The Dream Factory Books
Alice Kennedy needs some hope in her life. At the age of twenty-three, she escapes her mama's clutches, looking for change. In the small town of Gold Coast, Illinois, her car dies, leaving her stranded. Just her luck. Alice doesn't expect to find empowerment in the depressed village, but a mysterious benefactor gifts her with a new start – the ownership of a once-magnificent costume shop called The Dream Factory. The store's potential to create beauty lifts up not only Alice, but Gold Coast itself. Escape into the magic of The Dream Factory in this heart-warming, feel-good story of a woman called to become fabulous.
Katrina Kennedy McPherson used to have dreams. Her ambition was to become an attorney and prosecute deadbeat dads. But Life had other plans for her; like a withdrawn husband and a less-than-exciting accounting career. Always practical, Katrina never questioned how her life turned out. That is, until the night she arrived in the small town of Gold Coast, Illinois, to drag her sister Alice back home. Confronted by her own unhappiness, Katrina chooses to search for her joy instead. Problem is, her old life will come calling, determined to drag her back under, just as she tried to drag away her sister. Fortunately, she’s got her sister, a ghost, a town full of quirky characters, and an obsession with cake to help her untangle her true calling. Escape into the magic of The Café of Hopes and Dreams in this heart-warming, feel-good story of a woman meant to change not just her life, but the lives of everyone around her.
Everyone knows each other in Gold Coast, a friendly place where dreams bloom. Once a depressed flyspeck on the map, the village has grown in warmth and love. Welcome back to the magical town in Southern Illinois, where everyone glows with hope. Alas, life in a small town is not for everyone. Cassie Mack hated living in Gold Coast. Everybody knew each other’s business, her toxic family tried to use her as a workhorse, and there was no way romance would ever come for her. She dreamed of making a world of words, sumptuous words that described food, love, and flavor. When the luscious words of her secret blog catch the eye of a flailing bakery in Rome, she jumped at their offer to come help them revitalize their presence. Cassie can run from her family and create herself into who she wants to be. But the wounds still linger. If she wants a chance at a future that suits her, she will have to grow and become the embodiment of her Dream of Words.
Sophia de Luca, hair artist extraordinaire, wanted two things in life. She wanted to bring people joy and she wanted to forget that Emelio Greco ever existed, let alone broke her heart. When her new American friend invites her to Gold Coast, the stylish Roman jumps at the chance, eager for the chance to unwind in a small, uneventful town and recover from her shattered dreams. Only Sophia soon finds that there are women in town who need her desperately. The women of Gold Coast have lost their sense of beauty and wonder. Hair and fashion seem frivolous, but they are potent allies in regaining joy. It’s in helping them, she finds herself revitalized. Until her past comes to town in the form of Emelio, her ex-boyfriend, who promises he’s changed and offers her the world. She’s torn between her old dreams and new. Can she really leave her new life behind? Or will Emelio break her heart all over again? Fortunately, Sophia has more allies than she thought, all intent on helping her discover what she truly needs.