In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams Series: When in Rome #4
Genres: Adult, Contemporary
Published by Random House on December 30, 2025
Also by this author: When in Rome, Practice Makes Perfect, Beg, Borrow, or Steal
Format: Paperback (368 pages) • Source: Purchased
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A homecoming to Rome, Kentucky, sparks a new romance—and lots of drama—between two old family friends, from the New York Times bestselling author of When in Rome, Practice Makes Perfect, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal.
Madison Walker left Rome, Kentucky, determined to make it in the culinary world. But after years of chasing success in New York, all she has to show for it is her shattered confidence and a desperate need for a fresh start. Coming home isn’t part of the plan—until an unexpected job offer lands in her lap: the head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant in her hometown. The only catch? It comes from James Huxley, owner of Huxley Farm, her brother’s best friend.
James has always played it safe, keeping his head down and running the family business. But when Madison’s happiness is on the line, he’s willing to take up his estranged brother’s offer to launch a restaurant. James has loved her quietly for years, knowing she’s never seen him as more than an annoyance, but now that she’s back, he’s determined to change that.
Madison and James are tasked with launching the dreamy restaurant in record time, but keeping things strictly professional soon becomes impossible, and the town can’t help but meddle in their relationship. As opening night looms closer, Madison’s fears threaten to hold her back.
When an unexpected disaster collides with a long-simmering sibling feud, both Madison and James will have to face their biggest insecurities—and decide if love is worth the risk or if some dreams are safer left untouched.
Unsurprisingly, five stars. I may have blinders on when it comes to the writing or characters but there’s something about this Rome, Kentucky series that just works for me every single time. It’s sweet without being too much.
This was such a perfect way to wrap up the series, with multiple scenes of former main characters/ siblings/ significant others getting together and finishing with the couple I’ve been waiting for. Madison and James got the perfect story for them and it was worth the wait. We’ve all seen the tension brewing between them – my sister and I were eagerly awaiting their inevitable book!
Madison has always been the wild child, the one who moved out of Rome to follow her dreams at culinary school in NYC. She hasn’t told anyone she’s struggling, except Emily in the last book, so she keeps plugging along through graduation. James has been pining over Madison for years so when she accidentally calls him and spills her guts, he has the perfect solution: a farm-to-table restaurant on his farm. He needs the financial boost and she needs a job, especially back at home. Win-win.
I loved watching these two spend time together and the feelings develop for Madison, since James has already been in that place. I loved the conversations they had; Jame was such a perfect balance for her. I grew to love him more than I already did from previous books.
Aside from the main romance/couple, as I mentioned, we get all of the other siblings and couples. We get to see all the girls hang out, all the boys, all of the people. It was just a lovely way to wrap up the series and give us all of these relationships. Everyone knows each other so well. I’ll miss this town and everyone in it.
I received this book for free (hey, thanks!) in exchange for an honest review. I promise that this does NOT affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. For real.
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins Genres: Adult, Mystery/Thriller
Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on January 6, 2026
Also by this author: Rebel Belle, Miss Mayhem, Lady Renegades, Royals, Her Royal Highness, The Wife Upstairs, Reckless Girls, The Villa, The Heiress
Format: eARC (304 pages) • Source: Publisher
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HURRICANE SEASON CAN BE MURDER • A January 2026 Indie Next Pick • "Sexy and full of surprises, The Storm is an ideal curl-up-by-the-fire read." —Real Simple
St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that’s survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984.
When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, she’s less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn’s bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn’t come to St. Medard’s Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she’s returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores.
As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard’s Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive—and as deadly—as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping...
Hawkins has been an auto-read author for me every year, even going back to her YA books. Her latest mysteries, often gothic or southern, have cool mixed media elements that really add to the story. This book was no exception. The book centers around a town in Alabama that always deals with hurricanes and the story is told via flashbacks to those hurricanes, snippets from the book one of the characters is writing, and more.
I feel like it was more predictable than a few of her other recent books. I could tell right away what happened between the characters and who the ~bad guys~ were, so to speak. A few reviewers said this was boring but honestly I was pretty interested the entire time and thought it had a good pace. The book is less than 300 pages and features multiple types of media/chapters, as I mentioned, so that kept it interesting.
I wanted a little more tension given the hurricane aspect – maybe the main character needed to be suspicious of people a little longer? Create some drama? Regardless, as always with her books, I’m glad I read it! Her books are very atmospheric, which is why I have so much fun with them.
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