I think I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t dived in to this series at this book and understood some of the characters a little more first. However, Kristen Ashley does detail everyone pretty well and so you’re not feeling too lost but I definitely wanted to know more of the backstory.
A little disappointed that the will they won’t they element of the romance was like a tick on a checklist like the author was eager to get it over with and then relationship element was just there. The action / drama / suspense story element was pretty interesting and kept its pace although the plot was probably stretching it a little too far for reality..
I clearly liked the authors writing style because whilst I can pick holes in the story and it’s plot layout and storyline I enjoyed reading it

Awe-inspiring . . . The characters are so well drawn and the plot so well paced, I couldn’t put it down. This is definitely one of those special books that I will keep on my shelf.

Dream Keeper is the fourth book in the Dream Team series featuring Smithie’s girls and Hawk’s Commandos and as the last man/woman standing it’s the turn of Pepper and Auggie to find their happily ever after. This story was more emotional than the previous books. There was a lot less action than I’ve come to expect from a Kristen Ashley book especially one that’s set in Denver. No one was physically threatened or shot at and the one kidnapping really was bit of a non-starter. It felt more like a slow-burn, family drama/traditional love story with single mum Pepper determined that her daughter Juno would come first. There’s nothing wrong with that but Pepper perhaps took it to extremes and I got the feeling she unwittingly used Juno as an excuse to prevent herself from being hurt again. Luckily for her, her daughter knew what was best for her mum and didn’t miss an opportunity to get Pepper and Auggie in the same room with more than a little help from a surprising source! Auggie might have the looks of a Greek god but that didn’t stop him from having his own painful past to overcome and, as for his family, the only word that comes to mind there is toxic. After an initial one night stand with Pepper, I did like that Auggie took things slowly so they really got to know each other before taking things to the next level.

I have to admit being slightly disappointed in this book but only in so much that I expected the story arc of crooked cops that has been running throughout the series to conclude with Dream Keeper but that looks like its going to continue with the next group of commandos and whoever is lucky enough to snag one of those fine specimens although with Elvira involved next time perhaps Billy, Zane and Marques should be running for the hills!

Here we go with the next Dream book!!

Pepper, as we know, is a single mum, works hard at Smithies and doesn't want romance but just to bring up her daughter, Juno, the best she can.

Enter Auggie. Who is defo a dream man and had the patience of a saint (Pepper did annoy a bit here!) We also have Juno who is a little ray of sunshine, I absolutely adored her!

This was so emotional but beautiful and heart warming, it was classic KA in my opinion and I really enjoyed reading this.

This was the first book I’ve read in this series and I thought it was really good. The writing style is different but I liked it. There is plenty of action, danger and suspense but also some really sweet scenes with Juno too. I found it fast paced and engrossing.

This was okay. I love Kristen Ashley because she writes Alpha heroes so well! However, the couple got together very early on and the rest was about action, suspense and family drama. That is not to say that it is not entertaining, the story just plateaued after a while. Also, the verbal diarrhoea in this story was a lot.

Kristen Ashley is one of my all-time favourite authors and I’ve read almost everything she’s written. I know some people don’t like the long sentences and the very original style of dialogue but I do. It feels real. I get lost in it and that’s what I’m looking for in a book.
With her recent series however, I find that my expectations are high and that I can’t help being somewhat disappointed with the books released for the last couple of years. Having said that I was very excited to hear about the offshoot series from the rock chicks and was hoping Ashley would go back to her roots.
I had high hopes for Pepper and Auggie as I’m a sucker for a single mom romance and while the spark was still there this series just isn’t working for me.
I miss the wacky action and humour of the rock chicks. There’s something darker in the dream team that doesn’t quite work for me. With the rock chicks you are happy to go on a wild ride. With the dream team I don’t want to go along for it for some reason.
The dream team series seems to have too much going on. Too many cameos and too much focus on other characters rather than the relationship. While I like to know what happened to some of those old favourites I’m happy with it being in an extended epilogue. In this book I just wanted to know about Pepper and Auggie. I got too many conversations. Too much talking and not enough action. When there’s so much talking about serious issues, I feel that it gets diluted and can’t all hold as much meaning as when it only happens once or twice in her books. (I’m thinking of Joe and Vi in At Peace)
About 70 percent in I got very excited when the chapter ended with a classic Kristen Ashley one liner promising things were about to go very wrong. What we are given in the next chapter is some simple drama about the estranged husband giving the daughter a phone and her brother showing up.
I read for escapism and that’s the main reason this book went wrong for me. 99 percent of this book is drama over everyday things I have to deal with and it’s really not very exciting.
The steam rating for this one was hot but I was pleased to see the kink level was at a minimum. There is one mention of submission and control but it wasn’t overly focused on that as has been the case in some of her more recent novels.
I do prefer the early Ashley novels. The Burg, Mountain and Rock Chick series are perfection for me. I really hope she goes back to her roots as I will always pick up one of hers in the hopes of getting some old magic back.


