REVIEW TOUR: LAGUNA DREAMS by KAIRA ROUDA

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading in 2017 new release challenge, 3 stars, Adult Contemporary Romance, Beck Valley Books, COYER Reading Challenge, Kaira Rouda, Review / 2 Comments




TITLE: Laguna Dreams
Series: Laguna Beach #5
Author: Kaira Rouda
Source: Author via Beck Valley Book Tours
Publisher: Real You Publishing
Released: February 7, 2017 
Genres: Contemporary Romance 
Format: eARC 
Pages: 154
Reading Challenges: COYER Blackout2017 New Release

New Release….
Phillip Kensington has been a lucky man. His wine business is booming, he’s engaged and about to marry a woman he thought he loved. But she has changed since he slipped the ring on her finger. When Amanda, a beautiful stranger needs his help, he jumps into action. In the process, she helps him realize his future must change.
Amanda Crown is suffocating under the bright spotlight of her mother’s dreams for her future. Running off the studio lot in Hollywood after a particularly embarrassing scene, Amanda meets the man of her dreams. And then his fiancée. Amanda decides it’s time to follow her dreams and make a big move, what she didn’t realize was her step toward her future would bring her back into Phillip’s world.

Will he be able to take the steps to make their dreams come true?

***Laguna Dreams can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. If you enjoy Phillip and Amanda’s story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.

Laguna Nights (Laguna Beach Book 1), Madison and Josh’s story
Laguna Heights (Laguna Beach Book 2), Annie and Hank’s story
Laguna Lights (Laguna Beach Book 3), Laura and Paul’s story
Laguna Sights (Laguna Beach Book 4), Jamie and Scott’s story
Book available to buy from….

I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own

Laguna Dreams the 5th book in the Laguna Beach series was a short and quick read.  This instalment tells the story of Phillip Kensington and Amanda Crown. I met Amanda briefly in the previous instalment and at the time I was curious to know if a story would be written about her.  

Phillip owns a winery and is on the verge of getting married.  When I saw this, I thought that the story would be centred on a love triangle theme; however, this was not the case. There was no cheating involved.  Phillip has been having second thoughts about his upcoming nuptials long before he met Amanda, but did not have the guts to end his engagement. That changed, however, when he met Amanda.  This does not mean that things went smoothly after that.

The scene involving their initial meeting was funny and sweet. When he first met Amanda, he believed her to be homeless.  This, however, did not put a damper on his attraction to her.  His actions at the time demonstrated that he was a compassionate man; however, his compassion would prove to be his weakness. I surmised this from the way he handled the situation with his fiancée. I also found him to be inflexible. He planned everything in his life even the age when he would get married and it is for that reason he found himself in his current situation. He was willing to accept his fiancee’s behaviour just to ensure his life went has how he planned it.

Amanda is the daughter of Alexa Crown, star of the soap opera Days and Nights.  Anna’s heart is not into acting; however, her mother had other ideas. She kept forcing her to take on inconsequential roles, and Amanda being the dutiful daughter gave in to her demands.  This went on for some time until an unfortunate scene on set had her rethinking her decision to give into her mother’s demands. At that moment she realised that she needed to take charge of her life.  What she did not know was that decision would lead to a major change in her life. I enjoyed seeing Amanda taking charge of her life and doing what she wanted, and not what her mother expected.

The chemistry between Amanda and Phillip was evident from the first meeting and was undeniable by their second encounter. These two were perfect for each other, but circumstances in the form of Phillip’s ex-fiancée was determined to keep them apart. I have seen and read about crazy women but she beat them all. She refused to accept the truth even when it was staring her in the face. Who keeps planning a wedding after the man you were supposed to marry ended the relationship, well she did. Crazy does not even begin to describe her.

I enjoyed the romance and the drama, which kept me turning the pages, as I needed to know how it all would unfold. What I did not like, however, was the speed at which the story ended.   The situation involving Phillip’s fiancée did not sit well with me. I thought that aspect of the story lacked development. She never answered for what she did, providing her with the opportunity to do it to someone else. Another issue I had was how quickly Phillip developed a bond with Amanda’s friends. This took place over one weekend.  I also had issues with how her mother was so quick to accept Phillip after her many attempts to get her to hook up with a particular soap opera star. I believe that these issues took away from the authenticity of the story.

Verdict:
Laguna Nights is a sweet romance that demonstrates that at times we need to move out of our comfort zone so that we can cease the opportunities that this great big universe has to offer.  Despite the issues mentioned, I found this to be an ok read and one I would recommend to fans of contemporary romance. There is no need to read the previous books prior to reading this installment.

