In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins is book 4 of the Blue Heron Series, however, you do not have to read the books in order.

Publisher’s summary – Everyone loves Jack Holland, but Emmaline Neal needs him. Her ex-fiancé is getting married in Malibu and, obviously, she can’t go to the wedding alone. In Manningsport, New York, tall, blond and gorgeous Jack Holland is practically a cottage industry when it comes to rescuing desperate women. He knows the drill, Em figures, so he won’t get the wrong idea.

What Jack needs is an excuse to leave town. Ever since rescuing four teenagers from a car wreck, he’s been hailed as a hero and the attention is making him itchy, especially since his too-pretty ex-wife is back, angling for a reunion. He’s always liked Emmaline. She needs a weekend date? No problem.

So when they wind up in bed together, Em chalks it up to red wine and chocolate cake, just one impulsive night not to be repeated. But Jack’s pushing for more, and if she lets down her guard, either she’ll get her heart crushed again, or discover that Jack’s worth more than just dreaming about.

My take:  This may sound like the typical, happily ever after, sappy love story, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find it much more complex.  Ms. Higgins really goes deep down inside the heart and soul of Jack and Emmaline,  taking us on quite a ride through these imperfect characters’ lives.  Through well-placed flashbacks and snappy dialogue, we watch these two unlikely people go from acquaintances, to overcoming tremendous obstacles, to falling in love.  The story is tender and traumatic, emotional and funny, sweet and inspiring.

Ms. Higgins does a wonderful job covering the topics of childhood bullying and PTSD.  We normally associate PTSD with war time, but Jack’s PTSD stems from his rescue of town teenagers from a horrific car accident.

Throw in a puppy, wine making, hockey, small town police department, and a quirky, interesting supporting cast, and you’ve got the perfect must read romance!

This is, by far, my favorite book written by Kristan Higgins.

The other books in this series, in order, are:  The Best Man, The Perfect Match, Waiting on You.