I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reading copy of this from the publisher and am grateful to them and Netgalley for the opportunity in exchange for honest feedback.

I have been waiting for such a long time for the story of Pepper and Auggie and Dream Keeper did not disappoint!

Anyone who reads and loves Kristen Ashley is going to be enthralled by this, her latest addition. This author knows what her readers enjoy and serves it up, time and time again!

We revisit some old friends and although some niggling bits of information from previous books are mentioned and brought to a conclusion, this book can be read and fully enjoyed as a standalone.

As is often the case when children are an integral part of the story, the lovely Juno steals the show on numerous occasions throughout the telling of this long awaited love story.

Again, as always, there are some artfully arranged clues, alluding to future novels that are likely to go to the top of tbr lists!

Although this can be read as a standalone, I'd be surprised if readers weren't enticed to investigate this author's back catalogue and the beauty of the Dream Team and what has befallen them.

Overall, this was such a great installment in this series. I’m not sure if it’s the final ‘Dream Team’ book, but it’s definitely one of the best in the series! Emotional, action packed, steamy, and sweet, this was a win! Thank you to Little Brown Books and Netgalley for the advance copy.

Dream Keeper by Kristen Ashley is coming out next month!
And it’s probably my favourite book in the series. I absolutely loved how that last line from the description matches so perfectly to the story.
There’s a lot going on here. Both of them have a lot of past baggage that will stay in their way of getting that happily ever after sooner but , like any romance book, they work so hard for it.
Interesting side characters, lots of new faces especially on his friends part, some suspenseful moments and lots of swooning and romance at its fullest in the end.
This one was definitely a hit for me.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy.

the latest book in Ashley's Dream Team series does not disappoint - it is finally the tale of Augie and Pepper.

Expect the normal shenanigans from Smithie's Girls and Hawk's commandos as well as a pint size matchmaker, a jealous ex-husbands and enough dysfunctional extended families to shake a stick at!

I do realize this is an unpopular opinion, but I did not like the book and I will explain why.

I have read the first ' Rock Chicks' and some other Kristen Ashley books and - although I realize why she has so many fans - I think for me these books are just not my cup of tea anymore.

The writing style with the short, cropped sentences are driving me nuts and the fact in the first chapter alone so many names of earlier characters were dropped make it not exactly a stand-alone book to read. I like it when you can pick up number 4 in a series and just read the story where it is all about the 2 MC's. Plus the drama... all the drama. I guess I am getting too old for this :-)

Of course this is just my opinion and I am sure many will love this book.

Dream Keeper is the fourth book in the Dream Team series. Apart from not knowing(but you soon will) characters from the series it will not make a difference to the entertainment and enjoyment you will gain reading this.
Pepper is a single mother with an eight year old daughter, Juno, who is an absolute blast, loving her mother she desperately wants to see Pepper happy and in love, so she decides to find the perfect man for her mother.
Since divorcing her unfaithful husband Pepper had to resort to becoming a stripper and is now a burlesque dancer, but she has made lots of good supportive friends
Augustus (Auggie) Hero is a private investigator in a team of super macho men, he is very attracted to Pepper but he too has been hurt in the past. Finally with a big shove from Juno they get together, and as with all this authors work, the fun starts
Here we have a story of a religious cult, an ex husband determined to win Pepper back and the dangerous work Auggie is involved in.
We have sparkling dialogue, great characterisation, depth, humour and bedroom scenes that are pretty hot.
Another absolute winner from one of my favourite authors, if you haven’t read any of her books you’re in for a very special time, enjoy!
My thanks to net galley and publishers for the opportunity to review this book honestly.