Alan Francini is an English Professor, trying to deal with the loss of his wife, Meg. He misses her so much that thoughts of her immediately choke him in pain. Kathleen Jamison or Kathy, editor for Calico Cat Books, knows about traveling, having been raised with a dad in the Air Force. Tired of moving about, she chooses to stay in Denver when her fiancé, Greg, takes his residency in San Francisco. He will only be gone for two years, a time that will fly back. When Kathy pays Greg a visit, she learns he has fallen in love with someone else. She calls him dishonest and despicable, then heads back to Denver. The only thing she regrets is the fact their relationship would have led to a family and children. Alan learns that an editor will be working at the school to teach seminars in the summer. He is told he will have to share his office with the new editor, something that doesn’t quite please him. Kathy notices that Alan doesn’t hit it off with her in the beginning. In time, he teaches her horse riding lessons and takes her out to dinner on occasion. A lonely man and a woman cast aside by another, can they reach out and connect, or will Alan’s fear of reaching out to anyone again, cause him to lose Kathy to another?

Dreams for Stones is a well-written story with a beautiful cover that automatically invited this reader into the pages. Emotions run high as Alan tries his best to accept the death of his wife, even though it is scary to even have to think about being without her. I could feel the sorrow that runs through him as he tries to reach out to Kathy. It reminded me of someone taking baby steps, especially when he first tries to even go out to eat. That part was absolutely correct with anyone who tries to get back into going out in public, after suffering a loss. Ann Warner tells a lovely story of learning to love and accepting the consequences that befall one in life. Both Kathy and Alan have scars, even though slightly different, they have been hurt. Their pain is real and relates to the reader. I anxiously kept turning the pages to see if they would ever be able to accept the fate before them in this uplifting read.

Reviewed by: Linda L.