Dare to Dream: Desert of Dreams Series

"A powerful, stirring tale of resilience and fortitude."

- BookLife Prize

Some stories don't just entertain—they remind you who you were.
 

After her parents' divorce, Kiara is uprooted to a desolate desert town, trapped among tumbleweeds, windstorms, and long stretches of emptiness.

Without love to hold on to, she drifts through life trying to please everyone-her mother, who can't show affection; her brother, who barely hides contempt; and friends who aren't what they seem.

To become the woman she needs to be, Kiara must escape the town that's suffocating her. Leaving means learning to stand on her own, trusting herself, and walking away from the things she's terrified of losing.

There's a bigger world out there-if she dares to reach for it before the opportunity slips away.

Book one in the Desert of Dreams Series - standalone stories connected by friendship, place, and the courage to become.

This is a story for readers who love tender, character-driven coming-of-age stories with nostalgic 1980s-1990s settings and small-town desert life about family, belonging, and resilience. It includes a slow-burn romance woven into personal growth with quiet, bittersweet moments that linger long after the last page. 

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

"A poignant coming-of-age, equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring."

- Publishers Weekly BookLife

"a wonderful coming-of-age story ... a powerful and very worthy read."

- Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite (5-Star Review)

"...a heartfelt tale of resilience and hope..."

- Publishers Weekly BookLife

"... a treasure trove of thought-provoking insights..."

- D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

About the Author: 

By award-winning author Amanda LaPera, whose books have earned Readers' Favorite 5-star reviews and BookLife Prize, IBPA Benjamin Franklin, and IAN Book-of-the-Year Awards recognition.

Content Warning: Different books in the Desert of Dreams Series address sensitive but important topics which may include bullying and peer pressure; troubled sibling relationships; struggling friendships and romantic relationships; divorce; religion; racism and classism; historical events of the late 1980s and 1990s; death; neglect and abuse (physical, emotional, and/or sexual); trauma (generational and situational); drugs, alcohol, and sex; teen pregnancy; abortion; and mental illness including depression, suicidal ideation, PTSD, and anxiety.