Dare to Dream

A Novel

Young Adult - General
240 Pages
Reviewed on 06/30/2016
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jessyca Garcia for Readers' Favorite

Dare to Dream: A Novel by Heidi Thomas is an inspirational book for women. The story is set in the 1940s and is about cowgirl Nettie Brady Moser. Nettie has dreams of riding the big broncs, but since she is a woman she is not allowed. Nettie may not be able to achieve her dream, but she fights to allow other girls with the same dream to achieve them, all the while trying to keep her family together.

Although Dare to Dream did not follow the path I thought it would, I still really enjoyed it. Nettie made me realize that just because you cannot achieve your dream does not mean that you cannot be happy. I loved how Nettie encouraged and watched out for Ruthie and Lilly-Anne. This book was not just about rodeo life, but also about the events that occurred during that time, such as the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thomas did a great job of sharing Nettie’s feelings during that time. I felt as if I was right next to Nettie, experiencing those same feelings.

Thomas has opened my eyes to the rodeo world and how they view women. I even looked up the history of women in the world of rodeo after finishing this book. I am happy to say that rodeo rules have changed since Nettie’s time and have gotten a little fairer for women. This was a good story and history lesson. I recommend this book if you like rodeo, history, or just a good book.

Heidi Thomas

Thank you, Jessyca, for a very nice review! Rodeo has changed over the years, but women still do not compete equally with men. There is one exception: Kalia Mussell from Canada who has earned her PRCA card and competes with men on bucking broncs! For a history of rodeo women, see my book Cowgirl Up: A History of Rodeo Women.