

This was an entertaining read, one that had the kind of tension that I look forward to when it comes to main characters whose last impressions of each other from years ago wasn't exactly the best. I liked that it took time for Madison and Porter to rebuild what they once had, except this time around, it was on firmer ground. There were other issues that they had to deal with, Porter with his mother and Madison with her feelings of insecurity stemming from her ex-husband's treatment of her, but nothing was overly dramatized for the sake of making everything more angsty than necessary. With steady pacing and strong character development, Carrie Aarons has produced a touching story about returning home, rediscovering true love, and moving forward. 4.5 stars go to If Only in My Dreams.

Release Date: 03 December 2021

Date Read: 29 November 2021

Learn more about Carrie Aarons.

Pre-order If Only in My Dreams on Amazon.