Sneak Peek: In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams

Nov 5

Goodbye, Rome, KY! It’s been a lovely time getting to know you, but you’ll always be an idyllic town I’ll visit.

We’ve loved Rome for the community, the family, the hi-jinx and the drama. But we’ve also loved it for the friendships. And this friendship between James and Madison is exactly what strong relationships are built on. It’s built on admiration, respect, trust, freedom and just pure belief in one’s partner. It’s silly, playful, and comfy.

This is a story about rediscovering oneself and the joy in life, sparking passion when the flame has fizzled out and hope has been lost. It’s about learning to trust and embrace one’s “flaws”… and finding a partner who sees all that as strength.

I’m grateful to have received an advanced reader’s copy of In Your Dreams via NetGalley!

The Sneak Peek

⚠️ Trigger Warning(s): Verbal / emotional / psychological abuse in the workplace

When we meet James early in the series as Noah’s best friend, we’re given the impression that he’s reliable, sturdy, and plain old good. He’ll *always* be there for you because that’s just who he is. And he’ll do so to his detriment because that’s what everyone expects of him….

Madison has been introduced to us earlier in the series as the sister who’s a bit aloof — chasing after a dream and then losing interest or making some sort of mistake that requires saving. She is essentially James’ opposite. While her siblings are always willing to support her, they also seemingly always preemptively set up a safety net below her, ready to catch her when she inevitably fails.

What Victoria Loved

VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5

Is it biased to say James might be my favorite MMC in this series? And I think that’s quite a statement considering the RAVE review I’ve previously shared about Jackson (from X). But James is hard to fault considering:

he’s a farmer with a killer bod dedicated to his family and community
the yearning — goodness, the yearning!
the lengths he goes to for Madison’s (heck, everyone’s) happiness

And they do say it’s always the quiet ones you gotta keep an eye out for… While James isn’t quite that quiet, he does seemingly manage to just slip under the radar quite a bit, even in this book where he’s the MMC! He manages to toe the line of being present and slipping away that adds so much depth to his character (because you know everything that doesn’t happen on the page is just going to have a heartwarming payoff) and it ultimately serves as the foundation of his relationship with Madison. All that good does come back around. And that’s only part of his charm.

Then there’s Madison. We love a strong character arc, and I think Sarah Adams has closed this series with our strongest one yet. and we very quickly see the impact of that unravel in the first chapter. Madison is so vulnerable and down from the start that the only option was up and out, and her growth (with the support from James) is spectacular.

James + Madison? It’s a simple love story at its core, but of a love too big to go unnoticed. It’s classic a Sarah Adams feel-good in a small-town (with a bite of the Big Apple). And it’s the perfect wrap to When in Rome!

Pre-order your copy of In Your Dreams (Amazon) and read with me!

Favorite Scene

“I can’t work alone with him,” I blurt before thinking better of it.

James sits forward, concern etched between his thick brows. “Is it because I didn’t do the blood pact?”

- IN YOUR DREAMS by Sarah Adams

Similar Reads & Recommendations

FARM-TO-TABLE: Savor It (Spunes #1) by Tarah DeWitt (Amazon)
Another city chef moves to a small town to find the spark that inspired him to become a Michelin-star chef in the first place, but in the process he falls for Sage, who lives on the farm next door. It’s cute, quirky and set in an idyllic small town that’ll have you packing your bags in search of an IRL gem to experience it for yourself.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.75/5

HE HAS A SECRET: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (Amazon)
An HoH Book Club pick! Charlie has so quickly topped my list of favorite MMCs ever. I dare you not to smile when this man is on the page. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more charismatic man in my life, it’s a bit disappointing that he’s fictional. But he has a secret. Read my Sneak Peek.
VICTORIA’S RATING: X/5

STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT IN NYC FEAT. A CHEF: You, Again by Kate Goldbeck (Amazon)
In the mood for another romcom (but one reminiscent of Nora Ephron)? Like Madison, the characters in this book struggle to make it in NYC. and like Madison and James, the banter between these characters is so good! From the under-the-breath insults to silly nicknames to straight-up verbal foreplay, these characters give as good as they take.
VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.5/5

IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU FEAT. A CHEF: It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard (Amazon)

This second chance friends-to-lovers (with a long separation) had me on the edge of my seat. It was such a slow-burn, high tension read. It made me nostalgic for the early years of friendship with my favorite people. And if you’re disheartened by Madison’s perspective of NYC in In Your Dreams, this book is a beautiful love letter to autumn in NYC.

VICTORIA’S RATING: 3.75/5

BY THE AUTHOR: The When in Rome Series by Sarah Adams
- When in Rome (When in Rome #1) by Sarah Adams (Amazon)
  Do you identify as an I-go-to-sporting-events-for-the-food type of person? Well my foodie friends, I chose this one for you! This has everything you loved about Sarah Adams’ writing, but with a topic that gives you home field advantage.
  VICTORIA’S RATING: 4/5
- Practice Makes Perfect (When in Rome #2) by Sarah Adams (Amazon)
  Small-town flower shop owner meets worldly retired body guard. And the chemistry is electric. It’s a combination of silly, playful and swoony.
  VICTORIA’S RATING: 3/5
- Beg, Borrow, or Steal (When in Rome #3) by Sarah Adams (Amazon)
  Now, you know I love a next-door romance. Mix that in with some fiery enemies-to-lovers with juicy secrets, pranks and a blossoming friendship, and that’s pretty much a recipe for success in my book. While Emily and Jack push each other’s buttons, they’re also each other’s biggest cheerleaders — whether they realize it, or not. Their relationship may not have started on the highest note, but their mutual respect for each other sets the foundation for a strong friendship that just continues to blossom into the sweetest love. Read my Sneak Peek!
  VICTORIA’S RATING: 4.5/5