DreamsAndAHomeRating: 4 stars
Buy Link:
Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novella


Nick’s father has finally made enough money to have a real house built for the family after they have lived in an apartment all Nick’s life. Eli was the architect of that house. One day, a chance meeting has Nick and Eli reconnecting. As time goes on, Nick and Eli develop a friendship based on Eli helping Nick with some of his college classes. Nick’s dated some girls, but he’s had no serious relationships. In fact, Nick doesn’t really feel too much of anything for anyone. He doesn’t like French kissing, never cared for sex, and he only went on dates with girls because they asked him out, and he didn’t want to reject them.

One night, Eli appears at Nick’s door with a bottle of champagne. He’s made partner at his firm and wants to celebrate. He confesses to Nick that, outside of work and family, he doesn’t really have anybody. Nick and Eli get a little tipsy and share a heated kiss that night, but after that, they’re both weary…even though Nick really enjoyed it and wants to do it again.

Nick and Eli have a long road to happiness with some serious bumps along the way. Can the two of them come together and get their happily ever after?

Dreams of a Home was a pretty good book, I must say. I love May/December romances, and I like it when one of the men is rich and the other isn’t. It’s always refreshing when the poor character says, “I don’t give a damn about your money. I want you!” Eli and Nick are well written characters, although the book is told from Nick’s POV, so more is learned about him. Nick interested me because he was complex. He didn’t identify as gay or straight. He dated girls but didn’t really find them attractive. To me, he was asexual, and he didn’t seem to mind being that way. I’ve not read any characters quite like him. I loved Eli. Educated (a young prodigy, in fact), a talented architect, and wealthy, he seems like he should have it all, but I got a sense of loneliness from him. He was 32 years old, but spent a lot of his time with a 19-year old, but it didn’t seem to bother him…much. For a novella, I felt like their love story was a slow burn. They kissed a lot and had some great sex, but Nick still wasn’t sure about what he wanted, and occasionally the age difference reared its head. Once they figured it out, it was very sweet, and I was over the moon.

There weren’t very many background characters. Nick’s family played an important role in the story, though. His father is a viscious homophobe, and his mother goes along with him. His little sister is adorable, but even though she becomes a central part of the plot in the last third or so of the book, we don’t see her often. Nick has a spiteful ex high school girlfriend. Hell hath no fury and whatnot. If I would have been able to, I’d have punched her in the face! Like Nick and Eli, they’re well written, but not truly flushed out. The detail given about them is pretty minimal.  It’s just enough to let the reader be aware of their thoughts and feelings, but not step on Nick and Eli’s toes.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but there is a pretty terrible thing that happens, and Nick and Eli come together to take care of it. Eli is extremely supportive throughout.

What I thought was interesting about Dreams and a Home was the use of the past to present chapters. The book begins in present day, but flashbacks are used to explain exactly how Nick and Eli got to where they were in their relationship. I’ve read books like this in the past, and they were a little confusing. Max Payne uses dates so it’s easy to know where you are in the timeline. It also flowed well and didn’t feel choppy.

I’ve already told several people how much I enjoyed this story, and I don’t hesitate to recommend it here as well. It’s unique, and it put a smile on my face.

kenna sig