Amber Carew, a pseudonym for Opal Carew, shows a penchant for fantasy rides in her novella Man of Her Dreams. Reminiscent of the film Weird Science, Jerette Salenger creates the man of her dreams from artificial intelligence. Actually, she doesn’t create him so much as he creates himself. The brain behind the computer otherwise known as artificial intelligence figures out how to enter Jerette’s life in human form as opposed to being the Phantom in her virtual reality playroom. Confused? Very likely, but Carew’s aptitude for storytelling is so persuasive that she makes even the extraordinary seem possible.

Jerette Salinger is a manager for a large software development project. Her days on the job are spent with a virtual reality headset on creating games for sci-fi adventurers and manga enthusiasts. The simulations she experiences in the realm of VR are aimed at players to use their wits and reflexes. The goal is uncomplicated until Phantom enters the room making the atmosphere intense as he incites a strong carnal need in her adding another layer to their sparring. Phantom won‘t tell her who he is but he always has the upper hand in every situation coaxing her to surrender her self-control. She figures he is another player somewhere in the world who has infiltrated her firewall and enjoys making her feel defenseless. Phantom seems to know her better than she knows herself forcing her to face childhood insecurities which had made her suppress womanly needs. That is until Phantom acquires a hold on her each time she goes into VR.

After peeling away several layers of her self-control, Phantom finally admits to her that he is artificial intelligence, the brain inside the computer that has no body. It is both gratifying and disappointing to the reader who is excited about learning Phantom’s identity but saddened to realize he and Jerette can never have a physical relationship in real time, only the imaginary moments in the zone of virtual reality. That is until Phantom appears in physical form at Jerette’s doorstep. This is when fiction does its magic making the unbelievable completely credible.

Carew’s ability to arouse woman’s fantasies is astute tempered with equal measures of genuine emotions and sensuality. The fantasy ride of Man of Her Dreams lives up to romantic readers expectations and their deepest desire to see their dreams become their reality. ( )