What happens when the dream you’ve chased all your life is in longer possible to achieve? This was the dilemma ballerina Octavia in The Price of Dreams had to face after an attack by a stalker left her knee-and her dreams–shattered.
About The Price of Dreams: Faith & Fortune 3
Series: Faith & Fortune
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Print Length: 221 pages
Ballet has always been my life, but one terrible moment may have destroyed everything I’ve worked so hard for—especially my title of Octavia Ricci, principal ballerina. I thought for sure my physical therapist, Dr. Noah Wright, could help me obtain my dream once more, but he wants more than I’m prepared to give.
I’ve seen firsthand the trials of interracial relationships. I’m a product of one myself and promised I’d never put my hopefully-someday kids through that drama. Everyone keeps telling me to let go of other people’s expectations, but I’m just not sure I can. Besides, if my dreams of returning to ballet are futile, what hope is there in seeking unconditional love?
The Price of Dreams is the third and final book in the Christian Chick Lit series: Faith & Fortune.
My Review of The Price of Dreams
The Price of Dreams continues the Faith & Fortune series with the story of Octavia who had been hurt by Tori’s stalker in The Truth About Fame. Octavia is facing a long recovery after her surgery with the possibility that she will never dance again. For someone whose whole identity is tied up in her identity as the principal ballerina, that’s a problem. Add in the fact that God seems to have gone silent and the complication of an unwanted attraction to her physical therapist and things get interesting.
The Price of Dreams is more than just a story of a pretty black woman who falls in love with a good-looking white man. It’s a commentary on all that’s wrong with the world when people start seeing others in terms of “us” and “them”. Octavia had to overcome her objections to dating outside her race and the backlash that comes with that. She also had to deal with finding a new dream when all she’s ever wanted was the acceptance and love of the people around her.
The Characters in The Price of Dreams
I loved being able to spend more time with the characters from the earlier books and learning more about Octavia and her story. I empathized with Octavia. It’s hard being stuck between two worlds especially as a people pleaser. But she showed a strength of character with her determination to try for a new dream when she realized her old dream probably wasn’t going to happen.
Sometimes, when we get to that place where our dreams shift, we stubbornly hold on to the thing we can no longer have, making it impossible to grab hold of the new thing God is giving us.
Noah was a sweetie. I loved how he wasn’t afraid to go after Octavia even in the face of obstructions. The scene in the pool is my absolute favorite (I won’t say any more because, you know, spoilers😉). This is what God wanted for relationships: people who saw each other regardless of skin tone or class. I loved how he always did what he could to remind Octavia that she wasn’t alone. I also liked the way her friends and family rallied around her.
The Themes in The Price of Dreams
There were a couple of themes running through The Price of Dreams. Octavia struggled with forgiving several persons throughout the book. Octavia had to realize that forgiveness benefits her even more than it benefits the forgiven.
There was also a strong theme of accepting others for who they are which includes seeing beyond their skin tone. Octavia had to decide if she wanted a relationship with Noah more than she wanted to please the naysayers.
Another strong theme in The Price of Dreams was a reminder that we should strive to please God rather than man. When we try to please people, we will always fail because people’s standards are constantly shifting and everyone wants or expects something else. But when we strive to please God…His standards never change. He clearly indicates what He expects from us.
These are lessons we all need to learn and oh my, we learn them well from Octavia and Noah. If you love feel-good romances with strong male and female leads you’ll love The Price of Dreams.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publishers through Just Read Tours; a positive review was not required. Get your copy of The Price of Dreams.
About Toni Shiloh
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys.
She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the president of the ACFW Virginia Chapter. You can find her at https://tonishiloh.com.