Ditching The Dream (Dream Series)
Read Ditching The Dream (Dream Series) Online
Authors: Isabelle Peterson
Praise for Ditching The Dream and Isabelle Peterson:
~~OMG Finally a hot read that isn’t for young adults. I think we can all relate with Elizabeth and what she’s going through. We all need that journey of discovery when your life gets bogged down by family and responsibilities.
Ditching the Dream
is a must read!
—Stephanie Bailey Minton
~~Isabelle Peterson has perfectly portrayed a woman facing a mid-life crisis. Now that Elizabeth’s children are grown, she finds herself in an empty, loveless marriage. In order to discover who she really is, and if she can survive on her own two feet, Elizabeth sets out on a journey that leads her to places, and bedrooms, she never imagined!
Ditching the Dream
is one of those books that leaves you thinking for weeks after reading.
—Jennifer Anne Davis, author of
The Power to See
~~Isabelle Peterson’s
Ditching the Dream
was one relatable emotional romance. The excitement had me turning the pages to the very end.
—Stephanie Rose
~~
Ditching the Dream
is a hot and steamy romance which constantly keeps you wanting more. As a reader you don’t have to be married with children to relate with her unhappy and broken relationship. Even though I am a generation younger than Elizabeth, I was able to connect with her on her quest for self discovery. Not only is this a quick easy read, but it made me really think about what really matters in a relationship.
—Brittany Franko
~~
Ditching the Dream
was such a refreshing change from a lot of the books I have read. It is so nice to have a female lead that is well educated and mature.
—Veronica from
The After Dark Divas Book Club
~~
Ditching the Dream
takes you on a journey of self discovery, wants, love, loss and ultimate fulfillment, taking you on a wild ride, you’ll be thrilled you took.
—Becca Manuel of
Becca the Bibliophile
~~Such a great read with some extremely hot scenes. I loved
Ditching the Dream
from the moment I started to read to moment I put it down. Isabelle is an extremely talented writer, and I feel privileged that she shared this story with me. Amazing.
—Jade Morton
by Isabelle Peterson
Copyright © 2013 Isabelle Peterson
Kindle Edition
WARNING:
EROTIC ROMANCE… This book contains subject material of an adult nature intended for readers of 18 and older, maybe even 21 and older. In these pages you will find graphic language and sexual encounters that some readers might disagree with: regular sex, BDSM, oral, sex toys, anal and threesomes. You’ve been warned. Happy reading!
DISCLAIMER:
This is a work of fiction. It is not based on my life, nor any person living or dead. Names, characters, places, and events are the creation of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously, and any resemblance is entirely coincidental. Any reference to historical events, real places or real people are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 Isabelle Peterson
Kindle Edition
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Cover designed by Kari Ayasha, Cover To Cover Designs.
Edited by MaryAnn Inabinet, MAI Editing Services
Formatting by Paul Salvette, BB eBooks
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This book is dedicated to everyone who has had a
dream
and gone for it.
How do I start this section of the book? I don’t want anyone to feel slighted. Everyone has been so wonderful. I could list in proximity to me, but then how do I stress how important my peeps from Europe are? If I start with people who got me to write this book to begin with, my family would feel hurt…
Well – I guess I will just jump in.
To my husband, Marc, and our amazing kids. Your patience with my time and absorbing my wild mood swings while I wrote this book, putting up with hastily thrown together dishes, unmopped floors and cleaning your own bathrooms – you are all unbelievable. Your enthusiasm was surprising and inspiring. Thank you for putting up with me.
The most amazing support team who inspired me to write, have let me bounce crazy ideas off of them, helped me with wording, found errors (sometimes extensive), encouraged me to keep writing and answered all of my inane questions (Quizzy Izzy, is in the house!), and lent insight to all sorts of topics covered in this book (in alphabetical order by first name):
Amy H., Ana D., Barbara M., Becca M., Berenice Z., Bev H., Brit F., Jade M., Jamie K., Jennifer Anne D., Kari A., Kim K., Laura C. Laura H., Skye T., Stephanie M., Stephanie Rose G., Tami, and Veronica M. of the After Dark Divas Book Blog.
