Daring to Dream

By: Nora Roberts

Narrated by: Sandra Burr

Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

Margo Sullivan had everything a young woman could ask for. But while growing up along the rocky cliffs of Monterey, she couldn't help but dream of bigger things. The daughter of the Templeton's stern Irish housekeeper, Margo had been treated like a member of the family. Deep down, she knew that money could not buy the one thing she craved most - her mother's acceptance. Maybe things would be different if she could be sweet like Laura - or had Kate's shrewd head for business. But all Margo knew how to do was be Margo, and that meant doing things her own way - no matter what the consequences . .

Don't miss more from Nora Roberts.

©2006 Nora Roberts (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Great Start!

Good beginning to a promising series. Nora Roberts has a way of bringing her characters to life like few authors can. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I love Norah Roberts!

There probably are Norah Roberts novels that I haven't read--especially the early ones. I was a public librarian, a cataloger, when she was writing them, and I usually grabbed her books as soon as they came in, before they were processed. I bought most of them in paperback, until I ran out of room, and now I have them on the Kindle. And I have started getting the audible copies, because i like being able to listen on my MP3 player at the gym, or when I'm vacuuming, and on the Kindle any time I can't physically hold a book. That said, this particular title. I like all three of the girls, and loved all three of the novels in the series--but Margo is different--about the time you get used to her being worldly, totally selfish, totally living in the moment, she comes through as totally caring, totally sweet-- Scenes. I like the scene when she finally realizes how much she wants Josh--she grew up with him, like a sister, but he has been in love with her all her life--and she finally realizes she first wants him--enough to break into his office and start undressing him--nobody does sex like Miss Norah! The scene where she finds the coin--and especially when she discovers that she is pregnant, and surprise surprise, she is very very happy about it. Who would have thought it. If you get this one, just go ahead and get the rest of the series and read them in order--with a couple of boxes of tissues.

Not my favorite

I like Nora Roberts - have read lots of her books. But I had a horrible time with this one. I just could not like the main character, Margo. Throughout most of the book she was completely self absorbed, and happy about it. Or sad that her life had to change. I stuck it through to the end, but I am torn about the other 2 books in the trilogy. I actually like the other two women much better than Margo. So I'm tempted to give them a chance. But I has very disappointed in this one.

Boring

I love Nora Roberts but this one was hard to get into I think it might of been the narrator she had only one tone.. Ho well can't win them all.. The witness and the three fates are a lot better than this one..

Enjoyable Listening

This is a fairly typical trilogy by NR, this being the first one. I enjoyed listening and Sandra Burr does a fabulous job reading it.

True Nora Roberts style

This is truly a Nora Roberts book, she gets you going, makes you feel for the character and then you just know you are going to have to read the 2nd book to find out what happens.

Although the love life is predictable - we don't love you, we love you, we fight, we live happily ever after, this is what you read for and it was a good book to read.

can't wait to finish the 2nd!

Predictable

After starting the second book in the series, I knew the story and knew exactly what the third would be. I like Nora Roberts, but this was so predictable it was a waste to buy the other books. Bought the series at same time when it was on sale.

Yawn

I usually LOVE Nora Robert's novels, especially the series of three, but this was so dull and pointless. I did not enjoy the lead character, and there wasn't much action happening. I will not be purchasing the following two titles in this series, but have not given up on Nora Roberts yet.

lovely

this is a wonderful start to a lovely series shows how strong women are

Doesn't Stand the Test of Time

I generally love Nora Roberts, particularly in audio book format. I love the arc of the stories and find them fun and intriguing listening for my commute. I really struggled with this one. The "little girl" voice that the narrator used for the main characters as children (and for their children during the body of the novel) was absolutely terrible - I have a 14 year old daughter and she certainly didn't speak this way as a younger child. In addition, I just found that the main character's actions didn't stand the test of time. In this "me too" age, her power and strength still seemed too heavily reliant on the men around her. Plus, she smoked constantly which is just so jarring in 2020!

I had to pause near the end out of disgust

(Spoilers ahead)
Margo = former model. Josh = millionaire Harvard graduate.

Josh walks in on Margo and Claudio, Claudio = Italian film director friend of Margo's. Margo and Claudio are strictly just friends.
Margo tries to explain this to Josh but he storms out. Margo finds Josh in their hotel room but he won't allow her to explain. Josh is furious and scary. Margo is shaking, her teeth are chattering, and she is "terrified" by Josh's anger. Then this happens (these are all actual quotes from the book):

Josh put his hands in his pockets to keep them off her throat.
"I'll tell you what I saw. I saw you in the bedroom ... You had your mouth on another man. ... I walked in on the first act. You should be able to figure out what that makes you."
She would rather he'd used his fists on her.
Josh: "You've sold sex your whole life. Why should you change?"
Josh: "We know what we think of each other, Margo. You've never had any more respect for me than you do for yourself ... I told you in the beginning, I don't share. I'd like you out by the end of the week."
She sank to the floor and rocked.

...ummm is this supposed to be a healthy relationship? Margo's only crime is that she is very beautiful, she had a successful modelling career, she (before she got with Josh) she slept with men when she was attracted to them. She has never been unfaithful. Yet somehow this adds up to Josh being scarily jealous and abusive, and Margo blaming herself. To end the book, Margo goes grovelling to Josh and apologises (for what exactly? Having a male friend?) Throughout the book, when Josh and Margo argue, Josh always grabs Margo by the wrists and forcibly restrain her while she tries to get away from him. Josh also dunks Margo underwater in the bath and holds her under while she struggles. WHAT?! This isn't romantic behaviour, it's scary.

The narrator did a great job, but the story was just awful and depressing. If you want to get a Nora Roberts audiobook I recommend 'Dance Upon the Air'.

Predictable romantic fiction

What did you like best about Daring to Dream? What did you like least?

Easy listening with no surprises. Didn't have to worry about missing any. Didn't like the stereotypes 'arrogant but devilishly handsome hero ' knows what heroine really wants even if she says she doesn't want it. Seemed very dated.

What was most disappointing about Nora Roberts’s story?

I had listened to 'The Witness' and loved it. It hard an interesting and creative plot. I thought this might be more of the same but it was completely different.

What aspect of Sandra Burr’s performance might you have changed?

It was fine.

Did Daring to Dream inspire you to do anything?

It was nearly the first audiobook I have abandoned but listened to the end just in case there was a twist.

Any additional comments?

If you like comfortable romantic happy endings this is for you. If you like an interesting plot with twists, not so much!