The Year Of Chasing Dreams

The Year Of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel, 327 pages

This is the sequel to The Year of Luminous Love.  You would certainly understand what was happening in this book without having read the first one but since almost all of the characters in this story were introduced in the first book, it might be more fun to read them in order.  This book starts soon after the first book ends.  Ciana and Eden are grieving the loss of their friend, Arie.  Eden is still thinking about ways to try to find the boy she met in Italy, Garret, and Ciana is struggling with her feelings for Jon and also with the hostility of some of the townspeople who want her to sell most of the estate to a developer.  Ciana and her mother both have to agree before anything can be sold, and Ciana is determined to hold on to her family’s land and work it, no matter what.  This is a story about a young woman coping with life, besides being a romance.  Fans of McDaniel’s books might be surprised that there is slightly less death and illness in this book than most of her stories.  There is still plenty of drama, so fans won’t be too disappointed.  Give this one to mostly teen girls who like realistic romances.