The death of Maddie Browne’s parents, followed by the news that she was not their natural child, but was adopted, send Maddie into a tailspin. She begins having nightmares, the same ones she had as a child, of being grabbed from a swing by a red-haired man. Wanting to leave her unhappiness behind, Maddie travels to Devon to visit with friends Wes and Kayla. While there she gets an interesting prophecy from a fortune teller and becomes friendly with Wes’s brother Alex, who has just been released from prison for smuggling drugs. It’s obvious there is a spark between Alex and Maddie, but they both need to overcome obstacles from their pasts before they can move on to a relationship with each other. A sweet story about secrets and forgiveness.

This book would make a great holiday read - handsome man and a nasty villain plus glorious Devon. What more could you want!

Book Blurb:

Some dreams shouldn’t come true … Maddie Browne thought she’d grown out of the recurring nightmare that plagued her as a child, but after a shocking family secret is revealed, it comes back to haunt her – the same swing in the same garden, the kind red-haired giant and the swarthy arms which grab her from behind and try to take her away … In an attempt to forget her troubles, Maddie travels to Devon to spend time with her friends, Kayla and Wes. However, it becomes clear that relaxation will not be on the agenda after a disturbing encounter with a gypsy fortune teller. Not to mention the presence of Wes’s dangerously handsome brother, Alex. And then there’s the fact that Maddie’s dream seems to be coming true … The Soft Whisper of Dreams is the follow-on to Christina Courtenay’s novel The Secret Kiss of Darkness.

My Review:

This is another book I could not put down by Christina Courtenay! The pace is fast, the plot is rich, and there is just enough mystery to keep me guessing!

I really enjoyed Maddie. She's had a lot thrown at her lately, and even as events unfold dramatically, I like the way she handles everything. I could understand her actions and reactions, her caution, and her drive to find out more. I kept hoping that what ever the outcome, it would be a happy one. Maddie has a fabulous connection that is very evident with her friend Kayla (who I first me in The Secret Kiss of Darkness). I liked the almost sisterly bond they had, and I was happy for Maddie that she had such a good friend.

Maddie's unexpected attraction to Alex, Maddie's brother in law, is one she is determined not to pursue. Alex has his own past he's trying to move on from, but he is drawn to Maddie in a way he didn't expect either. He'd love to know her better, but Maddie is pushing him away in every way she can. I really liked Alex too. He is a changed man after what he went through. I saw him in The Secret Kiss of Darkness also, and his character has grown and matured significantly! I liked how he was with Maddie, that he didn't push her, but he didn't let her push him away easily. A realistic relationship slowly builds between them, though there are a lot of bumps along the way...and it might not be a forever one. Alex is there for Maddie, and as situations escalate, he is drawn in also.

I liked the journey Christina took me on with Maddie to find her answers, to find herself, and to find her happiness. With some unanticipated plot twists, mystery, gypsies, dreams and hopes, The Soft Whisper of Dreams kept me glued to the pages. I love the setting of Devon also, I felt like I was there with Maddie and Alex. Christina's descriptions are vivid!

The Soft Whisper of Dreams can definitely be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend reading The Secret Kiss of Darkness because it is just as good!! I'd highly recommend The Soft Whisper of Dreams to any romance reader who likes a touch of the mysterious and some suspense.

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Maddie is confused and who can blame her? She's just lost her parents and then her sister turns out to be the super bitch from hell. And then there's her dream - Just who is the red haired man haunting her nights and as for the tall dark stranger inhabiting her days - WOW. This is a romance with a capital R wrapped up in a mystery with more twists and turns than a corkscrew that left me whipping through the pages at speed.