It’s better late than never for this Dreamland Billionaires series review, but boy do I wish I’d picked up these books by Lauren Asher much sooner!
I’d seen the covers for The Fine Print, Terms and Conditions, and Final Offer by Lauren Asher all over the place at the beginning of the year, and I kept telling myself I would pick them up soon. Well, here we are in December, and I’ve finally kept my word. At least they were well worth the wait!
I don’t normally do a combined article like this, but this Dreamland Billionaires series review is an exception to the rule. Once I started with the first book, I couldn’t stop until I finished the final installment, and considering there’s a strong overarching plot to the series, it seems only fitting to combine my reviews for each individual novel into one post.
While I do believe The Fine Print and Terms and Conditions could be read in either order, you’ll definitely want to hold off on Final Offer for the end, as it focuses quite a bit on the relationship between the three Kane brothers and their father, which has been building since the first book.
I’d also highly recommend the audiobooks, which is how I made my way through the series. All three are dual narration, and each and every person involved in bringing these characters to life did an outstanding job. In particular, Morae Brehon breathed life into Iris in Terms and Conditions, and she’s a large reason why this one remains my favorite book in the trilogy.
Without further ado, let’s kick off this Dreamland Billionaires series review with the first book, The Fine Print.
‘The Fine Print’ by Lauren Asher
The first book in the Dreamland Billionaires series lays the foundation for the trilogy as a whole. The three Kane brothers grew up extremely wealthy thanks to the fact that their grandfather not only built a world-famous amusement park called Dreamland, but left behind a legacy that reaches far beyond that single place where dreams come true. A legacy that is now synonymous with their last name.
As you can imagine, Dreamland is quite similar to Disney in that it’s so much more than a vacation destination. There’s a whole world full of unique characters who star in their own movies which stream on their own platform. This is a corporation worth billionaires of dollars—and one that the Kane brothers are set to inherit, as long as they fulfill a final request from their deceased grandfather.
We never get a chance to meet Grandpa Kane in any of these books, as he’s passed before the story begins, but you get a good sense of him as a person through the eyes of the other characters, plus a couple of flashbacks, as well as the letters he leaves behind for his son and grandchildren. There’s a little bit of whimsy, a little bit of meddling from beyond the grave, but it’s all done from an old man’s perspective, beseeching each of them to avoid making the same mistakes he did.
The Fine Print begins with Rowan, the youngest of the three brothers. His grandfather tasks him with coming up with a plan that will improve Dreamland in some capacity. If he can manage that, he will inherit his shares of the company, worth $25 billion dollars. And if he doesn’t? Then the shares will go to his father.
Seth Kane wasn’t always a bad man—or a bad father, for that matter. After his wife passed, he changed. He was mentally, emotionally, verbally, and even physically abusive at times, both when he was sober and when he was drinking. For Rowan and the rest of his brothers, inheriting the money is not quite as motivating as making sure their father doesn’t get his greedy little hands on it.
The problem is that Dreamland runs like, well, a dream. There’s a reason those shares are worth so much money, and it’s because the park continues to attract attendees new and old each year. After running for multiple generations, Rowan can’t imagine there’s something they’ve overlooked.
Enter Zahra, whose family has worked at Dreamland for years. She knows the ins and outs of the park better than anyone, and whenever the bigwigs decide to cut costs, it’s employees like her who feel the brunt of it. She enjoys her job working at the salon that transforms kids into their favorite Dreamland characters, but she has bigger aspirations in the design department. She wants to be the person who comes up with new attractions to keep people coming back every year.
One night, when she’s had one glass of wine too many, Zahra submits a proposal criticizing a new (and very expensive) ride, explaining all the ways she would improve it. Her hard-hitting opinion makes Rowan think she’s the kind of person who might just be able to help him fulfill his grandfather’s request, so he promotes her despite her lack of experience in the field.
The attraction between these two is instantaneous, and the boundaries of their professional relationship blur when Rowan kisses Zahra with no warning. There’s no denying what they felt when their lips met, but neither of them can risk their dreams, and so they vow to stay away from each other.
In true romance novel fashion, however, that’s easier said than done. Rowan finds excuse after excuse to visit her new workstation, and she can’t deny the pull she feels whenever he’s around. When Rowan discovers she can’t draw worth a damn, despite having some truly innovative ideas, he picks up a pencil for the first time in years in order to help her. But rather than admit he’s the one behind the beautiful creations, Rowan invents an alias to text her his drawings, all the while using it to get to know her better.
Rowan is definitely the grumpy to Zahra’s sunshine, and his cold and calculated persona doesn’t exactly rub her the right way. These two butt heads at every turn, but Rowan’s alias shows his softer side, especially as he opens up and lets her into his heart.
Communication isn’t his strong suit, but I liked the scene when Rowan came clean and vows to win back Zahra’s trust. For her part, the whole billionaire thing doesn’t impress her much—because all the money in the world can’t fix a broken heart.
