Dream Maker

March 30, 2020
The excellent first romance in Ashley’s Dream Team series features the alpha heroes and high-octane suspense her fans expect but balances the testosterone and adrenaline with moments of cozy domesticity. Mechanical genius Evie Gardiner is taking the long route to an engineering degree and works two jobs (providing tech support during the day and stripping at night) in Denver, Colo., so she can continue to bail out her irresponsible family whenever they get into trouble. Evie agrees to a blind date with Daniel “Mag” Magnussen, a former U.S. Marine, and is instantly flustered by his good looks and charm, but their date is interrupted when Evie’s brother, Mick, needs her help. When Mick’s shady dealings make Evie a target for Denver’s most dangerous criminals, Mag commits to keeping her safe. While the subsequent action sequences—including kidnappings and shoot-outs—drive the story, Mag and Evie also spend a lot of time at home, cooking, kissing, and making plans for when their lives calm down. Familiar faces from Ashley’s Rock Chick series will please long-standing fans, and new readers will quickly grasp the established dynamics. Those who like a dash of sweetness in their suspense will be delighted.

Narrator Susannah Jones brings joyful wonder to Evie, who sees her dysfunctional family through rose-colored glasses. Evie's first date with Danny Magnusson is interrupted when her imprisoned brother asks a favor that involves Denver's criminal underworld. There's trouble on the horizon, but Danny, a former commando who falls for Evie's sweetness and loyalty, can help. Jones plays up the contrasts in Evie--na�vet� about her family's depredation and sassy smarts that keep Danny off-kilter. Danny's voice sounds deeper, tougher, and much more abrupt, a delivery that fits his guarded personality. Numerous characters from Ashley's other series make cameos, and Jones differentiates voices clearly. With swift pacing and a pseudo-argumentative tone, Jones evokes Evie's hilarious conversational style. This is a fun romp with an invested narrator. C.A. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine