Saffron A. Kent writing a steamy age-gap romance? I couldn't one-click this fast enough, because oh my goodness, this is ALL my jam.

This book started out pretty slow for me, and if I didn't have such trust in the author's skill I probably wouldn't have kept going. The characters' motivations didn't make sense, and there were so many details that just didn't ring true at all. (Like what high schooler doesn't actually know their school mascot? I don't buy the obliviousness Violet shows in the prologue at all.)

It wasn't until Part 2 that I really started to get into it. There's a lot that made me raise my eyebrows in skepticism, but there's a whole lot more that eventually won me over. Kent's descriptions of Violet's anxiety and panic disorder are spot-on. As always, she handles mental health issues so deftly and delicately, and there is so much care and empathy given to her characters' struggles. It's rare to see such complexity of character, especially in the romance genre.

If you're looking for blush-inducing steamy scenes, this is definitely a winner. I had to open the windows, turn on the fan, and walk away from the book several times to cool down. Yes, there are some awkward/unfortunate phrasings, but even I could overlook those and get lost in the chemistry. I don't think there's been a Saffron A. Kent book I've read yet that I haven't bookmarked a particular scene for easy future access...

Despite its flaws and super slow start, I fell for these characters and their love story. Seeing them grow together into more complete versions of themselves as individuals and as a couple was so rewarding. ( )

Heavyweight love story

It took me way too long to start reading this. The cover and title put me off. I thought it might be a shallow, run of the mill, age-gap romance. I was wrong. The age-gap is a cornerstone of the novel. But that is all it is. It is not a stand out feature that is constantly focused on.

What drives the story? Mental warfare comes to mind. Individual battles fought within the heads of the main characters propel the story onward. The dual POV worked brilliantly. Violet’s anxiety was palpable. Saffron A. Kent did a spectacular job portraying Violet as a whole person instead of just ‘an anxious girl’. Yes, Violet was anxious. She was also gutsy, persistent and passionate. The glimpses into Mr. Edwards troubled mind were just as powerful. So much emotion! So much passion!

‘Dreams of 18’ is one of those books that left me feeling good about myself. It celebrates individuality. So what if I ‘dance to the beat of a different drummer’. At least I danced. ( )

4.7 Moonbeams and Magic Stars

If there was ever an author that continually morphs into a butterfly it is most definitely this author. Every book is different and always has a message for her audience. Even if the message doesn't pertain to every reader it is still powerful and something can, and should be, learned from it. There was definitely the angst and the touch of forbidden or taboo in this book that she is known for but it was so much more than that. It was beauty, grace, and joy personified. The way that she crafts her sentences or paints a picture is truly mesmerizing. She took me on a journey with a maelstrom of emotions and feelings. She made me think and more importantly, feel.

The characters in this story were complex. Violet, like many women, felt invisible and didn't know the power that she had and often just stayed in the shadows; in her mind, with her family, and with those around her. Her journey showed us that she wasn't as invisible as she thought and that she didn't need to be crippled by silly disguises or those limitations. Instead, she just needed someone to show her that she wasn't invisible and that she was seen and important.

Graham was just that man. Even though he was old enough to be her father, albeit a young one, he still saw her and was in fact mesmerized by her magic, because that is in truth what she was. She was magic and moonbeams-- a gypsy soul that the world in which she lived didn't know how to process or accept. He had his own issues which will be shown in the book but nothing that didn't make me appreciate him even more. He struggled with the feelings he had regarding Violet, and how wouldn't in a world where it would seem wrong for liking someone your son's age? It posits the question of whether love truly doesn't know any limitations including age. I felt his agony as he tried to fight his feelings because of how it would be perceived. Yet, the heart is fickle and knows what it wants. Every decision that he made concerning Violet was carefully considered. Even if I didn't agree with them I still understood them.

The growth in the characters in this story was fascinating. I liked watching Violet's journey into being a strong confident woman, through not only her own means but in having the support of the other part of her soul. The steam in this book... sweet holy titfire. Some of the most drawn-out scenes that had my iPad almost melting. Normally, this many pages to describe one scene would have me fighting my urge to skim because it would feel overdone. However, as I mentioned above, she paints such a picture with her words and I was along for every word as she helped these two discover their connection.

This book started out a little slow for me but once I got to Part I I was all in and then appreciated the prologue as it gave more meaning to the rest of the story. There were a couple of issues, Richard primarily, that I wanted further information on but other than that this story was remarkable. There were a few Easter eggs in the story that made me chuckle and brief appearances by previous characters from this author's other works. None of those appearances will make it feel like you are starting in the middle of a series, because unless you have read them and knew them from before there is nothing to make it seem like the story is missing. This is definitely a standalone. I highly recommend this book. ( )