Customer Reviews

Dreams That Won't Let Go: A Novel (Jubilant Soul)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This novel, Dreams That Won't Let Go by Stacy Hawkins Adams, is the final offering from Ms. Adams' Jubilant Soul trilogy. While this book does stand alone, it is with great pleasure that I am happy to have read installment one, The Someday List. Interestingly enough, without having read installment two of the series, Worth A Thousand Words, I was able to pick right back up with the ongoings of the Burns family. In Dreams That Won't Let Go, the Burns clan grapples with issues that each has been holding within. Grateful to the grandparents who raised them, the three Burns children, Reuben, Indigo and Yasmin, can not help but to wonder if somehow their dreams have been deferred.

As Reuben, Indigo and Yasmin face their fears, they hope to one day realize their dreams, and to have the kind of family they each long for. After a more recent upheaval, and with the aid of the supporting characters, Peyton, Reuben's wife, and Max, Indigo's fiancee', as well as Pastor Taylor, the Burns family struggles to overcome pain and hurt that has festered for years.

I enjoyed reading this selection. The characters are well-developed, and believable. I recommend this selection to parents afraid to let go and let God and any reader that enjoys inspirational selections.

Reviewed by Tavares S. Carney

*Book provided by Baker Publishing

Dreams That Won't Let Go by Stacy Hawkins Adams is a story about the Burns family. Indigo Burns is newly engaged and so excited for this next journey in life. She really needs her family to be there for her, mainly her mother, but that all changes when her brother, Rueben, comes back home to Jubliant, Texas. Rueben has been away from home for years, with no explanation of why he never came back. Now that he has returned all of the family's attention turns to him and away from Indigo and her younger sister, Yasmin.

Rueben is returning for healing. But cannot seem to start the process because of the bitterness and betrayal that his sisters feel towards him. It takes trials and hard times for the Burns family to come together. Will they ever be able to mend their relationship? Will this family be a loving unit once again?

Adams is an amazing writer, I never just got into the book. There was no real climax in the story. I did enjoy the message of family sticking by each other and communicating even through the bad times. If you are a fan of Adams, I think you will enjoy. It was just not a favorite of mine.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes.

Donnica Copeland
APOOO BookClub

Dreams That Won't Let Go is the third installment in the Jubilant Soul series written by Stacy Hawkins Adams. Lessons of fear of failure, family overshadowing, forgiveness and letting go can be found among the pages and through the characters. When Reuben Burns decides to uproot his wife, Peyton, and his son, Charles David, from Seattle no one expected all the changes that would come with his return to Jubilant, Texas. His sisters, Indigo and Yasmin, are less than welcoming to him. They want answers from Reuben, but neither of them is willing to ask him the questions. And since Reuben was not talking either, a generous amount of uncertainty grew among them.

Upon his return to the place he grew up, Reuben did not expect his parents to dote on him so much that they are almost forgetful of the other important people in their lives. Even though, Indigo tried to keep her thoughts on planning her wedding, her mind stayed on her parents doting on Reuben. It is not until Yasmin, the baby of the family, decides she is grown enough to make her own choices that the eyes of everyone are slowly opened. Will the Burnses be able to move past the hurt and the pain creating a riff?

Even though I did not read the first two offerings in the Jubilant Soul series, I did not feel as though I was missing anything. The emotions of the characters are relatable and believable. However, the story fell a little flat in the climax area. Adams did a great job of building suspense around what was going on with Reuben and the real reason behind him leaving and returning home. However, when the reason is revealed I had an "oh is that all?" reaction. I recommend Dreams That Won't Let Go to readers of Christian fiction, Stacy Hawkins Adams works, and to those wanting to see what can happen when instructions, actions or information are misinterpreted.

Jennifer Coissiere

Sibling Rivalry

Building on the characters she created in the prior two novels, The Someday List and Worth A Thousand Words, author Stacy Hawkins Adams introduces a new progression in the Burns family drama, Dreams That Won't Let Go. The third installment of the Jublilant Soul series did not disappoint. It is definitely a novel that could be read without having to go back and read the prior two, but honestly, they're great books, so I say why not read them all?

In Dreams That Won't Let Go, we meet up with the ugly twins jealousy and envy amongst sister and brother. Sibling rivalry always makes for a juicy read, especially when it's written by someone as talented as Ms. Hawkins Adams.

Indigo Burns is engaged to be married and would be enjoying the preparations if her prodigal brother, Reuben had not returned home, and how dare he decide to stay. Reuben Burns is a looking for a safe place to heal but struggles with his personal demons and failures. Indigo loves her brother, but resents him a great deal at the same time. This was apparent from page one and did not let up until almost the end of the story. Indigo really had to grow to get to the place where she could help him. Likewise Reuben had to grow in order to help himself. The themes of family resilience, love and faith were addressed realistically and thoughtfully. Ms. Hawkins Adams did a wonderful job of illustrating the pain and frustration of family tension in the midst of a huge faith challenge. I loved the resolution to the issues the characters had.

The strength of the novel was the emotional intensity and various plot twist that will definitely keep the reader turning the pages. I highly recommend this novel.

This novel was provided the publisher: Revell Books.

