If Only in My Dreams by Carrie Aarons is now live!

'Tis the season to ... be freshly divorced at twenty-six and moving back into your parents' house?

Because that's my reality this Christmas. As if it isn't bad enough that my entire hometown is buzzing with the news of my failed marriage, who is the first person I bump into at the grocery store? The guy who treated me like his personal booty call in high school just happens to be looking at spices while I'm trying to pick up cinnamon for my mother.

And get this; Porter Kelly, the broody, mysterious recluse who exposed his own secrets to the world by writing a book about his family years ago, is the one who acts like I wronged him. His rude remarks on aisle nine are the final straw as my exhausted unhappiness breaks, and I'm officially calling off the most wonderful time of the year.

Too bad it's literally impossible for the woman whose parents own a railroad that specializes in Christmas train rides to ignore the holiday season. Because I'm back under their roof, it's mandatory to work in the middle of the red and green merriment, Santa himself, and wait for it ...

Porter serenading us with the greatest festive hits of all time. That's right, apparently my teenage heartthrob turned nemesis not only works for my parents, but can strum a guitar like he's trying to get every soccer mom on board pregnant. As we're forced to spend more time together than ever, his past baggage and my marital rejection make their way to the surface, bonding us in ways neither of us knew possible.

I thought I was heartbroken about my ex-husband wanting to end our marriage, but that pain is nothing compared to what Porter could inflict. He seems like a changed man, one on the precipice of a new chapter, which is exactly where I find myself. Would it be crazy to think we could turn the page together?

Returning home was the only option I had. But as I come dangerously close to counting on the first man who broke my heart, I wonder if all of my future dreams are too good to be true.

Caroline's Review
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Gorgeous, perfect read!

"Absolutely not will I acknowledge the sparks that zip up my arm, or the way his eyes dilate when our skin touches."

Madison Goldwin is back in town, living at her parents' house, with her tail between her legs. She escaped heartbreak when she went off to college and ended up marrying into wealth and living a few states away. She's now divorced and home to lick her wounds and begin again. The last person she expects to bump into is Porter Kelly - the first guy to ever break her heart. And, he's behaving as if she broke his heart and not the other way around. Worse, the chemistry that was always between them seems to be as alive as ever.

"This woman will be my undoing. She always got me the most, always saw me when I didn't even really want her to."

Porter can't help the hostility that rolls off him whenever Madison is near. After all these years, he still wants her but he resents the desire and deeper feelings he has for her. Working together for her parents' business has them in close proximity and finding new ground, yet he's holding on to so much baggage that it seems almost impossible that they will ever have a second chance.

”When I’m around you it’s like I both want to recreate the toxicity we had, but also blossom into this better version of myself.”

I just loved this story so much! There was so much spark between Madison and Porter. The connection and history between them was strong, alluring and undeniable. Porter was so resistant to his attraction for Madison – I felt his vulnerability, his doubts and his fear of never being able to measure up into a man worthy of Madison. He let his past hold him back for so long – I felt so sad for him when he had so much to give to others and talents worthy of wider recognition. Madison was a strong character. She might have been back in town and embarrassed about her new status, but once she let go of what other people might think of her, she was a very capable woman with a big heart. This story was a fabulous, festive read that was fiery, sexy and heartwarming, as well as a little bit angsty.