My editor, MaryAnne at MAI Editing Services – you are a godsend.
To authors of the New Adult/Contemporary Romance/Erotica who have come before me… Thank you for opening up this powerful and empowering genre into the mainstream.
AND to you… The reader that bought this book… Thank you for your interest, your trust, and your comments.
Where can you find me?
You can always check in on my website:
isabellepeterson.com
. A lot of fun little things there like Maps and recipes.
Or visit me on Facebook –
Facebook.com/IsabelleKPeterson
(there’s a K in there… a K for kisses.)
Follow me on Twitter:
@IzzyKPeterson
Kisses to you all…
The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Acqua di Gioia, Aerosmith, Apple (and it’s products iPhone, Macbook, and KeyNote), Bailey’s Irish Cream, Beefeaters Gin, Coco Channel Mademoiselle Perfume, Coca-Cola (aka Coke), Colorado State University, Columbia University, Crumbs Bake Shop, David Gandy, Drakkar Noir Cologne, Guess Clothing, H&M Department Store, Heineken Beer, Hyatt Hotel and Grand Central Hyatt, JFK Airport, Johnny Depp, Johnny Walker Black, Kahlua Coffee Liquor, Kettle One Vodka, Kindle, The David Letterman Show, Lexus, Luke Bryan, Macallan, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Michael Bublé (The Way You Look Tonight (title & lyrics)), Microsoft (and it’s products PowerPoint and Word), Mudslide, NBC, New York University (NYU), Picasso, Pollack, PX90, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Rose’s Lime Cordial, Sirius/XM Radio – The Highway, Southern Comfort, Stradivarius, Tanqueray Gin, Triple Sec, Sam Adams, Silver Oaks Wine, Stags Leap Wine, United Airlines, Wascally Wabbit Vibrator, Worhol.
E
lizabeth sat at the desk, in her cozy Napa Valley living room, staring out the window, as the spring rain formed rivulets down the panes. She took a deep breath, picked up her pen, and slowly released the air burning in her lungs. With a trembling hand, attempting her neatest penmanship, she started…
Dear Greg –
There’s no easy way to say this –
Oh, that’s not right!
Angrily, Elizabeth crumpled the sheet of stationary and threw it into the fireplace.
The large photo that hung above the mantle caught her attention. Her lovely, perfect family. Greg, her husband of twenty-two years, and their three beautiful children. Bradley was only twenty-one years old, in his last year of college earning a business degree. Carter, twenty years old, was a sophomore in college studying anthropology. And Phoebe, now nineteen, was a freshman in college studying dance and physics – she was always a diverse one. But Elizabeth couldn’t smile at the picture. A lone tear escaped her eye, mimicking the raindrops on the window pane.
With another breath, Elizabeth pushed away the tear with the back of her hand and once again picked up the pen.
Dear Greg –
You are patient, generous, and loving under all conditions. You are successful, handsome, and smart. And you are perfect. Not always right, but always reaching for the stars to be the best.
When we met in college, I knew… I knew you would provide, protect, and care for me. You were safe. Comforting. Full of promise. I said “I do” without reservation, even though everyone warned me. And I’ve loved being married to you.
She stopped and looked at her left hand. She contemplated the platinum and diamond solitaire, and matching platinum band, that had sat so comfortably – yet uncomfortably – for more than two decades.
I’ve always known just what to expect with you. What to buy you for your birthday and Christmas. What you like to eat. What you are willing to try. How much starch to use on your shirts.
But as much as I know, there is so much I don’t know. I went from my parents’ house, to the dorm, to your house. I never lived on my own, made my own way, or depended on myself. I don’t know who I really am. I know that I’ve worked very hard for the past twenty-four years to be the perfect girlfriend, then wife, for you. And although I love that, this past year in this house with all the kids gone has shown me that I am mainly a keeper.
And kept.
I don’t live.
I exist.
I know that you feel the distance, too.
The problem is me – it’s not you. I know that sounds cliché, but it is the God’s honest truth. For as long as I can remember, all I’ve done is take care of others – and seldom have I taken care of me. I think I may have forgotten how.
I love you. But over the past several months – I’ve come to realize that I don’t know if I’m in love with you… And I need to be.