Also available

Laguna Nights (Laguna Beach Book 1)


Madison Alcott was back in her hometown, caring for her sick mom and working long hours at the best resort in Laguna Beach. She never imagined she’d return to the place where she became famous on the hit reality TV show Laguna Nights, and the place where she was humiliated on national television. Fortunately, the past had stayed tucked away until her old high school boyfriend appeared in the lobby.

Josh Welsh was a superstar by age eighteen, the bad boy break-out star of Laguna Nights. Since then, his star had lost its shine and he barely was holding onto his Hollywood status. When he was asked to host a new reality travel show, he jumped at the chance. The only problem was the first episode was shooting in Laguna Beach. Of all the reasons Josh didn’t want to return home, he hadn’t even imagined the worst scenario: running into Madison “Holly” Alcott.

Josh’s connection to Madison was still as strong as her anger at his betrayal. When the new reality series forces them together, they must face Laguna Nights past and present and navigate a journey where nothing is as it seems.

***Laguna Nights can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone read. And if you enjoy Laura and Paul’s story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.

Book available to
buy from….

Laguna Heights (Laguna Beach Book 2)


Annie and Hank have created a perfect life in Laguna Beach but when a dark secret is revealed, will their marriage survive?

In high school, Annie Johns was the calm, supportive sidekick to the rest of the tumultuous female stars of the hit reality TV show, Laguna Nights. Today, she’s living the happy life as a mom that she predicted on the show long ago. There’s only one problem: the secret from her past that haunts her most nights, a secret that if revealed could ruin everything she shares with her husband, Hank, the man who saved her from the heartache.

***Laguna Heights can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone novella. And if you enjoy Annie and Hank’s story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.

Book available to buy from….


Laguna Lights (Laguna Beach Book 3)


Welcome back to Laguna Beach…

Laura Kinkaid’s glamorous Hollywood life is falling apart. After years of reality television stardom beginning in high school on Laguna Nights, her career and relationship with her long-term boyfriend Scott are fizzling out.

Laura decides to go home to Laguna Beach for the weekend to attend a baby shower for her high school friend. That decision – and a car accident – will lead her to a new future, if she’s ready to take a chance at love.

Paul Dorn’s former life in New York City is far behind him and he’s working in a popular Laguna Beach surf shop when fate brings the most beautiful woman he’s ever met into his life. The attraction is instant and he has an overwhelming desire to protect her. While Paul’s retail sales career is a short-term job for market research purposes, his focus on Laura is long-term.

Will Laura allow a handsome stranger to help her create a future unlike her past, or will the bright lights of Hollywood pull her back to LA?

***Laguna Lights can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone read. And if you enjoy Laura and Paul’s story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.



Book available to buy from….


Laguna Sights (Laguna Beach Book 4)



Once you’re a star, can you trust other people’s intentions?

Scott Cassidy has lived a blessed life. Growing up in Laguna Beach with a loving family, he was discovered in high school when he appeared on the popular reality TV show, Laguna Nights. Now cast as a doctor on the number one soap opera, his star keeps rising. Finally free from his long-term girlfriend, Scott isn’t looking for love, but when a popular dating app matches him with Jamie Kane, he can’t deny the sparks. But is she really everything she seems?

Jamie Kane isn’t lucky in love or life. Her childhood was tumultuous with a single mom who moved to Hollywood for fame but ended up waiting tables in Malibu. Certainly not one of the spoiled kids she went to high school and college with, Jamie has worked hard to achieve her dreams of being an actress, even as she begins to realize it’s not her calling. Jamie believes Scott may be the answer to everything unless a past mistake makes him doubt their future together.

Is the price of fame the chance at true love?

***Laguna Sights can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone read. And if you enjoy Laura and Paul’s story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.



Book available to buy from….



About the Author


Kaira Rouda is a USA Today bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary women’s fiction and sexy modern romance novels that sparkle with humor and heart.

Her women’s fiction titles include BEST DAY EVER, THE GOODBYE YEAR, HERE, HOME, HOPE, ALL THE DIFFERENCE and IN THE MIRROR. Her bestselling short story is titled A MOTHER’S DAY. Her sexy, contemporary romance series include the LAGUNA BEACH Series, the INDIGO ISLAND Series.

Her nonfiction titles, REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs, and REAL YOU FOR AUTHORS: 8 Essentials for Women Writers (available for free download on her website) continue to inspire.

Kaira’s work has won numerous awards including the Indie Excellence Award, USA Book Awards, the Reader’s Choice Awards and honorable mention in the Writer’s Digest International Book Awards. She lives in Southern California with her husband and four almost-grown kids, and is at work on her next novel.


Find the author on the following sites…



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