I’m a huge fan of the billionaire romance genre thanks to Ana Huang’s Kings of Sin series. Those books stand out in my mind because the female characters have a depth that we don’t always see, even in these kinds of stories. Not only that, but the male main characters rarely, if ever, flash their money around in an attempt to win the hearts of the women they’re interested in. It’s more of a perk than a plot point.
If you like Ana’s books, then I’m glad my Dreamland Billionaires series review caught your attention because I feel the same way about Lauren Asher’s trilogy. The whole billionaire thing is the focus of the overarching plot, but all of the female characters are much more interested in good communication skills and actions that prove they’re a priority in the lives of these busy and powerful men.
There’s a lot more behind Zahra’s sunny personality than a woman who’s naturally bubbly and effervescent, and the unraveling of her story was one of my favorite aspects of The Fine Print. That’s not even to mention the moment when Rowan rediscovers his passion and begins to work toward a future he never would’ve envisioned if it weren’t for his grandfather’s inheritance clause.
The conclusion to this book wraps up Rowan and Zahra’s story nicely (with a double epilogue in the audiobook I listened to, jumping ahead a few years to show you their future without giving away what’s happened with the other brothers) and teases us with what’s to come in Terms and Conditions, focusing on Declan and Iris’ story.
‘Terms and Conditions’ by Lauren Asher
I know I’m not supposed to use this Dreamland Billionaires series review to play favorites, but there was never a reality in which Terms and Conditions wasn’t going to be my top pick in the trilogy. I’m a sucker for fake dating and a marriage of convenience, and my love for this trope only increases when it’s a boss/employee dynamic. But even this story went above and beyond my expectations.
Declan is the oldest Kane brother, and if you can believe it, he’s even grumpier than Rowan. This is no easy feat, but Declan manages to pull it off. He doesn’t speak often, and when he does, he expects you to listen. He also expects perfection, and there are no second chances with him.
Iris is Declan’s assistant, and she’s lasted the longest out of everyone. I wouldn’t describe her as a sunshine character, not like Zahra, but she has an upbeat, go-get-’em attitude that balances out Declan nicely. Their banter was top-tier, and I loved the way she pushed back against Declan, even before they got together. She knows her worth, and she’s more than willing to prove she belongs working for the Kanes.
Like Rowan, Declan received an ultimatum from his grandfather in order to inherit his share of the business. He must get married and produce an heir, ensuring that the Kane family names lives on. Given Declan’s stunning personality, this proves easier said than done. He can’t help but feel it’s merely a distraction as he steps into the role of CEO of his family’s media empire.
Iris has worked her ass off to find Declan the perfect match, but he keeps driving them all away. On the night of his engagement announcement, Declan sends the latest option fleeing, and they’re left with a room full of expectant people waiting to hear what special announcement the eldest Kane brother has up his sleeve.
Even though Declan is Iris’ boss, she’s got a soft spot for the guy. He gave her an opportunity when no one else did, and even though she’s run herself ragged over the last three years, she’s grateful for the position she has within the company. His brother, Cal, also happens to be Iris’ best friend, and so she can’t stand by and watch as Declan goes down with the ship.
That’s why Iris volunteers to take one for the team. Sure, Declan is an extremely attractive man, but the only relationship they have is a professional one. It’s simply a business arrangement—a way to ensure Seth Kane doesn’t wind up with Declan’s share of the inheritance.
Like Rowan with Zahra, Declan is immediately suspicious about Iris’ motives. He can’t imagine that she’d simply do this out of the goodness of her heart, and he works hard to make sure they have an iron-clad contract. It’s all supposed to be straight-forward, but emotions aren’t great at falling in line.
It’s hard to put into words why I love marriage-of-convenience stories so much, but I guess that’s exactly what I’m trying to do with this Dreamland Billionaires series review. There’s something a little forbidden about falling for the person you’re fake dating (or fake marrying), and there’s usually lots of angst with forced proximity and accidental touches that reveal the true feelings of everyone involved. That period of denial is always delicious, especially because it begins with “just because we have a physical relationship doesn’t mean anything” and always ends with “oh shit, I think I’m in love with the one person on the planet I wasn’t supposed to fall for.”
Like with The Fine Print, Terms and Conditions explores the backstories of both Declan and Iris. In particular, I loved that Iris had a learning difference she worked hard to overcome. I’m afraid to admit that I related to the way she threw herself wholeheartedly into her work, and I admired the moment when she decided enough was enough. Being Declan’s assistant and wife was always going to be messy, and it was a lot of fun watching these two navigate a future in which they were both happy with their lots in life.
Declan’s father really steps up his game in this book, and any semblance of pity you might’ve felt in the previous one is wiped away by his interactions with Declan. As the oldest, Declan has the most memories of his mother and bore the brunt of his father’s wrath. It might be admirable that he protected Rowan and Cal as much as he did, but that only means he has his own trauma to work through. The fact that Iris doesn’t let him get away with his bullshit like the other people around him is one of the reasons why I love her so much.