I really like this book. This is the third book in the Jubilant Soul series, however, the events in this book didn't leave me confused so it could be read as a stand alone title or in the series. As I read this book I saw that the author, Stacy Hawkins Adams, was able to draw on a topic( I won't elaborate as I don't want to give spoilers!) that can be very real in today's world. A wonderful job! I could see my self in these amazing characters. The author did a fantastic job blending these characters in a beautiful way. You can really see these characters reaching out for their dreams. But most of all, they are leaning on God and praying to Him, and that movement of God was felt deep in my heart.

The author adds just the right amount of secrets and twists to make this a bit suspenseful, but at the same time, she adds alot of love to this book...the love of family and the true meaning of Dreams. Throw in a just a bit of humor and you have a wonderful page-turning read, that I give 5 stars to and high praises! Please grab a copy of this book today!

*This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group*

In Dreams That Won't Let Go, Stacy Hawkins Adams successfully takes the reader down a road of family dysfunction and upheaval. Big brother Reuben Burns is back in his hometown of Jubilant after many years of being away, but despite her parent's elation, his sister, Indigo Burns, just can't seem to be happy.Reuben himself has his own demons to wrestle with as well. With an impending wedding and a rebellious teenage sister to attend to, Indigo must decide if she will make time to rekindle the tainted relationship with her brother. Will Indigo forgive Reuben and will Reuben forgive himself for the rift that almost tore their family apart?

Ashea Goldson, christian fiction author
[...]

After reading "worth a thousand words" I could not wait to jump into this book. Again, I was looking for a way out of my own world. Much to my surprise..GOD spoke to me in the pages of this book. I began to highlight the words. If you are dealing with grief or family issues this book will minister to your soul. When I finished reading this book I was compelled to write a note to Stacy Hawkins Adam. She is truly a blessing to the body of Christ. I think this is a must read for everyone. If you like a good book. READ THIS!! If you need an uplift. READ THIS!!
Well now I have to read the first book in the series. I found it at my local library. (which was amazing because we don't have many africian american books) I told them when I finish with the first one, I will donate the whole collection. I believe everyone should have a chance to read more of these books.

Dreams That Won't Let Go is the third book in the Jubilant Soul series, and although I only read the second book in the series, I was able to completely enjoy this novel.

I enjoyed reading the struggles in the Burns family and how they dealt with their challenges without losing faith and their love for each other. Wedding preparations have been what most women dream of from childhood. The same holds true for Indigo Burns. The brother-sister relationship between Indigo and Ruben was particularly interesting because it was so real. Ruben loved his wife that was visually impaired and was so good to her.


Their parents become so involved in his homecoming after ten years away that Indigo feels resentful of his attention, and when her youngest sister Yasmin disappears it seems that she's been wounded by it as well.
Even though Indigo realized she was being ridiculous, she couldn't stop herself from resenting her brother Ruben for moving back home.



This is the second book in the "Jubilant Soul" series as I did not read the first one I had to start from scratch and learn the characters in this book.

This book is about Indigo, at her graduation party, her long-term boyfriend, who is fixing to join the navy, asks her to marry him. She is in love with him, but she wants to go to graduate school in New York.


She is in her hometown for the summer, working for the local newspaper. She has some health problems, so she lost her job on the paper, then her aunt, "who owns a beauty shop", had a stroke, and she has to spend the summer running the business end of her aunt's salon. She is trying to decide what to do about her fiancee, her schooling, and her career. Meanwhile her fiancee is dealing with his own secrets. What will she decide? Will she go on to school or will she get married? You must read the book to find all the answers.


Adams did a pretty good job of telling this story but there was something about it that needed something else.


This book was sent to me for review by Christian Review of Books for review

It's been four years since we've last checked in with the Burns family. Since older brother Reuben has moved back home to Jubilant, Texas. Indigo is engaged to Max. Baby sister Yasmin is sulking after having to give up her modeling career.

Irene and Charles are so caught up in `Reubenmania' that they don't realize how they've ostracized their other children and responsibilities. Instead of always being able to come home, the move is more difficult as both sisters are harboring resentment.

When Yasmin flees Jubilant, Texas, in order to live out her dream the Burns family crumbles as the parents seem to go into seclusion, keeping secrets and shying away. This is part of the reason why Reuben ran off in the first place. Can this family finally find a way to get real with one another in order to heal their foundation?

`Dreams That Won't Let Go,' the third novel in the Jubilant Soul series, is a real eye opener. I loved how the story grates on the difficult tasks of dealing with reality, holding on to secrets and being able to relate to one another as well as getting personal with God. Stacy Hawkins Adams' ministry is in her writing. I thank God for her words and effortlessly recommend this series to others. I am hoping that this is not the last that we've seen from this family.

The Someday List (Jubilant Soul Series #1)
Worth a Thousand Words: A Novel (Jubilant Soul)

What I Thought
I've said it before, normally I don't pick up a book in mid-series - especially if it's the LAST book in series. However, I was pleasantly surprised as I dove into this book.

While I did need to do some "catching up" for character background info, I was able to do this by paying attention to the details Hawkins Adams wove into the story.

I do think reading the first two books would have enhanced my enjoyment of Dreams That Won't Let Go, because it would have helped me understand some of the family drama which was expounded upon in this book.

However, picking up this book was not a mistake. It introduced me to a new author, and a new sub-genre within the world of romantic, Christian fiction, for which I am very glad.

It's the first time I've read a book like this, set within the lives of an African-American family. It was different than what I'm used to, or what I expected - but it was different in a good way.

If you pick up this book, I think you will find a novel filled with unforgetable characters, lots of humor and a family who strives to live out their faith, even during the tough times.