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Dreamland: An Evening Standard 'Best New Book' of 2021

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I have to be honest, this story turned out to be totally different than what I thought it would be. From the summary and the cover, I thought this novel's setting would have a huge impact on the story. I expected the novel to have an atmosphere that would be fantastical and magical, set in a historic Coney Island. I thought the setting would be something similar or akin to "Water for Elephants" or "Caraval" where it made the whole story feel somewhat whimsical and fascinating. Beverly’s story was so intense and I was on the edge of my seat when I was reading her parts. I was rooting for her and her son, so much. And that’s all I’m going to say about her story. But soon it transpires that the hedonism of nearby Coney Island affords Peggy the freedom she has been yearning for, and it’s not long before she finds herself in love with a troubled pier-side artist of humble means, whom the Batternberg patriarchs would surely disapprove of. This book sounds really good and have added it to my to be read – I haven’t actually read anything by Nicholas Sparks although the name rang a bell and when I read in the bio about The Notebook and Dear John I remembered where I heard the name before as I have seen those movies.

One day her uncle shows up and tells her she must join the family for the summer at the Oriental Hotel near Coney Island. Her sister is engaged to a wealthy man and the marriage is important as their father squandered their money away and they need the money that their marriage will bring. While out one evening at Dreamland at Coney Island Peggy meets an artist, Stefan, and she soon falls for him. He opens her eyes to the world outside her little bubble. He understands aerospace technology, and it was only natural that he would seek to explore the subject in fiction. The Dreamland series is very reminiscent of Brown’s earlier work. First, I loved Colby. He’s a decent man at heart, who only wants a simple life, and doesn’t believe he deserves the love of such a pretty young woman. Morgan is just what Colby needs. She supports and loves Colby just the way he is, and wants him by her side as she pursues a music career. She’s young, and her questions and some of her decisions are that of a younger character, but I thought that was a realistic portrayal.I have been trying to find out what happened to Colonel “Dog” Bastian & Jennifer Gleason. There’s a 15 year gap that doesn’t explain what happened. Just veiled references to missing her & that Dog has lost everything. The first Dreamland book came out in 2001. Ever since then, Dale Brown has written one Dreamland series novel every single year, and most of them have been received well by his fans. Lani is joining Dara’s firm, and the timing is impeccable for undermining the years of cutthroat efforts and ludicrous hours she’s sunk into her job trying to secure a partnership. She tells her best friend, Amaka, in hopes they can dig up some dirt on the guy and figure out what to do. Lydia was my favourite! I think I would have preferred to read from her perspective as she was such an interesting and complex character, with the most growth.

And with that... Peggy's life changes forever. "I love you, I do. Stefan, I've never...felt like this."And in the midst of the highest of highs, comes...murder. Dara loves Greek mythology, Amaka knows designer fashion inside and out, and classical music is embedded in Lillian like DNA. Plus, their very status as Nigerians in Singapore is a rarity that brings up hyper-specific experiences unfamiliar to most Western readers. It’s uncomfortable, cool, and confusing all at once. And in the moments when you know the reference, it’s highly rewarding.From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wish comes a poignant love story about risking everything for a dream—and whether it’s possible to leave the past behind.

However, the books can also prove confusing for some people. In fact, the biggest Dreamland fans will tell you that they have a basic understanding of the military, its structure, and operations, not to mention military vehicles and planes. Dreamland: A Self-Help Manual for a Frightened Nation, a 2006 non-fiction book by Andri Snær Magnason Wow it does sound so emotional. I haven’t read any of his books or seen films based on them, as I am a bit of a wuss when it comes to anything vaguely emotional! I have to admit that at some points I felt it is a little slow-paced, but it wasn't the book's fault. After some time I have realized that the not too slow not too fast pace of it, it was perfect for this kind of book, and it gave me time to sink in all the information and feelings. Now, Stefan. I didn't ship him and Peggy. Honestly, I had another prospect in mind for Peggy and was hoping for the interest to blossom until the very end, but alas, nothing happened there. Nevertheless, Stefan was an interesting character. The sneers and unkindness he received for being a Serb immigrant only made this story all the more accurate. The time that we're living in right now is a strange time where there are a lot of immigrants crossing Europe. And the media portrayals only make us more judgmental. We see them as a threat instead of regular people in search of a better future. And of course, the public is more than ready to point fingers at them when something bad happens. Like with Stefan. Also, it was quite refreshing reading about Dalmatia and Serbia given the fact that I'm Slovene and my parents were living in the Ex-Yugoslavia.

While Colby and Morgan are falling in love, Beverly is on the run with her six-year-old son, from an abusive marriage. Fearing for her life, and her son’s life, she makes sure she is able to escape without a trace. She wonders if she can ever completely escape the clutches of such a controlling man. Above is the Oriental Hotel during the 1890's. This is the hotel that Peggy's family stayed at in the story. Read more about Coney Island Historic Luxury Hotels.

The year is 1911 when twenty-year-old heiress Peggy Batternberg is invited to spend the summer in America’s Playground. Thank you to @endeavour_media for sending me a copy of Dreamland to review! This historical mystery set in 1911 in Coney Island is one to read if you enjoy being whisked away to a different time period! Bilyeau excels at writing atmosphere and setting, and for much of this novel I really felt like I was wandering around Dreamland, one of Coney Island’s amusement parks, seeing the bright lights, hearing the pitches of the people working the booths, smelling popcorn, hotdogs and fried onions - loved that! But when he meets Morgan Lee, his world is turned upside-down, making him wonder if the responsibilities he has shouldered need dictate his life forever. The daughter of affluent Chicago doctors, Morgan has graduated from a prestigious college music program with the ambition to move to Nashville and become a star. Romantically and musically, she and Colby complete each other in a way that neither has ever known. If you tell Nancy Bilyeau that reading one of her historical novels of suspense is like strapping yourself into a time machine, you'll make her a happy woman. She loves crafting immersive historical stories, whether it's Jazz Age New York City in "The Orchid Hour," the 18th-century European porcelain workshops and art galleries in "The Blue" or "The Fugitive Colours," or Henry VIII's tumultuous England in "The Crown," "The Chalice," and "The Tapestry." The main character, Peggy Batternberg, daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the country, is spending the summer with her family on Coney Island--much to her chagrin. She'd much prefer working in a book store to keeping up appearances with her ostentatious family. Peggy is a remarkable character--strong, independent, passionate--but her ways and beliefs conflict with her family's, culminating when she is caught up in the murders of three women.The descriptions of the lifestyle really wealthy families had in America one hundred years ago are well-presented, including the rituals and the places where they stayed and lived. While on her adventures around the theme park, she meets a Serbian artist named Stefan. Their secret romance ignites under the veil of night on a beach, however everything gets entangled when bodies of young girl’s bodies start to appear, ensnaring Peggy into a web of murder, corruption and mystery. Peggy Battenberg is requested to stay with her family on Coney Island. She reluctantly accepts. Peggy feels trapped within her family, their name, their riches, and she wants to shape her own identity. Shortly after arriving to the Oriental Hotel on Coney Island, prejudices are unearthed and a prevalent divide of social classes greet her while making her way to Dreamland. But, women begin to show up dead. Who can she trust and why is she being followed? I do enjoy books by Nicholas Sparks yes, but I haven’t read one in a year or two. I know the previous one is in our Book Club, I’ll try to take it next time. There she meets and falls for Stefan, a pier side artist in Dreamland Amusement Park who her family would never approve of. With him she feels a sense of freedom, a liberation and can be herself. But women's bodies begin turning up and Peggy begins to feel/see a connection to herself and begins to be in danger and.......(read the book for the rest!)

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