DESERT OF DREAMS SERIES

“Dare to Dream…paints a raw and unfiltered picture of how treacherous adolescence can be… a heartfelt tale of resilience and hope.”

— Publishers Weekly BookLife

“Dare to Dream...a wonderful coming-of-age story…a thoughtful tale of personal agency and identity through amazing, emotional settings makes LaPera’s novel a powerful and very worthy read.”

— Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite (5-Star Review)

“Dare to Dream... filled with moments of daring, realization, transformation... a treasure trove of thought-provoking insights wound into one young adult’s certainty that, despite what life circumstances hands her, she will not only survive, but grow.”

— D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

“Reach for Hope…is a standalone story that will attract new audiences as well as prior fans… compelling, realistic, and thought-provoking. Librarians seeking series titles… will find Reach for Hope an exceptional draw that outlines new growth experiences from interpersonal connections… [readers] seeking evocative, compelling reading will find Carolyn’s story thoroughly absorbing.”

— D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

YOUNG ADULT COMING-OF-AGE (standalone novel)

DARE TO DREAM (Desert of Dreams Series Book 1) by Amanda LaPera

Some stories don’t just entertain—they remind you who you were.

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?

YOUNG ADULT COMING-OF-AGE (standalone novel)

REACH FOR HOPE (Desert of Dreams Series Book 2) by Amanda LaPera

A powerful coming-of-age story about survival, love, and courage.
 
Carolyn was taught to fear God, but the only being she ever feared was her dad. When he moves their family to the desolate desert town of Lake Los Angeles, the small safety she once knew vanishes.
 
What matters most to her is shielding her younger brothers from the harsh desert life and from her military father, brutal commander of wife and children. But keeping them safe comes at a steep cost.
 
With combat boots and a tough exterior, she builds walls to push everyone out, including the girls who befriend her and the boy who refuses to give up on her.
 
Silence keeps her safe… until love forces her to speak out.
 
Accustomed to living in fear, Carolyn must find the strength to stand up for herself and confront the father who has ruled her life for so long.
 
A brighter future waits. Can she reach for hope before her chance slips away?

YOUNG ADULT COMING-OF-AGE (standalone novel)

EMBRACE THE TRUTH (Desert of Dreams Series Book 3) by Amanda LaPera

To be released August 1, 2026

Some truths demand courage. Sometimes love can hurt more than it heals.

Misty has always cared for the overlooked—lost animals, lonely neighbors, anyone who feels invisible—but at home, obedience comes first. Her father, loving when sober and calling her his “nature girl,” shares fleeting moments of peace under desert skies—but when he’s cruel and unpredictable, the world feels unsafe. 

Her family and faith demand conformity, and questioning them could shatter everything.

When Misty begins to explore her sexual identity and the people she cares about, the unconditional love she depends on disappears. Religion becomes a weapon, siblings turn against her, and the people she hopes to protect may be the very ones determined to hurt her.

To seek comfort, Misty turns to the theater, her friends, and the quiet beauty of the desert, discovering that being true to herself is the only way to stand strong.

Will Misty have the courage to embrace the truth about herself, her passions, and her identity—before the cost of denial becomes too great?

YOUNG ADULT COMING-OF-AGE (standalone novella)

SWAY WITH THE WIND: A Prequel Novella (Desert of Dreams Series) by Amanda LaPera

To be released April 4, 2026

Sometimes, healing requires courage you didn’t know you had.

After a tragic accident claims her parents in 1959, eleven-year-old Anne is sent to live with her grandfather on his remote desert ranch in Lovejoy—a town that has never brought her love or joy. Isolated among Joshua trees, dust devils, and endless skies, she struggles to find her place in a world that suddenly feels empty. Her grandfather is a man of few words, hardened by years of ranch life, and the desert itself seems as unforgiving as her grief.

When outsiders arrive with plans to transform the town into Lake Los Angeles—a man-made lake, a new name, and promises of prosperity—Anne’s grandfather sees them as a threat. To others, they bring hope. 

Anne searches for peace while her heart searches for love. Caught between the pain of the past and an uncertain future, she finds an unexpected ally in Steve, the ranch hand’s son—the only one who seems to understand what it means to feel out of place. 

Can Anne find peace amidst the winds of change, and will love find her along the way?