To Dream Anew

I’ll admit, I approached *To Dream Anew* with skepticism. Christian fiction can often feel like a sermon dressed up in plot, but Peterson’s story surprised me by making faith feel like a tool—not a crutch. The Selbys’ ranch is on the brink, and their prayers aren’t answered with miraculous windfalls but with backbreaking labor and hard choices. Cole’s stubbornness and Dianne’s quiet leadership create a dynamic that’s refreshingly *equal*, a rarity in historical romances where women often defer to male protagonists. That said, the secondary romance subplot involving their daughter felt a touch too neat, like Peterson couldn’t resist tying every thread into a bow. Ruth Ann Phimister’s narration is *excellent*—her delivery is natural, with a cadence that makes 14 hours fly by. She nails the exhaustion in Dianne’s voice after a long day of work and the tight-jawed frustration in Cole’s dialogue. My only critique? The production occasionally suffers from uneven audio levels; a few outdoor scenes (complete with ambient wind effects) forced me to crank the volume, only to get blasted when the dialogue returned. Still, the emotional payoff of the final act—where forgiveness isn’t just preached but *practiced*—made it worth the ride. If you like your inspirational fiction with teeth, this one delivers.