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Dare to Dream: (Desert of Dreams Series Book 1)
Hardcover
Series: Desert of Dreams, Book 1
ISBN13: 9780986247194
Publisher: Adamo Press
Published: Jun 1 2026
Pages: 410
Weight: 1.37
Height: 1.06 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
Two facts about Lake Los Angeles: one, there's no lake, and, two, it's nowhere near Los Angeles.
That's where Kiara ends up after her parents' divorce-in the middle of nowhere-a land of Joshua trees, dust devils, and tumbleweeds. Her mom calls it affordable housing; Kiara calls it hell.
Growing up in the 1980s and 90s, she drifts through life trying to please everyone-her mother who struggles to show affection, her brother who barely hides his contempt, and friends who aren't what they seem.
When she meets green-eyed Cole, she discovers the spark to seek out more from life. Escaping the town that's suffocating her is her only option. But leaving means trusting herself and letting go of things she's terrified of losing.
There is a life beyond the desert. Can she dare to dream a way out?
Book one in the Desert of Dreams Series-standalone stories of friends in a small desert town (1980s-'90s) discovering resilience, courage, and hope.
Perfect for readers who love:
- Tender, character-driven coming-of-age stories
- Nostalgic 1980s-1990s settings and small-town life
- Journeys of self-discovery and courage that linger after the last page
By award-winning author Amanda LaPera, whose books have earned Readers' Favorite 5-star reviews and BookLife Prize, IBPA Benjamin Franklin, and IAN Book-of-the-Year Awards recognition.
Content Warning: Different books in the Desert of Dreams Series address sensitive but important topics which may include bullying and peer pressure; troubled sibling relationships; struggling friendships and romantic relationships; divorce; religion; racism and classism; historical events of the late 1980s and 1990s; death; neglect and abuse (physical, emotional, and/or sexual); trauma (generational and situational); drugs, alcohol, and sex; teen pregnancy; abortion; and mental illness including depression, suicidal ideation, PTSD, and anxiety.
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