Terms and Conditions is an excellent second book in this series, not only because I loved these characters and the tropes that Lauren Asher employed, but because it gives us a much better look at Cal ahead of Final Offer. Since Iris and Cal are best friends, we see the sweet side to the last Kane brother, as well as the tension that builds between all three of them. I knew that as soon as I finished this one, there was no way I wouldn’t immediately jump into the final book.
‘Final Offer’ by Lauren Asher
And here we are, at the end of my Dreamland Billionaires series review. While Terms and Conditions is undoubtedly my favorite in the trilogy, Final Offer is, admittedly, a close second. Cal’s journey to sobriety is an important one to read, and I think Lauren Asher handled it with both a delicate and realistic hand. The ups and downs were well worth the feeling I was left with at this book’s conclusion.
Cal was already a favorite thanks to the previous book. While Rowan and Declan are cut from the same silent and stern cloth, Callahan is, in many ways, their complete opposite. He has a magnetism that draws people in, a wit that’s sharper than a blade, and a way about him that instantly lifts your spirits. The quips he throws at his brothers are amongst the many highlights of this series.
But Cal is hiding a dark inner world. Most people see him as a trust-fund brat and a washed-up athlete. Not to mention he’s a high-functioning alcoholic. Sure, he’s always got a smile on his face and a joke in hand, but there’s a reason he’s struggled with staying sober. Sometimes, drinking is the only way he can get through the day.
To earn his share of the inheritance, and to make sure his father doesn’t get a dime more than he’s been promised, Cal must go back to their family’s house on Lake Wisteria and spend the summer there before selling it. The only problem? The current owner doesn’t want to give up her home for anyone—least of all Callahan Kane.
That person is none other than Alana, Cal’s ex-girlfriend and the love of his life. Grandpa Kane knew exactly what he was doing when he sent Cal back to that house to spend the summer, knew exactly what he was doing when he didn’t inform Cal that both their names were on the deed.
Alana spent the last six years trying to get over Cal. He broke her heart when he left and promised never to come back, and though she’s made strides to move on with her life, everything comes to a halt when he shows up on her doorstep. And not only is he back in Lake Wisteria and, by extension, her life, but he wants to sell the house she’s living in. The one that holds so many precious memories for her.
I don’t think this is too much of a spoiler for this Dreamland Billionaires series review, but I have to mention that Lana has a child that may or may not belong to Cal. I only bring this up because I tend to avoid books with surprise pregnancy/surprise kid plotlines, though I’ll admit that her daughter was absolutely adorable and really became an important part of Cal’s journey. The kid’s inclusion didn’t detract at all from the story, and I hope that if you also normally avoid these kinds of plots, you’ll still give Final Offer a chance.
After much negotiating, Lana agrees to sell the house, though she has some caveats that Cal will need to take care of first. This keeps Cal in the guest house out back for the summer, and they’re forced to see each other on an almost daily basis. While second-chance romances aren’t my go-to subgenre, I’m finding that I’m enjoying them more and more lately. There’s something about the built-in sexual tension and forced proximity that has me flying through the story to see who will give in first.
It’s ironic that Final Offer features the least grumpy Kane brother and yet deals with the heaviest topics. If portrayals of alcoholism are triggering for you, I would seriously considering waiting until you’re in a good headspace to read this one or setting it aside altogether. While Cal is not a mean drunk by any stretch of the imagination, his struggles with anxiety, blacking out, and making a fool of himself are still tough to read about.
Though I’m by no means an expert on the topic, I thought Lauren Asher did an excellent job of giving us both sides of the story. Cal drinks to cope with the pressures of his life, and we’re extremely sympathetic to what he’s going through and why he believes alcohol to be the only thing that calms his racing thoughts. It’s quite obvious this is a disease and that he needs to become sober for himself and nobody else.
On the other hand, we see Cal from Lana’s point of view. The way he can’t get through the day without sipping from his flask. The way he stumbles into the house in the middle of the night, shattering vases and her heart all over again. This person used to be her best friend, and now she doesn’t trust him to watch her daughter. Even as he bonds with the little girl, we see how Lana is preparing herself for disappointment. It’s not that she doesn’t understand his struggles; it’s that she’s done all she can to help him in the past and now it’s up to him to decide what kind of future he wants.
As Final Offer came to a close, I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how Cal could fulfill the requirements necessary to receive his inheritance without betraying Lana’s trust once again. And that’s not even to mention Cal’s relationship with his father, and Seth’s own letter from the late Kane patriarch. As much as I loved seeing each individual brother’s story come to life, I also enjoyed watching the three of them become a family once more, facing their demons and carving out a life they once only dreamed of.
The Dreamland Billionaires series by Lauren Asher is available wherever books are sold!
The Fine Print: Sourcebooks | Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Terms and Conditions: Sourcebooks | Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
Final Offer: Sourcebooks | Bookshop.org | Amazon | Goodreads
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