Dream Family: Dreams, Book 4

Volume 4

By: J. J. DiBenedetto

Narrated by: Victoria Robinson

Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

Dr. Sara Alderson didn’t think she had a problem in the world, when she walked into the office for her first day as a partner in her own medical practice. And then the police showed up and arrested her for a crime she couldn’t possibly have committed.

Twenty four hours later, after a horrifying day and night in jail, Sara comes home a different - and completely broken - woman.

Clearing her name is her first challenge, but that’s nothing compared to the task of rebuilding her shattered psyche. And the only way she can do that is with the help of the supernatural dreams, the same dreams that have nearly cost Sara her sanity - and almost got her killed - in the past. 

Dream Family is the third book of the Dream Doctor Mysteries. 

Also by J.J. DiBenedetto:

The Dream Doctor Mysteries (all ten books!) 

Betty and Howard’s Excellent Adventure (narrated by Doctor Who star Nicola Bryant!) 

The Jane Barnaby Adventures (three books so far!) 

Finding Dori (part of the Welcome to Romance collection!) 

Mr. Smith and the Roach (coming soon!)  

©2013 James DiBenedetto (P)2014 James DiBenedetto

WWSD? What Will Sara Do?

We have followed Sara thru college, medical school, residency, corrupt politicians, Murdering Professors, and The Mob. Her marriage and three children, one with her same gifts and through all of this she has stayed strong.

Now after one horrifying night in jail Sara is lost. Lost inside her own mind. She is suffering more and more and cannot pull out. Who will she turn to for help?

Will here dreams be her undoing or her salvation. Even when things start looking up her severe Post Tramatic Stress drags here like a concrete block, to the bottom.

What do you do when you are lost in your trauma? When your experience never ends? After being free for weeks Sara is still dying inside. Listen to J.J. DiBenedetto's 4th psycological thriller come to life as narrated by Victoria Robinson. What Will Sara Do? WWSD???

An interesting story about a gifted doctor

Dream Family is the fourth book in the Dream Doctor series. These books are a bit different as much of the story takes place within the main character’s mind and in her dreams. The book takes a while to get moving, but once it gets going, it is very interesting. There were, however, many times in this book when her actions and thoughts made me wonder if someone was slipping her drugs as her actions didn’t fit with someone smart enough to be a doctor, and she seemed to be living in a fog. She didn’t have the courage and spunk she showed in her previous books. I can’t say how I would behave in a similar situation though, as I have never been in one. Over the course of reading/ listening to the books, I have become rather attached to the characters, and I am looking forward to reading or listening to more books in the series.

The narrator of the audiobooks is pretty good, but she talks a bit slow. I found increasing the speed slightly on the narration improved my experience.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Dramatic

If you could sum up Dream Family: Dreams, Book 4 in three words, what would they be?

Drama Stunning Awesome

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sara like always

Have you listened to any of Victoria Robinson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no but she does a really good job coming into book four

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the whole thing I was on the edge of my seat during this book

Any additional comments?

Dream Family brings out a new side to Sara after she is locked up for something she didn't do. It made me very emotional reading it.

New Narrator

What disappointed you about Dream Family: Dreams, Book 4?

I am having a hard time getting past the different voice, she sounds like she should be reading children's books.

Has Dream Family: Dreams, Book 4 turned you off from other books in this genre?

As long as Heather Jane Hogan is the narrator, I will purchase the other books, if it's Victoria Robinson.. nope..

How could the performance have been better?

Stayed with the Heather Jane Hogan.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment.. I feel like she's reading for a first grade class..

Not quite the same

What three words best describe Victoria Robinson’s voice?

I think she did a good job but for those that just listen to the first three books it's quite an adjustment

Any additional comments?

this is book 4 in the series, and they do need to be read in order for better understanding. In this installment we follow them raising their three children and also a new struggle as soon as the new doctors office opens. we follow them on that struggled for most of the book it almost seemed overdone with all the flashbacks and trauma that was left. the end takes on a completely different note, one that you somewhat saw coming but then forgot about because it was never mentioned again. I listened to this book on audible and was surprised that he switched narrators. I had gotten used to hearing them as the other person and struggled with that transition especially how her mother sounded.

Ebook is Better

I received a free copy of the audiobook and ebook for an honest review.

Dream Family is the fourth book in the Dream Series. I listened to the first two books, Dream Student and Dream Doctor, and they were okay but I liked the third book, Dream Child, a lot more, so I was looking forward to reading this book.

This is one of those reviews that is difficult to write because I am torn. When Sara is in jail for one night, she loses her identification and, at times, even forgets who she is, who her kids are, who her husband is. And it traumatizes her beyond anything I could imagine. For the first time, I couldn’t empathize with her, I pitied her. Like Paul Sorrentino said, “Doctor? Dr. Alderson? Get a grip. It was one day, and it’s over and done with.”

On the other hand, I was able to wade through the rambling and self pity and the rest of the story was good. Sara’s dreams are changing in interesting ways and she and her mom are able to use their dreams to help themselves and others.

I feel like I’ve really gotten to know the characters. I think that’s one reason I didn’t care for Sara’s reaction to being jailed. She’s always been so strong. Brian, her husband, is still patient, loving, and unwavering. My favorite character is still their precocious, intelligent, adorable daughter, Lizzie.

I did start with the audio version of this book but I had to switch to the ebook version. I liked reading this better so I could skip some of the rambling.

Dream family

I am disappointed with book four. I found it hard to believe about Sara's broke down after spending one night in jail, it didn't sound realistic after what she went through in the previous books. However, I did like reading about her family and their relationship with Sara.
Would I read/listen to book 5? Yes, I would. This for me is not the best in the series but others might disagree with me and I loved reading/listening to the first three books in Sara's journey so this book has not put me off listening to the others in this series.